Colts: Could Jonathan Taylor break Colts’ sophomore rushing record?
By Mike Luciano
The Indianapolis Colts’ balanced offensive attack, which was set up by Jonathan Taylor controlling the time of possession on the ground, risks being completely turned upside down, as replacing Nick Sirianni with Marcus Brady at offensive coordinator will force Taylor to learn a whole new playbook and style of offense.
Even with that, Frank Reich’s prized pupil ran for 1,169 yards, already the 12th best mark in franchise history, on 5.0 yards per carry while scoring 11 touchdowns.
If Reich and Brady choose to build the offense around Taylor, there’s no reason to think that his blend of speed and power couldn’t break the Colts record for rushing yards in a single season by a second-year back.
Jonathan Taylor to @Ike58Reese just now when asked what the Colts offensive philosophy was this season...
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) January 22, 2021
“Ha. Run the Ball.”
The Indianapolis Colts could help Jonathan Taylor break a record next season.
Taylor looked every bit like the dominant star that flattened Big Ten competition at Wisconsin, and Brady needs to capitalize on that. There is a good chance that the Week 1 starter for Indianapolis is either an aging veteran or a rookie picked high in the 2021 NFL Draft. Considering that the Colts have one of the strongest offensive lines in the league, even after some poor play near the end of last season, Brady needs to realize that pounding Taylor into the opposing front seven is the best course of action.
The record for rushing yards in a single season by a Colt in their second year is Hall of Famer Edgerrin James’ 1,709 yards, a Colts franchise record that also helped him lead the league for a second consecutive season. While Taylor’s rookie year total would’ve been good enough to surpass the likes of Lydell Mitchell in 1973, Marshall Faulk in 1995, and Joseph Addai in 2007, he needs to dig deep for a little extra if he wants to topple James. Considering the infrastructure around him, it’s certainly possible.
The Colts have notoriously been good at drafting and developing running backs in their history, and Taylor looks like he could be the next one on the track to stardom. If he breaks James’ record, Taylor will have his name thrown into the “best running back in the league” debate.
