The Colts believe Carson Wentz can help transform their team into Super Bowl contenders. Quarterback play will make or break Indianapolis in 2021.
Chris Ballard and Indianapolis’ front office continued to methodically build their roster towards Super Bowl contention this offseason.
Carson Wentz’s acquisition was the only real “splashy” move the Colts made. There’s a ton of pressure on the veteran signal-caller to show that his erratic play as an Eagle was just a product of the mediocre talent around him.
The good news for Wentz is he’ll be supported by one of the best rushing attacks in football. The Colts would like to improve on their rushing total of 1,996 yards from a season ago and they view the potential balance Wentz can bring to the offense as a reason why that’s possible.
Colts fans are right to be anxious about returning to the ranks of Super Bowl contenders. They need a few breaks to reach that rarified air in 2021.
Best-case scenario
The Colts can be big winners if Wentz recaptures anything resembling the form that made him a bona fide MVP candidate in Philadelphia. Reuniting with head coach Frank Reich does give him a meaningful chance to do just that.
That doesn’t make it the most likely scenario, but it’s not impossible. If Wentz spins the ball like a Pro Bowler then he’ll make the Colts offense unstoppable.
Worst-case scenario
The easy answer is that Wentz plays like the guy who looked completely lost during his final season with the Eagles. He’s got a better infrastructure to work with in Indianapolis, but that might not be enough to rebuild his fragile confidence.
Interestingly, the worst-case scenario for the Colts in the long run is that Wentz performs like an average starter in 2021. They need clarity at the quarterback position. If Wentz’s future is unclear when this season ends it presents the team’s front office with a major headache.
X-factor
Colts fans have every reason to be excited by Kwity Paye’s potential on the defensive side of the ball. He flashed elite skills during the preseason and the team’s coaching staff is hoping that translates to solid production during his rookie season.
Playing next to DeForest Buckner should give Paye plenty of opportunities to work one-on-one against opposing tackles. That gives him a great opportunity to flirt with double-digit sacks on the season.
Biggest game
Week 3’s trip to Tennessee could be pivotal for a Colts team that isn’t quite sure whether or not they have what it takes to threaten for a division crown. Stopping Derrick Henry could turn into a watershed moment for Indianapolis’ proud defense.
Getting run over by Henry and torched by a few big plays from the Titan’s star-studded wide receiver corps could doom Indianapolis to mediocrity on the year. It’s a high-stakes game early in the season for Wentz and Co.
Bold prediction
The Colts want to run the ball early and often this season and Jonathan Taylor will be a big part of that equation. The bold prediction is that Marlon Mack will reemerge to the point that he makes it a timeshare in the Indianapolis backfield.
That might frustrate fantasy owners who are drafting Taylor in the early rounds, but splitting carries is a sound strategy for a team with aspirations of a lengthy postseason run. If Mack returns to 100 percent from injury he’s got a great chance to rack up 150+ carries.