Entering Week 4, no group of tight ends has fewer collective receptions than the four caught by Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson and Drew Ogletree.
But only one team's tight ends, by one measure, have blocked better than those guys.
So while Alie-Cox, Granson and Ogletree may not be getting many targets or receptions, they're still finding ways to make a positive impact on the Colts' offense. Those three tight ends have combined for four catches on eight targets, tying them with the New York Giants' tight end room for the lowest receiving output in the NFL (their 83 yards on those four catches rank 24th; their small-sample-size 20.8 yards per reception average is easily highest in the NFL).
But through three weeks, the Colts' tight ends have collectively been among the league's best at run blocking. The top five, per Pro Football Focus' grading system:
| Team | PFF run block grade (TEs only) |
|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | 79.0 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 76.3 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 72.0 |
| Miami Dolphins | 66.5 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 64.3 |
"One of the pillars Shane (Steichen) talks about is character, and these guys, they want to win and they know what we have to do in each individual game to have the ability to win," tight ends coach Tom Manning said. "And they're willing to do it and have great spirits and great attitudes about it. But it really speaks to the volumes of their character — they're great team guys, they love playing football and want to win."
Alie-Cox's downfield block helped spring Jonathan Taylor's 29-yard touchdown run in Week 3 against the Chicago Bears; Ogletree instinctively climbed to the second level to block Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to help Taylor carve out a 21-yard run in that game, too. Granson, who's known more as a pass-catching threat, has done some important dirty work on the back side of running plays, too.
"It's a selfless group, and it starts with Mo Alie-Cox right there," Steichen said. "He obviously is the anchor right there, blocking wise. But Granson has been doing a heck of a job, and so is Drew. Those guys keep developing and keep growing. They're doing a heck of a job with the point of attack, and even on the back side cutoffs – there were some big-time blocks in the game on back side cutoffs for those guys that make the play go. So, it's been good to see."
Eventually, the targets, receptions, yards and touchdowns will come for the Colts' tight ends. The more defenses have to respect the run, the more opportunities those guys will have to slip behind a linebacker or safety on play-action and pick up a chunk of yards through the air.
But as the Colts' offense leans into a patient, punishing run game, it'll need Alie-Cox, Ogletree and Granson to continue blocking at a high level. That's how a run goes from being efficient (which is good) to explosive (which is great). The Colts' offensive line works closely with those tight ends during practice to figure out the best way they, collectively, can block up running plays while recognizing the challenges Alie-Cox, Ogletree and Granson face on those plays.
"Our offensive line does an incredible job of noticing you and encouraging you when you do a good job blocking, because I think they understand that in the run game, as a tight end, you are often at a disadvantage in terms of size or strength," Manning said. "And I think our offensive line makes it really easy to play tight end."
And while technique certainly matters, it's the effort and willingness to block that the Colts' offensive line loves to see from their tight end teammates.
"When we work together in practice, they're always in it with all their hearts, and you can see it on the field too," left tackle Bernhard Raimann said. "It just makes you appreciate them even more."
