Before each season starts fans, media and the team set expectations on each player as to how they think they’ll do this season. Sometimes those expectations are way too high, and sometimes way too low, but people set expectations as a barometer for if a player did well that season or not.
While the Indianapolis Colts finished the season losing five of their last seven games, and finished 7-9, missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years, there were some pleasant surprises from the season.
Here are some of the biggest overachievers from the 2019 Colts’ season:
LB Bobby Okereke
The third-round pick in the 2019 draft, Okereke solidified the SAM linebacker spot halfway through the 2019 season.
Okereke became a full-time starter in Week 8. He would go onto have 58 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovered, and he intercepted and returned a two-point conversion attempt for points.
Okereke was just recently named to the PFF 2019 NFL All-Rookie Team where he was graded out at 79.2 coverage grade. That ranked him 10th among off-ball linebackers. He was also PFF’s eighth-highest-graded overall rookie with a 77.3 grade.
WR Zach Pascal
In the summer a lot of people thought with how loaded the receiver group was, Pascal would be left off the initial 53-man roster. While Pascal did make the roster, he was still down on the depth chart, until he had an opportunity, and he took full advantage.
Back in mid-October, I wrote Pascal could be the Colts new No. 2 receiver and when injuries took place, he stepped up when needed.
Pascal finished the season as the Colts’ leading receiver in yards and touchdowns with 607 yards and five touchdowns. He also was fifth on the team in receptions with 41.
Next summer will be interesting to see where Pascal is on the depth chart, with T.Y. Hilton and Parris Campbell coming back from injury, and the possibility the Colts sign or draft another receiver.
S Khari Willis
Another Chris Ballard mid-round gem, Willis was a solid piece in the Colts secondary throughout 2019, as a starter and rotational piece.
Willis missed two games last season due to a concussion and shoulder injury, but when he was on the field he was an impact player. In Week 4, Willis became a full-time starter and at the end of the season, Willis finished third on the team in total tackles, and fourth in solo tackles.
With Clayton Geathers becoming a free agent this offseason, expect Willis to be the week one starter at safety for the Colts in 2020.
RB Nyheim Hines
This goes solely for the special teams part of Hines’ game that he showed when he took over the role following the season-ending injury to wide receiver Chester Rogers.
Though it was limited work, Hines took nine returns for 281 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 31.2 yards per return and ended up securing himself a role in 2020.
The backfield belongs to Marlon Mack, but it seems the Colts have found a potentially game-changing player with Hines on special teams.
