A hard truth in Indianapolis: The Colts have been one of the NFL's biggest busts this season.
The inability of the offense to find consistency is a major reason for this disappointment. Offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton has already been let go, and the challenge has grown greater with Andrew Luck missing extended time with a kidney injury.
For wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, the problem is not Luck's absence or Hamilton's failed vision. This is a play-calling issue, which falls on Hamilton's replacement, Rob Chudzinski.
"The throws have been there, but we just haven't been calling them," Hilton said Tuesday, according to The Indianapolis Star. "It's more the play-calling."
Why the sudden change?
"Because we're not really using us: Donte (Moncrief), me, Phillip (Dorsett). We're fast guys and we're not going down the field how we're supposed to. We're running stick routes, chain routes. I mean, you can do that, but at some point, you have to take your shots to get the defense (moving) back."
It's easy to understand Hilton's frustration -- this was not how this year was supposed to go. But we also can't help but think the wideout is downplaying the enormity of Luck's absence. Matt Hasselbeck is doing his best, but he's a beat up and limited player in his 17th year in the league. He literally admitted this week he has nothing left!
Chudzinski and the Colts clearly don't believe a 40-year-old Hasselbeck can thrive in the type of high-octane vertical attack that came to define Indy's offenses under Luck.
Can you really blame them?
