Mo Alie-Cox isn’t just an underrated weapon for the Colts anymore. He’s one of the best TEs in the NFL.
The Colts’ offensive game plan has evolved more in the season’s first four weeks than any member of the coaching staff intended it to.
Trey Burton can’t be the team’s “hinge” on offense anymore? Fine. It’s Jack Doyle, then. Parris Campbell and Michael Pittman Jr. need to take major steps forward in the slot and on the outside — oh, they’re not here anymore? Gotcha. And Doyle can’t go either? Oh. Well, we’ve got one more guy.
But in just a few weeks’ time, former VCU basketball player Mo Alie-Cox has gone from afterthought to focal point of the Colts offense.
And, as of Week 4, he’s no longer just fitting in — he’s standing out. Alie-Cox has mimicked another former college basketball star, Antonio Gates, so effectively for Philip Rivers that he’s now among the most effective downfield tight end threats in the league.
As we all predicted in August:
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) October 4, 2020
The Colts' Mo Alie-Cox leads all NFL TE in yds/catch (18.1) and 25+ receptions (3).
Even with Doyle back, and Trey Burton possibly returning today, Colts have made it clear: they're still going to keep featuring Big Mo. Too much of a threat not to
What’d we tell you about keeping Alie-Cox featured? What did we tell you?!
Frank Reich and Co’s offseason addition of Burton made more sense if he had opted to reunite him with Nick Foles instead of signing Rivers, but the explosive Alie-Cox is a much better fit for the team’s current gunslinger.
And, as the numbers show, it’s not dinking and dunking — Big Mo has weaved his way downfield more often than not, and more often than any other TE in the league.
Mo Alie-Cox’s last two games:
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) September 28, 2020
• 8 receptions on 9 targets
• 161 yards
• 2 TDs
• 20.1 yards per reception
Feed Big Mo. #Colts TE1. pic.twitter.com/2GmFGDyIT2
To see Colts fans embrace Alie-Cox, despite a red zone blunder that led to one of Rivers’ very few interceptions early in Week 2, is a matter of trust in their infrastructure.
Despite carrying an overload of TEs in recent years, they always insisted on keeping the big man’s roster spot, harboring another downfield threat instead of, say, an extra blocker.
But with this line and the QB he’s always dreamed of tossing him the rock, Big Mo certainly has a place here.
And he may have a place in the Pro Bowl, too.
Colts: Indy should start looking for Jack Doyle trade partners
The Indianapolis Colts no longer need to pay a high price tag for Jack Doyle, who has fallen out of favor with Mo Alie-Cox's emergence.