NFL: Why the Indianapolis Colts are set up for success

T.Y. Hilton and a tremendous tight-end duo

When Luck first took over this recently Peyton Manning-led team, he was surrounded by veterans. Whether that was Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis rushing off opposing edges, veteran safety Antoine Bethea or a perennial Pro Bowl receiver in Reggie Wayne.

However, that team without a capable starter under center had just gone 2-14 to secure that first overall pick. Former general manager Ryan Grigson drafted Luck’s Stanford teammate Coby Fleener and Clemson’s Dwayne Allen with the next two picks to give him a couple of security blankets at the tight-end spots.

Both flamed out rather quickly and were let go without much resistance. However, while there were no other real quality pass-catchers have drafted since then, with that second pick in the third round of 2012, they got their one true weapon at receiver in Florida International’s T.Y. Hilton.

Obviously, Reggie Wayne had another Pro Bowl year with Luck as a rookie in 2012, but injuries started to take over and when the Colts decided to not re-sign him two years later, it didn’t take long for Wayne to ask for a release from the Patriots.

So it was T.Y.’s turn to take over as Indy’s number one receiver. Even as a rookie, when he started just one game, Hilton already put up 861 yards and 7 TDs on 17.2 yards per grab. While starting as a deep threat primarily, the 5’10” target has developed into a complete receiver.

He still has the burners to go over the top, but he also has quickness in and out of his breaks to create separation that way and he is dangerous after the catch with hesitation moves and the acceleration to defeat pursuit angles. He has cracked the 1000-yard mark in every season outside of his rookie campaign when Luck has been under center and he has made the Pro Bowl four consecutive years now. This season Hilton is already less than 300 yards away from reaching 1000 and he has only appeared in nine games.

While Hilton is a true number one receiver to me, I don’t think the Colts have any real second or third option at the receiver spots and there’s no reason to talk too much about that position group, but rather I am looking at two outstanding weapons at tight-end.

People seem to forget that Eric Ebron was a top ten pick four years ago by the Lions. When you watched Detroit’s offense and how they utilized tight-ends you understand some of that lack of production by the highly touted draft choice.

He was on the field for 60 percent of the offensive snaps just one season at Motown and that was his best year statistically. However, he also dropped a ton of balls and seemed to lose confidence in his own ability as time went along and the fans even started booing him.

So I thought a change of scenery could really help him anyway, but nobody saw this coming. Ebron has already surpassed 500 yards and actually is tied with Antonio Brown and Tyreek Hill for the league-lead in receiving touchdowns at 11. He is a jump-ball monster at the goal-line, he can stretch defenses down the seams with his speed and Indy puts the ball in his hands in so many ways, like that jet sweep they flipped to him against Jacksonville.

Yet with all the limelight on the free agent acquisition, people seem to forget about the other guy at that position in Jack Doyle. The former Western Kentucky tight-end went undrafted in 2013 before being added to Tennessee’s practice squad.

Indianapolis claimed him off waivers despite those two guys at the position they drafted in 2012 and another guy on the roster. The following season he jumped onto the scene with almost 600 receiving yards and not only became one of the best players on the team, but also a locker room favorite. I know he missed weeks three to seven due to a hip injury this season and just went on IR because of a hit to his kidney, but let’s not forget he is one of the most versatile guys at the position when healthy.

Doyle puts in the work as a run-blocker and isn’t afraid of protecting the edges against premiere edge-rushers, while being an excellent target on simple drag and flat routes underneath as well as making spectacular catches down the field. He has already been released from the hospital and while he can’t play anymore this year, he shouldn’t have any lingering effects for 2019.

All three of these guys I just talked about are under contract for next year and Hilton won’t become a free agent until 2021. With the way the receiver has looked so far, he should still be a number one target for another multi-year deal and it will be interesting to see how much the Colts value those two tight-ends.

They definitely know how to utilize them both, splitting tasks as well as being on the field at the same time. Like I said, I don’t really believe in their receiving corp outside of those guys, but they have enough money and draft picks to surround their quarterback with more weapons.