Despite the bad taste that he might have left in Colts fans’ mouths at the end of 2023, Tyler Goodson has the opportunity to flip the script in 2024.
Heading into the 2024 season, the Colts backfield competition goes as follows: Jonathan Taylor…and then everyone else.
Trey Sermon, Evan Hull, and Tyler Goodson are some of the notable names jockeying for position on the depth chart, and through two preseason games, Goodson has been hard to miss.
Last year he played a role for them as a Scat back and was arguably their best pass catcher out of the backfield. He brings a different body type and skill set that separates himself in that room.
While it remains to be seen what the plans are for the Colts roster construction, I would not be surprised to see Goodson’s name on the 53.
— TBSFilm (@TBS_Film) August 19, 2024
This run shows exactly what makes Shane Steichen’s offense so RB-friendly.
The Colts are running Weakside Inside Zone Read with a slice block. The QB at the mesh point will read the DE opposite the TE.
Can he tackle the back? If not, we hand it off.
The Cardinals are in a Penny front with Jesse Luketa in a 9-technique. He’s not a part of the rush so he’s trying to cheat back to drop in coverage at the snap. It creates a very easy give-read for Jason Bean and an unsound light box for Goodson.
In most systems, the RB’s read on this concept is the first block outside the offensive center, then to the next inside down lineman. In this case, it’s the block from Dalton Tucker. The defender’s helmet goes outside so his read then takes him to Tanor Bortolini’s block. As that’s happening Blake Freeland’s man (who has a very tough assignment here) is knifing inside at the mesh point.
RBs who struggle to read this play don’t get vertical quick enough and dance around at the LOS when the Defense creates havoc and screws with the reads. Even on a play that cuts all the way back, Goodson gets vertical quickly and shows off the burst when he reaches daylight.
— TBSFilm (@TBS_Film) August 19, 2024
The TD run looks to be a Same Side Draw.
On that play, the HB is taught to read the Guard Area. Goodson does a great job taking his read to the second level by hesitating at the LOS to freeze the Mike linebacker. That creates the big play.
It also obviously shows off the burst and lateral agility to make that kind of cut. It’s good football.
— TBSFilm (@TBS_Film) August 19, 2024
The third RB has to play special teams.
With the dynamic kickoff rule the Colts have used a couple different variety of schemes but what they seem to be doing is putting two players in the landing zone and lining up 9 players across the field as opposed to 10. If the ball doesn’t get kicked your way, you kick out the free runner.
Tyler Goodson has taken reps in the Landing Zone, as well as getting a few reps in punt and punt return. There is a clear role there.
Roster construction is a difficult and fluid puzzle. So many things can happen that can affect how the final 53-man is constructed.
But all Tyler Goodson has done is make himself hard to ignore. EJ Speed and Zaire Franklin have praised his ability on the scout team.
If you ask anyone in Green Bay, they’ll tell you he practices harder than anyone on the field. So while Goodson’s roster spot isn’t a lock, every rep he takes makes the decision to leave him off the 53 that much harder.
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