The Tantalizing Ten: Titans Road Edition
Intro: Each week, we will take a look at 10 players that will have a big impact in the game. Who are the "Tantalizing Ten" when the Colts (2-4) hit the road to take on the Titans (3-3) in Week Seven?
Arthur Jones made his 2016 debut last week and got the start alongside Kendall Langford and David Parry. The defensive line group for the Colts, who could be without Henry Anderson and Zach Kerr this weekend, will see some old fashioned football this week. Tennessee wants to pound the football and is the most committed/productive rushing attack the Colts have seen in the first half of 2016.
The dual-threat nature of Marcus Mariota is alive and well. The second-year quarterback has 124 rushing yards in the past two weeks. We haven't seen a potent air attack from Mariota in 2016. His leading receiver is running back DeMarco Murray.
Catching 20-of-23 (87%) of passes this season, Jack Doyle's catch rate is the best for any NFL tight end with at least 12 targets. Doyle's role in 2016 is going to expand with Dwayne Allen's ankle injury. It's crazy to think that Doyle is second to only T.Y. Hilton in terms of the most experienced, healthy pass catchers for Andrew Luck this week.
Not many times has Andrew Luck gone into an NFL game with such scarce resources available at the skill positions around him. Can Luck and T.Y. Hilton combine for a big day, given all the new faces playing major roles in the receiver/tight end groups? Luck has never lost to the Titans (7-0 all-time).
The 30-year-old edge rusher is well on his way to the best season in his eight-year career. Brian Orakpo has 7.0 sacks through six games. The Titans have had six sacks in each of the past two games (both wins), the first time since 2010 they've achieved that feat. How the Colts block the Titans, possibly without left guard Jack Mewhort, will be something to watch on Sunday?
Since Donte Moncrief went down early in Week Two, Chester Rogers has been solid when called upon. Rogers has nine catches for 126 yards this season. Another thing to watch this week will be how the Colts handle incorporating new returners with Quan Bray now on injured reserve. Last Sunday, Rogers took over for Bray at punt returner.
What more can you say about the 43-year-old future Hall of Famer? Adam Vinatieri has knocked home 41 straight field goals, the second longest streak in NFL history. One of the most amazing aspects of Vinny's run has been nine of those 41 field goals have come from at least 50 yards.
It really looks like DeMarco Murray is back in Dallas. Behind a young, but talented, offensive line, Murray ranks second in the NFL with 698 yards from scrimmage. Murray came over from Philly in the offseason and has been outstanding for the NFL's third ranked rushing offense.
Through six games, the Colts have just two interceptions, tied for the fewest in the NFL. Mike Adams has been a ball hawk in his time with the Colts and this team could certainly use a revival of that playmaking. As has been the case for a large majority of 2016, Adams is quarterbacking a secondary dealing with more injuries at the cornerback position.
Will Ryan Kelly have a new face lining up to him this weekend? Left guard Jack Mewhort has missed practice this week, which could lead to more shuffling up front. Kelly is going to see one of the NFL's top interior defensive linemen in Tennessee's Jurrell Casey.
