USC Football: Michael Pittman Jr. brings excitement to Colts offense

The Colts got themselves a gem in USC football’s Michael Pittman Jr. who will add excitement to a team that does not have a lot of receiver depth.

The Indianapolis Colts addressed offense early in this year’s draft to help newly signed quarterback Phillip Rivers, and one of those picks was USC standout receiver Michael Pittman Jr. They got themselves a gem for their offense in Pittman, who will add excitement to a team that does not have a whole lot of receiver depth.

The Colts did not have much luck with Devin Funchess, as he only played one game due to a collarbone injury that sidelined him for all but one game. After losing him to the Packers, they need another big-bodied receiver to complement T.Y. Hilton; and what better weapon than a 6-foot-4, 223 pound force in the former USC standout receiver.

Pittman will add immediate impact to a team that does not have a lot of offensive pieces.  They already have their speed in Hilton. You add Pittman in that mix and you’ve got both of your molds you want in your NFL receivers.

Pittman’s career year came in 2019 when he finished with 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns, catching passes from a backup quarterback in Kedon Slovis for the majority of the season. He is a guy that has elite hands, as he only had five dropped passes out of his 176 career receptions.

Moreover, Pittman is a dangerous threat with the deep ball. His body frame is everything you want in an NFL receiver. His leap for catches and finding the ball at the point of attack will help the Colts immensely in their passing game, which ranked 23rd in 2019.

Pittman’s stats prior to 2019 do not stand out too much, but his athleticism and versatility he shows will make you overlook those cases of “one-year wonders”. He went down with an ankle injury his sophomore year and missed five games, but still managed to put up 23 catches, 404 yards and two touchdowns in nine games. He was lucky to learn behind JuJu Smith-Schuster his freshman year, who put up consistent numbers during his time at USC and put up over 1,400 yards during his second NFL season.

Pittman is also another weapon for Rivers that is reliable, as he only missed 11 games throughout his four-year career as a Trojan.

Outside of Hilton, there is a lot of unproven talent in the Colts’ receiving corps. Pittman is a guy that will not only quickly make a name for himself, but also might just be the next franchise cornerstone in the Indianapolis offense.

The Indianapolis Colts should be very happy about their new offensive toy in Pittman. A guy who could not have landed in a better spot to make an immediate impact, the Colts have a bright future ahead with their young offense around Rivers.