70 people submitted "at least one" ballot among the 11 groups. Very scientific. Bijan Robinson - highest rank: 1, lowest rank: unranked. Haha.

Not that I want the attention on our guys, honestly... but JT was one of three RB's averaging 100+yds/gm (102.2). Next in line was Robinson at 85.6y/g.

17-game pace was 1737yds and 14tds.

This is the problem. JT looks all-world when you just base it on stats. When you actually watch him play, and see that he sucks at pass blocking, sucks at pass catching and sucks at situational awareness, then you're left scratching your head.

Also, I suspect but can't confirm, that he also sucks at route running. Maybe someone else can enlighten us on that aspect of his game?

Point taken, but it's not like I haven't watched every Colts snap for 20+ years. Eyeball test certainly factors in for me. Also, I agree stats can mislead, but rushing yards aren't exactly the same as interceptions or sacks which can flat out lie.

He's no Edge in pass pro, for sure. And his hands aren't very good. He's got a near identical drop-rate to Saquon Barkley. And nobody gave a shit about that last year because he's an elite rusher.

That's about how I feel about JT to some degree.

How I feel about Taylor is that I hope DJ Giddens earns a prominent role this year. He's competent in pass pro and a great receiver out of the backfield, so he's almost a shoo-in for the 3rd down role, but I'm hoping for more of a 60/40 split with Giddens' role growing throughout the year, and eventually Giddens replacing Taylor as RB1.

The reason is Taylor has all the talent to be better than Derrick Henry, but he hasn’t improved at pass pro and has regressed as a receiver since entering the league. That's indicative that he's not putting in the work to get better. Giddens may not be as talented as Taylor (though he has similar HWS, good vision, great open field agility, etc., he was just in a much deeper RB class than Taylor), but he shows effort in pass pro and has real talent as a receiver. I'd rather have a guy with slightly less talent who wants to put the effort into being the best, which to me is Giddens, than a guy who has the most talent but has no interest in putting the work in to become the best, which manifests itself in things like sucking at pass pro, regressing as a receiver, and fumbling the 2024 season away because he couldn't be bothered to finish the play before celebrating, which is obviously Taylor.

I never understand when fans want one player to fail.

Running game hasn’t been the same since Doyle retired and Hines requested a trade. Getting Warren and Giddens is only gonna make JT more explosive.

I wasn't singling you out specifically. I'm just saying that the casual Colts fan and most of the national media look at the stats and think that JT is ALL-WORLD, when nothing could be further from the truth. But, yes he is a top 10 NFL RB.

I don't want Taylor to fail, I want Giddens to be better. I'd also love if Taylor got good at the things he's bad at. I want the Colts to win, and winning takes a mentality that pursues being the best, not resting on otherworldly athletic gifts.

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

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.

Well, he also only started in 16 totals games the following two years and missed three games last year. He would have cracked 1500yds easy last year. 102.2ypg is not that far behind his 2021 pace of 106.5.

I'm not trying to oversell JT... but the dude is currently #5 all-time in yards per game (behind Brown, Sanders, Davis, and Dickerson). Not saying he'll stay there, but that's where we're at now.

Derrick Henry's career YPC is 4.9 and JT's career YPC is 4.9. Prior to last season, Saquon Barkley had seasons had a three year run of 3.7ypc, 4.4ypc, and 3.9ypc.

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.

After battling thru the ankle issues he ran for 1400 yards in 14 games last year.

I believe his last 4 games will carry over to this season, the last 4 games he looked like the dominant player he was in year 2. He ran for 723 yards the last 5 games of the season

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.

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Racehorse would be happy if Howdy Doody scored the winning TD of the Super Bowl, just as long as he was earing a Colts uniform. ) :cool:

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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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

You got that right. I am the Al Davis of the Colts: just win, baby!

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.

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.......

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(9 MONTHS LATER) ) [vs. BRONCOS, 9/14/25]


Taylor will be playing against the same team in which he had his most infamous and embarrassing play ...... he won't drop the ball at the 1/2-yardline, but whether or not he has a good game remains to be seen.

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Even though I'm a big Jonathan Taylor fan, he deserves to have this thread bumped ...... tough love.

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JT is fuckin' ballin'! I'm so encouraged by this!

https://youtu.be/grf3bSrevLU?si=wm9oK3HtNG3CFAi_

I will admit, through 2 games this year, Taylor has looked much more like an elite All-Purpose back. He threw a block last week against Denver that I wouldn't have thought him capable of throwing last year, and it helped make that pass play succeed. Then, of course, he's been a much better receiver out of the backfield this year than he has been for a LONG time. The difference between 2024 Jonathan Taylor and 2025 Jonathan Taylor has been night and day, and I hope it continues.

And we're winning...no better incentive.

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(vs. TITANS, 9/21/25)


Taylor almost did it again ...... he casually dropped the ball behind him when he was only a couple of yards passed the goal-line on a TD run.


Taylor needs to start spiking the ball after he scores a TD, instead of casually dropping it behind him. I have NEVER SEEN a touchdown get overturned because a player spiked the ball on the 1/2-yardline ....... dropping the ball behind after you cross the goal-line you is just something that should never been done.

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That may be, but much to my surprise, Giddens looks lost out there in pass pro. I'm currently in the camp of, leave JT on the field until he blows a gasket.

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I'm fine with Taylor being out there all the time ...... I'm just going to be really fucking pissed beyond belief if he gets another TD overturned from dropping the ball too early.

In fact, IF HE DOES ever do it again in a Colts uniform, I might have to apologize to l Chopped Wood l for criticizing his desire to have him cut from the team.

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It won't happen.

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Maybe not with Taylor ....... but it will indeed happen again, and again, and again, and again, as it has been happening for decades and decades already.



https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lV1LyCcPtfo


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