The 2018 NFL season was a positive one for the Indianapolis Colts as they took a stride forward under Frank Reich. Andrew Luck came back with a vengeance and helped the Colts offense return to being a high-powered unit.
So just how good can the Colts offense be in 2019? To keep it short, simple, and sweet—very good. A group of T.Y. Hilton, Devin Funchess, Parris Campbell, and the emergence of Marlon Mack can set the Colts up for success.
In 2018, Indianapolis was beginning a season without Chuck Pagano as their head coach for the first time since 2011. Pagano began his career with the Colts by tallying up 11 wins in three-straight seasons from 2012-2014.
Then, from 2015-2017, the team failed to win more than eight games and went 4-12 in 2017. A change had to be made and the Colts decided to lean towards hiring an offensive-minded coach in Frank Reich. Reich spent the previous four years an offensive coordinator for the then San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles.
The Colts head coach spent the 2017 season with the Eagles when the team took down Goliath by beating the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Doug Pederson got the majority of the credit but Reich deserved some praise for helping Nick Foles and the offense perform at a remarkable level.
After the 2017 season, Reich had a ton of interest from teams to become a head coaching candidate. Thus, allowing the Colts to find their guy who could help turn things around for Luck and the offense.
Last season, the team started off slow with a record of 1-5 in their first six games of the season. The offense was finding its groove but wins weren't easy to come by.
Until Luck and the offense caught their stride, reeling off five-straight wins including a 37-5 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 7. Over those five wins, the offense averaged 34.6 points per game and 460 total yards per game. The offense led by Luck and the impenetrable offensive line would end up guiding Indianapolis to a 10-6 record.
Their record was good enough to land them a ticket to the AFC Wild Card Round where they would take down the Houston Texans. Then, the Colts season was cut short after coming up against an offensive juggernaut in the Kansas City Chiefs.
Nonetheless, it was a very successful season in just about any way you look at it. Their franchise quarterback in Luck returned from the dead after missing the entire 2017 season with a shoulder injury. He would throw for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns.
On offense, Hilton and Chester Rogers were heavily relied upon in the aerial attack to go with the two tight ends in Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron. Now, this season, Hilton will have more help down the field with the additions of Funchess and Campbell.
The 2018 season was just a sneak peek of what's in store for the Colts offense under Reich. This season, expect to see a lot more different sets on offense that allow it to be more explosive. The emergence of Mack in the backfield also gives the Colts an added wrinkle to their offense.
The potential is through the roof for the Colts offense in 2019.
Don't be surprised if Indianapolis finds themselves sitting atop the rankings in total offense after the 2019 season concludes.
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