INDIANAPOLIS – Quiet by nature, Jack Doyle knows where his game must expand after inking a new contract with his hometown team.
As Chuck Pagano puts it, the tight end room is now Doyle's. That's something the Cathedral High School product has earned after progressing from the bottom of the tight end depth chart, to the top.
With added responsibility coming for Doyle this year, the Colts need him to tap into the guy that was a three-year college captain at Western Kentucky.
"Just trying to be more of a leader in the tight end room and on the offensive side of the ball is something I'm trying to do and get better at," Doyle says.
"I've had to lead before. I didn't feel like it was necessarily with my role early in my career but definitely now. I'm trying to do more things to improve in that area and help the team."
That sort of sentiment is what his head coach said right after the Colts re-signed Doyle.
It's the next step in the development of Doyle, even if it does come a bit out of comfort.
"I don't ever have to worry about Jack Doyle," Pagano says. "I know exactly where he's going to be. I know he's going to be prepared mentally and physically.
"Now I think it's continue to do what he does on the football field for us. The role won't change significantly, but from a leadership standpoint, I think he's going to need to be a little bit more vocal. That will be my challenge to him."
Putting the leadership aspect aside, the Colts will be asking a lot from Doyle on the field in 2017.
Behind Doyle at the tight end position, the rest of the group has combined for 21 career catches.
There's a heavy burden for Doyle to be the guy at tight end.
On Sunday's that side of Doyle will be seen in serving a variety of roles, coming up big on third down and being a reliable outlet for Andrew Luck.
It also has to come Monday-Saturday.
"He's a very bright guy, but he's a lead by example type of guy," Pagano says of No. 84. "He's been very quiet. He goes about his business, does his job. He's always where he's supposed to be. He's a check off all the boxes on him.
"From a vocal standpoint, I think he can take it to the next level."
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