Colts' Shane Steichen Reveals Plan for Running Backs
How the Indianapolis Colts are going to approach the run game on offense this season has been a bit of a mystery to this point.
Aside from head coach Shane Steichen typically being mum on strategy and schematics when speaking with the media, there are no clear-cut answers for observers to read between the lines.
Superstar running back Jonathan Taylor is on the Physically Unable to Perform list and out for at least the first four weeks as he rehabs a lingering ankle injury. He's also in a well-documented contract dispute with the team and it's been widely speculated that he's "holding in." So, Taylor is an obvious non-factor to start the season.
Zack Moss, who filled in well for Taylor last season, was receiving the first-team reps in training camp before a broken arm derailed his summer. He's unlikely to play this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars but should be back soon after returning to practice this week.
Otherwise, it's Deon Jackson and Evan Hull to carry the load for the Colts. If they remain the only two active running backs on the roster, expect either Jake Funk or Jason Huntley to be elevated from the practice squad.
Now, how is this all going to shake out with Taylor away? As far as Steichen's concerned, it's up to the players.
“I think it’s running back by committee, I do," Steichen told reporters on Monday. "With anything, whoever’s got the hot hand – let them ride a little bit and go with that. We’ll rotate those guys in, see where everyone is at, and like I said, we’ll ride with the hot hand.”
Steichen doesn't have a breadth of experience with ball-dominant runners, so much of his career has been with a committee. However, he doesn't necessarily subscribe to the approach.
“I think it’s more specific to this situation right now," Steichen said when asked if his preferred approach is a running back committee. "But again like I said, if someone’s hot and they’ve got a hot hand just roll with it.”
Is the running back room going to remain a committee, or could someone step up and establish themself as the lead horse? Steichen could see it being the latter.
“I think that’ll take place over the first couple of weeks, you know what I mean? See who’s rolling pretty good and then you go from there.”
Each of Moss, Jackson, and Hull have positive qualities that could see them take the reins.
Moss should be considered the front-runner once he officially returns. He's a determined runner between the tackles and is arguably the best pass protector of the group. Jackson has plenty of experience filling in due to injuries last season, and he and Hull are both above-average pass-catchers.
May the best man win.
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