The Indianapolis Colts Define Disappointment in 2015

Another week, another disappointing loss for the Indianapolis Colts. 

For the fifth time this season, the Colts lost, this time in a 29-26 overtime thriller to the undefeated Carolina Panthers. 

Another game, another slow start. Another comeback fallen short. 

Another game where quarterback Andrew Luck looked like the worst quarterback in the league for three quarters, then turned it on to spur a comeback that fell just short. 

Another multi-interception game for Luck. Another inconsistent defensive performance. 

The season is on repeat. 

But, it's not a repeat of a good episode. No, this is like a repeat of season nine of The Office, where it's generally awful, there's enough of the old magic to keep you interested, but in the end it leaves you empty and disappointed. 

Every game is the same script for Indianapolis, and it can't just be described as a slump. 

It starts, literally, with the slow starts. Every single week that Andrew Luck has been under center, the Colts have begun the game with a significant deficit: 

Week 1: 17-0 (2nd Quarter), 24-0 (3rd Quarter)

Week 2: 10-0 (2nd Quarter)

Week 3: 27-14 (3rd Quarter)

Week 6: 34-21 (4th Quarter)

Week 7: 20-0 (2nd Quarter), 27-0 (3rd Quarter)

Week 8: 10-0 (1st Quarter), 17-6 (3rd Quarter), 23-6 (4th Quarter)

In almost every game, Luck has thrown multiple interceptions. In five of his six starts, he's thrown multiple interceptions. He's thrown multiple touchdowns in five of six starts as well, but his ability to consistently move the offense has disappeared. 

But it's not just Luck or the offense that's been disappointing. Everything about the Colts' season has been a disappointment. 

The team has strong enough moments to get fans hopes up, but it ultimately falls short. 

Just look at the team's best players, those who have fallen short all season.

Cornerback Vontae Davis, who has had two key interceptions in the last two weeks, has gotten beat for significant plays, and he really hasn't played well this season. 

Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, like Davis, suffered a minor injury to start the season, and he has never really looked himself this season. He's had his moments (look at his big plays last week), but he hasn't been able to consistently beat defenses this year. 

Tackle Anthony Castonzo has been mediocre at best, ranking 40th out of 78 qualifying tackles in Pro Football Focus' grades (prior to the Monday night loss to Carolina). Both Castonzo and Hilton signed huge extensions this offseason. 

And then, of course, there is Luck, the biggest disappointment of them all. 

The fourth-year quarterback was supposed to elevate to new heights this season, with the most talented supporting cast he's ever had. He was supposed to lead a unit that would have a chance to break records offensively. The passing attack was supposed to be explosive, yet consistent, with a variety of weapons from every angle. 

Instead, we've seen Luck look like one of the worst quarterbacks in the league for large stretches of every game. 

On Monday, Luck was as bad as it gets for the first three quarters. The Colts run game got the offense into field-goal range a few times, but Luck didn't even look like he belonged on the field. He missed wide open receivers, throwing high, wide and short. He misread the defense before the snap, failing to adjust for blitzers that eventually killed critical third downs. He didn't see open receivers or mistimed reads.

Then, out of nowhere, he looked like the Andrew Luck of 2014. In the fourth quarter Luck led the Colts to 17 points to tie the game and send it to overtime, including a few dimes to Andre Johnson and Coby Fleener down the middle of the field. Luck knew when to take the dump-off and when to drive the ball down the field. 

Then in overtime, Luck threw the game-ending (essentially) interception, trying to force the ball to a well-covered Fleener. His completely irresponsible throw on third down with just two seconds left in regulation should have been an interception as well. 

The thing about Luck, and the Colts, is that they can play with anybody, at any time, but you never know when that will be. Luck can still make incredible plays, but his baseline for the season is below-average passing. The Colts can still hang with teams like undefeated Carolina and New England for stretches, but in the end they lost. 

How will it get fixed? 

The problem isn't just one thing. Yes, Luck seems like he's hurting physically, which matches Jay Glazer of Fox Sports' report that he has been playing through fractured ribs. But he's also been making a ton of mental mistakes, both before and after the ball is snapped. 

Yes, Luck is playing poorly, but the offensive scheme and system isn't helping him at all. It's an offense that has put him in more unfavorable positions than not. It has skill players who are struggling to play to their highest potential and give Luck a boost, whether it be by making tough catches or gaining a lot of yards after the catch. 

Yes, the players are not executing, but they also aren't being prepared well by the coaching staff. This is a team that comes out unprepared every week. It's a team that gets out-adjusted at halftime every single week. It's a team that has penalty problems every single week. It's a team that has consistently had a problem developing its drafted players over a period of time. 

The problems won't be solved with a single solution. 

And yet, Chuck Pagano and his staff trot out the same old cliches every week. 

"I think we'll be ready for Monday," Pep Hamilton told Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star last week. 

"We'll get it fixed," Chuck Pagano told Charly Arnolt of Fox 59, the same phrase he's uttered after every loss this year. 

Well, it's not fixed. It's just disappointing. 

Every. Single. Week. 

Gregg Doyel of the Indy Star hit the nail on the head: 

"

The Colts, I mean. They were terrible. And they were terrible in the same way they’ve been terrible almost every week. This team is a living, breathing, fumbling, interception-throwing, tackle-missing, no-toughness-showing testament to Einstein’s definition of insanity.

You know, the theory that doing the same thing over and over, and somehow expecting different results, is insane.

That’s the Colts. Same thing, over and over. Same results.

Insanity.

"

This is the team that was supposed to be the most talented roster the Colts had possessed in the Luck era. 

Looking at the individual pieces, it is the most talented roster the Colts have had. 

But for whatever reason, the Colts simply can't get it together. All that hype in the offseason has been for nothing.

When the Colts get on the field, they are not the Super Bowl contender they were supposed to be. This is not the record-breaking offense it was supposed to be. Andrew Luck is not the elite quarterback he was supposed to be. 

Instead, the team is just...disappointing. 

Every. Single. Week.