Colts Running Game on Verge of Breakthrough?
Paul Kuharsky of ESPN’s AFC South Blog reported on a story by KC Joyner discussing the state of the Indianapolis Colts ground game. Joyner noted that the difference between a respectable running game and the bottom of the league is relatively small.
The separation between the 15th ranked running game and the 29th ranked running game is only a few percentage points of yards per rushing attempt behind good blocking. Joyner believes the additions of rookie tackle Anthony Castonzo and guard Benjamin Ijalana are likely to make up that ground.
If he is right, Indianapolis’s offense should be as potent as ever. Consider how much more dangerous Indy would be with the option to run on short-yardage, save Manning’s arm, and command more balanced defensive attention that allows receivers time to get into their routes. It could be an interesting year.
About the author
Brett Mock is a third-year law student at Valparaiso University School of Law and an avid Indianapolis Colts fan. Over the last three years Brett has become highly active as an amateur sports writer on Colts blogs like www.stampedeblue.com, www.bleacherreport.com, and as an analyst on www.coltpower.com. With this blog he hopes to expand his readership and provide Colts fans with a one-stop location for informative analysis on the current state and future of the Indianapolis Colts franchise.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Brett Mock on June 23, 2011 at 7:58 pm, and is filed under Off-Season Coverage. Follow any responses to this post through . You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed. |
95% of our running game problems were from the offensive line not having the ability to enforce their will on the defense. Castonzo himself is not a fix for that as he did not show the ability to drive block against even *college* opposition.
If Johnson is moved to guard, that will result in a minor upgrade perhaps.
Stats can be misleading when judging the Colts running game. Can we move the pile on 3rd and one? *That* is a successful running game – where success means winning close games against quality competition.
By that criteria we have not done much at all to upgrade. The results will reflect that.
This is all a bit premature anyways – who says Costanzo is even going to be able to start this year? He will have a lot of catching up to do with this lockout situation.
I agree that anyone assuming that the running game is fixed based upon draft picks — particularly ones no one has been able to get a good look at practicing with the team — is premature.
However, I also believe that the offensive line often operates like a chain link fence. One weak spot on any given play brings the whole scheme crashing down. If this is true, and if it is true or likely true that the two draft picks the Colts picked up to start their draft this year are better than their predecessors (which I do think is likely) than the overall talent on the line should be better.
I think Castonzo will take a bit of time to develop and get comfortable at left tackle. I also think that from day one he will be equal to or better than Charlie Johnson. I think Ijalana will be an upgrade over either of our starting offensive linemen on the right side, in both run and pass blocking. Johnson moving inside (assuming he is still with the team), DeVan or McClendon playing at the other spot, and Saturday in the middle. To me, that sounds like a line with a higher likelihood of regular success in both phases on offense.
The only question-mark in my mind is not whether the offensive line will be significantly more talented than they were in 2010. The question is how comfortable will the starting offensive line get playing together before the regular season starts — will they establish the chemistry offensive lines require to be truly dominant? Nobody knows on that one. But Joyner’s observations are intriguing none-the-less.