The Indianapolis Colts took a step back in the 2021 NFL season. After winning just enough to make the playoffs in the prior season with an 11-5 record, albeit losing in the Wild Card, the Colts missed the postseason in the 2021 campaign with a mediocre 9-8 record. The Colts had a clear shot at clinching a playoff spot late in the regular season. They could have done so with a win in either Week 17 against the Las Vegas Raiders at home and in Week 18 on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

But the Colts whiffed on both chances to lose control of their playoff destiny. As a result, the Colts have been sent to an early vacation, which, at the very least, means more time for them to think about their future, including the fixes they need to make in the offseason to become a better team ready to bounce back in 2022. There are a number of holes the Colts need to address on both ends of the field, and with that said, here are three of the items Indianapolis must focus on making improvements to make it back to the playoffs.

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3 major fixes the Colts must make

3. Boost the receiving corps

If not for the legs of running back Jonathan Taylor, the Colts’ offense would have been a wasteland in 2021. The Colts finished the regular season fifth in rush play percentage (47.43%) and just 28th in pass play rate (52.57%). Outside of Michael Pittman Jr. who broke out in 2021, no Colts receiver of any position posted more than 384 receiving yards. The next most productive receiver to Pittman was Zach Pascal, who had 384 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 38 receptions.

After Pittman and Pascal, the next four most targeted players in the Colts’ passing attack are non-wide receivers, with tailbacks Nyheim Hines and Taylor third and fourth, respectively. After those names are tight ends Jack Doyle and Mo Ali-Cox. Pittman basically functioned without a big WR2 threat across him. To sustain Pittman’s growth as a dependable downfield option, the Colts need someone more reliable to line up across the field. T.Y. Hilton used to be consistently dependable for the Colts, but he’s already past his prime and most importantly, a looming free agent – just like Pascal.

Whether the Colts want to retain any of them, they still have to make wide receiver upgrades that they could find in the free agency. Some targets are headliners Allen Robinson and Davante Adams. There are also the likes of Odell Beckham Jr. and DJ Chark.

2. Prevent pass rush from getting worse

According to Football Outsiders, the Colts concluded the regular season ranked just 25th overall in adjusted defensive sack rate (5.6%). It could get worse in 2022. For one, Indianapolis has Al-Quadin Muhammad, Tyquan Lewis, and Kemoko Turay all soon-to-be free agents. Between the three, they racked up a total of 14 sacks in the 2021 NFL season, which is a huge chunk of the team’s total sack count of 33 – also just 26th overall. Indianapolis’ front office can’t ignore the situation of their pass rush.

There is true promise in the unit despite the aforementioned numbers, and it would be a big disappointment if the Colts failed to build on what the group had done in 2021, especially since they still have control of stud defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who is fresh off a seven-sack campaign.

The Colts averaged 1.9 takeaways per contest in 2021 and that’s with a lukewarm pass rush. If the Colts’ offense doesn’t take a leap in 2022, Indianapolis will be kept afloat hopefully by a more mature and developed defense that’s anchored on the strong pass rush. If the Colts couldn’t hold on – or let some of these key pass rushers go – they can replenish what they lost through free agency, with guys like Arden Key, Efe Obada, and Lorenzo Carter as high-value replacements. 

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1. Find a better replacement for Carson Wentz

Carson Wentz is on the hot seat. Even if the Colts sneaked into the playoffs, he still could have been sitting on one. He has been inconsistent all throughout his 2021 stint under center for Indianapolis, which averaged just 197.7 passing yards per game. The Colts were sixth with 3.1 touchdowns per game, but most of the credit for that goes to Taylor.

Indianapolis rolled the dice on Wentz last year by getting him from the Philadelphia Eagles at the expense of a couple of picks. But after seeing Wentz shoot the team in the foot by blowing up in the final two games of the season, it’s probably time for the Colts to take a gamble again for a new quarterback.

Wentz went just 33/56 for 333 passing yards and two touchdowns with two turnovers, while also getting thrown to the ground seven times in Weeks 17 to 18. He got sacked six times by the Jaguars in the regular-season finale, and even though that’s not entirely his fault,  it helps tell everything one needs to know why Wentz is never going to be the answer at the quarterback position for Indianapolis.