Colts 2017 Backfield Rated 32nd By Pro Football Focus

If Pro Football Focus is to be believed, the Colts should be nervous about their backfield in the coming season. According to their article ranking the NFL 2017 season backfields the Colts rank dead last in the league. Should Colts fans be worried?

Take a breath.

It is clear from a cursory reading of the article that the Colts have been unfairly treated by this particular ranking, and that is not just speculation and griping from a Colts fan. While the article highlights teams like the Carolina Panthers gaining Christian McCaffrey and the Jacksonville Jaguars benefitting from the addition of Leonard Fournette, Marlon Mack is nowhere to be found in the summation of the Colts running back group.

While he is no sure thing, Mack has been largely viewed as a solid pick for the Colts and had many draftniks high on him and his upside potential. What is more disturbing is the listing of Christine Michael as a part of the Colts backfield when he has been on injured reserve since June. It makes me wonder if someone should tell them that Trent Richardson also won’t be in the Colts backfield this season.

These things alone don’t mean we should expect to light the world on fire with our running game this season, but it definitely calls the quality of the ranking into question when you miss such critical details as the players who are actually part of the backfield you are grading.

Given the offensive line’s improved run blocking, Frank Gore’s consistent production, and the young talents in Turbin and Mack, there is plenty of reason for optimism about what the running game could be this season. This time of year is rife with rankings of this nature and if you are a Colts fan, you can take heart that especially in this instance, it seems to have been pretty poorly put together and not tied very solidly to any actual facts.