Colts mailbag: How does the offense change if Gardner Minshew starts over Anthony Ric
Colts mailbag: How does the offense change if Gardner Minshew starts over Anthony Richardson?
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Colts mailbag: How does the offense change if Gardner Minshew starts over Anthony Richardson?
Nate Atkins
Indianapolis Star
SKIP
The Colts are in the win column. The 31-20 victory over the Texans on Sunday was the first victory of the Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson tenure, even though it came tinged with some concern as Richardson left with a brain injury.
We'll be monitoring his status all week, though it's hard to project much with this type of injury. So much revolves around the quarterback and that makes theorizing about Sunday's game against the Ravens a bit of a challenge, but we'll do it nonetheless.
And part of that means reading the mail. Feel free to email questions to me at natkins@indystar.com, or follow me on Twitter, where I put out the call each week.
Let's get to it:
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew could make his 25th career start on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens if rookie starter Anthony Richardson isn't able to play.
Question: "How does scheme for Sunday’s game against the Ravens change if Gardner Minshew is starting?" -- AarBagg via Twitter
Answer: Even though Richardson and Minshew have very different physical skill sets, the passing game plan for the rookie has felt like it should be for Minshew all along.
In two game scripts, the Colts have had Richardson throwing early and often, operating from the pocket on quick-hitting plays where the first read is primarily open on crossers, hitches, screens and swings. It's been their way of easing him into the less experienced part of his game to make it feel more natural.
It's the kind of menu that Minshew has operated with for much of his career -- shotgun, run-pass-option, three steps and throws to a primary read within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage.
The obvious difference is the loss of designed runs by the quarterback. The Colts get to those after an initial wave of passing with Richardson, but they're not going to get to them at all with Minshew -- partly because he doesn't have the same wheels but also because they can't afford for him to go down. You'll see an emphasis to keep him in the pocket, where the ball comes out before he scrambles, as he's not nearly as effective throwing on the move.
GO DEEPER: 10 Colts film thoughts on Anthony Richardson, Gardner Minshew and a struggling secondary
What will likely change is how the defense guards against him. Opponents have been using lots of zone coverage with Richardson so they can keep eyes on him and contain as he scrambles. Minshew isn't the same threat, so we should see more man coverage. Baltimore runs plenty of that anyway, with a heavy stream of blitzes, so I expect the Colts to counter with quick wins in the passing game such as hitches, slants, outs and hot routes.
The run-pass-option game should stay, minus the part where Richardson reads the end to decide whether to run it himself. With Minshew, the ground game has to fall more on the shoulders of Zack Moss, who just played 98% of the snaps Sunday. When offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter faced this kind of dilemma when I covered him in Detroit, he often used the slot receiver (then Golden Tate) as an extension of the run game with quick hitters and passes into space near the line of scrimmage.
I expect Josh Downs to have more of a role with Minshew than he did with Richardson. The two have some chemistry from their days on the second team during training camp.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie could see a gadget role this season as the team's fourth wide receiver.
Question: "I’m surprised with the lack of 'gadget plays' designed for McKenzie. Do you think we will see more of that as the playbook gets opened?" -- Chris Taylor via Twitter
Answer: The Colts initially started McKenzie in a battle with Downs for the starting slot position, which is a high-snap, stable role to provide singles to the offense. Downs won that battle, and so McKenzie became the fourth receiver on a team that starts three. He's not an outside option, so to get value for him offensively while Downs is healthy, they'll need to incorporate some specific designs around his shiftiness and speed.
We saw it as they motioned him from out wide into the backfield and threw a swing pass. I think we could see some more backfield looks like that with motion that reveals whether the defense is in man or zone. Those plays can also be an extension of the run game.
It's something that has to unfold bit by bit with a rookie quarterback trying to master the basic levels of the playbook first. Wednesday practices are about installing first- and second-down plays, so the more Wednesdays they get with McKenzie, the more packages they can look into for him.
Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson is currently in the NFL's concussion protocol.
Question: "What are some of the hurdles Anthony Richardson and Ryan Kelly are going to have to clear to pass the concussion protocol?" -- Steve via Twitter
Answer: The protocol has five stages players must work through in order to return from a brain injury:
Rest and recovery
Light aerobic exercise
Introduction of strength training
Football-specific activities
Full clearance of football activities by an independent neurologist
Players must get in a non-contact practice as well as a full-contact practice in order to play. Richardson and Kelly sat out Wednesday's practice, but they have Thursday through Saturday to clear these steps.
Because Richardson is a quarterback, he really just needs two non-contact days, since all practices are in the red non-contact jersey at that position. He was at Wednesday's practice in street clothes, which is at least a sign of early progress, as teams don't allow players around teammates and out in the sun if the symptoms are too severe.
It's all impossible to predict because everyone has different levels and timing on symptoms, different baselines of functions they have to return to and different histories with brain injuries. Richardson and Kelly have both been diagnosed with at least one before, but it depends on the severity of the previous ones as well as the current one.
GO DEEPER:Inside Anthony Richardson's brain injury and the toughest decision for a rookie to make
Just because they clear the protocol by Saturday does not mean they're automatic to play. Tight end Drew Ogletree did that this week and the Colts held him out. Of course, they need Richardson and Kelly more. But it's a risk to play a road game on little practice time, too, especially with the blitzes Baltimore will throw at them. This will all be part of the calculation on what to risk this week.
Question: "What is Chris Ballard's view on Minshew’s trade value as of now?" -- Justun Bonham via Twitter
Answer: I understand why teams would make calls on Minshew, who has 24 career starts. But from the Colts' perspective, I really don't see trading him as an option this season, short of some offer they just can't refuse, like a second-round pick.
It's not an option with Richardson in the concussion protocol, and the fact that he's exited two games in two weeks with injury concerns shows how important that backup position is going to be with his style of play. It helps to have an experienced backup with a playing style his offensive coaches know and trust.
But perhaps just as important is what Minshew can do for Richardson when both are healthy. Remember, Minshew was the backup to Jalen Hurts for his first two seasons starting for Steichen. They did so much together, from dissecting Hurts' film to breaking down opponents to talking through the playbook to working on their drop-back and throwing mechanics, and Hurts did nothing but improve on that week-to-week grind. A veteran voice in the room is always a piece of developing a raw, young quarterback (see what Alex Smith did for Patrick Mahomes, Tyrod Taylor for Justin Herbert, Tony Romo for Dak Prescott, etc.). I think you'll find that a number of busts never had a reliable teammate at the same position to help navigate the immense weight of the position.
Whatever the Colts could get in return isn't likely to match whatever positive impact he can make on the new face of the franchise.
Indianapolis Colts All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor has yet to practice this season.
Question: "The hell is going on with JT (Jonathan Taylor) lol?" -- Logan Sparks via Twitter
Answer: That is the million-dollar question, and it can't be answered quickly. Heck, I wrote 5,000 words on it in one sitting because there's so much to unpack.
The short, up-to-date version is that Taylor is on the Physically Unable to Perform List at least through next Sunday's game against the Rams. The Colts are hopeful they'll get their All-Pro runner back in Week 5, which is why they haven't pulled the trigger on a bigger running back addition. But it's still just hope, as they haven't been in control of where he's been or when he's returning since this standoff began.
GO DEEPER: Jonathan Taylor and the Colts were a perfect marriage. Can they avoid a messy divorce?
Taylor is out with "pain in the ankle," according to general manager Chris Ballard, and only one person can say when that clears. Taylor is steadfast in wanting a market-rate, multi-year deal with guarantees ahead of a possible injury, like he suffered three times to the ankle last season. The Colts want to see him return to health and deliver his value in Steichen's scheme first. The franchise tag remains the elephant in the room, and the Colts haven't been willing to promise not to use it, and Taylor hasn't been willing to budge as a result.
Will that clear up in 10 days? I have doubts that it's all going to get rosy again, short of a major extension coming down. And I wouldn't rule out a trade if things don't seem to be getting any better, which they haven't yet, seeing as he's not even around the team during games.
If no trade happens by the Oct. 31 deadline, I do expect to see Taylor on the field. How much and in what mood he's in are up in the air.
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