5 Things the Indianapolis Colts Must Address During the Bye Week
During the Indianapolis Colts' bye week, the team has much to address.
The team's slow start would have necessitated a productive bye week no matter what. A below .500 start is simply not acceptable for this team.
But, things have gotten even more complicated. The Colts made an offensive coordinator change prior to their Week 9 victory, and the bye week will have to include more tweaking of the offensive system. Andrew Luck also suffered injuries during that Week 9 win, a kidney laceration and partially torn abdominal that will keep him out for two to six weeks.
That certainly adds to the team's load over the bye week.
So what exactly can we expect the Colts to focus on over the bye week? That's a big question that likely encompasses an innumerable amount of topics, but we'll try to narrow it down to a few key ideas.
Adjusting the Passing Game, Again
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After Rob Chudzinski was appointed as the new offensive coordinator last week, there were only a few subtle changes made.
According to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star, the Colts' biggest change to the offense was simplifying the weekly game plan, but using virtually the same offense as they did under former offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton.
""(Chudzinski) streamlined the offense," tight end Coby Fleener said. "I mean, what were his options? He had a week to prepare."
But in doing so, by condensing Hamilton's scheme into a pieced-together package just to get the offense through Sunday's game, the Colts discovered something: It worked wonders.
Players were more focused. They were more confident in their assignments, more precise in their execution. The Colts just might be onto something.
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The Colts changed a little under Chudzinski, such as a more committed power run game and utilizing the middle of the field more in the passing game. But now, the offense will have to be adjusted even more with Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback.
Fortunately for Indianapolis and Chudzinski, the team has already had to do this for Hasselbeck this season. But this may require a bit more shifting, as it could be a longer absence for Luck, and Chudzinski may want to make his own mark on the offense, rather than just taking Hamilton's plan.
We can safely assume that there will be an emphasis on quicker passing with yards-after-the-catch opportunities, but exactly how that plays out is yet to be seen.
Get Andre Johnson Back and Involved in the Quick Passing Game
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It's been a rough year for Andre Johnson, who came to Indianapolis to be the dependable veteran over the middle in the passing game, essentially replacing Reggie Wayne. Instead, he's seen that role go to Griff Whalen over the last few weeks.
Still, Johnson is moving forward with optimism, per Mike Wells of ESPN.com:
"Anybody would like to go out and catch six, seven galls a game, but that’s not what it is. Like I said before, it could be my day today, somebody else’s day tomorrow. The biggest thing about when you’re trying to achieve that ultimate goal, you have to do things that have never been done before. I was out there run blocking. But it’s part of it. I’m embracing every part of it. It’s different for me, but I don’t have a problem with it.
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Johnson has a point, in regards to the Colts' crowded receiving corps. Every week seems to change, outside of T.Y. Hilton usually leading the team. Some days it's Donte Moncrief putting up big numbers, sometimes it's been Coby Fleener. On a couple of occasions, it's been Andre Johnson.
On that note, it's not a coincidence that Johnson's best game came with Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback back in Week 5.
Hasselbeck tends to get rid of the ball quicker than Andrew Luck, hitting the first open receiver he sees. This is where Johnson could play a big role in the next few weeks, as the Colts try to stay afloat with Luck on the bench. If Rob Chudzinski is going to focus on the quick passing game over the middle of the field, Johnson has to get involved.
Solidify the Run-Pass Mixture
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As the Colts continue to tweak their offense, one of the keys will be getting the correct mixture of runs and passes.
Against the Broncos, the Colts rode the run game all day, despite getting extremely inefficient in the second half. It was worth it, as it opened things up a bit for Luck down the field, but that might not work as well with Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback.
The Colts need to rely on the run game, but they can't continue to average 3.0 yards per carry, as they did against the Broncos. Overall, that's not a recipe for success. Of course, not every team is going to have the defense that Denver does, so things are looking up.
The correct mixture of snaps between Frank Gore and Ahmad Bradshaw is a key component as well. Head coach Chuck Pagano seems to be happy with his two backs thus far:
"It’s a great 1-2 punch right now. Frank is our bell cow, so to speak, as a runner. Ahmad has been outstanding on third down for us. He’s a third-down protector. Then we know how productive he was a year ago before he got hurt out of the backfield. It’s not just a guy that’s going to stay in there and protect, but you got to account for Ahmad on third down, not only protecting, but making plays out of the backfield on check-downs and screens and things like that.
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This is the best plan moving forward. The Colts tried to mix Bradshaw in more as a runner, but Gore is the better power-runner, while Bradshaw fits better as a receiver.
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Finding Henry Anderson's Replacement
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Andrew Luck's injury this past week has overshadowed another catastrophic injury for the Colts, rookie defensive end Henry Anderson being lost for the season with an ACL tear.
Anderson was Pro Football Focus' 10th-ranked 3-4 defensive end, and possessed the third-most stops of any player on that list. He won't be easy to replace for the Colts, whose improved defensive line play has produced great dividends in run defense this season.
According to Kevin Bowen of Colts.com, Anderson played the second-most snaps of any Colts defensive lineman, and he will likely be replaced by a combination of Billy Winn and Zach Kerr. According to Bowen, defensive line coach Gary Emanuel is excited about the opportunity to see more of the young linemen:
"We will find out what they are. We think they are guys that have a tremendous ceiling, have the ability to make plays athletically. They play hard and are competitive. We anticipate them to do some great things out there on the field."
Winn had been a major contributor for most of the start of the season, but he was inactive in favor of Kerr last week. Fortunately for Indianapolis, both have played well in reserve duties. But filling Anderson's role will take some doing, especially in terms of providing disruption in the backfield.
Get D'Joun Smith Back on the Field
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Last week against the Broncos, cornerback Greg Toler once again earned a lot of attention, allowing 115 yards and five catches, including a 64-yard touchdown reception to Emmanuel Sanders, per Pro Football Focus.
Toler has been a weak spot in the Colts' secondary for years, but especially this season as Vontae Davis has gotten healthier. With Toler's weaknesses being a major problem for the Colts defense, the team has to start looking for ways to bolster the secondary. The team will face a bevy of talented receiving corps over the next few weeks.
The best option for strengthening is the Colts' third-round pick, D'Joun Smith. Smith struggled in the preseason and training camp, but he has real potential. Unfortunately, Smith landed on the injured reserve designated for return list in September with a knee injury. He returned to practice back in October but hasn't been eligible to return to game action until Week 11.
According to Steve Andress of Colts.com, head coach Chuck Pagano has been bullish about Smith's ability to get back into the fold quickly:
"According to our docs and trainers, he’s ahead of schedule. He’s doing a great job staying engaged. He’s in every single meeting. He’s at practice. Really, really great kid, obviously. He knows football. He’s a football junkie. We’re hopeful he’ll be back after the bye and get him back on the field. That’s what we’re shooting for.
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Even if Smith doesn't replace Toler right away, his progression will be key for the Colts' long-term plans at cornerback. Toler's contract is up after this year, but the Colts don't currently have an adequate replacement on the roster.
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