This upcoming 2014 NFL season, a wide variety of relatively unheralded sophomore and third-year players will inherit or take over key roles for even the best teams in the NFL. Whether it’s an already established starter who will now be assuming more responsibility, or a green, untested player who will now look to become a reliable backup, every roster depth chart has a few big question marks.
Breakout Colts galloping into 2014
Andrew Luck and a supporting cast of up-and-coming youngsters make the Colts the favorite in the AFC South this season. Just how far they can go depends on how quickly those players ascend.
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In this series, I’ve been breaking down “who” I think those players are, “where” they play, “why” they’ll potentially play a key role in 2014 and “how” they’ll succeed in that.
On tap today, we have the Indianapolis Colts.
WR T.Y. Hilton
Who: Hilton was a third-round pick by the Colts out of Florida International in 2012, and had a nice rookie season with 50 receptions for 861 yards and seven touchdowns. He followed that up with a huge 2013 season, catching 82 passes for 1083 yards and five scores. Hilton seems to be on the cusp of superstardom.
Where: You’ll find him all over the field, but Hilton is best as a deep threat. He averaged 13.2 yards per catch in 2013.
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Why: Andrew Luck is a very good deep ball thrower and he’s not afraid to let it rip even if Hilton is well covered. Hilton has deep speed and tracks the ball very well - and his excellent body control allows him to make the difficult catch. He’s on track to cement himself as the No.1 receiver in Indy.
How: Just keep doing what you’re doing, T.Y. Generally speaking it takes a couple of seasons for receivers to really learn the NFL game, and Hilton is now at that point. “The guy is just a spectacular athlete,” said head coach Chuck Pagano recently. “The game has obviously slowed down tremendously for T.Y. He knows this thing inside and out now.”
OLB Bjoern Werner
Who: Werner was the Colts’ first-round pick in 2013 out of Florida State, but the native of Germany struggled in his rookie season, when he logged two sacks and 18 tackles.
Where: Outside linebacker
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Why: Werner struggled with the speed of the game and the jump from college to the pros as a rookie, but with an offseason to learn the defense and study opposing offenses, he's ready to bounce back. "He's made a huge jump," coach Chuck Pagano recently told The Indianapolis Star. "From a terminology standpoint, scheme standpoint, he's not thinking now. He's able to play extremely fast. We know he's got ability. The things that you're seeing, we're seeing the same thing. But again, it's all a byproduct of the time he put in in the offseason."
How: Play fast; don’t think, react.
TEs Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener
Who: Fleener, out of Stanford and Andrew Luck's former teammate, was a second-round pick in 2012, and Clemson's Allen followed him in the third. Allen missed the entire 2013 season after his fabulous breakout rookie year, but should return to the fold in 2014 to pick up where he left off as a major and dependable target for Luck. Fleener caught 52 passes for 608 yards and four touchdowns last year filling in for Allen.
Where: All over the formation.
Why: Luck thrived in a two-tight end heavy system at Stanford and this is ostensibly why the Colts used back-to-back picks to grab Fleener and Allen in 2012. In their third year with the team, it should be interesting to see how the two are used together on the field.
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How: Stay healthy, catch the football. Simple.
G Hugh Thornton and C Khaled Holmes
Who: Thornton was a third-rounder out of Illinois in 2013 and Holmes, out of USC, followed him in the fourth round.
Where: The two are projected to be starters at center and right guard.
Why: With starting left guard Donald Thomas out for the season, the Colts are faced with the prospect of starting rookie Jack Mewhort at that spot. It will help things immensely for the Indy offensive if Holmes and Thornton can provide some stability and consistency on the interior. Unfortunately, Holmes has zero NFL starts and Thornton's rookie year, including 12 starts, wasn't spectacular. Bottom line, they need to step up to the challenge.
How: Pep Hamilton’s offense utilizes pulling and trapping and requires tough, athletic players to execute the schemes. Thornton and Holmes both fit the bill but have to show it on the field.
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