News: BTB: Looking At The Colts Offense For Week 16

[NewsBot]

While the Indianapolis Colts offense is sometimes called "elite", it is a huge misconception. It is more correct to label their offense "capable of being elite in any game and at any time."

The Colts have one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and the offensive coordinator has made a clear choice to "shoot their big gun", as the saying goes, because their running game is far from elite. In fact the Colts are stubborn in trying to stick with Trent Richardson when they clearly have better options.

Andrew Luck has helped the Colts become third in total points, third in total yards, and first in passing yards. They have star players at many positions such as wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, and Adam Vinatieri. They are all very productive as far as scoring goes, and we all know points is what matters most.

Where the Colts offense is lacking is at the running back position. Ahmad Bradshaw was doing very well before he got injured and Dan Herron has been averaging 6.44 yards per touch compared to Trent Richardson's 3.21 over that same span. But, the Colts insist on giving the ball early and often and then putting Luck in the position of having to carry the team because the running game is just not there. Sound familiar as far as Tony Romo having to carry the Cowboys in years past because of the lack of a dependable running game?

It is the fact that the Colts can't depend on the running game on short yardage that makes the offensive coordinator rely on Andrew Luck to save the day. According to Pro-Football-Reference.com the Colts are 24th in the NFL in converting on downs with two yards or less to go.

Luck has an average TD-INT ratio but the Colts as an offense also has 14 fumbles to go along with those 14 picks, many of those fumbles were caused by Luck trying to extend plays.

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