Colts Need to Keep Using Richardson, Bradshaw

September 22, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back

(44) and running back

(34) talk before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park. The Colts defeated the 49ers 27-7. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Indianapolis Colts’ offense has looked extremely powerful over the last couple of weeks, and they seem to have found a perfect balance between running and passing the football. Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw have come through in a big way for the Colts, while Andrew Luck has also been phenomenal. While the Colts’ passing game has been dynamic, they can’t afford to forget about their ground success either.

Both Richardson and Bradshaw have been tremendous over the last couple of weeks, and Pep Hamilton needs to keep using them exactly how he has been. They are a great combination of power and speed, and defenses have trouble defending against them when the Colts keep switching them in and out for each other. Indianapolis has done a great job of setting the pass up with the run, and that can’t stop.

Richardson has put together a much better season than he had last year already, carrying the football 61 times for 203 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers may not look too impressive, but they are a welcome site in Indianapolis after the dreadful production that he had last season after being acquired from the Cleveland Browns. He isn’t going to put up 100 yards in a game too often, but the nearly 50 yards that he has put up in a few games has been huge.

Bradshaw on the other hand brings a lot more speed and playmaking ability to the field, and has had an impact in the passing game as well. He has rushed for 182 yards on 34 carries, while also catching 14 passes for 134 yards and four touchdown. Luck has looked to him quite often in the red zone, and that won’t change anytime soon.

All of that being said, the Colts have to make a concerted effort to keep pounding the football on the ground like they have been. Luck is an excellent quarterback, but Indianapolis has to keep defenses honest with a run game as well. Expect to see Hamilton continue to call a good number of rushing plays for the remainder of the season, and to see the Colts’ offense continue to play at a high level.