INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
2020 Record - 11-5-0
Head Coach - Frank Reich
Key Additions - Carson Wentz (QB), Eric Fisher (OL), J.J. Nelson (WR), Julien Davenport (DL), Sam Tevi (OL), Sean Davis (DB), Isaac Rochell (DL), Chris Reed (OL)
OFFENSE - Carson Wentz was brought over from Philadelphia in a trade to take over as the starting quarterback after Philip Rivers retired, but a foot injury has him sidelined for most likely the first two or three weeks of the regular season. All that aside, Wentz passed for 2,620 yards last season with 16 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions. He also rushed for 276 yards (5.3 ypc average) and scored five touchdowns. In the event he isn't ready to start the regular season, Jacob Eason, Sam Ehlinger and Brett Hundley have been in training camp.
Jonathan Taylor is the primary running back and he led the Colts in rushing with 1,169 yards last year (5.0 ypc average) and scored eleven touchdowns while also catching 36 passes for 299 yards and one touchdown. Jordan Wilkins (308, 3.7 ypc and one TD), Nyheim Hines (380, 4.3 ypc and three TD along with a team high 63 receptions for 482 yards and four TD) and Marlon Mack are also in the backfield.
The wide receivers are T.Y. Hilton (56, 742, five TD), Michael Pittman, Jr. (40. 503, one TD) and Zach Pascal (44, 629, five TD) along with tight ends Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox, who had 31 receptions for 394 yards and two scores.
DEFENSE - DeForest Buckner (9 1/2 QB sacks), Grover Stewart, Tyquan Lewis and Al-Quadin Muhammad are the front four with Rob Windsor, Taylor Stallworth, rookie Kwity Paye (Michigan) and Kemoko Turay ready to play as well. The linebacking unit has Darius Leonard (team leading 132 tackles), Bobby Okereke and Zaire Franklin. E.J. Speed and Matthew Adams are the main backups.
In the secondary is cornerback Xavier Rhodes along with Rock Ya-Sin and safeties Khari Willis and Julian Blackmon. Kenny Moore is another corner man and he led the team with four interceptions last season. T.J. Carrie, Sean Davis and George Odum are also in the mix. The Indianapolis defense gave up 22.6 points per game and allowed 332 yards per game in 2020 (8th best in NFL) while finishing second in the league against the run, giving up 90 yards per game. The pass defense allowed 242 YPG. The Colts had 40 QB sacks and picked off 15 passes and had an NFL second best plus-10 in the turnover category.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - Head Coach Frank Reich enters his fourth season with the Colts and would love to see QB Carson Wentz get back to the form he showed in Philadelphia back in 2017 when he was an MVP candidate before a season ending knee injury.
Getting back the confidence would be huge for Wentz and the Colts offense, which last season ranked tenth overall (378 YPG) while scoring 28.2 points per game. The rushing attack gained 125 yards per game while the passing game went for 253 yards per game. With a good mix of running and passing, the offense should be steady once again. But if Wentz isn't fully healthy or struggles when he does return, then all bets are off.
The defense can make a big impact again this season with the likes of All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard and a stingy run defense. The secondary did make some big plays with interceptions, but they also got torched for big yardage plays as well. The AFC South looks to be a battle between the Colts and Tennessee Titans yet again this year, but nothing can be taken for granted.
If the Colts want to make the playoffs for the third time in four years, they must beat the Titans and survive a tough schedule through the first eight games that includes two games against Tennessee. A 10-7 record could be enough to make the playoffs as a wild card, but fall short of the AFC South title.
Stay tuned.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Seattle
Week 2 - vs. L.A. Rams
Week 3 - at Tennessee
Week 4 - at Miami
Week 5 - at Baltimore
Week 6 - vs. Houston
Week 7 - at San Francisco
Week 8 - vs. Tennessee
Week 9 - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week 10 - vs. Jacksonville
Week 11 - at Buffalo
Week 12 - vs. Tampa Bay
Week 13 - at Houston
Week 14 - BYE
Week 15 - vs. New England
Week 16 - at Arizona
Week 17 - vs. Las Vegas
Week 18 - at Jacksonville
No comments:
Post a Comment