Colts' Shane Steichen Has Found a Go-To Short Yardage Play: Film

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson may be unstoppable in short-yardage situations on this run call.

Nov 17, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) scores a touchdown over New York Jets safety Jalen Mills (35) and defensive end Micheal Clemons (72) in the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images / Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

The Indianapolis Colts' offense has had its fair share of struggles on third down this season, but this new wrinkle in the offense my have solved some of the team's woes in short yardage situations.

With Anthony Richardson returning to the starting lineup, the playbook has once again become creative for the Colts. Quarterback run plays are back on the menu and, while the Colts don't want to run Richardson 20 times a game, the athletic passer essentially adds another running back to the field on short-yardage calls.

One call that has been money for the Colts in recent Richardson starts has been the QB sweep call. The team likes to dress it up in multiple ways, but the essential aspect of the play is getting Richardson out in space and forcing cornerbacks to come up and tackle him before he gets to the sticks.

Shane Steichen has called this play four times in short-yardage situations in the past three Richardson starts, resulting in two fourth down conversions and a game-winning touchdown against the New York Jets this past weekend on third and goal. The only failed attempt came against the Miami Dolphins when Richardson lost his footing in the open field.

I really love the Colts' QB Sweep designs on short yardage situations with Anthony Richardson. Make cornerbacks have to tackle him in space with a few yards to go pic.twitter.com/05pFiiKDw3

— Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2) November 19, 2024

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The clever design of the sweep run is how the Colts dress it up differently each time. Against the Dolphins, the Colts used a push motion to move the running back out of the backfield and then motioned the back again to fake the jet sweep. Against the Houston Texans, the Colts ran a read option keeper on the sweep. Against the Jets, the running back was simply motioned out of the backfield to put Richardson in empty.

Regardless of how the Colts dress up this play in the backfield, the core elements of the call remain the same. Richardson is taking the snap and breaking to the outside as the Colts are running a pin/pull sweep with the receivers pinning down the line and the tight end and offensive tackle play side pulling out in front.

This design gives Richardson a convoy to the edge and forces smaller defenders to take on blocks while also somehow taking down a 250 pound quarterback in the open field.

What a call for the win! 🏆 QB Sweep 🧹 away from Push Motion 🤚#ForTheShoe #RTDB pic.twitter.com/4XL1N1k2NS

— Run The Damn Ball (@Run_TheDamnBall) November 18, 2024

Steichen likely had a few different influences when installing this type of play into his playbook. Todd Monken (Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator) has run a similar type of play with Lamar Jackson over the past two seasons. The Ravens like to pull the guard and center out front of Jackson on their design but the core aspect of the call is quite similar.

Another potential influence could be Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss Head Coach) at the collegiate level. Kiffin has long used QB sweep in the red zone with a fair amount of window dressing in the backfield. The pin/pull action is also quite similar to how the Colts run their play, but the Colts just add more variations to their backfield motion.

Lane Kiffin has also had QB sweep pin/pull in his playbook for years as a redzone run. pic.twitter.com/2exW0HZQn2

— Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2) November 19, 2024

Regardless of how the Colts went about adding this run to their playbook, the result is a key staple to the teams' short yardage call sheet. This team has lacked an identity on offense all season long and has been in desperate need of surefire staples to lean on when the game gets tight. This play, while not to be used too many times in one game, is a near-unstoppable short-yardage call that the Colts can rely on when needed.

The quarterback sweep led to a game-winning touchdown against the Jets this past weekend, and I'm sure it will bring even more positive conversions for the offense going forward.

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