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Indianapolis Colts: Phillip Dorsett’s 2016 Player Profile

By Kyle Nishida

Sep 3, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (15) runs up the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (15) runs up the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Indianapolis Colts training camp does not start until July 26th. So, there will not be much news about the team until then. As a result, it is time to preview the Colts’ players who will play key roles in 2016. It’s Phillip Dorsett turn today.

Last offseason, there was a lot of hype surrounding Phillip Dorsett, who the Colts selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, Dorsett never really lived up to that first-season hype.

Due to injuries, he only played in 11 games. Also, he did not contribute much when he did play. He recorded 18 receptions, 225 receiving yards and one touchdown in 2015.

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To make matters worse, he barely helped the team on Special Teams. He muffled two punt return in the Colts’ season opening loss to the Buffalo Bills; one fumble was recovered while the other was lost. The Colts removed Dorsett from punt returning duties following Week 1.

On the flip side, Dorsett showed a brief flash of brilliance in his disappointing 2015 season. He came a 35-yard touchdown pass in Week 3, which helped the Colts earn a 35-33 comeback win over the Tennessee Titans.

Dorsett wants to make the 2015 season a thing of the past. He has been working hard with Colts’ receivers T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief. Hopefully, he learned how to be a consistent play maker while training with these two.

2016 Expectations

In all honesty, most people have low expectation for Dorsett because he did not perform well in 2015. He is a speed receiver, but he never really showcased his ability as a one.

The 2016 season could be much different for Dorsett. First of all, the Colts’ starting quarterback Andrew Luck is fully healthy. Without Luck, the Colts could not push the ball downfield to their speed receivers like Dorsett. With Luck back, Dorsett may be able to tap into his full potential.

Obviously, Hilton and Moncrief will be the Colts’ main targets, but there will still be plenty of opportunities for Dorsett to make an impact. The main concern for Dorsett is taking advantage of those opportunities.

It would not be shocking to see Dorsett eclipse 30 receptions, 500 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2016. Again, his speed will create a lot of long-yardage plays for the Colts, and once in a while, he will find his way into the endzone.

If Dorsett can be a reliable third receiver, he will take pressure off of both Moncrief and Hilton. Good defensive team usually find ways to cover two receivers. However, teams with three good receiving options have a better chance of breaking down good defenses.

Dorsett needs to have a solid 2016 season for the Indianapolis Colts. He has got a lot of talent, but talent means nothing if the player cannot translate it to on-field production. It will be interesting to see how Dorsett fairs in 2016.

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