Today, “Football Numbers” examines the stats behind the 2013 season and what the Indianapolis Colts offseason needs are going forward. “Football Numbers” examines the compelling numbers in the NFL. Follow the column on Twitter @nflnumbers
2.9
The yards per carry average of Trent Richardson since he joined the Colts early in the 2013 regular season. OK, so Richardson had a rough year, but the Colts have other backs, right? Well, that’s where it gets fishy. Donald Brown, arguably the best ball carrier for Indy last season, departed for San Diego in free agency. That leaves the Colts with a former first rounder bordering on bust status in Richardson, an undersized veteran in Ahmad Bradshaw, and an unproven but promising young guy in Vick Ballard. The Colts would be wise to give Ballard the main role in 2014, but they should also draft a change-of-pace back. Oregon’s De’Anthony Thomas would be a great addition to this group.
5.5
The number of sacks made by Jerrell Freeman, the second-best total on the team behind Robert Mathis’ monstrous output of 19.5. The Colts made a smart move early in free agency by inking former Baltimore defensive end Arthur Jones. In 2014, Mathis will draw a lot of double teams from opposing offensive lines, so the Colts needed to pick up a good pass rusher to play on the opposite side. Not only that, but Mathis isn’t getting any younger—he turned 33 in February. The Seahawks showed that a fierce pass rush can win a Super Bowl—why not add another contributor? Indy might invest in a young defensive end in the middle rounds of the draft—Trent Murphy (Stanford), Jackson Jeffcoat (Texas), and Will Clarke (West Virginia) could be available in the late second through early fourth rounds.
5
The most touchdown passes caught by a single Colts receiver in 2013. Indianapolis added former Giants big man Hakeem Nicks in free agency, and it was a smart move indeed. For the Colts to unseat the Patriots and Broncos atop the AFC elite, they will need a high-powered offense that can keep up with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. The addition of Nicks probably means that Reggie Wayne’s role in the passing game will diminish in 2014, so T.Y. Hilton will be counted on to emerge as a top-15 receiver. Either Hilton or Nicks (ideally, both) will need to catch at least ten touchdown passes this season for the Colts to reach the next level.
123
Number of regular season games played by Antoine Bethea in Indianapolis since being drafted by the team in 2006. The heavy hitter has outplayed his sixth-round status by leaps and bounds; he is one of the more underrated safeties in the game, and he will be missed greatly. San Francisco nabbed Bethea in free agency last month, leaving a big gap in the Colts secondary. Thomas DeCoud and Steve Gregory are the best free agent safeties available on the market, but the Colts would be much better off taking Alabama’s Ha’sean Clinton-Dix in the first round of the draft. Dix resembles Bethea in many ways, including his range and physical style of play. If Dix is drafted before the Colts are on the clock, Louisville’s Calvin Pryor or Northern Illinois’ Jimmie Ward would be smart picks. In many offseason scenarios, signing a veteran to fill a void is a good idea, but in this instance, the Colts need to get younger.
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