Daniel Jones: A –
Jones is giving the Colts exactly what they needed, and even more, from the quarterback position. He is completing a high percentage of his passes, with a 71.3% completion rate, keeping the ball moving, taking excellent care of the football with just a turnover-worthy play rate of 2.8%, and constantly hitting the open guy. Indiana Jones is enjoying a career resurgence with an excellent supporting cast around him, and away from the blinding New York spotlight. The Colts’ front office should already start figuring out a contract that keeps him here.
Jonathan Taylor: A +
Leading the league in total touchdowns and rushing yards, Jonathan Taylor is enjoying the best start to a season in his entire career. He is an MVP candidate at this point, and the biggest reason why the Colts offense is dominating. He has also improved a lot in both pass protection, posting an 84.9 pass-blocking grade according to PFF.com, and catching balls out of the backfield, adding 16 receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown, already equaling what he did last season. There is nothing more you could ask from a running back that Taylor is not already excellent at.
Wide receivers / Tight ends: B +
Michael Pittman Jr. is also enjoying the best start to a season in his career, especially regarding the scoring area, where, through just five games, he is two touchdowns away from his career high. MPJ is a much better fit with a quarterback like Daniel Jones, and he has established himself as his favourite red zone target. Alec Pierce has missed two games with a concussion, but before that he was still being used as the deep threat in the offense, averaging 19 yards per catch. Josh Downs had his best game against the Raiders, and is amazing at moving the chains, always an important quality for a receiver. The one disappointment in this group has been Adonai Mitchell, who in the game against the Rams cost the team the win after inexplicably dropping a ball before scoring, and then drawing a holding flag that negated what would have been a 53-yard touchdown run by JT.
Tyler Warren leads all NFL tight ends in receiving yards, is second in first downs, and ranks 8th in run-blocking for tight ends with more than 50% of possible snaps. There is not much more you can ask from him, especially keeping in mind that tight ends usually struggle a bit coming out of college. For comparisons sake, Colston Loveland through three games has just amassed 3 receptions for 43 yards.
Offensive line: B +
The offensive line has been solid for the Colts once again, with two new starters in Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves. From left to right, Bernhard Raimann has continued his emergence as a top left tackle in the NFL, though he did struggle against the Rams but overall has had a really good year. Quenton Nelson has missed a step in pass-blocking, but is still an elite run blocker and the Colts use him in creative ways getting him in space against cornerbacks. Tanor Bortolini has been unspectacular but mistake free. His smaller frame means he sometimes gets overpowered in pass-protection, but he has been among the best centers run blocking. Matt Goncalves has been the biggest surprise this season, perhaps the best offensive lineman of the team thus far, and his importance was highlighted on the game he missed against the Rams. Braden Smith has been average, which is okay.
Defensive line: B +
The biggest beneficiaries from Lou Anarumo as the defensive coordinator, the defensive line has been much more productive rushing the passer. Laiatu Latu has been playing well, and has now two interceptions along with 16 total pressures through just four games. Stewart and Buckner have been as good as they have been the past three seasons, no surprises there. The problem perhaps has been the opposing end. Kwity Paye is an okay run-defender, but a non-factor against the pass, with just 6 total pressures on 110 pass rushing reps. Samson Ebukam is still getting his rythm back after an Achilles tear last season, and rookie J.T. Tuimoloau has been a healthy scratch more than half the games.
Neville Gallimore and Adetomiwa Adebawore have both been surprisingly productive this season, and Tyquan Lewis continues being an underrated rotational linemen that consistently contributes, leading the team in sacks thus far.
Linebackers: C
I have been very critical of him, but Zaire Franklin has adjusted well to Anarumo’s scheme. I thought he was going to get exposed a lot, but he has been solid against the run, while not a complete liability covering tight ends and running backs. He is still a step slow in pass-coverage, and does not create turnovers, but he is not the reason why the Colts’ linebacker group gets such a low grade. That is on Joe Bachie, who was brought in because of his experience with Anarumo. He has been sub-par in pass coverage, a liability against the run, and no explosive plays (no forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, sacks, interceptions, or tackles for loss). Bachie has been the definition of Just a Guy, and the Colts have to be looking at upgrades here if they are serious about contending.
Secondary: B +
Camryn Bynum and Charvarius “Mooney” Ward have both been impeccable additions to the secondary, with both being as good as advertised, Ward perhaps even more. Along with them, young safety Nick Cross took another step forward after a breakout season last year, slot cornerback Kenny Moore was his usual self before an Achilles injury forced him to miss some games.
Speaking of injuries, that has been a big part of the Colts’ secondary this season. Rookie Justin Walley will miss the entire season, #2 corner Jaylon Jones was placed on IR dealing with a hamstring injury, and Moore’s replacement Mike Hilton is now on the injury report dealing with a shoulder issue. Xavien Howard, who was brought in after Jones went down, was so bad that he retired after just four starts. In Mekhi Blackmon and UDFA Johnathan Edwards the Colts are hoping to find at least something serviceable until Jones is ready to return.
Special teams: B
Spencer Shrader’s injury sucks because he was exactly what the Colts needed from their kicker: automatic under 50 yards. He was even coming off the longest make of his career, and kicked a game-winner against the Broncos. There is not much we can say about Rigoberto Sanchez, because he has just 7 punts, the least in the NFL. Kickoff coverage has been average.
Coaching staff: A –
Steichen’s seat was among the hottest in the NFL to kick off the season, and when he made the decision to start Daniel Jones over Richardson I’ll admit I was fuming. The Colts are #1 in the NFL, but it is not only their record, is how they got there: dominating the “bad” opponents (Dolphins, Titans, Raiders), while also playing better than solid opposition (Broncos, Rams). The reason for the A – is because of two issues I have with the coaching staff. The first was the conservative play-calling against the Broncos on the final drive of the game, where the Colts were forced to kick a field goal over 60 yards, way out of Shrader’s range, after Steichen ran the ball three consecutive times, gaining no yards. The 15-yard flag ended up giving the Colts another chance, which Shrader ended up making, bailing out Steichen. The second one is how Anarumo handled Puka Nacua against the Rams. Even taking into account that certain players like Nacua you can only hope to contain, having Xavien Howard, who retired after the game, on an island several times against a receiver of that caliber was a disaster waiting to happen.
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