In week 2 of the NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts faced some struggles on the offensive side of the ball. It took them 6 drives to finally get on the scoreboard, with a field goal from kicker Matt Gay. And even then, they had to wait until the second to last drive to score their only touchdown. As one might say, “it’s a bold strategy Cotton.”
The Colts offense could only muster 1.0 Points per Drive, ranking them as the 28th offense of the week. This performance was in line with their DSR (22nd). However, what’s interesting is that their offensive ranking doesn’t quite match up with their stats in other areas. They had the 6th highest yards per play and the 4th highest 1st downs per play, showing that they were able to move the ball effectively at times.
The conflicting stats can be attributed to the style of play that has become a pattern for the Colts. They have shown success in getting explosive plays that result in lots of yards and first downs. However, outside of those big plays, they struggle to sustain drives. In week 2, they had the 6th most explosive plays (tied), but only the 24th ranked 3rd down conversion rate.
Until the Colts can find more consistency in their offensive execution, they will continue to stall out drives. They need to focus on grinding their way down the field with smaller, higher probability successful plays. By doing so, they can avoid relying solely on explosive plays to move the ball effectively.
As the Colts look to improve their offensive performance, they will need to make adjustments in their approach to playcalling and execution. Only then will they be able to establish a more balanced and consistent offensive attack that can keep their opponents on their toes.