After a promising start, the Indianapolis Colts struggled during the second half of 2019. What will the organization be looking at the next few months?
Off a 10-6 finish and a wild-card berth that featured a 9-1 finish after a 1-5 start, the Indianapolis Colts looked like a team on the rise and despite being served up a major curveball a few weeks before the start of 2019, managed to win five of their first seven games.
But for various reasons, Frank Reich’s club (minus suddenly-retired Andrew Luck) wasn’t able to sustain the solid start, which included an important win over the eventual 2019 AFC South champion Houston Texans. The club would drop seven of their final nine games and finish a disappointing 7-9. And the reasons for the dismal second-half showing were various.
But it’s now another offseason. And Colts’ general manager Chris Ballard has done a masterful job stockpiling this team with talent, especially the last few years via the draft. So what areas need to be addressed if this team is to get back on the postseason trail?
5. Add depth at tight end
Simply put, six-year pro Eric Ebron didn’t have the same impact in 2019 with the Indianapolis Colts then he had the previous season in his first year with the club. With Andrew Luck at the controls, he came up with career numbers, led the club in touchdown receptions (13) and total TDs (14) and earned his first Pro Bowl invitation. But the one-time member of the Detroit Lions was limited to 11 games this past season before landing on injured reserve. And back in January, general manager Chris Ballard insinuated that the team likely would not bring back the former University of North Carolina standout.
Of course, two-time Pro Bowler Jack Doyle is coming off a season in which he started all 16 games for the first time. He and Ebron were the only tight ends to catch TD passes for the Colts in ’19. Could Ballard look to bolster this spot via the draft?