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Let me be blunt—I was not happy that the Indianapolis Colts traded up in the second round to secure a running back for the roster. However, the transaction price wasn’t particularly steep, and I am excited to see the player behind the name card take the freshly mown turf of Lucas Oil.
Jonathan Taylor is a herculean, patient runner out of Wisconsin, who never had less than 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 13 total touchdowns in his three years at Madison.
Numbers aside, what does Taylor bring to the bright lights in Indianapolis? Let’s take a look at his matchup versus the Buckeyes in the Big 10 Championship and get a glimpse of the larger puzzle.
THREAD—#Colts Jonathan Taylor is an explosive athlete, with elite vision, and you can see it clearly on display, here, with his one cut and burst up the field for a TD pic.twitter.com/GwFflLVNtV
— Faraz (@BrownMamba13) May 3, 2020
Well, look at that, Taylor can catch the ball! Away from his body too. Also notice how he always keeps his legs churning and fights for every extra inch he can get #Colts pic.twitter.com/bnepF1TNQg
— Faraz (@BrownMamba13) May 3, 2020
Taylor does not hesitate for a even a split second to hit the open hole here, and he finishes off the run with a jump cut to avoid an oncoming defender and keeps his legs going to move the ball past the chains #Colts pic.twitter.com/MibThXD1lU
— Faraz (@BrownMamba13) May 3, 2020
Taylor hits the hole and doesn’t deviate when it closes in on him—he stays the path and uses his thick legs and speed to bounce defenders off his body. Also throws a nasty stiff arm for good measure #Colts pic.twitter.com/rjEBZkqsJS
— Faraz (@BrownMamba13) May 3, 2020
The defender thinks he’s got Taylor stopped on 3rd and long here but Taylor cuts inside and creates a hole for himself out of thin air and, again, keeps his lower extremities pumping to get the first on a crucial down and distance. This man refuses to go down #Colts pic.twitter.com/6SlRvutZj4
— Faraz (@BrownMamba13) May 3, 2020
Taylor sees the defender making an aggressive assault towards him up the middle of the OL. Taylor adjusts by bouncing outside and outrunning the defender and then gaining an extra yard with a jump cut at the end #Colts pic.twitter.com/kUq91onmgA
— Faraz (@BrownMamba13) May 3, 2020
The subtle movement behind the LOS is what sets up this huge run for 6. Once he creates the lane for himself, he rockets upfield with speed and aggression. His final act is to slip past an open field defender and hit pay dirt #Colts pic.twitter.com/U7hA9V8Fsx
— Faraz (@BrownMamba13) May 3, 2020
Taylor is clearly a physical specimen who has the needed vision and determination to be a successful RB in the NFL. Pair that with an elite OL, like the #Colts have, and you get a scary proposition. I admittedly don’t love the trade up for RB but I’m very excited about the player
— Faraz (@BrownMamba13) May 3, 2020
Btw Taylor is seriously—physically—dense and explosive at the same time. What a freak #Colts pic.twitter.com/IJrA5FBrNS
— Faraz (@BrownMamba13) May 19, 2020
Poll
How would you grade the Jonathan Taylor selection?
This poll is closed
-
43%
A
(284 votes) -
14%
A-
(95 votes) -
13%
B+
(87 votes) -
13%
B
(87 votes) -
5%
B-
(34 votes) -
5%
C+
(38 votes) -
2%
C
(19 votes) -
0%
C-
(3 votes) -
0%
D
(3 votes) -
0%
F
(1 vote)