Next Man Up Mentality Paying Dividends for Colts as Backups Step Up Big

The "next man up" mentality isn't uncommon throughout the National Football League. 

Plenty of coaches use the classic phrase to communicate their expectations for each of the 53 men on the active roster week in and week out. 

But each of the Indianapolis Colts' last few coaching staffs, the first two coached by Tony Dungy and Jim Caldwell and the most recent by Chuck Pagano, have been particularly fond of the phrase. While it could be classified under the ever-growing list of "coachspeak," it's only fair to note that the mentality paid big dividends for the Colts during their comeback win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. 

First, there were the backups forced to enter the game due to injury, namely on the offensive line. 

A.Q. Shipley is the poster boy for the "next man up" movement in Indianapolis, having never been handed a starting spot except due to injury. Even though Shipley has consistently outperformed his predecessor, the starting spot has always been given back to the original starter when healthy. 

In 2012, it was Samson Satele. In 2014, it has been Jonotthan Harrison. 

Player	PFF Grade	PFF Pass Pro. Grade	PFF Run Block Grade	Total Snaps
2012 Shipley	+7.9	+2.1	+5.1	474
2012 Satele	-5.7	-10.1	+4.7	642
2014 Shipley	+5.9	+2.2	+3.7	340
2014 Harrison	-12.5	-8.8	-1.0	591

Shipley was playing very well as the Colts started the season with strong pass protection in his four starts to begin the season. But Harrison, who was the starter in the preseason before injuring his hand, was handed back the starting spot for the Colts' Week 5 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. 

Since then, Harrison has shown more strength in the run game but has unquestionably been a poorer pass protector, and he's also contributed to numerous turnovers due to poor snaps or miscommuncation. 

After Harrison left Sunday's game, Shipley came in and played well, and the Colts offensive line was much more cohesive in its blitz pickups. 

Another big aid to the Colts' improved pass protection was the play from second-year C/G Khaled Holmes. Utility lineman Joe Reitz was playing right guard in Hugh Thornton's stead to start the game. Reitz has been the Colts' best pass-protecting interior lineman over the last few years, but Holmes came in and replaced him without a hitch after Reitz's ankle injury in the second half. 

With no more linemen being active after Holmes and Shipley entered the game, the fact that both were able to play effectively was huge in the Colts' comeback bid. 

Another bench player forced into a large role was cornerback Josh Gordy. With Vontae Davis out for the game with a concussion, Gordy helped the defense limit Brian Hoyer to just 140 yards and two interceptions on 45 percent passing. 

Gordy also grabbed the game-ending interception as Hoyer and the Browns tried to drive for a game-winning field goal.

Then there are the Colts' up-and-coming skill players, who rightfully played more snaps than their veteran counterparts in a continual passing of the torch. 

Donte Moncrief has been a much bigger part of the Colts offense over the last few weeks, with the rookie taking Hakeem Nicks' role as the third receiver and occasionally playing over Reggie Wayne in two-receiver sets. 

It's a good thing, too, because Moncrief is more than just the next man. He's the future, and with Nicks struggling all season and Wayne's injuries and age slowing him down, he's simply a better player right now. 

Moncrief didn't match the breakout game he had last week, finishing with just three catches for 33 yards, and he had a big miscue with a drop in the third quarter for what would have been a first down. 

But Luck still had faith in the rookie receiver who had made plays all year. On 3rd-and-7 with just 2:46 left in the game, the Colts needed a score but were backed up on their own 13. Luck spied Moncrief getting behind the corner on a post route and hit him for a diving 27-yard reception and a first down. 

It was a great example of Moncrief's ability to beat press coverage and make difficult catches, and it kept the Colts' comeback hopes alive. 

But the biggest moment of the day belonged to Dan "Boom" Herron.

The former Ohio State Buckeye took most of the snaps in the fourth quarter over starting running back Trent Richardson, and rightfully so. Herron has shown himself to be a more explosive, reliable back over the last two games, and the Colts coaches rewarded him by utilizing him over the maligned Richardson on Indianapolis' do-or-die drive. 

Down to the Browns 3-yard line with just 1:08 left, the Colts faced a 3rd-and-1. With what looked like a light Cleveland front on the line, the Colts ran a draw to Herron up the middle. While he looked like he got to the 2-yard line, the officials marked him a half-yard short. But the coaches went right back to Herron, lining up in a power formation and handing it Herron on a power run behind the right guard, Holmes. 

All it was the Colts' most important run of the 2014 season. 

Herron, in all honesty, shouldn't have gotten the first down. Cleveland stacked the line and were able to push Holmes backward. Jack Mewhort, pulling from the left side, couldn't get to the hole quick enough, and Herron ran into a wall. 

But Herron was the next man up, and that means getting the job done. Recomposing himself, Herron bounced the run out to the right, then showed impeccable balance and footwork with a spin move back to the inside, falling forward for two yards and a first down. 

Andrew Luck called it the "one of the best half-yard runs [he'd] ever seen," according to Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star.

One play later, the Colts scored the go-ahead touchdown. 

Herron finished with 12 touches for 71 yards on the day, while Richardson (the "starter" in name only) finished with seven touches for 30 yards. 

At the beginning of the season, Shipley was cut by the Ravens, while Herron, Moncrief, Gordy and Holmes were buried on the depth chart. On Sunday, they were each key components of the Colts' first road win over a team with a winning record. 

That's the Colts. That's the NFL. 

Sure, T.Y. Hilton, Luck and Davis (among others) will carry the team to wins. It's happened plenty this season. But to win games in a playoff push, or in a playoff run, the next man has to step up. That's what happened Sunday, and the Colts just hope it will keep happening as the team heads into the most crucial portion of the 2014 season.