What’s going on with Colts’ star Quenton Nelson committing penalties?

Why hasn’t Colts OL Quenton Nelson been able to replicate the dominance he showcased over his two seasons?

If there’s one downside to players setting impossibly high standards for themselves with a substantial sample size of evidence to back it up, it’s that it comes with having to live up to or exceed them year after year.

Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Quenton Nelson has learned that the hard way this season, as he hasn’t exactly replicated the success he enjoyed in the trenches over the first two seasons of his career, both which saw him earn All-Pro honors.

While the 24-year-old stud has been rock solid from a blocking perspective, the fact that he’s been penalized seven times — which is tied for the second-most in the entire NFL — is a cause for concern, and he spoke on his performance with the media earlier this week.

"“There has been some good, there has been some bad. I definitely need to be better, and that’s just what I’m working on this week, really focusing on my fundamentals and technique.“Then just hitting everything really hard in my preparation between film work, getting treatment and just going out there and trying to play my best game for my teammates and myself and everything. I definitely need to be better and that’s what I’m working on this week.”"

Nelson owning up to his struggles is nothing we wouldn’t expect from him, and that should instill confidence in fans that he’ll get them sorted out moving forward. If that isn’t enough to convince you, however, then head coach Frank Reich’s comments on his performance this season will surely do the trick.

"“Quenton is playing really good in both the run and the pass. The hold calls, they’re going to come. Overall, if you look at his grade – if we’re running 65, 70 plays a game – if you look at his grade for the entirety of the game, he’s been playing very good football.”"

Has Nelson been his usual indestructible self in 2020? No way, and his seven penalties — which is just five fewer than the 12 he compiled over his first two seasons — proves that teams have made adjustments and are game-planning to make him uncomfortable.

With that being said, however, we’re still talking about a player who’s earned an elite 77.8 grade from Pro Football Focus, which accounts for flags and missteps. That marking is a far cry from the 91.2 grade he received last season, but it’s still nothing to scoff at. After all, he was named an All-Pro as a rookie in 2018 after conceding nine penalties and two sacks.

Given the standards Nelson has set for himself, we definitely need to see some improvement in the penalty department over the remaining five games, but Colts fans shouldn’t get too worried about his recent run of form unless it worsens in the coming weeks.

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