RB like Taylor fits glaring need Hill is set to start against Cowboys
Colts’ success depends heavily on 2nd-rounder
HOUSTON — If he’s not searching for a starting quarterback in the offseason, general manager Nick Caserio’s No. 1 priority should be finding a back to improve the NFL’S worst running game.
A running back like Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor.
Taylor comes to NRG Stadium on Sunday leading the NFL in rushing with 1,205 yards. He averages 5.8 yards a carry, and he’s scored 16 touchdowns, including 14 rushing.
“J.T. has been balling, and props to that guy,” defensive end Jacob Martin said Wednesday. “He’s been running his tail off all year.”
Just how valuable is Taylor to the Colts? He’s rushed for at least 100 yards in their six victories, averaging 20 carries and 138 yards. He’s failed to reach triple digits in their six defeats, averaging 15 carries and 63 yards.
Want to know an amazing statistic? We all know the Texans’ run defense is pathetic — 31st and allowing 135.6 yards a game — but they’ve allowed only one back to crack the 100yard barrier. Guess who? Yep, Taylor, who gained 145 yards on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns in the Texans’ 31-3 loss at Lucas Oil Stadium.
That was an interesting game. The Colts led 10-3 at halftime. Taylor had 6 yards on two carries. Then he and his teammates exploded in the second half, ignited by his 83-yard run.
“This guy’s playing very well,” coach David Culley said. “It’s very important for our defense to have run gap control, stay in our gaps more so than any time this year.”
Besides gap control, the defense has to set the edge, and when the players get to Taylor, they have to make sure he doesn’t break tackles, accelerate and get loose for a long run. This season, Taylor has runs of 83, 78, 40, 38, 34 and 33 yards. He also had a 76-yard touchdown catch.
“Their offensive line has a lot to do with that,” Culley said. “You have to have gap security, and if you don’t, they’ll make you pay. We have to be consistent in what we’re doing, make them go a long way and not give up those big plays.”
Compare Taylor’s longdistance runs to the Texans’. They have one back with a run of at least 25 yards. That was Phillip Lindsay’s 35-yard run before he was cut.
Taylor rushed for four touchdowns in one game. The Texans’ backs have three touchdowns rushing for the season.
Caserio knows the Texans need a back like Taylor in the worst way. They don’t grow on trees, of course, but they don’t have to be drafted in the first round, either.
The NFL’S five leading rushers were second-round picks: Taylor (41st overall), Tennessee’s Derrick Henry (45th), Cincinnati’s Joe Mixon (48th), Cleveland’s Nick Chubb (35th) and Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook (41st).
Caserio can use his first-round pick — almost guaranteed to be among the top three — on a pass rusher or offensive tackle. But he’s got to make a running back a priority.
A back like Taylor helps take pressure off the quarterback and keeps the defense fresh while the offense controls the ball. The Colts are fourth in rushing with 144.5 yards a game. They average 5.2 yards a carry, and their average time of possession of 31:22 is sixth.
By the way, the Texans’ 27:31 average time of possession is 30th. That makes for a tired defense.
Rookie defensive tackle Roy Lopez got a good look at Taylor in the first game. Lopez knows a defense can’t be lulled to sleep if it shuts down Taylor for a half because he’s capable of scoring any time from any spot on the field.
“He’s a powerful runner with top-end speed that can change direction and everything,” Lopez said. “You’ve got to take control of your gap and lean on each other and do your part — be one of the 11 on defense and make sure you’ve got your gap, and make the play when it comes to you.”
Taylor, 5-10, 226, is a tough runner who has
strength, nifty moves and a change of direction that helps him elude defenders. He gets tough yards after getting hit.
Taylor hasn’t been flawless, though. Three teams — Seahawks (56 yards), Rams (51) and Ravens (53) — kept him in the 50s during the Colts’ 1-4 start.
The Titans discovered the best formula against Taylor. They swept the AFC South series, limiting Taylor to 64 and 70 yards in Tennessee victories by nine and three points.
Taylor’s first 100-yard game came when the Colts defeated Miami. During a recent three-game winning streak, he ran for 172, 116 and 185 yards. In Sunday’s 38-31 loss to Tampa Bay, he had 16 carries for 83 yards. Critics complained that coach Frank Reich didn’t run Taylor enough.
Taylor’s excellence in his second season has made Carson Wentz a better quarterback. In his first season with the Colts, Wentz has utilized Taylor to make their play-action game among the most effective in the league. Defenses have to respect the threat of Taylor getting the ball on any down.
“For us to be successful, it comes (down) to playing gap-sound defense and limiting big yards in the run game and big shots on the play-action,” Martin said. “Staying sound in the run game will lead us to playing their play-action well and trying to make the Colts as one-dimensional as possible.”
That’s the Texans’ game plan. The Colts’ game plan is to help Taylor surpass 100 yards for the second time against the Texans and lead them to a 7-6 record and a possible playoff berth.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill will make his first start this season Thursday night against the Cowboys, ESPN reported Wednesday.
Hill, a unique player who contributes at tight end and on special teams as well as at quarterback, practiced fully all week with a partly torn plantar fascia that has limited him since Week 10.
The Saints still could be missing star running back Alvin Kamara and offensive tackles Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk, who are listed as questionable with knee injuries.
Brown doubtful for Falcons game
Believed to be close to returning from an ankle injury as recently as last week, Bucs veteran receiver Antonio Brown isn’t expected back for Sunday’s divisional game at Atlanta.
Coach Bruce Arians said he doubts Brown will return to practice before the week is over, citing foot injuries beyond the ankle sprain. Brown, the subject of an NFL investigation into allegations that he got a fake COVID-19 vaccination card, has been sidelined the past five games.
He wasn’t seen at the portion of Wednesday’s practice open to reporters. ESPN’S Adam Schefter, citing an unnamed source, later tweeted that Brown is expected to miss the next two games.
Peterson joins Seattle backfield
Desperate for depth at running back, the Seattle Seahawks signed 36-yearold Adrian Peterson to their practice squad.
With Chris Carson out for the season and Rashaad Penny and Travis Homer missing Monday’s game with injuries, the Seahawks added the veteran to bolster their depth.
“I gotta wait and see how he does out here” before thinking about adding him to the active roster, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.
Peterson appeared in three games earlier this season for Tennessee after superstar Derrick Henry suffered an injury expected to sideline him the rest of the season. Peterson started two games and had 27 carries for 82 yards and a 3.0-yard average per rushing attempt and one touchdown run.
His longest run of 16 yards came against the Texans. Peterson was released by the Titans on Nov. 23.
Giants QB Jones has strained neck
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones practiced on a limited basis despite a strained neck and said he hopes to play this weekend against the Dolphins in Miami.
“I think it’s just sore,” Jones said Wednesday after a short workout. “Like I said, I’m feeling much better today and expect I’ll continue to feel better and better every day.”
Concern about Jones’ playing status blew up Tuesday night when it was reported he suffered a neck injury in a win over the Eagles on Sunday and might miss a game.
It was somewhat surprising, because Jones didn’t appear to be hurt in the 13-7 win.
Jones said he woke up early Monday with his neck hurting. Coach Joe Judge added that he wasn’t told at any time during the game that Jones was hurt but found out Monday when he got a copy of the injury report.