Colts' Taylor defends coach over 4th-quarter use

INDIANAPOLIS — Colts operating again Jonathan Taylor was on a tear towards the Green Bay Packers final Sunday, averaging greater than 8.6 yards per carry at Lambeau Discipline. Then, through the sport’s ultimate quarter-hour and his workforce’s final 21 offensive snaps, he by no means noticed the sphere once more.

However Taylor on Thursday defended Colts head coach and offensive playcaller Shane Steichen’s utilization of the star operating again, saying the workforce’s different operating backs even have essential roles. Taylor additionally acknowledged his personal imperfect position within the Colts’ passing sport, which he mentioned continues to evolve.

“You noticed final yr, there are issues which might be schemed up for different backs, too,” Taylor mentioned. “I do know that lots of people are, [saying], ‘Oh, what is going on on?’ However we have got two different backs which might be within the league for a cause.”

Backups Trey Sermon (13 snaps) and Tyler Goodson (8 snaps) cut up the entire workforce’s fourth-quarter taking part in time, with Taylor — simply the workforce’s high offensive weapon within the sport — relegated to the sideline.

Steichen attributed the transfer to the very fact the Colts have been in a heavy passing mode within the ultimate quarter, the results of the two-score deficit they have been going through towards the Packers. The Colts ran it twice within the quarter for internet of zero yards.

Amongst these runs was a curious choice on the primary play of the fourth quarter, which arguably proved to be the Colts’ most pivotal play of the sport. Indianapolis, going through a third-and-1 from the Packers’ 32-yard line, tried a sprint-option play that includes quarterback Anthony Richardson and Sermon. Poor execution and disciplined protection from the Packers resulted in a 4-yard loss for Sermon on the play.

Kicker Matt Gay missed a 50-yard subject objective on the following fourth down and the Colts may by no means overcome the 10-point deficit, in the end shedding 16-10. Notably, Taylor had simply ripped off a 29-yard run three performs previous to the third-down play.

Of the third-down play, Steichen mentioned, “We felt good about it. Clearly, they coated it. That is on me, and we have been going to go for it on fourth down and put [Taylor] in on fourth down. We needed to kick a subject objective as a result of we misplaced yards.”

Taylor’s underperformance within the passing sport is related right here. He had a dropped cross earlier within the sport and his cross safety has by no means been stellar. On the similar time, Taylor had an 18-yard catch within the sport as effectively. He has additionally been a significant component as a receiver up to now, catching a career-high 40 passes for 360 yards in 2021.

Steichen did not particularly attribute his personnel selections to Taylor’s passing-game efficiency, however he did say the emphasis on passing late within the sport knowledgeable his lineup selections. “In that fourth quarter, we have been throwing the soccer,” he mentioned. “We weren’t actually scheming up passes for the operating backs there within the fourth quarter after we have been throwing it. So, we had [Sermon] in there and I assumed he did a superb job.”

As for the place he is at within the passing sport, Taylor mentioned it is a work in progress.

“I feel it is undoubtedly grown,” Taylor mentioned. “You are still going to proceed to get higher. You’ve got by no means arrived, so that you proceed to try this.”

Taylor completed the sport with 103 yards on 12 carries and two receptions for 32 yards. The Colts in 2023 signed Taylor to a three-year contract that averages $14 million. He’s at the moment the third-highest-paid again within the NFL.

Taylor added, “Don’t fret. Steichen’s acquired it.”