Dropping the Ball at the 1/2 Yardline

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by apballin

By year 6 I’d say he is what he is, Derrick Henry sucks as a receiver and has always been a half ass blocker but what he’s effective at changes the game. I’d say same for JT, don’t try and change him now just play to his strengths, if it leads to nearly 2 thousand yards then I’m ok with that

I think you're letting bias creep in a bit here. Henry is better as both a receiver and blocker than Taylor. The problem with Taylor being an elite runner and poor receiver and blocker is that Steichen has shown time and time again that he wants someone with those skillsets on the field on 3rd down. That means someone else is going to be in the game in the most crucial late game situations. That alone makes Taylor less valuable.

Originally Posted by sherck

No one is arguing that.

However, JT is NOT leading to nearly 2,000 yards in rushing. His high-point was year 2 where he averaged 5.5 ypc and 1,811 yards overall. In the following 3 years, he is averaging 4.5 ypc, 4.4 ypc and 4.7 ypc respectively and has not cracked 1,500 yards in any of those seasons.

In 2024 with JT rushing at a rate of 4.7 ypc, he was #8 in RBs on ypc. That is good, but no where near "elite" if that is what we are hoping for.

For an elite back like Henry, as a team you often overlook the other things that a RB does not do well. However, for all his potential and our hopes, I don't know that JT is elite.

Blocking is mostly effort. Route running and catching the ball are mostly effort. These are the things JT doesn't do well, which is why he's on the bench in the 4th quarter on 3rd down.

Originally Posted by YDFL Commish

I do know that I don't like RB that run out of bounds on 3rd down within 1 yard of the 1st down marker. That is JT.

That is a RB who either lacks situational awareness or just plain doesn't want it.

This is the problem. Hopefully he fixes it. If he can't or won't, hopefully Giddens surpasses him quickly.

Originally Posted by Racehorse

The only good rationale for that line of thinking is that Giddons has a longer shelf life. Taylor has an element of explosion that is elite. My wish is that he could improve his pass-catching, and blocking.

Alternate good rationale: the Colts will perform better if their RB1 is an elite RB rather than an elite runner.

[YDFL Commish]

Nobody wants JT to fail. At the same time, I never...ever have heard the dude say things that he wants to improve and become a 3 down RB, become a complete back, work on his weaknesses.

I can tell you this. If PM was his QB, there would be a lot of "god damn it JT" moments. He would also see less playing time.

[apballin]

You guys can’t be fuckin serious about this…

*Dam* Henry is a good receiver??? Most catches he’s ever had in 1 season is 33. Dude has stone hands and only thing he can do is catch screen passes. JT had 38 and 40 in his first 2 seasons. Maybe him being off the field is a multitude of reasons, could be he’s dogs ass tired from carrying the offense for 3 quarters due to incompetent QB play, could be Steichen over thinking shit trying to outsmart the defense, who really knows.

*Commish* if JT had Manning at QB he’d run for 2 thousand yards easily. A QB that can actually read a defense and threaten the entire field he wouldn’t be running against 9, 10 man boxes that he’s seen his entire career.

JT is an absolute game changer threat every time he touches the ball. The entire offense and the teams success revolves around him. They have to keep him fresh that’s all there is to it. There’s nobody else on this team I want getting the ball in the 4th quarter with the game on the line then JT.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by apballin

You guys can’t be fuckin serious about this…

*Dam* Henry is a good receiver??? Most catches he’s ever had in 1 season is 33. Dude has stone hands and only thing he can do is catch screen passes. JT had 38 and 40 in his first 2 seasons. Maybe him being off the field is a multitude of reasons, could be he’s dogs ass tired from carrying the offense for 3 quarters due to incompetent QB play, could be Steichen over thinking shit trying to outsmart the defense, who really knows.

*Commish* if JT had Manning at QB he’d run for 2 thousand yards easily. A QB that can actually read a defense and threaten the entire field he wouldn’t be running against 9, 10 man boxes that he’s seen his entire career.

JT is an absolute game changer threat every time he touches the ball. The entire offense and the teams success revolves around him. They have to keep him fresh that’s all there is to it. There’s nobody else on this team I want getting the ball in the 4th quarter with the game on the line then JT.

Henry has been a better receiver than JT, especially recently. Taylor has gotten worse as a receiver since entering the league, and not improved as a blocker. I'd say Henry has gotten better at both over the years. There was a point where I thought JT could be something similar to what Saquon was for the Eagles last year, but he doesn't seem to have the desire to get there. I hope he proves me wrong.

[apballin]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

Henry has been a better receiver than JT, especially recently. Taylor has gotten worse as a receiver since entering the league, and not improved as a blocker. I'd say Henry has gotten better at both over the years. There was a point where I thought JT could be something similar to what Saquon was for the Eagles last year, but he doesn't seem to have the desire to get there. I hope he proves me wrong.

Henry played with Lamar Jackson, look at JTs ridiculous QB carousel.

As for the blocking situation unless it’s a play action it’s fuckin stupid to have your best player trying to protect a QB that can’t throw elementary level passes. Leaving him in to block should be a criminal offense until the QB proves himself able to move the chains by throwing the ball.

[IndyNorm]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

Henry has been a better receiver than JT, especially recently. Taylor has gotten worse as a receiver since entering the league, and not improved as a blocker. I'd say Henry has gotten better at both over the years. There was a point where I thought JT could be something similar to what Saquon was for the Eagles last year, but he doesn't seem to have the desire to get there. I hope he proves me wrong.

To be somewhat fair to JT: it should be acknowledged that he hasn't had good, consistent QB play since his rookie year in '20, which I'm sure is a least a large contributing factor in his regression as a receiver.

Also, I think I need to point out that Henry only had 19 catches in 17 games last year.......