Following the Colts win over the Steelers, Pro Football Focus has had the chance to review the tape and hand out their weekly grades.
So which players on offense for the Colts received the highest marks?
Per usual, my disclaimer when discussing PFF’s grades is that they are not the be-all-end-all, and are just one of many metrics and evaluation tools. With that said, if a player performs well, the grade generally reflects that.
Below is a look at PFF’s grading system to provide some context behind the numbers:
90.0+: Elite
80-89.9: High quality
70-79.9: Good
60-69.9: Above average
50-59.9: Average
40-49.9: Below average
39.9 or less: Poor
Josh Downs
PFF grade: 90.5
Downs was a go-to target for backup quarterback Joe Flacco. He finished the game catching eight of his nine targets for 82 yards and a touchdown. The quarterback passer rating when targeting Downs was 141.7. The short area passing game has struggled for the Colts this season, but Downs provided some much-needed stability, helping the offense to sustain drives.
Michael Pittman
PFF grade: 88.2
After a relatively quiet start through three games, Pittman had a big performance on Sunday, catching 6-of-9 passes for 113 yards at 18.8 yards per catch. This included a 32 yard reception on the opening play of the game and then a 28 yard reception on the first play of the Colts second drive–helping Indianapolis jump out to a quick 14-0 lead.
Will Fries
PFF grade: 76.4
It’s becoming a weekly occurrence to see Will Fries’ name at the top of the PFF grades list. PFF credited Fries with allowing just two pressures over 35 pass-blocking snaps and gave him a run-blocking grade of 75.0. Against a very good Steelers front, Fries and the Colts’ offensive line as a whole performed very well.