The Indianapolis Colts 2019 season didn’t go exactly as planned, but there’s always hope that the next season will be better than the last.
The Colts finished 7-9 and lost five of their last six regular-season games.
Obviously, the season didn’t end the way the organization had planned, but what needs to change in 2020?
There’s a few players that need to step up and become more reliable in order for the team to have a better season than they did in 2019.
A reminder of how #Colts QB Jacoby Brissett performed over the final four games:
• 51.39 COMP% (35th)
• 5.71 YPA (30th) pic.twitter.com/BH2XHY0nT8— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) March 8, 2020
1. Jacoby Brissett
One of the obvious players that needs to step up is quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
On paper, it wasn’t a bad year for Brissett, but after taking a closer look, there’s definitely room for improvement.
Brissett threw for 2,942 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions through 15 games last season.
That’s fairly solid for a player who didn’t know he was going to be the starting quarterback until August when Andrew Luck surprisingly retired.
However, Brissett struggled heavily in the second half of the season after he returned from injury.
Brissett threw for just four touchdowns in the final during the final seven games of the regular season.
Jacoby Brissett's stats since Houston (Week 6):
126/216 (58.6%) | 1392 Yards, 6.44 YPA | 4 TDs, 3 INTs, 1 fumble lost | 6.2 Air Yards per Attempt (not throwing down the field at all) and a 3-4 record (won't count Steelers game).
11/20 for 152 Yds, 0 TDs, 0 TOs so far today.
— Andrew Aziz (@AndrewAzizSB) December 30, 2019
The Colts are reportedly looking at other options for a quarterback this season, but Brissett will need to make major improvements if he wants to remain the starter next season.
Indy had one of the worst passing attacks in the league in 2019, so Brissett must step up and be a leader.
The Colts don’t have time to wait around and hope Brissett learns and develops.
They need a quarterback that can win in the NFL right now, so Brissett needs to show the organization that he can be that guy.
Jack Doyle’s 2019 Stats
72 Targets 43 Rec 448 Yds 6.2 Yards Per Target 4 TDDarren Waller’s 2019 Stats
117 Targets 90 Rec 1,145 Yds 9.8 Yards Per Target 3 TDBut somehow…Jack Doyle made the pro bowl over Darren Waller. How in the world did that happen?!?!
— Harris Hicks (@iamharrishicks) January 20, 2020
2. Jack Doyle
The Colts have decided to part ways with tight end Eric Ebron after an injury-riddled and disappointing 2019 campaign.
That means Jack Doyle will likely see more chances and be asked to step up next season.
He finished the 2019 season with 43 receptions, 448 receiving yards, and four touchdowns through 16 games.
He was a big disappointment after an injury-riddled 2018 season and a fantastic 2017 campaign.
The Colts are expected to try and find a reliable option to fill the void of Ebron, but Doyle needs to step up regardless.
The #Colts agreed to terms with TE Jack Doyle on a 3-year extension worth more than $21M in new money, source said. It can be worth up to almost $24M with attainable incentives. A priority for Indy.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 6, 2019
The Colts gave Doyle a three-year extension in 2019, hopeful that Doyle can be their guy at tight end.
He did make the Pro Bowl in 2019, but the Colts need more than 43 receptions from their top tight end if they want to have a better passing attack in 2020.
With the 15th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts select Malik Hooker. pic.twitter.com/fJLibeKgsm
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 28, 2017
3. Malik Hooker
The Colts need improvements from their offense in 2020, but that wasn’t the only issue last season.
Players such as former first-round pick safety Malik Hooker need to step up and be a leader on the defensive side.
He only played in seven games during his rookie season, but has made an impact in each of the last two seasons.
Hooker finished the 2019 season with two interceptions and 51 combined tackles through 13 games.
It wasn’t necessarily a bad season by Hooker, but he was expected to be a much better player than he has shown coming out of college.
The 23-year-old has plenty of time to turn it around and become the player that the Colts were looking for when they drafted him 15th overall in 2017.
The Colts need Hooker to take a step forward in his career and help this defensive unit improve in 2020.
NEXT: Could Neville Gallimore Be A Surprise First-Round Pick Of Indianapolis?