WESTFIELD — The worst play of Seth McGowan’s preseason should have been a touchdown.
The Colts rookie running back barreled into the end zone in the first half against New England, pushing his body across the plane and then reaching out with the ball for good measure as the Patriots pulled him to the ground.
New England’s Jeremiah Pharms Jr. reached out as McGowan’s hand got close to the turf and batted the ball, knocking it out of the rookie’s grasp on a play officials ruled a fumble.
The NFL later told the Colts that McGowan should have been granted a touchdown. He clearly broke the plane.
McGowan sees the play as an opportunity to grow.
“I took it more as a teaching lesson,” McGowan said. “First-and-10, that type of situation, you don’t need to jeopardize the ball like that.”
NFL officials made the biggest mistake in Foxborough. If that play had cost the Colts a touchdown in the regular season, the entire NFL community would have come down hard on the decision to rule the play a fumble.
But McGowan knows there’s another way that play could rear its ugly head in the regular season.
Indianapolis teaches its players that they should never reach for the end zone unless it’s on fourth down or the clock is about to expire. The Colts know all too well that a fumble through the end zone ends up going to the defense.
When McGowan’s play was incorrectly ruled a fumble in New England, the Colts coaching staff chose to emphasize McGowan’s decision to reach for it, rather than wiping it away under the guise of a bad call.
“I’m a guy that’s open to constructive criticism and hard coaching,” McGowan said. “I want you to really tell me what I can do better. That’s when my ears really get open.”
The Colts haven’t had to raise the volume on McGowan all that often.
The Kentucky product has been one of the team’s most impressive rookies in training camp, along with strong safety A.J. Haulcy.
“The same things we saw in the draft, really,” Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds said. “Even though it's totally different positions, right? They're both really tough. They're really physical, and they can both run. They're fast.”
Indianapolis expected McGowan’s physicality to be his calling card. While he has only 44 yards on 13 carries in the first two preseason games, McGowan has flashed consistently in practices, bowling through tackles with a decisive, one-cut style that’s a change from Jonathan Taylor’s patient, probing approach.
“He's running hard, he's seeing it good,” Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen said. “And I've said it before, but the physicality that he runs with, we want that and he brings that to our roster. We're really excited about that.”
.oembed-frame {width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;border:0;}
McGowan has also exceeded expectations.
Indianapolis knew he brought a physical presence to the running game.
McGowan also seems to be ahead of the curve as a rookie, adopting a professional approach that he’s learned by watching Taylor.
“I’ve done my best to mirror all his habits and his routines,” McGowan said. “His ideology, on and off the field.”
He’s also been excellent in the passing game.
McGowan’s physicality always suggested that he could be a weapon as a pass protector; what the Colts did not know was whether the rookie would be able to handle the rules and complexity of picking up blitzes at the NFL level.
He’s been excellent at identifying blitzes, another product of his time learning from Taylor.
And if the Colts want to throw McGowan the ball, they can trust him to make the catch. Big, physical backs aren’t often third-down types, but McGowan has excellent, natural hands.
“No, he's been consistent,” Steichen said. “Even swing passes, checkdowns, whatever it may be.”
Draft analysts missed that part of McGowan’s game. A lot of analysts suggested he might not be a fit on passing downs.
McGowan, on the other hand, has spent years preparing for the chance to play in the NFL.
“When the Alvin Kamaras and Christian McCaffreys were coming out, I kind of saw the way the running back position was being elevated,” McGowan said. “That’s something I’ve always prioritized. Everywhere I’ve been, I always take advantage when the ball is thrown my way.”
McGowan’s physicality and the somewhat surprising advancement of the rest of his game have put the rookie in line to be the No. 2 back behind Taylor.
Indianapolis also has 2025 fifth-rounder DJ Giddens on the roster, but Giddens has missed most of training camp with a hamstring injury, opening the door for McGowan to prove his worth.
He’s been better than advertised.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why Seth McGowan is emerging as the Colts' No. 2 running back
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
Leave a Comment