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Jack Doyle is Breaking Out In The Absence Of Dwayne Allen

By Keenan Alban

Oct 23, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle (84) runs after a reception during the first half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle (84) runs after a reception during the first half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Indianapolis Colts are getting big games from an unlikely source this season. Backup tight end Jack D has taken a leap few thought he could make heading into the 2016 season.

Jack Doyle is coming alive for Andrew Luck and the Colts offense at the perfect time. After Donte Moncrief got hurt in a tough game at Denver in Week 2, the Colts needed someone new to show up in the passing game. Many people thought it would be Phillip Dorsett‘s time to shine, the Colts 2015 first round pick who has come nowhere close to meeting expectations.

Dorsett continued to disappoint in the absence of Moncrief and eventually got hurt in a Week 6 matchup with Houston. Dwayne Allen, the Colts 2012 3rd round pick also injured himself in this game which comes as no surprise considering he has already missed 21 games over the course of his career. These injuries left the Colts very thin as far as pass catchers for a date at Nissan Stadium in Nashville with the Tennessee Titans.

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Obviously the Colts needed someone to step up in order to win this game. We all know Luck is one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, but in order to perform at the level he always has he was going to need a breakout performance from someone. T.Y. Hilton is great, and always has been since entering the league in 2012, but Luck can’t throw to one guy the entire game.

Many thought the breakout game would come from Chester Rogers, an undrafted free agent from Grambling State who made his appearance felt in the preseason and eventually landed himself a spot on the 53 man roster. But Rogers  only went for 30 total yards in the win against the Titans.

The man who stepped up to help Luck Sunday was backup tight end Doyle, who was starting in place of the injured Allen. Doyle had a game high nine receptions and totaled 78 yards along with the game winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. Doyle showed that if you throw it to him he will catch it.

Oct 23, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle (84) catches a pass for touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Indianapolis won 34-26. Mandatory Credit:
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports” width=”300″ height=”186″ /> Oct 23, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle (84) catches a pass for touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Indianapolis won 34-26. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

His most impressive catch of the game came in the fourth quarter when he reeled in a tipped pass while being nailed in the back by a Titans defender. The man doesn’t care about being hit and was the perfect compliment to Hilton as far as a pass catching duo. Hilton finished with seven receptions for 133 yards and a TD in the Colts 34-26 victory where Luck threw for 353 yards and 3 TD’s.

As the Colts head into a Week 8 home game against the Chiefs, they remain without tight end Allen (who could be sidelined for a few more weeks). With Moncrief and Dorsett likely to return for the Colts, Jack Doyle doesn’t have to play as big of a role for the Colts offense. Doyle will serve as the starting tight end until Allen returns and has shown that he is more than capable of filling in and helping Luck and the Colts win football games.

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