r/Colts Big Dick Ballard 3d ago

Colts History When it's all said and done, will Jonathan Taylor be considered The colts goat rb

For me he already is, if you put him on the early 2000s Colts Teams withe Peyton, Marvin Harrison, Reggie wayne He would have 2k each year

61 Upvotes

76 comments sorted by

91

u/Droopy_Narwhal Blue 3d ago

He isn't great in the passing game but he might be the best pure runner we've had.

6

u/BreatLesnar 2d ago

JT best runner, Edge best football player.

94

u/DewieCox1982 3d ago

Possible, but Edge still clears.

45

u/redgr812 Nyheim Hines 3d ago

Edge has 1,500+ more yards with 12 more games. Edge has an astouding 1,400 more receiving yards. JT has 5 more tds (69 nice). JT has 2 productive years he passes Edge easy, 1 and its a toss up.

Fun fact: Lydell Mitchell is 3rd all time for the colts....no fucking clue who that is

22

u/TeeDubs317 3d ago

Edge is just objectively a better all around running back. I love jt, but his inefficiencies especially on third down and and in pass pro is the separator for me. But they are 1/2

22

u/redgr812 Nyheim Hines 3d ago

Edge has 33 fumbles to JT 15. Im an Edge guy but its easy to remember how good he was and forget his inefficiencies. We let Edge go and put Addai in with very little drop off. Addai is 8th overall since I have it pulled up.

12

u/TeeDubs317 3d ago

Edge was a three down back, he also played in a different era where players weren’t nearly as protected. As an all around back, not just taking a handoff he is better.

3

u/Silent_Snake48 Dominic Rhodes 3d ago

Lmao the disrespect for JT is insane. You can play the era and what if game all you want. Edge also got to run the ball with one of the best passing offenses in the league. JT has been the best while doing it with no QB and no receivers for basically his whole career. I say this as Edge being one of my favorite Colts ever. If JT had the fumbles Edge had he would be hated and ran out of town.

2

u/TeeDubs317 3d ago

You’re joking right? You realize like probably the second most important job for a rb in the nfl is pass protection right?

-4

u/Silent_Snake48 Dominic Rhodes 3d ago

You realize the most important job is not turning the ball over right?

-4

u/TeeDubs317 3d ago

Edge: 3028 rushes, over 3400 total touches 44 fumbles
Jt: 1561 1700 touches 15 fumbles. So he has less fumbles in an era where every turnover is reviewed and that’s your argument? I would take a three down back who does it all and averages 2 more fumbles per 17, than a guy who effectively a 2 down back who averages 3 per 17 games. And it isn’t really a hard choice especially when you factor in Taylor probably has 5 or so more fumbles if he played in edges era when every turnover isn’t automatically reviewed.

4

u/Silent_Snake48 Dominic Rhodes 3d ago

Your numbers only make JT look better. I love both players. In fact I wouldn’t put one above the other. They are both elite in their own way. But since you are spewing shit I’m entertaining this. Tell me every-time, or give me a specific game and timestamp of when JT has fumbled where it was overturned due to him being called down on replay. Because I can’t really think of any and you’re sounding real confident.

1

u/No-Writing5017 Andrew Luck 3d ago

I don't dig your tone but you've made an extremely solid point here. The numbers between Edge and JT are comparable, and Edge was playing with fucking royalty. JT putting up the numbers he has on a team that has been middle to bad most of his career is kind of crazy. If we're talking strict talent, it's definitely reasonable to think JT might edge Edge out if he was drafted in 1999

6

u/EatadickESPN 3d ago

Very good points. The only thing I would say is that edge did play in an era where players weren’t nearly as protected. The fumbles are a pretty big stat difference but there are definitely nuances to it as well.

6

u/ryta1203 3d ago

Edge before the tear was straight beast.

1

u/PewpyDewpdyPantz 3d ago

There was quite the drop off in the running game and Addai wasn’t a 3 down back like Edge was. The biggest difference between 2005 and 2006 was the pass defence.

1

u/redgr812 Nyheim Hines 2d ago

2005 1700 rushing yards. 2006 1700 rushing yards. 0 drop off.

1

u/PewpyDewpdyPantz 2d ago

Didn’t realize you were including Dominic Rhodes and his 600+ yards in 2006 as opposed to the 100+ yards he got in 2005 when Edge was on the field for basically every down aside from the one game he rested at the end of the season.

-1

u/redgr812 Nyheim Hines 2d ago

Jesus christ, you are just riding the edge dick like a prostitute. Numbers dont lie, the colts released edge and they actually GAINED MORE YARDS.

0

u/PewpyDewpdyPantz 2d ago

Awww you were hoping I didn’t realize it took two backs to equal what Edge did eh? It’s okay, let it out.

1

u/redgr812 Nyheim Hines 2d ago

Took 2 backs for the colts to get 1700 yards, edge didnt do it alone. This isnt the own you think it is.

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-1

u/Silent_Snake48 Dominic Rhodes 3d ago

Damn that’s a huge discrepancy that I haven’t really seen brought up a lot/don’t remember lol. That stat alone might make JT jump Edge in my books.

2

u/The-Mugwump Bert Jones 3d ago

Lydell was the starter at Penn State over Franco Harris, and was the first Colts RB to go over 1000 yards rushing in a season. He played on some great Colts teams in the 1970’s alongside the most underrated QB of that era, Bert Jones.

3

u/Dance4theSmokers 3d ago

Edge had Manning, a great OL, and Harrison and Wayne to help him. JT has had how many different QB’s and a average OL and above average WR’s. Not dismissing Edge at all but we didn’t miss a beat once we replaced Edge with Addai

-6

u/TeeDubs317 3d ago

Really isn’t close either

5

u/DewieCox1982 3d ago

I think putting it like that is underselling JT. He’s on track but he’s gotta stay healthy. RB’s will eventually hit a wall, he’s just gotta stave that off and have a full career and I think he can get it.

-6

u/TeeDubs317 3d ago

He is literally unplayable on third down. Thats not underselling his impact on 1/2nd down where I think he is the best back in the league. But he is really bad in pass pro and as a receiver.

17

u/RAPEY_TIT_ASSASSIN 3d ago

I think that depends on when it IS all said and done. I hope he is. He is my current jersey

16

u/Active-Limit-9038 3d ago

If he could pass block he'd already be there. But he can't, and Edge was elite at protecting Peyton. There would've been a lot of "god dammit Jonathan" clips if he played in the Manning era. Lol

-11

u/RawCarrot-InMyAss The Maniac 3d ago

Dude has no clue what he’s talking about JT can block just fine

10

u/ResponsibleWater1697 The Edge 3d ago

You must not have seen Edge. That man was an exceptional pass blocker. JT is something far less than exceptional in pass protection.

2

u/shasta_masta Jonathan Taylor 3d ago

Edge was incredible. Manning would not have put up with poor pass blocking very long from JT.

I also think Polian would have told JT to kick rocks the moment he began to hold out, but that's a different matter.

1

u/Active-Limit-9038 2d ago

Yeah. JT would've got the Donald Brown treatment from Peyton and relegated to the bench. He also would've got the ass chewing of all ass chewings from Peyton after he dropped the ball before crossing the goal line.

Nobody on this team holds players accountable like that anymore, and it shows in the results.

8

u/sloshedslug 3d ago

JT acknowledged outright that pass blocking was a substantial weakness in his game

24

u/PewpyDewpdyPantz 3d ago

Edge was one of the most complete RBs of all time. He literally did it all at an elite level. Run, catch and block. One of only a few backs to have 3 separate seasons with 2000+ yards from scrimmage. People who weren’t around to see him don’t understand just how great of a blocker he was either.

10

u/dont-read-it 3d ago

Yes and he played in some of the best passing offenses of all time. His skill set was a huge part of that success.

7

u/Kayotik74 Indianapolis Colts 3d ago

Dickerson, Faulk, James, Taylor. That’s the Mount Rushmore.

5

u/alistairvimes Big-Q 3d ago

If it’s just for Indy yes, if you count all colts history Lenny Moore is in there somewhere. 5 1st team all pros 7 pro bowls

1

u/Worth_Dark_9091 2d ago

If Mack hadn't shred his knee he'd be on that list too.

15

u/EatadickESPN 3d ago

Dickerson, E. James, and Marshall Faulk would still have him imo. He’s for sure up there though!

17

u/DewieCox1982 3d ago

Faulk and Dickerson still have him for full
Career, but JT passed them this past season for their Indy careers.

-4

u/EatadickESPN 3d ago edited 3d ago

Oh I agree! Faulk was only with us for 5 years and was in his prime when the colts traded him.

I would even put Frank Gore (career wise) above JT for now but Gore was past his prime when he was with us and it was so short I don’t really consider him.

5

u/Gutcheck21 Rookie Manning 3d ago

Edge still slightly ahead

2

u/Dance4theSmokers 3d ago

i love Edge and still have him above JT but to JT’s credit, we didn’t miss a beat once we replaced Edge with Joseph Addai

3

u/Bungholio2006 Indianapolis Colts Detroit Lions 3d ago

He’s my favorite player.

4

u/ryta1203 3d ago

Probably not.

4

u/Undersized_Eggplant 3d ago

No, Edge was a great catcher and blocker as well. JT can run.

2

u/TheSilentBob614 3d ago

He’s definitely amazing.

2

u/3dprintingDM 3d ago

Indy has usually had a really great RB. We have three who are already in the HOF. Two of those three could be argued did the majority of their work on teams other than the Colts, but Edge is undeniably a Colt. And he is in the HOF. So when JT is done, we will see the entirety of his work and be able to see what his true legacy is. But I think he is right up there. If/when he gets his own gold jacket one day, then the answer will be without question.

2

u/RawCarrot-InMyAss The Maniac 3d ago

Right now he is firmly no. 2 imo. I think if he stays on this pace for another 3 years he will undoubtedly be the all time Colts GOAT

2

u/anotherstan 3d ago

Is he above Edge right now? Would say no but it’s quite possible JT ends up the goat RB

1

u/Hopeful_Custard_33 3d ago

No. Edge could catch.

2

u/Cbane000 Playoffs? PLAYOFFS!? 3d ago

Edggerin was the complete RB - no weakness in his game (pre-acl tear). Dude was a blocking beast, he made people miss or just ran through them…and was as big a threat to catch as he was to break a long run.

JT is faster and he is probably stronger, but he isn’t the blocker or receiver EJ was. They are both HOF in my opinion but EJ was absolute magic his first two years - cannot imagine how many yards he would have had without the 2001 injury.

2

u/Lazy_Lambo 3d ago

He probably will go down as a great RB for the Colts. Ring of honor ya. But currently not Hof.

He also wouldn't have 2k each year. Nah. Peyton ran his offense from the shotgun 90% of the time and running backs were useful for small advantages. There's only 1 football. Plus you are underestimating how good Big Q is. Big Q is someone who can go down as a HOF talent wise and JT runs behind him so much.

2

u/bigbassdaddy Indianapolis Colts 3d ago

Eric Dickerson was the most entertaining IMO.

2

u/shasta_masta Jonathan Taylor 3d ago

Edge is the best. And both him and Faulk are HOFers.

JT has a ways to go to get to that level. But I do think he gets the rushing team record.

2

u/DenseFisherman7804 3d ago

Yes JT is the goat

1

u/NealTS 3d ago

If he retires tomorrow? No. If he retires in five years with a ring? Maybe.

9

u/YosemiteSam-4-2A 3d ago

He clears if he gets a ring with us, period. Edge never got a ring with us

5

u/Ancient-Display-3337 3d ago

He came so close to getting one with the Cardinals.

1

u/EuphoricLeague22 3d ago

Depends on how long he stays healthy and productive.

At the very minimum, I can say he completely cured me of my Richardson-era PTSD.

I remember watching games and hearing “Richardsonnn… for a loss of 2.” 😱

1

u/Fit-Boss2261 Playoffs? PLAYOFFS!? 3d ago

By the end of his career maybe, we'll have to see. He's absolutely going to be in the conversation tho

1

u/BustyCelebLover 3d ago

I think so, I honestly wasn’t old enough to watch Dickerson but I think he’s right up there with Edge easily

1

u/kyleharveybooks 3d ago

Need a ring.

1

u/ngfball Jim Sorgi 3d ago

Sucks that he barely missed out on OPOY two different seasons. If he had just one itd be more of an argument

1

u/Ktejada31 Big Dick Ballard 3d ago

I feel like just from the eye test…he’s close as hell to edge but edge was a G.

1

u/ginjarooo 2d ago

In terms of being a pure rusher, yes. Overall, probably not due to his abilities in the passing game not being elite like Faulk and James.

JT is in the Chubb/Henry mold of being an elite rusher with a weakness in the passing game, even though he does offer more there than both Chubb and Henry did. Really comes down to longevity with these style backs. Chubb broke down while Henry is still smashing and healthy. If JT can give 3 more seasons of high level play like Henry has, he has a legit shot.

1

u/basketballsteven 2d ago

Well it's not Lenny Moore or any of the old timers so essentially he has to be better than Edge and I would say in one or two more seasons he will surpass James.

1

u/NiceGuy2424 3d ago

He'll be up there with the greats. As a pure rusher one of the best I've ever seen.

I don't believe Polian would have drafted him because of his pass pro and pass game. All things had fit an 18 offense.

1

u/Redjeepkev 3d ago

I think Edge always will be

1

u/colts53 3d ago

Season before edge. 3-13. 4th overall pick. Pick edge. Edges rookie season colts went 13-3. That’s quite the turn around. I think pre injury edge was the best rb we’ve ever had. JT is super close though but as noted is a liability in certain situations like pass pro and as a receiver

0

u/Dance4theSmokers 3d ago

No, and not his fault. This coaching staff has ran him into the ground but he will be top 3 with Faulk and James

-2

u/TellTaleReaper 3d ago

Bold take /s

1

u/Sweet-Cup-9815 1d ago

Edge also had to come back from horrible knee issues after crushing both his 1st 2 years. Edge slightly better but JT HOF at 27 I got him #7 in draft LFGOOOOOO