Sep 8, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Ahmad Bradshaw (44) celebrates at the end of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts defeated the Raiders 21-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Indianapolis Colts have a quality running back in Vick Ballard. In the season opener he carried the ball 13 times for 68 yards averaging 4.8 yards a carry. Head coach Chuck Pagano also said that Ballard was “unbelievable” picking up blitzes from the Oakland Raiders.
Despite all that, coach Pagano is still trying to get running back Ahmad Bradshaw more touches. Bradshaw didn’t have incredibly less carries than Ballard’s eleven. Bradshaw carried the ball 7 times for 26 yards but was less efficient averaging 3.7 yards per carry.
Pagano said the team is still going to try and get Ahmad Bradshaw touches even with Vick Ballard playing so well. Mentions Donald Brown, too
— Kevin Bowen (@KBowenColts) September 11, 2013
The carries were about half of the actual snaps he was on the field for.
Ahmad Bradshaw barely cleared a dozen snaps yesterday. Problematic. Don’t use him until he earns back the #1 job.
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) September 9, 2013
Come game time though it is hard to imagine Pagano pulling Ballard off the field to force feed the offense Ahmad Bradshaw. The Indianapolis Colts take on the Miami Dolphins next who held Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson to just 47 yards. That was the third best defensive mark in the NFL in week one.
