What Threatens The Colts’ Week 1 Success?

The Indianapolis Colts struggled to guard tight ends during the 2021 NFL season. They ranked 7th, in yards allowed by tight ends. They finished tied 6th in TE  touch downs allowed. And they allowed the 3rd most receptions while also being top 3 in reception percentage against. The size and skill from the players at that position, posed a huge problem for the team.

The Colts defense tried to contain four of the Top 10 Tight Ends of the 2021 NFL Season, per NFL.com, in Mark Andrews (1), Dawson Knox (3), Mike Gesicki (6), and Hunter Henry (10). These guys did some damage to say the least. But so did some lesser known players like Dan Arnold of the Jaguars and Gerald Everett of the Seahawks. “Who?” you may ask. Exactly.

These six tight ends named were able to rack-up 445 yards, six touchdowns and one two-point conversion try, for a total of 42 points against the Colts defense. Each TE had an efficient contest as well, with an average catch percentage of 76.6% on 47 total targets. All stats are gathered from pro-football-reference.com.

I did not add the two lesser know players just to pad stats, those two were some of the only productive receivers on their teams against the Colts. Both players almost single-handedly kept their team in the fight. Go back and watch the tapes if you disagree.

The Biggest Threat to The Colts’ Week 1 Success is Another Tight End

Second-year player Brevin Jordan could quite possibly be the next tight end to give the Colts some trouble. Jordan was drafted in the 5th round of the 2021 draft by the Texans. After being inactive for the first seven weeks, he came onto the scene with some authority. In his first game, he caught ten passes, one in the endzone for his first NFL touchdown.

Jordan had a 71.4% catch rate across his first, and only, nine games thus far, per Pro Football Focus. He caught 20 passes for 178 yards, giving him 8.9 yards per reception. Jordan does this while moving across the formation. He has shown the capabilities to make plays when lined up inline, in the slot, or out wide.

Jordan has also proven his ability to catch a ball in traffic. he uses his 6’3″ frame to sky up and his 245 pounds to hold off weaker defenders. He skews the numbers on jump-balls, making it more of a 57-43 split, going his way, on the so called “50-50 balls”.

What Can the Colts Do to Stop Jordan?

Bobby Okereke will be vital to the Colts’ Week 1 success, along with Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed. On the weak side of the field, Okereke will need most likely be tasked with covering him on shallow in breaking routes. And if he needs help over the top, 21- year and one day old, safety Nick Cross will be there ready to lay a big hit.

It’ll be a team effort to lock down the tight end, but all-in-all it may not be the focus of either team. All things indicate a run battle in Texas. The Texans are planning ways to contain Jonathan Taylor. While the Colts are counter-moving and prepping their two new starting offensive lineman to help create the running lanes JT needs to explode through.

This will be the first of many tests on the long road ahead, for all of us.