T.Y. Hilton blames play-calling for Colts' offensive woes

Stephen Holder | IndyStar

Receiver T.Y. Hilton, one of the Indianapolis Colts’ biggest reasons for offensive optimism, sounded off Tuesday on the struggling unit’s lack of offensive aggression.

Hilton lamented the lack of downfield passing, something that was particularly evident in the Colts’ 16-10 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, pinning the blame on the offensive play-calling.

“The throws have been there, but we just haven’t been calling them,” Hilton said. “It’s more the play-calling.”

When asked why yards have been so hard to come by of late, Hilton responded: “Because we’re not really using us: Donte (Moncrief), me, Phillip (Dorsett). We’re fast guys and we’re not going down the field how we’re supposed to. We’re running stick routes, chain routes. I mean, you can do that, but at some point, you have to take your shots to get the defense (moving) back.”

The Colts’ offense has been downright anemic in recent weeks, scoring a total of two offensive touchdowns the past three games. Against the Texans, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck attempted just seven passes longer than 10 yards, a reflection – according to Hilton – of play-caller Rob Chudzinski’s conservative approach.

The Colts were one of the boldest offenses in the NFL in 2014, recording 78 explosive passing plays (defined as 20 yards or longer) and leading the NFL in passing. This season, the Colts have 43 such completions, are one of the worst passing offenses in the league and fired offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton after a Week 8 loss to Carolina.

The Colts are 26th in total yards per game (324.8) and 31st in yards per attempt (6.4). That last statistic is the one that best reflects Hilton’s criticisms (the Colts ranked seventh in that category in 2014 with 7.7). The loss of Andrew Luck, who has played just seven games because of injury, is a major factor.

Either way, Hilton said, defenders are playing the Colts according to their offensive approach.

“It’s hard because we’re not taking shots down the field, so they’re just sitting at the chains waiting for us to break, and they’re breaking, too,” Hilton said. “We just have to start taking shots down the field and loosen up the defense and get us open.”

That fact, he said, is impacting the receivers’ ability to generate yards after the catch, an area where the Colts have struggled this season. And the offense’s lack of aggressiveness is having a trickle-down effect, including on the running game (just ask running back Frank Gore).

“Once we start taking shots, it will loosen up the run game and the passing game,” Hilton said. “Instead of it being five, six, seven (defenders) in the box, it’s all 11. They’re just waiting.”

Asked whether the approach is related to the Colts’ offensive-line deficiencies – which impacts their ability to pass protect during long passing routes – Hilton said he couldn’t be certain.

“I don’t know what’s going on (with the coaches),” he said. “I’m just out there running routes. Whatever the play call is, that’s what we’re running. Hopefully it gets better this week.”

Hilton’s statements are interesting when compared with those of Hasselbeck after Sunday’s game.

Hasselbeck said the Colts “probably could have been a little bit more aggressive. Just kind of was in this mode of we win the turnover battle, we win the game. We win the turnover ratio, we win the game. We kind of thought to win this game, no one had to do anything superhero. We just had to do everything right, just play a clean game.”

The Colts travel to Miami Sunday for a game against the Dolphins (1 p.m., CBS), clinging to their slim playoff hopes in the AFC South. Hilton would like to make it a memorable visit. He’s one of several Colts from the Miami area, and he has more than 30 ticket requests pending. Other Miamians on the roster include Gore and receiver Andre Johnson. Dorsett is a Fort Lauderdale native.

“This is the one game that I can’t lose, especially with all the uncles and aunts who are Dolphins fans,” Hilton said. “So, when it’s time to have that family reunion or family picnic, I want to be able to talk (trash).”

Follow Star reporter Stephen Holder on Twitter: @HolderStephen.