One of the (several) blockbuster moves this NFL offseason was the trade of Carson Wentz from the Eagles to the Colts. Philly moved on from the former second overall pick, while Indy will now have their fourth Week 1 starting quarterback in as many years.
The fallout from this trade will be significant, and will take years to take shape. One of the people who will be most impacted by however it turns out is Colts head coach Frank Reich, and in a recent interview with Albert Breer of SI.com he opened up about the deal for his new quarterback. Perhaps most interestingly, Reich revealed that the team was originally planning on drafting a signal-caller before they stumbled into the Wentz tradee.
“Was it going to be a draft pick? Honestly, I think Chris and I were thinking, somehow we were going to figure out how we were going to be able to draft the quarterback of our future. And then this thing came with Carson and it fell into our laps,” Reich said.
The “figure out how” part makes it seem like the Colts and GM Chris Ballard were plotting a trade up in order to draft one of this class’ top passers. It’s fun to think about how that alternate history would’ve played out. Reich expressed confidence that Wentz can turn things around after his disastrous 2020 season, and said he doesn’t need to go all the way back to 2017 to see that, but just the year before last.
“All you had to do, for me, was turn on the film in 2019, and with four games to go the Eagles needed to win out. And not only did they need to win out, but in each of those games, as I recall, looking at the film, Carson had to play great in the second half, and play a major role in that team winning those games in the second half,” he explained.
Reich also made it clear he doesn’t want to be viewed as a guru who’s going to work his magic and reinvent Wentz on his own. “I’ve already had a conversation with Carson, to say, ‘O.K., everybody’s throwing the word fix around and I get it,’” Reich said. “I wanted to get that off the table with Carson, because as a coach, you’re not trying to make it all about you. I’m not the fixer.”
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Kinda crazy reich was a replacement for mcdaniels when he back out and he has been a pretty solid hc.
It is wild to think about. It’s worked out quite well! I’d be happy as a Colts fan.
McDaniels choked w/o Tom at QB. So did Bill. Says what Tom brought to the organization more so than them.
arty! It’s pretty unfair to give all the credit to Brady based on 1 year. Brady got to leave and join the perfect situation for himself. It’s like if Brady resigned in New England and Belichick went off to coach the Packers or Chiefs last year. Obviously Bill’s team would’ve been better.
They had some notable opt outs last year and this is the first time they’ve had flexibility to make real FA moves since Brady left.
I agree. But there’s a big difference between being 7-9 and SB winner/MVP as well. Tom has bragging rights.
That was an entirely different team between this year and last year. Tom got as many weapons as possible. Pit him on the team Winston had and it’s a different story
He replaced Winston. The prior season was J’s famous 30TD’s/30Picks year.
Brady replaced Winston, but the Bucs never cared to support him or develop him. 5,100 yards and 33 TD’s is nothing to scoff and since we’ve seen the bricks for hands that guys have so those 30 INT’s aren’t all on him. Brady accepted the job because it was the perfect situation and they got a semi just thinking about signing him.
As an Eagles fan, I wish the Colts good luck with Wentz. He was brutal last season. He enjoys taking sacks and loves to try to force the ball into double coverage. He’s cooked and Reich isn’t going to be able to fix him.
Because the eagles are a model organization lol
As an Eagles fan I disagree. He did suck last year that part is true and there is no arguing that at all.
But he took all those sacks because of injuries to Lane Johnson, Brandon Brooks and Andre Dillard. Lane and Brandon are elite linemen and vital parts of the offence and Dillard was a first round pick and would’ve played a role.
He forced the ball because the pressure of the line and cause his receivers sucked. Ertz, Jackson, Reagor, Jeffery, JAW and Watkins were all had down years. These 6 dudes were suppose to be his best options and with no one getting above 400 yards and only 2 getting more than 300 yards… Their best receiver was Detroit’s 2019 6th round pick Travis Fulgham who had 500 yards and 4 TDs.
Pretty easy to cover the receivers when they have a bench of injured and old dudes and some undrafted lawn chairs out there.
So lastly he’s definitely not cooked and will hopefully thrive under his former OC. He will have better protection, better running options and receivers that aren’t so old and injured. Indy needs to add some catchers but I think even as currently built they will be good
Not sure I’d want my HC evaluating players on the basis of 2 season old film but Wentz should at least be an adequate stopgap for the Colts until the next Andrew Luck arrives.
You can’t be effective when you’re being hit. Wentz will also have a good running game.