Despite the bad taste he may have left in Colts fans’ mouths at the end of 2023, Tyler Goodson has the opportunity to rewrite the script in 2024.
Looking ahead to the 2024 season, the competition in the Colts backfield looks like this: Jonathan Taylor… and then everyone else.
Trey Sermon, Evan Hull and Tyler Goodson are some of the notable names battling for a spot in the rankings, and in the two preseason games, Goodson was hard to miss.
He played a scatback role for them last year and was arguably their best receiver out of the backfield. He brings a different body type and skill set that makes him excel in that area.
It remains to be seen what plans the Colts have for assembling the roster, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Goodson’s name on number 53.
— TBSFilm (@TBS_Film) 19 August 2024
This run shows exactly what makes Shane Steichen’s offense so RB-friendly.
The Colts execute weakside inside zone read with a slice block. The QB at the mesh point reads the DE opposite the TE.
Can he attack from the back? If not, we give the ball away.
The Cardinals line up in a penny front with Jesse Luketa in a 9-technique. He’s not part of the rush, so he tries to cheat his way back to cover at the snap. This leads to a very easy give read for Jason Bean and an unsound light box for Goodson.
In most systems, the RB’s interpretation of this concept is the first block outside the offensive center, then to the next inside-down lineman. In this case, it’s Dalton Tucker’s block. The defender’s helmet goes outward, so his read leads to Tanor Bortolini’s block. As that happens, Blake Freeland’s man (who has a very difficult task here) stabs inside at the mesh point.
RBs who struggle to read this play don’t get vertical fast enough and dance around the LOS when the defense creates havoc and messes up the read. Even on a play where he goes all the way back, Goodson gets vertical fast and shows his energy when he reaches daylight.
— TBSFilm (@TBS_Film) 19 August 2024
The TD run appears to be a same side draw.
This play teaches the HB to read the guard area. Goodson does a great job of taking his reading ability to the second level by hesitating at the LOS to freeze the Mike linebacker. The makes the big game.
He also clearly has the energy and lateral agility needed to make that kind of cut. That’s good football.
— TBSFilm (@TBS_Film) 19 August 2024
The third RB has to play on special teams.
With the dynamic kickoff rule, the Colts have tried a few different schemes, but what they seem to be doing is putting two players in the landing zone and putting nine players on the field instead of 10. If the ball isn’t kicked your way, eject the loose runner.
Tyler Goodson has taken reps in the landing zone and also a few reps on the 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 the final makeup of the 53-man roster.
But Tyler Goodson has managed to make himself difficult to ignore, with EJ Speed and Zaire Franklin praising his abilities on the scout team.
If you ask anyone in Green Bay, they’ll tell you they practice harder than anyone on the field, so Goodson’s spot on the roster isn’t secure, but every rep he takes makes the decision to leave him off the 53 that much harder.
More from The blue stable:
Colts Fantasy Football Draft or Pass
