Shane Steichen shares why Colts are different with Daniel Jones at QB

Coming off the Indianapolis Colts' 38-24 win at the Los Angeles Chargers that improved the Colts to 6-1 this past Sunday, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner noted how the Colts getting "consistent play from" quarterback Daniel Jones has given the club a needed spark this season. 

While speaking with reporters on Monday, Colts head coach Shane Steichen touched upon how his players are feeding off Jones' calming presence this fall.

Colts having Daniel Jones as QB1 "breeds a lot of confidence"

"I think when the trigger man behind center touches the ball every single snap, and he’s got to make a decision on every play, he drops back — there’s a ton of confidence in that because of the work he puts in. Like I said, he’s always here," Steichen explained, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "He’s always working, questions, conversations nonstop, all day, every day, football. So, yeah, it breeds a lot of confidence in our football team for sure with the way he works and the way he’s playing."

Jones joined the Colts in March via a one-year "prove it" contract and then defeated 2023 first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson Sr. in a summer competition for the Indianapolis starting job. As the Colts' undisputed QB1, Jones has produced his best stretch of play since he helped the 2022 New York Giants reach the playoffs and earn a postseason victory. 

ESPN stats show that Jones ended Week 7 ranked second in the NFL among qualified players with an 80.5 adjusted QBR and fifth with 1,790 passing yards for the campaign. Per StatMuse, only five quarterbacks tallied more combined passing and rushing touchdowns than Jones (14) over the season's first seven weeks. 

Meanwhile, the Colts lead the NFL with an average of 33.1 points scored per game. 

Why Daniel Jones' play hasn't surprised Shane Steichen

Shortly after the Colts' win over the Chargers, Jones joked that those who doubted what he could accomplish with Indianapolis back in the summer "didn't know much." On Monday, Steichen indicated he was always confident Jones could resurrect his career with the Colts after the 28-year-old went 3-13 over his final 16 starts with the Giants. 

"When I watched the tape, when I went back and looked at it, I think he’s been a great player this whole time," Steichen added. "To get him here and to see the success he’s having with the guys that we’ve got, it’s not a surprise to me right now at all."

Indianapolis's Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL with 697 rushing yards and 10 rushing scores, but it nevertheless seems as if Jones is the club's most important offensive player heading into the second half of the season. Jones and Co. will look to earn a seventh win in eight tries when the Colts host the Tennessee Titans (1-6) this coming Sunday. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, ESPN BET had Indianapolis as a 14.5-point favorite for that contest.