Colts' Zack Moss Shines in 2023 Season Under Shane Steichen

Reserve running back Zack Moss deserves credit for breakout 2023 campaign.

The Indianapolis Colts fell just short of the playoffs in 2023, finishing with a 9-8 record and as the third place team in the AFC South. While the end result was disappointing, there is a lot to be optimistic about with this Colts' team.

The Colts took a major step forward from the 4-12-1 disaster of 2022 and rookie Head Coach Shane Steichen showcased his ability as one of the top offensive play-callers in the entire league.

With the Colts making positive strides this year, this series will highlight a few players that stood out in the 2023 season. This breakout series will begin with running back Zack Moss, a vital piece of the Colts' dynamic rushing attack and a player that carried the load with Indy's star running back on the mend for most of the season.

Zack Moss Carried the Run Game

Moss was originally acquired by the Colts as part of the Nyheim Hines trade back in 2022, as the Colts shipped Hines out to Buffalo in exchange for Moss and a fifth round pick. Moss, a former third round selection, received the fresh start that he desperately needed in the league.

Moss began his Indianapolis tenure with a bang, as he averaged 4.8 yards per carry on 76 rushes in eight games with the Colts. Even with the Colts' offense sputtering late in that 2022 season, Moss was a reliable back that could get the job done.

Jumping forward to this offseason, the Colts faced a major dilemma at the running back position. Star rusher Jonathan Taylor was in a contract dispute (plus dealing with an injury), so his status to start the year was in serious doubt. Once Taylor was placed on the physically unable to perform list, the lead back role firmly became Moss' (at least for the time being). 

After missing the opening game due to a broken arm, Moss exploded for the Colts in his early season starts. He ripped off an impressive 445 yards rushing on 89 carries in his first four starts of the year, which had him near the top of the NFL in rushing yards by the quarter mark of the season. 

While Moss' production slipped later in the season due to injuries (to both himself and to the Colts' offensive line) and the return of Taylor, Moss' impressive season shouldn't be forgotten. He ran for a team-leading 794 yards in 2023, which nearly doubled his previous career high for yards in a season. 

The most impressive aspect of Moss' season for the Colts was the damage he did after contact. He may not have broken many tackles on the year, but Moss is the definition of throwback running back. He always keeps his legs churning, and that extra effort saved the Colts from negative plays on numerous occasions. 

I don't think I've ever seen Zack Moss look more comfortable as a rusher in the NFL. Played with excellent pace, patience, and discipline on so many runs in this past outing.

He left some yards on the field back in week two but on Sunday he created a ton of yardage pic.twitter.com/d1OnTudqS8

— Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2) October 9, 2023

Moss also excelled in the Colts' desired rushing scheme. The Colts' primarily live in inside zone, so having a running back with Moss' decision making ability and power is a major asset in this design.

Moss was able to diagnose his exit lanes and power his way forward on most of his inside zone runs this season. His effectiveness on these calls was one of the major reasons why the Colts' finished with the 8th-best rushing offense in the NFL (according to Football Outsiders).

Zack Moss showing a little burst on this TD run...

AR draws the safety to the backside on the read option give while Will Fries and Quenton Nelson pick up huge blocks on the linebackers. Beautiful zone read pic.twitter.com/2JTKFvLNbo

— Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2) October 9, 2023

The Bottom Line

Moss was a key player for the Colts in 2023, and his early season play carried the offense through a very difficult stretch of games. His ability to churn out tough yards and his comfort in the Colts' inside zone scheme led to several huge performances from the veteran when he was the starter.

Moss is an unrestricted free agent this offseason that should be able to get around 4-6 million per year on the open market. The Colts could realistically match that type of offer but if 2023 was the last we saw of Moss in Indy, he certainly left his mark on the field.

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