To say the Colts struggled to pass the ball this week would be an understatement. Before we get too deep into it, let’s look at Anthony Richardson’s passing chart.
He spread the ball around a bit, not locking onto one part of the field. That’s good! Also, we can knock one interception off his total there, because Hail Mary interceptions shouldn’t count. That’s the platform I’m running for office on.
One thing these charts don’t account for are the drops. And there were quite a few drops. PFF has them listed with three, but I’ve yet to find a place that accurately charts drops. Most places tend to skew more charitable to the receiver, which is fine except it makes it hard to get the full view of the QB. Personally, I counted 5 passes that hit a receiver in the hand that ended up being incomplete. There’s also a spike thrown in for good measure. So not a great day for Richardson, but it could have been a little better with some help from his receivers.
Richardson had an ADOT (Average Depth of Target) of 11.6. That’s down from his 16.4 ADOT we saw in Week 1, but still higher than the 2023 ADOT Leader, Will Levis (11.1). So I don’t expect the number to be this high every week, but maybe it will. The Colts certainly have the speed and weapons to try to operate that way, but they’ll need to be better in the short-to-intermediate areas to be a more consistent offense.
There were flashes from this passing offense that were really exciting, but, for the most part, they remained flashes. Moments of brilliance, bridged by moments of madness.
Let’s look at a fun play before we get out of here. This is Adonai’s Mitchell only catch of the game: a 30 yard gain on 1st & 10 early in the 4th quarter.
With the Colts down 16-3, the Packers come out with a two-high safety look. It looks like the Packers know the Colts need to pass and are looking to put an umbrella over the offense. The two deep safeties for the Packers are Xavier McKinney [29] and Evan Williams [33].
On the left side, the Colts are looking to take a shot, with Alec Pierce [14] running a post from the outside and Adonai Mitchell [10] running an out-and-up from the slot.
Just before the snap, McKinney bails to the post and Williams drives down on Mitchell, changing from a two-high safety defense to a single-high. It’s a nice bit of disguise and solid rotation, but the Colts have the perfect play-call on and Richardson sees the defensive rotation and knows exactly where to go with the ball.
By firing down hard on the slot, Williams leaves himself open to a double-move, which is exactly what Mitchell is doing. Williams follows Mitchell on the out, but can’t catch up when Mitchell turns upfield.
With Pierce dragging the boundary defender to the middle of the field, there’s an ocean of space for Mitchell.
Richardson throws a perfect ball, dropping over the top of Williams and to the outside where the closing Carrington Valentine [24] can’t get to it.
Nicely done all the way around.
Album listened to: Haley Heynderickx – I Need to Start a Garden
