T.Y. Hilton is returning to the Colts, and I’ll be interested in seeing what he can do with Carson Wentz. I like Frank Reich’s ability to draw up plays in the red zone.
Historically, we tend to think of Hilton as a DeSean Jackson type – a small guy getting downfield for long gainers. But in the back half of his career, he’s become more notable for his short-range work. Since Reich showed up, they’ve started using him in the red zone a lot more than they did in the past.
In three years under Reich, Hilton has caught 11 touchdowns in the red zone. He caught only 9 such touchdowns in his first six seasons.
And to thicken this plot, consider that Wentz, despite his flaws, has been one of the league’s best quarterbacks around the goal line in each of the last four years. Inside the 10 last year, Wentz completed 18 of 22 passes, with 9 TDs and 5 successful 2-point conversions. Admittedly, Wentz had a terrible season, but he was good in that part of the field.
Over the last two years, 52 wide receivers have seen at least 10 targets inside the 10-yard line. Of that group, Hilton has caught the highest percentage of passes and turned the highest percentage into scores. (They’ve gone 9 of 10 passing to him in that area, with 7 TDs and a 2-point conversion).
Let’s not get too excited about Hilton. I’m kind of thinking their youngster, Michael Pittman, will outperform him this year. But I have some interest in the veteran.
| RECEIVING INSIDE THE 10 (last 2 years) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Att | Com | TD | 2Pt | EZ% |
| T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 10 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 80% |
| Adam Thielen, Min. | 18 | 14 | 12 | 1 | 72% |
| A.J. Brown, Ten. | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 70% |
| Davante Adams, G.B. | 25 | 22 | 15 | 1 | 64% |
| Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 16 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 63% |
| Tim Patrick, Den. | 10 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 60% |
| Chris Godwin, T.B. | 17 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 59% |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt. | 12 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 58% |
| Marvin Jones, Det. | 14 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 57% |
| Sterling Shepard, NYG | 11 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 55% |
| Cole Beasley, Buff. | 13 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 54% |
| Kendrick Bourne, S.F. | 13 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 54% |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 27 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 52% |
| Emmanuel Sanders, 3 tms | 16 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 50% |
| Julio Jones, Atl. | 10 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 50% |
| Brandon Aiyuk, S.F. | 10 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 50% |
| Calvin Ridley, Atl. | 18 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 50% |
| Tyreek Hill, K.C. | 17 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 47% |
| Cooper Kupp, LAR | 16 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 44% |
| Marquise Brown, Balt. | 12 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 42% |
| DJ Chark, Jac. | 12 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 42% |
| DK Metcalf, Sea. | 17 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 41% |
| David Moore, Sea. | 10 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 40% |
| Allen Robinson, Chi. | 20 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 40% |
| Jarvis Landry, Cle. | 19 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 37% |
| Zach Pascal, Ind. | 11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 36% |
| DeAndre Hopkins, Ariz. | 17 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 35% |
| Keenan Allen, LAC | 17 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 35% |
| Kenny Golladay, Det. | 17 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 35% |
| Curtis Samuel, Car. | 12 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 33% |
| Julian Edelman, N.E. | 12 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 33% |
| DeVante Parker, Mia. | 12 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 33% |
| Sammy Watkins, K.C. | 13 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 31% |
| Nelson Agholor, Phi-L.V. | 13 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 31% |
| Amari Cooper, Dall. | 13 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 31% |
| Hunter Renfrow, L.V. | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 30% |
| Dede Westbrook, Jac. | 10 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 30% |
| Deebo Samuel, S.F. | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 30% |
| Stefon Diggs, Buff. | 10 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 30% |
| Christian Kirk, Ariz. | 17 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 29% |
| Brandin Cooks, Hou. | 11 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 27% |
| Chris Conley, Jac. | 11 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 27% |
| Darius Slayton, NYG | 11 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 27% |
| Justin Jefferson, Min. | 11 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 27% |
| Tyler Boyd, Cin. | 11 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 27% |
| Michael Thomas, N.O. | 15 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 27% |
| Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 12 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 25% |
| Chase Claypool, Pitt. | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 25% |
| Odell Beckham, Cle. | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 20% |
| Randall Cobb, G.B.-Hou. | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 20% |
| Terry McLaurin, Was. | 13 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 15% |
| Mike Williams, LAC | 13 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 15% |
—Ian Allan