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NFL.com: Luck to Moncrief Top 10 ‘Rising Pitch-and-Catch Combo’

By Luke Schultheis

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According to NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks, the Indianapolis Colts have one of the NFL’s Top 10 “Rising Pitch-and-Catch Combos”. Only this time, it’s emerging 2nd-year wideout Donte Moncrief that drew the high praise of a well-known league expert, along with his superstar quarterback in Andrew Luck of course:

"Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck to Donte Moncrief"

"The offseason arrivals of Andre Johnson and Phillip Dorsett have dominated the headlines, but it is the continued emergence of Moncrief as an explosive playmaker that’s poised to make the Colts’ offense one of the most difficult units to defend in football.The 6-foot-2, 221-pounder is an electric athlete with exceptional speed (having posted a 4.40 40-yard dash at the 2014 combine) and leaping ability (he recorded a 39.5-inch vertical jump and 132-inch broad jump), and he is quickly developing into a polished vertical route runner on the perimeter. Moncrief uses a variety of clever stutter-steps and hesitation moves at the top of his routes to lull defenders to sleep, allowing Luck to target him on deep balls when opponents roll coverage in T.Y. Hilton’s direction.With the Colts suddenly trotting out a star-studded lineup featuring dynamic playmakers all over the field, Moncrief’s ability to win against one-on-one coverage could make him a highly productive WR3."

While wideouts like T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson, and even rookie Phillip Dorsett have drawn the majority of the offseason headlines, it’s easy to forget that Moncrief is coming off a really impressive rookie season in which he caught 32 receptions for 444 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. On a receiving corps that was largely hindered by injury and ineffectiveness outside of Hilton late last season, Moncrief played his way into becoming the team’s #2 wideout for all intensive purposes.Blessed with soft hands, the 2nd-year pro also possesses the rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism that could make him one of the league’s best wideouts in time. Further helping his cause, he’s already shown a special bond with his quarterback in Luck too. After all, who can forget a play like this:

Right now, it’s unclear who will get the majority of the snaps behind Hilton and Johnson in 3-wideout sets, as both Moncrief and Dorsett will be competing for such responsibilities in what figures to be a healthy competition.

However, in what should be a wide-open Colts offense, Moncrief is poised to make an impact next season regardless. He’s an incredibly talented 2nd-year wideout and should take yet another step forward into becoming an elite NFL wideout, while forming a rising pitch-and-catch combo with his star quarterback in Luck along the way.

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