Colts Have Serious Need To Open Up The Passing Game

Those of you who have watched the games through the first two weeks of the 2019 season, must have noticed the clear trend in the play calling. The Indianapolis Colts have had the third most rushing attempts in the NFL only trailing behind the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers.

Marlon Mack currently has the most carries in the NFL (not including Derrick Henry who has already played week three on TNF). So far this has been an effective tactic for the Colts as they won last week’s division game against the Titans and were very competitive week one in Los Angeles. The Colts have not had too much of a problem moving the ball down the field thus far. But is this rushing productivity sustainable?

As stated before the Colts are third in both rushing attempts per game as well as rushing yards per game, while they are scraping the bottom of the barrel in passing categories. As it stands right now going into week three, the Colts stand at 29th in the league with pass attempts per game and a lack luster 32nd (last) in the NFL.

These statistics are slightly surprising as Jacoby Brissett has moved the ball with ease and have had tremendous success in the red-zone. There was a slight uptick in shots down the field and longer progressing plays in week 2, but with you have to think that there has to be more pass plays coming in the coming weeks for the Indianapolis Colts.

Interestingly enough, the Indianapolis have had tremendous success running the ball but haven’t been truly utilizing the play-action pass game, which is the bread and butter of a productive offense.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not questioning Frank Reich and his play calling, Reich is a unique offensive mind and obviously it has been working out so far. But, in the weeks to come the Colts are matched up against better offenses comparatively to weeks one and two, as the Colts play the Falcons at home this Sunday and in week 5 the Colts travel to Arrowhead to face the high octane offense led by Patrick Mahomes.

With these high scoring opponents the Colts must continue to grow in the new look offense and develop the playbook to compete. The Colts have looked good so far this season, in order to make the push to win the division or earn a playoff berth there has to be an increase of production through the air.