AFC South HC Power Ranking? Where do the Jaguars and Doug P stand entering Week 13?

3. Shane Steichen

Sometimes, it's hard to evaluate a head coach when he doesn't have the right personnel in place. That's the case of Shane Steichen in 2023. Although the Indianapolis Colts aren't fully devoid of talent, they will enter the 2024 offseason with lots of pressing needs, including but not limited to wide receiver, the offensive line, linebacker, and cornerback.

Then again, Steichen deserves credit for making chicken salad with the ingredients he had. Against projections, the Colts named rookie Anthony Richardson the starter at quarterback despite the fact that he entered the NFL with limited experience. Steichen got it right, and Richardson quickly showed he could play the position at a high level even though he was seen as a raw talent coming out of Florida.

Unfortunately, Richardson suffered a shoulder injury four games into the 2023 season, and the Colts have rolled with Gardner Minshew ever since. While Minshew hasn't morphed into an All-Pro caliber quarterback, he's been serviceable, which has been enough to help the Colts hold a 6-5 record heading into Week 13.

Steichen won't be winning the Coach of the Year award in 2023 but he certainly deserves credit for getting down to business and trying to get the most out of his players. Props to him also for moving on from linebacker Shaquille Leonard. It wasn't probably a popular decision in the Colts locker room but it had to be done given that injuries have robbed Leonard of the explosiveness that made him a First-Team All-Pro designation as recently as 2021.