Following in Edgerrin James’ footsteps, Jonathan Taylor inching closer to being the Indianapolis Colts’ next star RB – Indianapolis Colts Blog
INDIANAPOLIS – The record of working backs constantly grew 12 months after 12 months.
Donald Brown. Trent Richardson. Frank Gore. Marlon Mack.
Every tried to be the Indianapolis Colts‘ subsequent dominant again however failed for quite a lot of causes. None of them might be the working again opposing defenses feared the identical method they did with Corridor of Famer Edgerrin James throughout his seven seasons with the group.
Jonathan Taylor is presently taking his flip at it, and the outcomes up to now have many in — and out — of the group believing the second-year again is their finest participant at that place since James.
“I’m speaking as an analyst and likewise a former participant for the staff — he’s the most effective one since Edge,” former Colts heart and present ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday mentioned. “I feel what he gives is each play may go for a landing. Whether or not it’s within the display sport, a examine down, giving it to him between the tackles or outdoors. Each play may doubtlessly go the home.”
Colts proprietor Jim Irsay has by no means been one to carry again on his expectations (he has predicted a number of Super Bowl titles this decade). That’s why he didn’t flinch as he sat behind a desk on a scorching and humid day throughout coaching camp when speaking about his featured working again.
“You don’t wish to put an excessive amount of on a younger again and people kind of issues, however Jonathan, if he desires a few gold [Hall of Fame] jacket at evening, he’s having the fitting dream as a result of there’s actuality there and so much has to occur,” Irsay mentioned again in August. “… You may’t put any limits on what he can do. He’s obtained all of it. He has the ability, he has the velocity. He’s a particular, particular participant.”
Finest Colts RB since Edgerrin James?
Because the Colts (3-5) face the New York Jets on Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium (8:20 p.m. ET, Fox/NFL Network), it’s method too early to consider Taylor placing on a gold jacket in Canton, Ohio. For now, the Colts are embracing and having fun with what he has completed up to now within the NFL. Going again to 1970, Taylor’s 1,818 yards dashing in 23 video games are second in franchise historical past solely to James’ 2,335 yards, in accordance with ESPN Stats & Data.
“Working backs are actually, actually troublesome to position and work out within the NFL,” former Colts coach Tony Dungy mentioned. “Looks as if these can’t-miss guys or the Derrick Henrys, they don’t come alongside too typically. You’re at all times in search of them, at all times in search of the fitting match.
“The Colts have had a number of actually, actually good backs, however getting that franchise Corridor of Fame again just isn’t that simple. I feel Jonathan is displaying indicators of being that, and also you hope he’ll be the long-term reply. All the time anxious about accidents with working backs, however wanting that, he’s going to be nice.”
Taylor’s glowing, smiling, outgoing character, mixed together with his energy and velocity, have led to loads of success for him on and off the sector.
The truth is, he has arguably been the most effective working again within the NFL this season not named Derrick Henry, the Tennessee Titans again that is main the league in dashing.
Taylor is tops within the league with 6.4 scrimmage yards per contact (minimal 75). And regardless of having the fifth-most rushes within the NFL, he’s second to solely Henry in dashing yards (937/649), yards after contact (496/404) and yards from scrimmage (1,091/914).
Nonetheless, Henry’s season is over due to a foot harm suffered in opposition to the Colts in Week 8. Which means Taylor is now arguably the highest energetic working again within the NFL.
“They mentioned I might be among the finest in school, however that was simply my mindset already, … how can I be the most effective model of myself at each single stage?” Taylor mentioned. “At the highschool stage, collegiate stage and now the NFL stage as a result of it doesn’t matter what number of yards you had final week or what number of touchdowns you had final week. It’s what number of yards or touchdowns did you’ve gotten this week, on this sport? It’s simply how are you going to be the most effective each single week?”
From a gradual begin to elite
The transition to being put in the identical class of a few of in the present day’s elite working backs like Henry, Ezekiel Elliott and Nick Chubb hasn’t been a straightforward one for Taylor.
He entered his rookie season in 2020 because the backup to Mack. That lasted lower than a full sport as a result of Mack tore his Achilles in Week 1. Then Taylor needed to study that he was not at Wisconsin, the place he simply needed to take the ball and run.
The NFL was totally different.
Taylor needed to be affected person, learn the blocks and await the working lane to open up — then go. It was a battle for Taylor, as he began shedding snaps to Nyheim Hines throughout a part of the season. However Taylor closed out his rookie season by dashing for 741 yards over the ultimate 5 video games to complete with 1,169 yards on the season.
In Yr 2, Taylor has added a brand new dimension, increasing his position within the passing sport. Along with 649 yards dashing, he’s second on the staff in receiving yards with 265. That features three performs of not less than 20 yards, just like the display go he caught and took 76 yards in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5.
“That man is particular, man, he has particular expertise,” veteran large receiver T.Y. Hilton mentioned. “He’s highly effective, he’s speedy within the open discipline and he’s a man we will lean on [in] the run sport, go sport. He’s catching passes, taking screens to the home and is a giant, key piece to this offense.”
Settling in as Colts’ star working again
Taylor is arguably underused out of the backfield. It was only a couple weeks in the past that coach Frank Reich mentioned Taylor deserves not less than 20 carries a sport. That’s a fantastic thought and all, however Taylor nonetheless hasn’t had 20 carries all season after having 4 such outings as a rookie.
The Colts are 6-0 when Taylor has rushed for not less than 100 yards in a sport.
“I’m not excited by simply getting his dashing whole,” Reich mentioned this week. “That’s definitely a giant deal. He’s a dynamic participant within the go sport as properly. Imagine me, I wish to get him as many dashing makes an attempt as we will.”
The Colts haven’t had a participant rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons since Joseph Addai did it within the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Taylor ought to accomplish that feat this season, barring harm. But it surely’s extra than simply barely topping 1,000 yards. Taylor has proved he is a menace for a giant play each time he touches the ball. He is the most effective offensive participant on the Colts and one may argue he is the most effective total participant on the roster.
With every carry or catch that results in a giant play or landing, Taylor runs additional away from being in the identical class as Richardson and Brown and nearer to Edgerrin and Marshall Faulk.
“You play the sport to be among the finest,” Taylor mentioned. “You play the sport to be a winner. So I really feel like everybody ought to dream to get a gold jacket sooner or later.”
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