Matt Ryan, QB, showed great command in his first offseason with the Indianapolis Colts – Indianapolis Colts Blog

INDIANAPOLIS — Another offseason of training with a new quarterback was held. Indianapolis Colts This week: Last week with Matt Ryan under center.

The Colts’ fifth quarterback change in five years had a completely different feeling than the one that took place last season. Carson Wentz.

They felt the same feeling in 2020 when they added veteran. Philip Rivers The type where there were fewer questions at the quarterback than in 2017. Andrew Luck’s shoulder injury; in 2018, when Luck had thrown a football only a few times after missing the 2017 season; in 2019 with Luck’s calf injury; and in 2021 with Wentz as a whole.

Ryan did nothing but turn heads and earn constant praise during the team’s workouts for nearly the past two months, including last week’s mandatory minicamp.

“Matt was unbelievable, did a great job, great command — really, A-Z,” Colts coach Frank Ryan said. “He did everything right — just great leadership, great play. I mean the whole way he took command, great collaborating as an offensive staff with him to kind of work in and nuance some of the things we do to kind of suit him and his style.”

Ryan was a questionable acquisition by the Colts from the Atlanta Falcons March

One of his biggest weaknesses was the amount of arm strength that the 37-year old had left. It didn’t take long to realize he still has plenty of arm strength and accuracy, which was a weakness for Wentz. During workouts, Wentz was often praised for his ability to place the ball perfectly or very close to the target.

“With Matt, that ball is out,” tight end Mo Alie-Cox Reporters were informed. “Like, you come out your break, you gotta be ready. ’Cause it’s not this slow, turn your head. Turn your head. [and] the ball’s going to be on you. But it’s always going to be on point.”

Ryan’s résumé is loaded with plenty of individual career success: 59,735 pass yards, 367 touchdowns, four Pro Bowls and 2016 NFL MVP.

Ryan was familiar with his new team after spending the first 14 of his years with the Falcons. Ryan had to adapt as he got to know his new teammates, Reich, who is a coach and has been a quarterback for 13 years.

Reich says that adjusting to a new quarterback has never been a problem since he started with the Colts in 2018. Ryan was fortunate to have only three head coaches during his 14 seasons playing for the Falcons.

“I’ve really enjoyed spending time with [Reich] in the meeting room, getting a feel for his philosophy as a coach and the things that he believes in,” Ryan said. “Getting to know him as a person, you’re not going to find a better person than him. I really feel like we’ve made a lot of good strides in the last two months in terms of getting on the same page and communicating.

“I think we’ve done a good job of that, and we’re going to have to continue to push that envelope as we get to training camp. It’s different when you’re in-game and there’s wins and losses attached to it. It’s different. … I think we’re off to a really good start.”

The Colts improved their defense by adding Gus Bradley, defensive coordinator, and John Fox, senior defensive assistant John Fox to their staff. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore Pass-rusher and Yannick Ngakoue Holdovers are a good choice. Darius Leonard DeForest Buckner.

But no matter how you look at it, the key to the Colts’ success will hinge on how productive Ryan is at helping the Colts get back to the playoffs for just the third time since 2014 after coming up short in 2021.

And it’s not just about the stats either. That’s because Wentz was productive last season on paper, throwing 27 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. But he didn’t lead in the locker room, was too erratic at times throwing the ball and failed to come through late in the season when the Colts needed him to step up his play.

Ryan, according to those within the organization, is a improvement in all those areas that Wentz lacked.

They will only know if they are correct in time.

Ryan will spend the next six weeks throwing to his pass-catchers, in small groups, to get them up and running when the team returns to camp in late July.

“You have to learn the offense. You have to know what you’re talking about. You have to be able to speak their language,” he said. “That’s the thing I said from the start is that you’ve got to help me here, too.”