Colts Rookie WR Phillip Dorsett Ready to be a Playmaker
By Evan Reller
The Indianapolis Colts baffled analysts across the nation when they selected Miami wide receiver Phillip Dorsett in the first round of the NFL Draft. The pick seemed like a luxury as the team was stocked at the position and had greater need elsewhere (like defense).
As OTAs and minicamp progressed, we learned that Dorsett has blazing speed and looks like a valuable weapon in Andrew Luck‘s arsenal. We also learned that the move may have alienated T.Y. Hilton, as Dorsett is basically a clone of Hilton who is heading into a contract year.
Contract disputes aside, on the field Dorsett looks like he could be a very talented player even in his rookie year. He recently spoke with Around the NFL about his role with the team and how he wants to be a playmaker in the NFL.
"“I consider myself a playmaker,” Dorsett said from the NFL Rookie Symposium. “I want to be able to earn their trust and be a guy that they can look to to make a big play and make a play anytime. I just want to earn their trust and that’s it right now.”“I feel really great about the playbook. I learned most of it,” he said. “Everything that they installed at OTAs and minicamp I’ve learned. All the positions: X, F, Y, Z. I learned them all. I love football and studying football, so it hasn’t been really that hard for me.”"
Coach Chuck Pagano has spoken about all the rookies and one of the common themes is how quickly they are assimilating the playbook and fitting into the scheme. Dorsett doesn’t appear to be an exception but it will be interesting to see how he is used with the trio of experienced receivers the Colts have on the roster.
With Hilton, Andre Johnson, and Donte Moncrief the only logical thing to do is run a spread offense. The odds of that happening with Pagano in charge of the team are staggeringly low. However the mere thought of Johnson and Moncrief on the outside with Hilton and Dorsett in the slots is going to keep a few defensive coordinators awake next season.
Dorsett earned a reputation in college based on a fairly small body of work. He had just 36 receptions for 871 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final year at Miami (largely due to inadequate QB play).
The Colts biggest problem on offense in 2015 might just be keeping everybody happy. Luck is going to have his fair share of options downfield, and Dorsett might be the next in a long line of great receivers to play in Indianapolis.