Colts: 5 early predictions for Indianapolis in 2020

T.Y. Hilton, Colts
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Two 800+ Yard Receivers

All the way up to the Philip Rivers signing, there were still segments of the Colts fan base defending the play of Jacoby Brissett; to them, the receiver room in 2019 was too weak and too injured for him to show his best chops. Alas, the NFL is a results-based league, and now it’s time for Rivers to take the helm. And with potential improvements in health and play from multiple candidates, Rivers could be looking at a rebound season.

One of the first places to look for an uptick in production is with the team’s star receiver, T.Y. Hilton. After seven straight years with at least 800 receiving yards (including five 1,000 yard seasons), Hilton missed six games in 2019 with a quad strain and a more severe tear of his calf; consequently, he set his new career low in yardage at 501, gaining just over 11 yards per reception and not catching a single pass over 35 yards. With a healthy Hilton, the offense should take on new life in tandem with the stronger arm of Rivers.

In Hilton’s stead, former Old Dominion prospect Zach Pascal took substantial leaps in every category; the second-year pro notched career highs in receptions (41), targets (72), yards (607), and touchdowns (5). He also saw major improvements on deeper routes, jumping from 9.9 yards per reception as a rookie to 14.8 in 2019. Now going into his third year, Pascal figures to be a major part of the offense as the team’s younger receivers continue to develop.

And therein lies the true question mark of the Colts: their young talent at receiver. The first name that comes to mind is Parris Campbell, the team’s second round pick from Ohio State last offseason; after being expected to become the next great Colts slot receiver, the former Buckeye suffered through an abdominal strain, a hand fracture, and a foot fracture all in a span of about two months. He played in only seven games, catching only 18 passes for 127 yards and disappointing many who expected a strong rookie campaign.

The team also expects significant contributions from rookie Michael Pittman Jr., projected to be the third most productive rookie receiver by Cynthia Frelund of NFL.com. A consistent deep threat out of USC, Pittman could easily slot in opposite Hilton to give Indianapolis the deep threat they sorely lacked last season. At 6’4″, 223 pounds, look for Rivers to take advantage of the rookie’s large frame, especially in the red zone.

Given Campbell’s injury history and Pittman’s youth, I’d wager Hilton returns to form and Pascal takes another leap with more consistent quarterback play. Eric Ebron is also no longer on the team to siphon targets, which bodes well for the production of all of these players.

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