Donte Moncrief: Replacing a Legend

Oct 26, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Donte Moncrief (10) runs the ball past Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats (55) during the second half of their game at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 51-34. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

When your youngster has the hot hand, you give him the football. And that’s the current situation with Colts wideout Donte Moncrief.

Considering his status as a third-round pick in an offense full of viable receiving weapons, Moncrief was almost destined to be buried on the depth chart. However, due to some injuries and the ineffectiveness of Hakeem Nicks, Moncrief has carved out a niche for himself in the Colts’ offense behind T.Y. Hilton and Reggie Wayne.

In his latest game for the Colts, Moncrief recorded seven catches (tie with Ahmad Bradshaw for team-high) that went for 113 yards. He found paydirt once and even scampered for 51 yards on a short catch-and-run. That catch his 31-yard touchdown reception were both on third down as Andrew Luck started to lean on this new target.

Could we be seeing the phaseout of Reggie Wayne?

Now let’s squash all misconceptions before they start. Reggie Wayne is a dang good football player who’s been great for a long time. When he’s healthy, he’s stellar and his third down presence is irreplaceable in Indianapolis. He’s the best possession receiver in Indianapolis Colts history (easily) and knows what to do with the ball once it’s in his hands.

However, the unavoidable truth has shown its ugly head for this first time this season: Reggie Wayne is old. Bouncing back from injury is no longer a forte for Reggie Wayne. His ACL was a concern, but now we’re looking at potentially a second banged-up limb on a body that isn’t getting any younger or sprier.

Enter Donte Moncrief. The Colts were expected to take a wide receiver somewhere in the 2014 NFL Draft. Very few expected a wideout to be taken in the second round (OL Jack Mewhort claimed that honor), but when Moncrief was available in the third round, Indy’s front office was ecstatic. He was second-round talent that had dropped to a team needing a successor.

In post-draft analysis, Moncrief was often compared (rather differentiated) to/from Reggie Wayne. Moncrief seemed to possess skills that Reggie didn’t have (vertical quickness, some better jump-ball skills, quarterback rapport and speed in general) while Wayne was a master at abilities that Moncrief had yet to become proficient at (route running, third down efficiency, separation skills, mechanics and general catching ability).

Is that transition now?

Moncrief certainly did his part in Wayne’s absence. It would be interesting to see what Moncrief could have done in a full game without the Colts attempt to force-feed Nicks. He could have come up with a few more receptions by playing on the outside of the offense instead of being rotated around with T.Y. Hilton in the first quarter.

Donte Moncrief has set a small—but gargantuan—precedent in this game against the Steelers. While Cortez Allen (Pittsburgh’s chosen corner to cover Moncrief for most of the game) is no Darrelle Revis or Chris Harris Jr. that Wayne faces on a weekly basis, Moncrief has shown that he can excel in a featured role in conjunction with T.Y. Hilton. If he has more games like this, an increased workload is in his future.

The comparisons are simple; Reggie Wayne is everything Donte Moncrief isn’t. But by gluing himself to Wayne, Moncrief has picked up his ways. On Sunday, Moncrief didn’t drop a ball, ran flawless routes and converted third downs. He didn’t look like the playmaker from college; he looked like a starting NFL wide receiver.

And if I’m looking for someone to replace my aging future Hall of Famer, he better be ready for the big leagues. Moncrief is well on his way.