After months of speculation and concern, Alec Pierce is finally back on the field. The Indianapolis Colts' prime offseason investment was dealing with an ankle injury, but just like they insisted, he seems right on track to play in the season opener.
The Colts committed $114 million over the next four years to their big-play specialist, even sending Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers to make the numbers work. As such, they likely expect him to be much more than just a big-play threat.
Pierce is well aware of the challenge ahead of him. That's why he's happy to have a crafty and versatile chain-mover like Keenan Allen by his side. If anything, he's looking forward to picking his brain and picking up some of his moves for his own repertoire.
The Indianapolis Colts need Alec Pierce to be more than a one-trick pony
"It's super special," Pierce said. "...Walkthrough, he's throwing little moves out there and stuff. So, I think I'm kind of learning and you just always watch that and try to pick up stuff from his game, steal from his game a little bit."
Pierce's production is remarkable. He's perhaps the league's best downfield specialist right now, and he doesn't need to do much to pile up big numbers. That's fine and all, but he's getting paid top dollar, so he must be more than a one-trick pony.
Of course, the Colts would've never given him that big a bag if they didn't think they could use him in different ways. He's big and sturdy at 6-foot-3 and 211 pounds, and there's no reason to believe he can't operate like a prototypical X guy.
Keenan Allen has been there and done that. He's seen all types of coverage, and his route tree is as big as, well, an actual tree. He'll draw some eyeballs in short and intermediate routes, and Pierce has a golden opportunity to take a deep look at his body of work and incorporate some of that into his craft.
Teams can't afford to have their personnel tip their hand. Opposing defenses know they have to keep an eye on Pierce for vertical routes, so having him do a bit of everything will open up so many things for everyone else.
It's hard to think of a better mentor than Keenan Allen to teach Pierce the fine art of creating separation in tight spaces and keeping the chains in motion. He's a crafty guy who never needed to be the fastest or biggest on the field to find some room ahead of him.
On paper, the Colts have one of the most dynamic pass-catching corps in the game. If Daniel Jones can stay healthy, a creative offensive schemer like Shane Steichen will keep defenses on their toes, be it with quick-hitters or the occasional downfield bomb.
Great players are more than their own skills; they're also the sum of every teammate they've had and what they've been able to incorporate and make their own. Pierce will be held to a higher standard now, and it's up to him to show that he's much more than just a speedster.
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