Colts: First quarter-season report card for Indy offense
What do the first four games tell us about the performance of new/old quarterback Philip Rivers, and the rest of the Indianapolis Colts offense?
In an effort to adequately assess what we’ve seen from the Colts offense thus far in 2020, we attempted to give every position letter grades.
Needless to say, we like what we see — but you can always improve!
W-L Record: B
Let’s be grateful: In Q1, going 3-1 is SO much better than 2-2, and 1-3 would have put their chances of playoffs on the precipice. This grade would be a B+ except the Jets win was a gimme, and the Jags loss was a missed opportunity. The Bears win exposed the Colts’ shortcomings in the red zone and rushing game, but also showed the team’s ability to win on any given Sunday.
WARNING: The next four games include the Ravens and 3-1 Cleveland. But that second quarter still buys some time for tuning up, because the third quarter is Crunch Time: Green Bay, Houston and both games against the Tennessee Titans:
When the big boys come out to play, will our Georgie Porgie offense run away?
Offensive Line: A
The Colts’ offensive front line are the Five Horsemen of the Football Apocalypse. Their names are Pancaker (of linemen), Tosser (of linebackers), Flinger (of safeties), Grader and Stampeder (in the run game, despite a rough start to the run game when Marlon Mack went down — and despite rookie Jonathan Taylor, we still miss the Mack Truck. Big-time.
With only the stats from the first three games, the Colts are already fifth in not allowing quarterback pressures, and fifth in sacks allowed per pass play. So why not A+? Because they rank only around 15th in run game stats.
Q: In his last year with the Chargers, what was Philip Rivers’ average pass release time?
A: A smidge more than two seconds. That’s true of most of his career there. The Chargers O-line has been a firing line. Now, like Peyton Manning, Brady and Brees have had for decades,Rivers often has time to eat a pizza in the pocket.
What puts a clench in my sph–stomach is when TV commentators (common ‘taters) rave about the Colts’ offensive line’s durability. Shhh! You never talk about getting close to a no-hitter until it’s done, to avoid the jinx. This we know.
You know the syndrome: a color commentator remarks on how a running back never fumbles, or a quarterback hasn’t had an interception in three games, or an O-line is remarkably free of injury, and on the next play, the football gods reward their boasting.
Prophecy: The Offensive Line, barring injuries, will improve their stats before the Death Valley of the third quarter of games. But the rushing game has to do better than 88 yards, as per their Bears game.