Blue
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,079
- 0
The Offense Is Built For This
We already know the Colts can run the ball, and they're adding a player as dangerous as Taylor to an already-potent attack.
Over the last two seasons, the Colts have had one of the league's most dangerous ground games, ranking ninth in that time with 120.3 yards per game. They hit the 150 rushing yards mark in 11 games, including six 200-yard games.
Just in 2019, the Colts finished No. 7 in the league after averaging 133.1 rushing yards per game — barely putting them outside the top-five — and they went over 2,000 rushing yards on the season for the first time since 1994, while also toting an individual 1,000-yard rusher in Marlon Mack for just the second time since 2007.
According to PFF, the Colts had the second-best run-blocking unit in the NFL in 2019 with a grade of 85.1. They finished second in first downs converted by runs (131), fifth in carries per game (29.4), were tied for fifth in runs of 20-plus yards (14), tied for ninth in runs of 40-plus yards (3) and 10th in runs of 10-plus yards (53).
Now, that same supporting cast returns, and then some.
All five starting offensive linemen remain with the Colts, as left guard Quenton Nelson's 90.1 run-blocking grade ranked third among all NFL offensive linemen in 2019, right tackle Braden Smith's 86.4 grade ranked fifth, center Ryan Kelly's 74.6 ranked 14th, and left tackle Anthony Castonzo's 70.2 ranked 22nd. That's four-of-five linemen who are among the NFL's top 25 run blockers.
The Colts also added a fullback this year in Roosevelt Nix, as well as another tight end in Trey Burton to pair up with Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox.
Nix has only played 115 offensive snaps over the last two seasons, but he made the Pro Bowl in the last season in which he played extensively in 2017. Burton and Doyle were the No. 1 and 4-rated run-blocking tight ends in the NFL in 2018, respectively, according to PFF.
Another key factor not discussed enough in the run game is wide receiver Zach Pascal, who was the NFL's best run-blocking wide receiver last season with a grade of 85.0, which was well above the next contenders.
Mack, Taylor & Co. carrying the ball within the Colts' run-blocking unit should really be a sight to see in 2020.