Indianapolis Colts: Phillip Dorsett Needs Breakthrough Season in 2016
The Indianapolis Colts drafted receiver Phillip Dorsett with their first-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. After a disappointing rookie campaign, Dorsett will need to prove his worth as the team’s likely third receiver.
When the Colts drafted wide receiver Phillip Dorsett with the 29th selection in the 2015 draft, the pick received mixed reactions — most being negative.
The pick was questioned by many mostly due to the reason that the Colts were coming off of an 11-win season in 2014 in which they boasted one of the league’s top offenses, but severely lacked talent on the defensive side of the ball despite making it to the AFC Championship game.
With several defensive playmakers remaining on the board once the Colts were on the clock, many viewed the selection as unnecessary given that the secondary, offensive or defensive lines were more needing of first-round talent more so than the receiving core.
Looking at the other side of the argument however, the selection may have made a slight bit of sense given that outside of T.Y. Hilton and a then-rookie Donte Moncrief, the Colts didn’t have much to work with in the receiving game.
Dorsett’s 2015 campaign was not very impressive, either. He appeared in just 11 games — starting in zero of them — and had accumulated only 225 receiving yards and one touchdown on 18 receptions.
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One could have made the case that perhaps Dorsett had the rookie jitters early on in the season. On some occasions would he appear to look completely off with the quarterback on a route or struggle to catch an open pass.
Regardless of what his issues may have been last season aside from injury, the 23-year-old receiver simply needs to up his game if he wants to be a pivotal part of the Colts’ offense this season and beyond.
During his collegiate years at the University of Miami, Dorsett tallied a total of 2,132 yards and 17 touchdowns through his four seasons playing for the Hurricanes.
His breakout season came in 2014 when he caught 36 passes for 871 total yards and 10 touchdowns — statistics that the Colts’ front-office liked so much that they used a first round selection on Dorsett with the hopes that he can turn out to be the speedy downfield threat that they are looking for.
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Look for Dorsett to be the Colts’ No. 3 receiver behind Hilton and Moncrief come the start of training camp and likely week one of the regular season. The spot certainly won’t be handed to Dorsett, however.
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