Colts 2015 Player Preview: Running Back Vick Ballard

Vick Ballard has had a lot of bad luck over the last two years.  After entering the 2013 season as the Colts' starting running back, Ballard appeared in just one game before a torn ACL in a non-contact drill in practice before the second game of the year ended his season.  Then, attempting to make a comeback in 2014, Ballard was again injured on a non-contact drill, this time tearing his Achilles shortly after training camp began.  For Vick Ballard, it has been two years, two season-ending injuries, and a lot of question marks entering 2015.

Drafted in the fifth-round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Colts, Ballard soon enough became the Colts' starting running back.  Playing in all 16 games in his rookie season, he started 12 of them and rushed for 814 yards and two scores, averaging 3.9 yards per carry.  He added 17 receptions for 152 yards and a touchdown - the game-winner in overtime against the Titans in which Ballard dove through the air for a score, a very memorable play for Colts fans.  In 2013, Ballard started one game and rushed for 63 yards on 13 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per rush.  That was September 8, 2013, and that was the last time that Vick Ballard stepped on a football field for an actual game.

If he can stay healthy, he could be a boost to the team's running back position in 2015.  The Colts signed Frank Gore in free agency and have Boom Herron coming back, as well as rookie Josh Robinson factoring into the plans at the position.  But if he's healthy, Vick Ballard would very likely work his way into the mix and could even end up as the number two back, depending on how training camp, preseason, and then the regular season go.  He's not the most talented back and won't win with his athleticism, but his hard running style and vision made him a solid player in 2012, and in fact his 2012 season is still the best a running back has had for the Colts in the Andrew Luck era.

There are too many question marks surrounding Vick Ballard to realistically count on him for the 2015 season.  The hope is that he can stay healthy, but we'll have to wait until we actually see it.  If he can come back healthy, he'd likely stand a good shot at making the roster, though that would depend on how effective he can be upon returning.  He's not the best running back nor the most talented, but if he can stay healthy the Colts could find a spot for Vick Ballard and he would be a nice boost to their running back position.