Can the Colts Offense Get Back on Track?

Getting Back in the Right Direction

The Colts’ offense is without a doubt the strong suit of the team. With this unit struggling, it seems that there is a whole different team playing on the field. Perhaps the biggest factor is the Daniel Jones fibula injury. It possible could even be that Jonathan Taylor is going through a bit of a rough patch as well. One thing is for certain, though: this Colts offense still can be one of the best in the league. All they need to do is get back to what made them successful and make adjustments that tailor to their current circumstances.

The Passing Game

Recently, the Colts have relied heavily on their passing game. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The Colts have the playmakers to have a very successful passing game. With receivers like Alec Pierce, Michael Pittman, and Josh Downs, the Colts can attack the field from all angles. Not to mention the sensational play the Colts have also gotten from rookie tight end, Tyler Warren.

Now the injury to Daniel Jones has limited what the quarterback can do. However, although limited, Jones has still performed pretty well given the circumstances. Over the last 2 games, Jones has thrown for 382 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions. Which is impressive because, heading into the bye week, he started having issues turning the ball over. Jones himself is not the reason the Colts’ offense has struggled, but it’s how he’s being used.

To get the Colts offense back on track, head coach Shane Steichen needs to draw up plays to get the ball out of Jones’ hands quickly. Over the past few weeks, teams have been blitzing Jones more often than not. His completion percentage against the blitz this season is 62%. Those numbers aren’t terrible by any means, but they could be better. With his lack of mobility at the moment, Jones can succeed with quick-hitting slant and out routes. The screen game can also lead to major offensive success, as it did against the Texans in week 13. Then, when the time calls for it, Jones can still take the deep shot downfield.

The Running Game

Getting the run game back in the mix will play a big factor in getting the Colts’ offense back on track. Running back, Jonathan Taylor has been having an MVP-like season. Through 12 games, Taylor’s total numbers are 1,586 yards and 17 touchdowns. The downside is, Taylor hasn’t scored since week 10 against the Falcons. When Taylor doesn’t score a touchdown, the Colts are 1-4 this season. So he must be heavily involved week to week.

The issue is, Taylor hasn’t been involved much in the last couple of weeks. Some would say Taylor not being involved is the reason the Colts lost to the Chiefs, which is a valid argument. Over the last 2 games, Taylor has only 143 rushing yards and 0 touchdowns. Though it’s noticeable that teams are selling out for the run against the Colts, it still can work. If the Colts want to open up ways to succeed in the passing game, they have to establish the run. And what better way to do it than with a potential Offensive Player of the Year in the backfield?

Taylor can break open any game he is a part of. It’s just the simple fact of getting him the ball. Even if he is unsuccessful a few times, Taylor’s strengths include being a workhorse. The more the Colts pound opposing defenses with the run, the longer they are on the field. The Colts’ time of possession the last couple of weeks has been down. That directly correlates to them sticking with the run. By consistently running the ball and having some amount of success, it opens up the entire offense to doing whatever they’d like. As stated before, the Colts have the playmakers in the pass game. But if defenses aren’t worried about the run, they can key in on the Colts’ receivers. That is why it is so important for the Colts to get Taylor acclimated back in the offensive game plan.

Putting it All Together

For the Colts’ offense to get back on track, they need to rely on their strengths. Establish the run to set up the pass, and then fall back on the run to ice the game. Indy was the most dominant offense in the league when they implemented this strategy. Obviously, there are different circumstances now than in the earlier weeks, but the message is still the same. The Colts are still well within Super Bowl contention. If the offense can make these adjustments, it is without a doubt that they can make a significant run at the end of the season, straight into the playoffs.