Shane Steichen on what's subsequent for WR Alec Pierce

[ad_1] After a breakout season in 2024, Shane Steichen discusses what's subsequent for Indianapolis Colts' WR Alec Pierce.

Indianapolis Colts' large receiver Alec Pierce put collectively a breakout season in 2024, and did in order one of many sport's most efficient downfield targets.

In complete, Pierce hauled in 824 receiving yards and did so at a whopping 22.3 yards per catch, which led the NFL, and he scored seven touchdowns. His 12 receptions for 20-plus yards had been additionally the sixth-most amongst wideouts, per PFF.

Trying to construct off of that efficiency in 2025, Pierce will proceed to be a vertical presence on this offense. However as Shane Steichen highlighted lately, and Pierce has mentioned this himself, he's additionally working to increase his sport so he could make an affect in a wide range of methods.

"This time, particularly proper now and into coaching camp, you attempt various things with him," Steichen mentioned earlier than Thursday's OTA follow. "Clearly, issues he desires to get higher and enhance at, sure routes to maintain getting higher at and hold working these issues so he can enhance in that and we are able to add that to his sport as nicely."

Of Pierce's complete goal share final season, almost half of them got here on downfield go makes an attempt, which was the second-highest charge of any receiver in soccer.

Pierce turning into a extra well-rounded route runner won't solely permit him to assault totally different ranges of the sector, but additionally achieve this in a wide range of methods. This then not solely creates extra alternatives for himself, however the trickle-down impact is that Steichen good points extra flexibility as he places sport plans collectively, and it will possibly open up alternatives for others within the passing sport as nicely.

"I believe he simply retains doing this," Steichen says as he motions upward." I actually do. Clearly, the deep ball risk is there, however he is carried out a fantastic job at transitioning out and in of breaks on sure routes that we're engaged on."

Getting into a contract yr and coming off a profession season, Pierce desires to showcase that he can affect the sport in a large number of how.

"If I am Alec," mentioned large receivers coach Reggie Wayne, "my mission could be we should not need to swap and have Pitt run it--I can run it. So for me, that will be my aim if I am Alec and he is engaged on that."