Two ways Phillip Lindsay can be even better in 2019

2. More involvement for Lindsay in the passing game

Speaking of having a better passing game, Lindsay can actually help with that.

The Broncos targeted their star rookie 2.9 times per game in 2018 in the passing game. He finished his rookie season with 35 receptions on 47 targets.

There’s really no benefit to force-feeding Lindsay the ball and decreasing his effectiveness in that way, but there is a benefit to scheming him plays in the passing game more frequently.

Consider the following:

The Broncos gave Devontae Booker 3.2 targets per game — 51 targets on the season (more than DaeSean Hamilton) — in 2018.

It’s not that Booker is not worthy of involvement in the offense, but for him to have had more targets in the passing game last year than Lindsay is insane.

Lindsay is the team’s most explosive playmaker in space. His first NFL touchdown was a beautifully designed pass play intended to get Lindsay the ball.

Why was the only receiving score Lindsay had last season the Broncos’ first touchdown of the year?

I don’t know if it was incompetence, great scheming by opposing defenses, or just pure opportunity but the fact that Lindsay was not utilized more in the passing game is a crock.

There were four games in 2018 when Lindsay was targeted one or no times at all in the passing game. That cannot happen in 2019 unless Lindsay is not playing in a game due to injury or something out of anyone’s control.

I think having a more effective passing game and increasing Lindsay’s usage within the passing game can help him take his game to the next level as both a runner and receiver.

Lindsay didn’t catch anyone off guard as he improved throughout the course of the 2018 season as a rookie, so it’s not like teams having more film on him is going to help — he’s a great player who is going to do what he does — but Lindsay does have to find ways to get better and the Broncos have to find ways to keep his involvement both creative and consistent.