The Indianapolis Colts will be unplugging for the weekend during the bye as they prepare to make a run for the AFC South title through the second half of the regular season.
Even though we aren’t at the halfway point yet, there are still many questions the Colts will be looking to answer coming out of the Week 6 bye. Some might be answered right away. Others might not be answered until the end of the season.
Here are four questions the Colts face coming out of the bye week:
Can the defense shore up?
Even without two of their best players in linebacker Darius Leonard and safety Malik Hooker, the Colts defense showed what it can be when everything is working together.
Holding the Chiefs to 13 points in Week 5, the Colts defense showed it has what it takes to compete—and even stifle—elite offenses. But the consistency is the question for the second half of the season. Can they make strides in stopping the run? Can the pass rush avoid games where pressure is non-existent?
These are some of the biggest questions the Colts defense faces, and the unit will have a large say in how far Indy goes down the stretch.
Can Marlon Mack sustain this pace?
There is no denying Mack has been one of the best running backs in the game. His arsenal has improved from the immature runner to a sound back that shows off patience, footwork and vision behind what is arguably the best run-blocking offensive line in the NFL.
But while Mack has been a key cog in the offense, one has to wonder if his usage is sustainable. The third-year back has dealt with injuries in each of his first two seasons. His career-high for carries in 195, and he’s already recorded 103 carries through the first five games.
The Colts would much rather have Mack healthy if it means dialing back his touches. He’s an integral part of the offense’s success, but it will be interesting to see if the Colts are at all worried about overusing him.
Could a trade be on the way at the deadline?
Though it is still a few weeks away, the trade deadline could be one to watch for the Colts. The cutoff is Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 4:00 p.m. ET and while the Colts likely won’t make a move, there is always a chance with general manager Chris Ballard.
Whether he wants to add some depth to a certain position or add another draft pick to his arsenal, Ballard will likely have his lines in the water over the next few weeks.
Trades have become much more common in the NFL. The Colts are likely to be competing for the AFC South title during the second half of the season, and it will be interesting to see if that will sway Ballard into making a trade.
Who will step up in Kemoko Turay’s absence?
The Colts got some tough news following the upset win against the Chiefs in that the second-year pass rusher in Turay will be out for the remainder of the season. Now, they will be relying on some players to step up in his absence.
The two that likely get the biggest uptick in playing time are Al-Quadin Muhammad and rookie Ben Banogu. The starters will remain in Jabaal Sheard and Justin Houston, but the Colts will need production from the entire room. This is especially true when considering Turay was potentially on the verge of a breakout.
The Colts pass rush is a key to the team’s success, and they will be relying on a group of edge rushers to step up in Turay’s absence.
