The Indianapolis Colts have fallen in the ranks during mid-season and find themselves in a win-or-die game this weekend against the Titans. The only saving grace is the Texans are taking on New England on Sunday Night Football and will hopefully fall to within a half-game of the Indianapolis Colts on the season.
Even while the season hasn’t been the most successful, the Colts do have some bright spots and room to build on for the 2020 NFL season as well as holes they need to be filled. Even though the NFL is first and foremost a business, I also understand some players are happy where they are and look to stay there, while others want to get out of the situations they’re in – Nick Foles in Philly last year is a good example.
Anthony Costanzo
Super Powers
Pass-Blocking, Run-Blocking, Good Hands, Footwork
Weaknesses
Bull Rush
Sidekicks
Arch Nemesis
Anthony Castonzo has been the anchor for this offensive line for the past few years and (hopefully) beyond the 2019 season. Castonzo is a must for this team as durable and good tackles, even more so, blindside, are hard to come by in the draft.
Offensive linemen are coached differently in college than they are in the NFL and techniques are different so finding one that can start day one is very, very hard. Eric Fisher is one that comes to mind who was one of the most NFL ready in years and even he struggled to go up against the more elite edge defenders.
Castonzo is on an offensive line that has gone from one of the worst of the previous decade to one of the best in a matter of years with Chris Ballard and Frank Reich at the helm of this team. Together with Quenton Nelson, they create a normally weak-side running direction for most teams into a strength for this one. Not to mention in 767 snaps he’s only had 1 penalty and allowed 3 sacks.
Castonzo is a must sign for the Colts this offseason and probably one to sign before free agency officially opens so he doesn’t hit the open market.
Jack Doyle
Super Powers
Route Runner, Run Blocker, Edge Setter, Good Hands
Weaknesses
Struggles to get off press coverage, can't play well on the outside
Sidekicks
Arch Nemesis
Doyle has been one of the best targets for Andrew Luck and Jacoby Brissett these past few years, and ever since the great Dallas Clark left the team. However, Doyle can help the running game and can set an edge as well.
He works best lined up on the left with Castonzo and getting a chip on a pass-rusher before he runs his route; not to mention he runs incredible routes. Even though he’s a little slow, he makes up for it in route running and being a leader on this team. The NFL is much more than a players’ league; it’s also about leadership qualities in the locker room and off the field too.
On 39 targets he’s caught 30 for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns with a 10.1 average. While not lighting up the scoreboard, he makes up for it in his contributions to the running game. The Reich offense is built on a strong running game and play-action passing to make the linebackers come up from coverage and forcing the ball in the middle against the Cover 2 defense.
However, Doyle does great on crossing routes and what’s most important is his aggressive play. He doesn’t just go out of bounds but rather he makes contact with the defender and uses his body to shield the ball from the defender.
Doyle is another must-sign free agent before he hits the open market. There are teams that need a tight end and would love to sign him. Teams like New England, Denver, and the Titans come to mind and would pay top dollar for him.
Eric Ebron
Super Powers
Matchup Nightmare for opposing Teams,' Can play at TE and Wide Receiver, Fast, Red Zone Target
Weaknesses
Drops the ball too often
Sidekicks
Arch Nemesis
Hear me out before you click away from this article. I know the Colts fanbase isn’t that thrilled with Ebron right now, and really hasn’t been this entire season so far. However, he is a strength to this team and there’s no questioning that.
Eric Ebron is a matchup nightmare for opposing teams and even you know it. He’s too tall and big for a defensive back to cover and he’s too fast for a linebacker to cover one-on-one, which makes him perfect as a red-zone target.
One of my favorite football jokes is “how many Steeler fans does it take to change a light bulb?” The answer is “None. They all just sit around and talk about how great the last one was.” Which seems to be true when it comes to Ebron.
Everyone is comparing him to last year and fans should understand this team, and offense in particular, had a very different identity. The Colts were a pass-first team with Andrew Luck and now they’re a run-first team using the power of play-action passing.
The best weapon for a quarterback who’s still (kind of) developing into his own playing style is Jacoby Brissett. Not to mention, the Colts have a lack of passing options outside of Doyle and Hilton. If you’re a defensive coordinator for the opposing team all you have to do is shut down Hilton and Doyle then play 8 in the box and you’ve won the game.
Take a look at some of the most prolific offensives right now and they all have one thing in common: more than one weapon. Kansas City can beat you with 5 different weapons – they’re all through the air albeit, but the point still stands, Green Bay has multiple offensive weapons, including a fantastic tight-end, and even the Ravens have multiple weapons including a very good running game.
Yes, Ebron has his struggles, but put both Doyle and Ebron on the field along with Hilton and Mack then you have a team that’s hard to stop. Don’t count him out simply because he’s had a bad year. This team is better with than without him and letting him walk in free agency would be a huge mistake.
Devin Funchess: Funchess went down in week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers due to a clavicle injury and looks likely to miss a few more weeks. However, the big-bodied receiver adds another weapon to the Colts offense and paired with the deep threat Hilton and the matchup nightmare Ebron, this receiving core doesn’t look bad.
Jabaal Sheard: Sheard is a veteran with a lot of experience and can set an edge. However, he turns 32 in 2020 and the draft is full of interior and edge defenders who usually transfer well to the NFL from the college level. I’ve been very outspoken of the Colts looking at Derrick Brown in the first round of the draft this year.
Clayton Geathers: If it’s one thing the Colts have noticed this year is their lack of depth in the secondary and how valuable Malik Hooker is to this defense. Also, he’s played in this defense for a while and knows the playbook I’d rather keep him than have someone off the street who doesn’t know the playbook.