With no big names other than T.Y, this was the Colts weakest position group last season.
Starters: T.Y Hilton, Chester Rogers
Bench: Dontrelle Inman, Ryan Grant, Zach Pascal
The Colts entered the season extremely thin at wide receiver, and it showed all throughout the season. Besides T.Y Hilton, no Colts receiver had more than 500 yards or 4 touchdowns. If not for the magic of Andrew Luck, this group would have been even worse.
Starting with The Ghost, he was as consistent as ever and put together another season with more than 1.000 yards receiving, with 6 scores. He posted an above-average YDS/REC with 16.7. Hilton was the main threat in the Colts offense and the return of Andrew Luck helped immensely, as their chemistry never faltered. Hilton even showed incredible toughness by playing through high and low ankle sprains late in the season and in the Playoffs.
T.Y.’s most dominant performances this season came against the Houston Texans, as he continues to be the Texan Killer. In 3 games, Hilton combined for 18 receptions and 399 yards, and made plays like this.
Owner of the Houston Texans: TY Hiltonpic.twitter.com/fZISPC6CNJ
— Laces Out (@LacesOutShow) January 5, 2019
Things start to drop-off considerably after Hilton. Chester Rogers was solid but he has not solidified a role as the team’s #2 receiver despite numerous opportunities. He made some very big catches, finishing with 53 receptions for 485 yards and 2 scores. The highlight for Rogers is that two of his catches were arguably the most important of the Colts season.
The first one would be against the Dolphins, on a key 3rd down conversion.
This was a huge play by Andrew Luck #Colts pic.twitter.com/7d7fNInTWQ
— ⁶ Mal PopovichLuck (@Mali_Mal) November 26, 2018
Or his game-winning touchdown catch against the Giants in a pivotal Week 16 matchup.
The Colts beat the Giants 28-27 & set up a winner-take-all AFC South title game vs. the Tennessee Titans on NBC next Sunday
— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life25) December 24, 2018
Andrew Luck : 31/48 for 357 yards, 2 TD's & an INT
Chester Rogers : 7 catches for 54 yards & the game-winning 1-yard TD catch with 55 seconds left pic.twitter.com/oiyFDZYKia
After Rogers is Dontrelle Inman and Zach Pascal. Both were signed as depth guys but ended up getting considerable playing time. The two posted nearly identical seasons, a 28/304/3 line for Inman and a 27/268/2 line for Pascal. They both had some big plays down the stretch but they are better depth options than starters.
Behind them is free agent letdown Ryan Grant. After signing a one-year prove-it deal for $5 million, Grant regressed in all three major categories. It seems unlikely that he will be re-signed, unless the Colts medical staff knows enough to give Chris Ballard confidence.
Overall, wide receiver will be a top priority for the Colts this offseason. Adding a proven veteran through free agency and an early round draft pick (though that is not Ballard’s M.O so far) will be key for the Colts offense to take the next step in 2019.
from Stampede Blue - All Posts http://bit.ly/2Na32zZ
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