Power Rankings: Top Post-Draft Offenses (11-15)
Jan 4, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) spikes the ball after a fourth quarter touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2013 AFC wild card playoff football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Indianapolis Colts 11-5
Last Season’s Rankings: #15 Overall Offense (341.8 total yards per game) #17 Passing Offense (232.8 passing yards per game) #20 Rushing Offense (108.9 rushing yards per game)
Last Season
Although many won’t want to admit it, the Indianapolis Colts had one of the most efficient offenses in the league last season. With sophomore QB Andrew Luck under center, the Colts cruised to an 11-5 record and won their first playoff game under Luck (something that RGIII has yet to do). As for their offense overall, they ranked 15th in the league last season in yards (341.8 yards per game), 14th in points (24.4 points per game), and 10th in rushing touchdowns (15). While I do like what Andrew Luck has been doing in terms of managing the game and gaining wins, in terms of gaining yards and scoring points, he is middle of the road. I think next year, however, we see a huge boost in offense for the Colts. They’ve added some defensive presences such as LB D’Qwell Jackson and DT Arthur Jones and also some offensive presences like WR Hakeem Nicks (averaged 924.4 yards and 5.4 touchdown receptions with the Giants) from New York and Mississippi WR Donte Moncrief who was able to catch 59 passes for 938 yards and six touchdowns in 2013. I think in 2014 with such a variety of receivers and a revamped running game with Ahmad Bradshaw and Trent Richardson, the Colts should lead the AFC East in offense. After all, they’ll up all night to get luck-y.
Run Offense
As for the Colts running game, after giving Donald Brown the starting job time after time, but for some strange reason the Colts didn’t really feel like he could be their franchise running back, instead giving the majority of the carries to newly acquired RB Trent Richardson. Granted Brown did experience some injuries, the Colts signing of Trent Richardson was not the wisest one. With 157 carries, Richardson rushed for a miniscule 2.9 yards per rush as compared to Brown’s solid 5.3 yards per carry. Ahmad Bradshaw wasn’t far behind as he rushed for a solid 4.5 yards per carry. Initially sophomore RB Vick Ballard was supposed to be the starting RB going into the season. Unfortunately though, Ballard suffered a torn ACL and was forced to miss the rest of the 2013 season after rushing for 63 yards on 13 carries. As the depth chart stands right now (according to ESPN): starting is Richardson, behind him is Ballard and the third string back is Bradshaw. Where is Brown now? This off-season the Chargers ended up signing him. What the Colts should have done was release Richardson, give Brown the starting job along with Ballard. Instead this season they have Ballard number two behind Richardson. Considering that the Colts still have Ballard and Bradshaw, wouldn’t you think that they would start them over Richardson? Perhaps that should change as time goes on. Regardless of the depth chart though, the Colts do have some talented running backs. Bradshaw was underrated late in the season last year as he gave the Colts some needed yards. I think that the Colts have the talent, but at this point it is all on the coaching staff to mix and match these backs for the best overall product. Perhaps Ballard and Bradshaw could split carries and when they are in third and short situations or are near the goal line, the Colts can go to Richardson. It is all about strategy at this point more than anything.
Pass Offense
What I noticed was the difference from last year’s Colts team from this year’s team was Andrew Luck’s reliance on the passing game. In 2012 Luck passed for 4,374 yards and 23 touchdowns, while this season Luck passed for just 3,822 yards and 23 touchdowns. The difference with Luck’s 2013 performance as compared to his 2012 performance was not that he was being a less productive QB, but rather a more efficient QB. In 2012 Luck only completed 54.1% of his passes, throwing 18 interceptions and fumbling the ball a disastrous 10 times. In 2013, Luck completed 60.2% of his passes while throwing only nine interceptions and fumbling the ball six times. Luck was actually a better QB in 2013 because he was able to complete his passes, manage the game and still throw touchdowns. Of course Luck did have help to achieve his 3,822 passing yards. Graybeard Reggie Wayne (503 yards on 38 catches in 2013), home run hitter T.Y. Hilton (1,083 yards and five touchdowns on 82 receptions), and reliable TE Colby Fleener (52 catches for 608 yards and four touchdowns) all combined to make the Colts’ passing offense the 17th best in the NFL in 2013. Some other receivers such as Darrius Heyward-Bey (309 yards on 29 catches) and Griff Whalen (24 catches for 259 yards) all helped Luck whenever Wayne and Hilton were already covered. What makes this Colts’ passing offense so dangerous is not just dual-threat Andrew Luck (who rushed for 377 yards and four touchdowns in 2013), but his variety of talented receivers, all of whom have the ability to turn a routine pitch-and-catch into six points. As well, the Colts added former Giants’ receiver Hakeem Nicks to the mix, giving Luck yet another elite receiver to throw to. WR LeVon Brazill, and Donte Moncrief will be backing up Wayne, Hilton, and Nicks and should come in handy whenever the Colts run five receiver sets. One of the reasons the Colts ranked just 17th in the league in receiving last season would also be because of injuries. WR Reggie Wayne unfortunately injured himself for the reason after catching for over 71 yards per game at the start of the season. Had Wayne been healthy the entire season, he probably could have surpassed 1,000 yards easily. Thus, because Wayne, Hilton and Nicks will be returning healthy in 2014, the Colts should see huge growth in their passing game.
In The End
I think that last season the Colts caught a couple of bad breaks with Richardson performing so poorly and Wayne and Ballard suffering injuries. But I think this Colts’ offense has a lot of potential in 2014. With Hakeem Nicks adding his big body and big hands, the Colts now have a solid third receiver to go to. If Nicks is covered, Luck has a wide variety of above average receivers who are at his disposal. The running game is solid with Ballard and Bradshaw and, if given the correct strategy, should see some bigger numbers in 2014.