Mile High Report Scout: Indianapolis Colts Offense

The Basics

Category	Totals	Rank
Yds/Game	346.5	15th
Rush Yds/Game	130.7	8th
Pass Yds/Game	215.8	23rd
Points/Game	24.7	11th
1st downs	122	10th
3rd down %	45.8	5th
Fum/INT	5	---
Give/Take	+5	T-3rd

Strong numbers across the board.  The area in which the Colts offense has struggled a bit is through the air.  It is more indicative of the kind of balance they have attempted to accomplish to date.  No one is going to accuse Andrew Luck of not being a capable quarterback.  So much of what they do in the passing game right now goes through the running game which will be yet another test for the Denver Broncos #1 rushing defense.

They may be a middle of the pack team in yards, but those yards have counted in the points column.  This Colt offense is efficient in converting 3rd downs and doesn't give the ball away much.  Through six games the offense has committed 5 turnovers.

Andrew Luck

Directional Passing

- To the left side of the field, Luck has gone 20-31 (64.5%) for 201 yards, 3 TD and 1 INT

- In the middle he has gone 74-113 (65.5%) for 813 yards, 3 TD and 1 INT

- To the right, Luck has gone 21-36 (58.3%) for 332 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT

His most productive areas passing the ball are the 0-9 range both left and middle, and the 10-19 range middle.  Though he has not connected much long, down the right he is averaging 44 yards per completion.

Pressure vs. No Pressure

Situation	Drops	Comp	Att	%	YDS	Avg	TD	INT	Sack	QBR
None	128	83	121	68.6	855	7.1	3	1	0	93.5
Pressured	89	32	65	49.2	491	7.6	4	2	13	82.3
No Blitz	140	70	122	57.4	843	6.9	5	2	3	85.5
Blitz	77	45	64	70.3	503	7.9	2	1	10	97.3
Totals	217	115	186	61.8	1346	7.2	7	3	13	89.6

While Luck is passing the ball well when blitzed, he's also been brought down 10 times that way.  The key here seems to be to get pressure with the front 4 without blitzing, which is something Broncos fans have debated and agonized over in the absence of Von Miller.  Hopefully our front is now capable of getting quick, consistent pressure with the front 4 with Von back in the fold.

Running Backs

Last game against the Chargers, (#34) Trent Richardson and (#31) Donald Brown split time evenly.  Donald Brown has only rushed the ball 21 times for 172 yards.  He's also caught 6 balls for 33 yards.

Trent Richardson has rushed the ball 61 times as a Colt for 191 yards (3.1 per carry).  He's only caught 2 balls as a Colt this far.

Neither of these guys are imposing runners.  Though Brown has proven a more effective runner albeit in limited action, they are going to feed the ball to Richardson after giving up a first round pick to get him.  The Colts have been effective in the running game more due to volume than consistency.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

(#87) Reggie Wayne has been targeted all over the field.  The only two areas he's yet to receive a target is deep left and short right.  he has done most of his damage in the middle of the field catching 16 balls on 27 targets for 252 yards and 1 TD.

Overall he's been targeted 50 times and has caught 33 balls for 453 yards and 2 TD's.  He's dropped 4 passes on the year (8%).

(#81) Darrius Heyward-Bey has played the 2nd most snaps amongst the WR, but he has only been targeted 26 times.  He has 14 receptions for 146 yards and 2 drops (7.7%).  Bey has been targeted deep 5 times and has yet to catch one beyond 20 yards.

(#13) TY Hilton is their "3rd" WR.  He splits some time opposite of Reggie Wayne in two back sets and plays the slot in 11 personnel. He has 42 targets, 25 receptions for 385 yards with 2 TD's and 1 drop. He is probably Luck's most viable deep threat.  On the season, Hilton has been targeted 13 times beyond 20 yards and has caught 5 for 191 yards and 2 TD's.

(#80) Colby Fleener will be your primary TE.  He's graded out -2.5 run blocking and +1.0 catching the ball.  He's caught 17 balls on 26 targets for 197 yards, 2 TD's, and 1 drop.

Offensive Line

LT(#74) Anthony Costanzo: +8.0 overall, +1.4 pass blocking, +4.5 run blocking. Has allowed 2 sacks, 2 hits, and 14 hurries in 238 pass blocking snaps (7.6%)

LG (#69) Hugh Thornton: -5.2 overall, -6.2 pass blocking, +1.1 run blocking.  Has allowed 1 sack, 6 hits, and 7 hurries in 238 pass blocking snaps (5.9%)

C (#64) Samson Satele: -6.1 overall, -1.4 pass blocking, -5.0 run blocking.  Has allowed 2 hits and 5 hurries in 157 pass blocking snaps (4.5%)

RG (#75) Mike McGlynn: - 10.9 overall, -4.1 pass blocking, -7.4 run blocking.  Has allowed 2 sacks, 3 hits, and 12 hurries in 238 pass blocking snaps (7.1%)

RT (#78) Gosder Cherilus: +5.0 overall, +3.9 pass blocking, -2.0 run blocking.  Has allowed 1 sack, 5 hits, and 10 pressures in 238 pass blocking snaps (6.7%)

Personnel/Formations

This team probably mixes up their formations/personnel groupings more than any team the Broncos have seen to this point.  In 11 personnel, sometimes they will group DHB and Wayne together with Hilton split wide to the other side, sometimes they will put Hilton and Wayne on the same side with Hilton in the slot, sometimes they will take Fleener out of the game and play a two back set with three wide receivers. Near the goal line, I have seen them flex their back out wide and he'll run a hesitation move against a linebacker.  Good thing for us it's Richardson who isn't exactly lighting the field on fire with his speed.

With some of their heavier personnel, they will bring an extra offensive linemen in the game and run an unbalanced line with two backs, 2 TE's, and 1 WR. Here are some visuals of some of the things I saw last game:

21 personnel

11 personnel

20 personnel

22 personnel

My Take

Luck is a capable quarterback.  He notices things presnap that higher level thinkers do and he exploits them.  He'll be paying attention to leverage and technique from the cornerbacks. They are a capable offense that can move the ball and will lean on the running game to open up some playaction opportunities.  Luck is smart with the ball, he'll throw it away or scramble when it's not there.  When pressured, he has the legs to get himself out of trouble and extend plays.

Skill position wise, both Bey and Hilton have speed to burn.  Hilton will be a formidable matchup for the Chris Harris when he lines up in the slot.  Fleener is a decent target but is wildly inconsistent as a receiver.  Reggie Wayne is still one of the best in the game.

If they had a more potent running game, this team would give us some issues.  Fortunately for the Broncos front 7, Richardson isn't going to instill the fear in anyone.  He may be a "tough" runner, but he has no 2nd gear and I still see some big question marks with his vision.  Our defense should have no issues bottling him up.

We shut down this running game and it's all on Luck to keep up with the best in the game.  I don't see that happening at this point in his career.

My Prediction?

Broncos 31 Colts 17