Indianapolis Colts High-Octane Passing Offense Shines in Training Camp

The predictions for the Indianapolis Colts this season revolve around their offense.

It's of no surprise, of course.

The Colts finished 2014 with the third-most total offensive yards in the league and the most passing yards and passing touchdowns. The team also ranked sixth in points per game. Expecting the Colts offense to simply get better was logical, and that was before the team improved in free agency and the draft.

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

After adding former Pro Bowlers Andre Johnson and Frank Gore along with rookie Phillip Dorsett, the Colts offense began to look more and more loaded. 

That perception has been echoed in national media coverage with the season approaching. In recently released power rankings, the Colts have often ranked among the top five teams in the NFL, and certainly in the top 10.

Bleacher Report's Scott Polacek, for example, ranked them fourth in the league, as did Sports Illustrated's Frank Schwab. Pete Prisco of CBS.com has the Colts at seventh, fourth in the AFC.

There is some criticism, of course, and questions regarding the Colts' ability to defend against top-tier offenses. The team has not given fans or media any reason to have confidence in their ability in big games.

Sure, over the course of the season, those defensive numbers might not look so bad. For example, the Colts had the second-best opponent third-down conversion rate last season, allowing a conversion on just 33.3 percent of third downs, according to ESPN.com.

The team was just 13th in Football Outsiders' DVOA last season, indicating a slightly above-average defense, not one that should be a significant concern for a Super Bowl contender.

But the Colts defense faltered in big game after big game. Whether it was against Pittsburgh, Dallas or New England, the Colts defense really struggled against top opponents, especially on the road.

The offense is what will carry Indianapolis, though, and the 2015 version should be better than ever.

And while the addition of Gore should help the Colts become a better running team, the Colts' success throwing the ball downfield (and their focus on doing so) during training camp has been a reminder. This is still Andrew Luck's team, and it's a team that is designed to be able to stretch defenses vertically.

In camp, the Colts offense hasn't held back. While the defense has had its moments, it's been the Andrew Luck show each and every day.

Every day there's a new star.

A 70-yard bomb from Luck to Dorsett beat a double team. The familiar Luck-to-T.Y. Hilton connection resulted in a touchdown. Donte Moncrief got in on the 50-yard touchdown passes, and in general impressed with his camp performance.

The three will likely serve as the main deep threats for Indianapolis this year, and all have impressed with catches downfield this offseason. Dorsett and Moncrief will battle for the third wide receiver spot, while Hilton is Luck's favorite target in any situation. But no matter what happens, all three should be significantly involved.

And, of course, Andre Johnson, whom Dwayne Allen said surprised the team with "how much he has left in the tank," per Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star. Johnson can play anywhere in a lineup, but will likely focus on the middle of the field and the short and intermediate zones. This is fantastic for Luck, who loved to exploit those zones with Reggie Wayne.

Duron Carter had four touchdowns in red-zone work on Friday, and Pep Hamilton said that he makes a "Wow" play every day, per Stephen Holder of the Indy Star.

Chuck Pagano commented that Carter was "plucking balls off defensive backs' heads like they were peanuts," according to Steve Andress of Colts.com. Carter has looked smooth in camp and may just earn himself a role as a red-zone specialist.

Undrafted receiver Quan Bray out of Auburn has made his mark as well, as George Bremer of the Herald Bulletin reports that Pagano has brought up Bray's name in post-practice meetings almost every day.

There is no shortage of weapons for Luck and the passing offense, and it's showing.

On Friday, Luck was pristine in a day full of red-zone work, an area where the Colts have struggled in recent years. But this season could be different, given Luck's new weapons, as Holder reports:

"

Each of Luck’s touchdown passes came in red-zone situations against the Colts No. 1 defense. That’s when the field is crowded and his receivers don’t have the sort of open space that makes them so difficult to contain. No matter. Luck was in rare form. One play he was slicing the football through the secondary with brute arm strength; the next, he was lofting the ball to the spot only his receiver could grab it.

All afternoon, his passes were sharp and where they needed to be.

And not to be outdone, his pass-catchers more than held up their end of the bargain.

Coby Fleener snagged two touchdowns, the second over tight coverage from linebacker Trent Cole. Dwayne Allen made his nicest catch of camp, a one-hander in the back of the end zone. Andre Johnson joined the party, hauling a one-handed catch of his own through heavy traffic that included safety Mike Adams and corner Darius Butler. A few plays later, Jack Doyle’s diving catch gave Luck five touchdowns on the day.

"

Throw in the big bodies of Moncrief and Carter, and the Colts could have one heck of a red-zone package with the two tight ends and three big receivers.

Player	Position	Height	Weight
Andre Johnson	WR	6'3"	229 lbs
Donte Moncrief	WR	6'2"	222 lbs
Duron Carter	WR	6'5"	211 lbs
Dwayne Allen	TE	6'3"	265 lbs
Coby Fleener	TE	6'6"	251 lbs

Speaking of those two tight ends, it's worth noting that Allen has actually lost 13 pounds this offseason, so he will probably be playing closer to 250 pounds than his listed 265. It's an effort to both get faster and stretch the field as well as stay healthy, per Andress.

Nobody should overlook Gore, of course, as he's in line for a big season in Indianapolis. Less attention from defenses should lead to a more efficient season for him and the offense in general.

But the Colts know where their bread is buttered, and it's not lining up behind a six-man offensive line (which is not very good) and pounding the ball. Luck is the motor, and his pass-catching targets are the fuel.

Luck and his receivers got together quite a bit during the summer months, in places like Stanford, Miami and Indianapolis. The time was particularly helpful for developing young receivers like Dorsett, Moncrief told Kevin Bowen of Colts.com:

"

It was just super focused. We narrowed the tape, just trying to get the timing down and make sure everything is perfect right now. We spent some time together and ran a lot of routes and got the timing. (Now) we’re just ready to show everybody.

"

So far in training camp, the Colts have been showing everybody.

Sure, it's just training camp, and nothing will matter until live bullets start flying against Buffalo on September 13, but it's certainly not a bad thing to hear.

Expectations for the Colts are sky-high in 2015, and so far, it looks like Luck and the Indy offense may be able to live up to them.