Getting the final answer from Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Shane Steichen was expected. However, the final answer to this season’s puzzle was the unexpected part. Steichen surprised most of the fanbase by selecting veteran Daniel Jones over the incumbent Anthony Richardson. The more you dive into the numbers, and the coach speaks that Steichen always dishes out, the answer was right in front of us the entire time.
Daniel Jones Gets The Nod
It seemed that Daniel Jones was brought in more for competition and kept Richardson on his toes. Whether that was true or not, we will never know. We will also never know if he was promised the job from the beginning. Was there an under-the-table agreement with Jones about the future? Again, we will never know, but it seems feasible.
If you begin to read more about this competition as well, you will find that Richardson had his best camp of his career so far. Without question, he improved some mechanics and even his accuracy. It wasn’t immense, but you could tell he put in some work. It appeared he had the team on his side, even after it seemed he may have lost the team last season. A season where he recovered from his shoulder injury but lost teammates when he tapped out against Houston. He continued to battle injuries and benching during the season.
More pressers this week seem to reveal that Jones was able to grasp the offense faster in months than Richardson did in three years. Later interviews show that it appears the relationship could be fractured, and the coaching staff seems they have given up on him, while not outwardly admitting it. Blaming injuries and doing all they could to this point.
Steichen Bets On Himself
We know from reporting that this decision was discussed with new owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Chris Ballard. Whether Steichen was given the final decision is unknown, but it appears he did have the final say. Knowing the criticism he would take from the fanbase, he still made the uncomfortable decision. This was a competition that had no correct answer. Each quarterback had their strengths and weaknesses to overcome.
I have heard plenty of media talk about Steichen stepping out and now betting on himself. Could not agree more with that belief. I think this team is closer to a division title than most. This Steichen-led team lost a division title in 2023 on an underthrown ball by Gardner Minshew. The defense was terrible last season, and (so far) it looks improved and should help them win some more games this season. Does Shane Steichen see Daniel Jones as more of a Gardner Minshew type? Steichen gets the offensive guru title thrown around, but most of his schemes are conservative. An RPO-based scheme that is heavy on the run and less reliant on the quarterback.
Regardless of who gets the blame for this situation, it’s evident that it was a complete organizational failure. Ballard takes the brunt of this blame, as it was a draft misevaluation by himself and his staff. If they really did not think that Richardson was the guy, then settling for Daniel Jones remains questionable. They could have made an offer to Sam Darnold or tried to trade for Kirk Cousins.
With Ballard in the final year of his contract and new ownership, it seems that his fate has finally been sealed. With Steichen on a six-year contract, and if he can get them to the playoffs with Jones, it will be hard to relieve him of his duties. Ballard has put this team in football purgatory yet again with no light shining down the tunnel. Steichen has the chance to show his true abilities as a football coach, but it starts with better clarity and accountability. Winning cures all, but the only chance for Steichen to save his job is to prove that he can mold Daniel Jones into a winning quarterback with his scheme. The chances appear slim, but a revival project is possible, and his future in Indianapolis will be dependent on it.
