After Sam Ehlinger’s starting debut, Colts want to see more

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Colts on Sunday deployed their sixth completely different beginning quarterback since Andrew Luck’s retirement in August 2019.

Unsurprisingly, after one recreation with Sam Ehlinger as their beginning quarterback, the Colts haven’t resolved all their quarterback questions. This drawback, now 4 seasons within the making, will not be solved in a single day.

Ultimately, the Colts misplaced a 17-16 contest to the Washington Commanders. Their offense produced 17 or fewer factors for the fifth time in eight video games. The Colts had a damaging turnover margin for the fifth time this season (going 0-4-1 in these video games). And for the fourth time in 2022, the Colts scored one landing or fewer in a recreation.

That’s about as dangerous because it will get for a modern-day offense.

No, Ehlinger didn’t reverse all of the damaging offensive traits the Colts have established this season. However here’s what he achieved on Sunday: He left the Colts desirous to at the least see extra.

A long time of historical past recommend that the 2021 sixth-round choice won’t show to be the Colts’ long-term resolution at quarterback. However after being promoted to starter final week over an completed veteran like Matt Ryan, Ehlinger seemed like he belonged below middle in opposition to Washington.

Granted, the Colts employed a really completely different offensive assault with Ehlinger at quarterback. After they tried a mean of 42.4 passes per recreation with Ryan by way of the primary seven video games, Ehlinger tried simply 23 on Sunday. However he was environment friendly with these makes an attempt, throwing for 201 yards on 17-of-23 passing. He didn’t muster a landing move, however he didn’t throw any interceptions, both.

Is Ehlinger the reply? Who is aware of? However after one week, the Colts don’t know that he’s not, both.

“No disrespect to Matt as a result of I assumed he had some good moments,” coach Frank Reich mentioned. “However I assumed Sam seemed good. He seemed actually poised. He threw it properly. I assumed he performed properly.”

Reich, the Colts’ playcaller, known as a really cautious recreation however progressively turned extra aggressive in the course of the course of the day as Ehlinger settled in. However largely, there have been moments when it was apparent the teaching employees took a really particular strategy provided that it was enjoying with a second-year quarterback who had not beforehand thrown a move in a regular-season recreation.

Working example: On the primary play of the second quarter, the Colts known as an inside run with working again Nyheim Hines, proper into the enamel of Washington’s bodily line of defense. It gained 2 yards. That call said fairly clearly the Colts had no intention of incomes a primary down contemplating it was a third-and-15 state of affairs.

Ultimately, Ehlinger confirmed he had earned the fitting to take higher liberties and made good on these alternatives. First, he hit Alec Pierce with a formidable deep ball for 47 yards. He pushed one other ball down the sector within the fourth quarter, leading to a 30-yard pass-interference name drawn by receiver Parris Campbell.

To be clear, Ehlinger can’t repair the Colts’ damaged offensive line (even when he’s extra cell and subsequently can escape stress higher than Ryan). Sunday confirmed this reality. He can also’t repair the underwhelming working recreation (Jonathan Taylor’s aggravation of an ankle damage didn’t assist, both).

Nonetheless, the Colts are telling themselves one thing about this recreation felt completely different. Time will inform if that was mere emotion from a brand new starter or one thing extra tangible.

“I do know we did not acquire, like, a thousand yards or something like that,” Reich mentioned, “however I felt at present we might discover a rhythm with what we have now on the market. I felt at present that we will put one thing collectively and proceed to get higher.”

For his half, Ehlinger sounded all the fitting notes after the sport. A four-year starter at Texas, he’s extraordinarily polished within the off-the-field facets of being a quarterback — like dealing with media.

“How are you aware you’re prepared?” he mentioned. “You by no means know when you’re prepared till you’re put within the scenario. My objective now’s simply to enhance each week. I perceive that it wasn’t adequate, and there is a variety of issues to scrub up. Simply hold enhancing each single week.”

Can Ehlinger enhance sufficient to completely change the Colts’ plans at quarterback? It’s manner too early to say. However after one begin, he’s at the least earned the fitting to maintain making an attempt.