Colts: What to expect from Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr. in 2020
The Colts are expecting a lot from their promising rookie class in 2020.
General manager Chris Ballard most certainly did not draft both running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in the second round this past April to ease them into action. The Indianapolis Colts want — and need — these rookies to contribute right away.
Nobody’s writing off Marlon Mack or TY Hilton, but Taylor and Pittman Jr. will have immediate impacts on the offense despite the plentiful talent already present in the starting lineup.
All this does is give Philip Rivers more options in a loaded unit, which could be the best the Colts have had in years.
Colts: Michael Pittman Jr., Jonathan Taylor need to take big step in a hurryhttps://t.co/JFDZpILlTN
— CBS4 Indy (@CBS4Indy) September 10, 2020
Then again, some might think these two need to take big steps, but the fact of the matter is they really don’t. There’s enough firepower on the offense for the Colts to get by. The presence of Taylor and Pittman Jr. is a luxury in a sense.
"“Through our practices and through obviously our film studies on them coming out of college, we know they’re playmakers,” offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni said of the two rookies. “Just like any playmaker on our team, we want to make sure we get them touches and get the ball in their hands. When we get those guys a ball and a touch, good playmakers make plays and get you yards.“They are no different than the other playmakers on our team. We want to get them touches because we know what they can do.”"
Siranni has been hyping up them ever since the draft, so are we really surprised he has high expectations for two players who were the best at their position group in the NCAA last year (and throughout their college careers)?
"I think we have to have one of the better groups in the NFL; most certainly it’s probably the best group I’ve been on ... in my 12 years in the NFL.”#Colts OC Nick Sirianni on talented RBs group, rookie Michael Pittman Jr.’s development & Phil Rivers:https://t.co/TLBCIS3gW1
— Andrew Walker (@AWalkerColts) August 21, 2020
What do Colts fans need to expect from Taylor and Pittman Jr.? Big things. Why? Taylor brings north-south power to the backfield that Mack and Nyheim Hines don’t possess. That’s another element the Colts are adding to the running game to throw off opposing defenses.
Pittman Jr. is an outside-the-numbers threat/possession wideout and complements the vertical abilities of Hilton and the hopeful slot skills of Parris Campbell Jr. He fulfills a missing piece this offense hasn’t had in quite a while. Secondaries won’t have an easy time containing Indy’s passing attack if Pittman Jr. sticks right away.
But at the same time, if those “big things” don’t pan out, just know the Colts can afford for them to take a little time to develop. Their skills are paramount for the future of the offense, so the coaching staff will do everything in its power to ensure they’re both on the right track for long-term success.
