Colts Tight End Duo Provides Offensive Versatility, Major Challenges To Opposing Defenses

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INDIANAPOLIS – Alfredo Roberts was as curious as his two rookies were.

Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen had just been taken with back-to-back draft picks in 2012 and would soon be entering the tight ends room of Roberts.

Taking two tight ends in a team's first three draft picks is a rare, rare occurrence in the NFL.

Would Fleener and Allen, two of college football finest's tight ends in 2011, be able to coexist in one offense?

"You were kind of wondering if they would have a professional clash because they both are highly touted college athletes," Roberts, the Colts tight ends coach, says looking back on the second- and third-round picks from 2012.

"But they've come in and accepted their roles. They've done a nice job of blending. They adapted very well to their roles in their understandings of the offense."

When Pep Hamilton was brought in at the start of 2013, the roles of Fleener and Allen within the Colts offense were expected to explode.

The friendliest of tight-end offenses was put on hold when Allen's 2013 season was cut short barley a game in.

Postponed a year, the Colts tight ends show proved last season what a healthy, versatile duo can do for a unit.

In 2014, the Colts produced a franchise-record nine 400-yard games of total offense (eight of those coming with both Allen and Fleener in the lineup).

Allen and Fleener became the first tight end pair in NFL history to finish a season with eight touchdowns apiece.

Colts defenders see every day in practice the challenges an offense presents with tight ends like No. 80 and 83 on the field.

"That changes the aspects of an offense and how you guard them," cornerback Greg Toler said.

"Us being (defensive backs), they outweigh us by quite a few pounds. They get in front of you and can easily make a catch. I think that just takes the offense to the next level when you have those guys that are like wide receivers, but plus size."

New offensive lineman Todd Herremans is getting his first taste of how the Colts operate with Allen and Fleener together on the field.

After 10 years in the NFL, Herremans wasn't used to seeing an offense having such a balanced look even with employing two tights ends on a given play.

"The tight end position is something that puts people over the top," Herremans said.

"If you get somebody that really takes ahold of the position, blocking wise, route running wise, it's more flexible to where you can bring him in to block and also flex him out and have him run routes. That creates so many more mismatches and opportunities for the offense. I think that's the direction the league is heading and the Colts are very fortunate to have those guys."

NFL'S HIGHEST RECEIVING FIRST DOWN PERCENTAGE, 2014