INDIANAPOLIS -- Overreactions to the Colts ' 29-27 season-opening loss to the Houston Texans.
Ashton Dulin or Alec Pierce will be the Colts best big-play wide receiver
Throughout the game quarterback Anthony Richardson and rookie receiver Adonai Mitchell failed to get on the same page. Part of that could be attributed to Richardson's inaccuracy as a passer -- more on that later -- or it could just be that receiver Ashton Dulin or Alec Pierce is the Colts best big-play receiver, and not Mitchell.
Pierce is a talented deep-ball threat. Dulin is a speed merchant and special teams ace. Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs are reliable possession receivers. Mitchell and his 4.34 40-yard dash speed were brought in to lift the top off of opposing defenses. One game in, Mitchell's shown the ability to get open deep, but he cannot seem to complete the play with a reception. Pierce sprinted past two defenders for his 60-yard touchdown and skied over two more for a 57-yard catch in the fourth quarter. Dulin took a short pass and raced passed the entire Texans defense for a 54-yard touchdown.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had the most 50-plus yard pass plays last season with seven. Richardson has three already and is on pace for 51, none of them to Mitchell or WR1 Pittman.
Dulin, an undrafted free agent in his sixth season and Pierce, a former second rounder who was supposed to be replaced by Mitchell proved they need to keep getting chances to make big plays.
Colts score: Takeaways from Colts failing to win opener for 11th year in row; fall to Texans 29-27
Colts will have the worst run defense in the NFL
The Texans weren't expected to have a great rushing attack this season, but the Colts' defense made Houston's rushers look dominant. Houston had particular success running through the middle of the Colts, a surprising feat with DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart and Zaire Franklin manning the middle.
In the second half, the Texans attacked the Colts on the perimeter and consistently generated runs of four-plus yards. After a defensive holding call negated a Kenny Moore II interception, Joe Mixon waltzed into the end zone from three yards out. For the game, the Texans rushed 40 times for 212 yards, good for 5.3 yards per carry. The most rushing yards the Colts surrendered last season was 186 to the Ravens in third game of the season.
The Colts are on pace for a historically bad rushing defense if something does not change.
Anthony Richardson's inaccuracy will sink the Colts
Yes, Richardson's 60-yard touchdown to Pierce in the first quarter was an absolute dime.
But on the previous possession, the Colts first key play of the game --- fourth-and-1 from the Texans' 46-yard line --- Richardson's pass to a wide-open Mitchell sailed over his receiver's head. Those are plays the second-year signal caller has to make for the Colts to have successful season.
The following quarter, Richardson and Mitchell failed to connect again, this time in the end zone. The rookie wide out broke free through the Texans secondary, but once again, Richardson's pass sailed out of bounds. Four plays later the Colts drive ended with a Richardson interception in the redzone.
Last season, Richardson completed 59.5% of his passing, 59th out of 60 qualified passers.
Making just his fifth career start, Richardson finished 9-for-19 passing (a .473 completion percentage) with two touchdowns and one interception. Richardson is tough, has a cannon for an arm and is a talented rusher. But he has to become a more consistent passer for the Colts offense to reach the next level as a unit.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts overreactions: The surprises and disappointments of a 29-27 loss to the Texans
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