The Indianapolis Colts have made it a point this offseason that they want to be one of the elite rushing units in the NFL during the 2019 season.
After finishing the season 20th in the league in rushing yards per game in 2018, the Colts have been working to get into the top five in the league. It will take a lot, but center Ryan Kelly feels they have what it takes to make that incredible jump.
“I think to a certain extent last year we definitely made improvements running the ball – we started out pretty slow. But I think that Buffalo game was one of the games that turned the corner for our running game and it ultimately excelled the passing game as well,” Kelly told reporters last week. “We did some really good things last year, but we left a lot of yardage on the field. That’s one of the biggest things is a) communication and b) being able to finish and being in better positon to make those 20-yard runs be 60-yard runs and vice versa.”
The Colts were a different team running the ball in the second half, but they finished the season 20th in yards per game (107.4) and 21st in yards per carry (4.2).
There were often times the Colts were passing much more than they were rushing the ball and while that is going to happen given offensive schemes in today’s game, the emphasis is still on running the ball.
“Obviously we want to improve in the running game. We don’t want to be the 20th ranked run game in the NFL next year,” said offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni. “We want to be in the top-five. We know that if we are in the top-five all of our goals are really attainable of what we want to do. So I would really like to see – that’s really what we have been working on.”
The Colts offense was one of the best units in the league when it was all said and done, but they still want to improve the rushing attack to be an elite squad.
Doing so will make a strong offense one of the true elite units in the league.
