On Sunday, Colts backup quarterback Matthew Hasselbeck targeted tight end Coby Fleener 12 times. Colts tight end Dwayne Allen wants to see more of that from starter Andrew Luck.
“That’s what we need, the ball finding all of our playmakers’ hands,” Allen said Monday, via Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star.
Allen, who like Fleener is in a contract year, has only three catches on the year. Allen has missed the last two games with a sprained ankle. He apparently thinks the entire offense suffers from a missing identity.
“I think from Tennessee to this week, we looked very different offensively,” Allen said. “We had somewhat better production. But what is our identity? We have all these pieces. It’s like, what are we? Are we a running team? Are we a passing team? Who are the [primary] options? We’re starting to figure out who those guys are and the ball is starting to find those guys.”
It’s not finding its way to Allen because he’s not finding his way to the field. Which is forcing him to base his contract year not on production but potential.
“When I’m on the field, I am a dominant tight end both blocking and receiving,” Allen said.
Saying that isn’t going to get him paid like a dominant tight end. Saying anything that undermines the team’s effort to win games no matter the stats won’t do that, either.
“I think having Matt out there this Sunday and seeing the way he distributed the ball, it was a step in the right direction,” Allen said.
It’s almost as if Allen doesn’t want Luck to get back on the field. Which may not make Luck willing to get the ball in Allen’s hands.
None of it matters for Allen, of course, until Allen can get back on the field. With a short week before Thursday night’s game against the Texans, that will be even harder for Allen.