Colts: Jack Doyle knows running game has to get better

Colts TE Jack Doyle knows the team’s running game can still improve amid its slow start to the season.

The fact that the Indianapolis Colts are 3-1 through the first month of the 2020 season with their elite running game, which is undoubtedly their identity, being held in check is nothing short of remarkable. Though head coach Frank Reich’s side is rapidly emerging into a defensive juggernaut, this team was built to control the tempo of games by running the football and exhausting opposing defenses.

That simply hasn’t been the case across the opening four games as Indianapolis currently ranks 15th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (115.3), dead last in yards per carry (3.5) and 28th in longest run (22).

It goes without saying that these struggles need to be nipped in the bud once the schedule stiffens up, and the Colts will get a great chance to do just that in Week 5 against Cleveland, which has actually been the league’s fifth-best run defense this year, allowing just 91.8 yards per game.

Well, fans in Indy will be pleased to hear that players on the team are fully aware of these struggles. Tight end Jack Doyle acknowledged during a conference call on Tuesday that the running game can (and will) improve.

"“Running the ball in the NFL is hard. It is hard,” Doyle told reporters. “Sometimes the run game is just tough sledding. But yeah, it definitely hasn’t been up to our standard yet. We’ll get there.”"

It’s worth noting that Indianapolis hasn’t put itself in the greatest position to enjoy success running the rock, as the team has taken double-digit leads (15, 24 and 13) into the fourth quarter in each of the last three contests. Milking the clock was obviously the call in those situations, and that often forced the likes of Jonathan Taylor and Jordan Wilkins to work against a loaded box.

Care to guess how the Colts’ rushing attack has fared in those scenarios? They’ve taken 27 carries for 107 yards, which equates to a lousy 3.9 YPC. That’s not even taking into consideration them kneeling a whopping eight times, which takes four yards away from the rushing total each time,  to put the cherry on top of wins in the closing seconds.

Still, that doesn’t change the fact that Indianapolis has tried (and failed) to establish the run in the first three quarters. It would be wrong to point all of the blame at rookie Jonathan Taylor, so all parties — including the coaching staff, offensive line and blocking tight ends — need to be held accountable.

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