Dopey Report Card: Colts vs. Titans

If I could give Jonathan Taylor more than an A+, I would. He's been that special.

RUN OFFENSE

Do you know how rare this whole Jonathan Taylor experience is? We thought we saw him at the height of his powers when he ran for 1,811 yards in 2021. He followed that up with two injury-filled years and then a very good year when he ran for 1,431 yards. Now look at this guy. As great as he was in 2021, he’s raised his game in the sixth year of his career. This isn’t supposed to happen to running backs...unless you’re elite, like Adrian Peterson or Derrick Henry. How’d you like to be Daniel Jones, who has had a front-row seat to both Saquon Barkley and now Taylor? The Colts ran 18 times for 164 yards, a ridiculous 9.1-yard average. Taylor alone went for 153 yards on 12 carries, adding two rushing touchdowns -- one an 80 yarder -- and one receiving TD. Enjoy watching greatness.

Grade: A+

RUN DEFENSE

The 1-6 Titans had just one way to keep this game close, and that’s by running the ball and winning time of possession. They had some success early -- OK, a little -- but once they fell behind, they had to pass to catch up. Thanks to Tennessee coach Mike McCoy who failed to go for it on a fourth-and-3 at the Colts 42 and the Titans trailing by 10 in the second quarter. Mind boggling. Tennessee finished with 113 yards on 25 carries, a 4.5 yards-per-carry average. Germaine Pratt led the Colts in tackles (8). And let’s give DeForest Buckner his flowers; he’s constantly double-teamed and still makes play all over the field. It just seems like several Colts are having career years all at one time, which bodes well for the second part of the season.

Grade: B

PASS OFFENSE

There are better wide receiving corps than the Colts -- hard to beat Dallas and Cincinnati, among others -- but the Colts would seem to have the most multi-faceted. Each guy brings something very different: Tyler Warren is a young Rob Gronkowski, a do-it-all beast who should be playing in a leather helmet. Alec Pierce doesn’t catch a ton of balls, but he turns 50/50 deep balls into 85/15 propositions. Michael Pittman Jr. is the muscular, intermediate guy, making a brilliant touchdown catch with one arm Sunday. Josh Downs is the perfect slot receiver, a Julian Edelman type who works the short zones and the small spaces. Moreover, this group has become far more sure-handed than they were last season. And it helps to have a quarterback who throws the ball accurately. And the best pass protection line in the game.

Grade: A

PASS DEFENSE

The Colts earned four sacks against an undermanned Tennessee line, and C.J Ward is one elusive gentleman, but I can’t help but feel like they still need an alpha dog on the edge. It’s never happened for Kwity Paye. It’s taking a while for Laiatu Latu. Adetomiwa Adebawore has had a nice impact in fewer snaps, but they need a closer, someone who gives offensive coordinators a case of agita. If they can somehow add an edge, or a cornerback, or both, I’d be thrilled. Should note, Chris Lammons had an interception late; that makes eight straight games when the Colts have forced a takeaway.

Grade: B

SPECIAL TEAMS

The usual. Solid. Not much to say, except I hope Rigo Sanchez doesn’t have a contract incentive for punt attempts.

Grade: B

COACHING

I may be the only one who’s noticed this, but I sense that Shane Steichen is becoming more comfortable in his own skin. He’s never going to be Rex Ryan when it comes to filling up a reporter’s notebook, but he’s started to show some personality and levity, and on a few instances, he’s even gone off the record with reporters. That’s not at all unusual for most coaches, but for Steichen, this is a revelation. Of course, winning changes everything.

Grade: A

INTANGIBLES

Really struggling to come up with something for “intangibles.” I mean, this game was over during the final strains of the national anthem. Tennessee came in here rated last or next to last in every conceivable offensive category. And the defense wasn’t markedly better. As Rick Venturi said on the pre-game show, the one guy who scared him, Chimere Dike, is a kick returner. The Titans were without Calvin Ridley, Jeffery Simmons and L’Jairius Sneed. But, hey, a lesser team would have sleep-walked through this game against one of the worst teams in the league, and the Colts approached in a very intentional and purposeful manner.

Grade: A