Past vs. Present; Funchess vs. DHB

Thanks to one of my friends, Zack, we've developed an idea for a series of blogs comparing free agents from the Grigson era to free agents signed this year by the Colts. The idea is to present why those free agents did or didn't work and why the new free agents will work. So far, the only one I can write is Devin Funchess compared to Darrius Heyward-Bey (DHB).

Both receivers are bigger-bodied receivers with DHB standing at 6'2" and Funchess standing 6'4" but honestly, in my opinion, that's pretty much where the similarities stop. DHB spent his first four years in Oakland and followed that up with his lone year in Indianapolis. Over his four years in Oakland Heyward-Bey averaged 13 starts, 14 games played, 35 receptions, 518 yards, and 3 touchdowns. In his one year in Indy, he started 11 games, played in 16, had 29 receptions, 309 yards, and one touchdown. He did not produce as the number 2/3 receiver he was brought in to be so he was not retained. DHB also has never shown an ability to run great routes, he has never had great hands, and he's much more of a burner than he is a red zone target.

Funchess on the other hand, started his career with the Carolina Panthers where he has averaged 15 games played, 10 games started, 40 receptions, 558 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Funchess shows an ability to run routes and be a red zone weapon. He averaged 5 touchdowns a season with Cam Newton throwing him the ball. You cannot tell me that Andrew Luck is not an upgrade when it comes to passing.

Both receivers acted as their old teams' number one receivers, but they have shown more of a number two receiver's ability. The Colts, in both cases, was looking for a number two receiver. In 2013, the Colts had Reggie Wayne, TY Hilton, Coby Fleener, and Dwayne Allen. Now, the Colts have TY Hilton, Eric Ebron, Jack Doyle, Marlon Mack, and Nyheim Hines. I would take the Colts secondary pass catchers now 10/10 times over the 2013 cast. The offensive playbook also allows for better looks now instead of forcing run, run, deep pass every single series like the playbook in 2013.

When paired with the weapons Indy currently has, Funchess should flourish in his new role much like Eric Ebron did last year. There is a stronger locker room now than there was in 2013 for DHB to walk into as well as a coaching staff that is better at developing talent than Pagano's staff ever was. The Devin Funchess signing, I believe, will work out how the Colts wanted the Heyward- Bey signing to work out. Funchess is walking into a better situation with a better pure passer than he has ever had before who is well established (unlike the 2nd year Luck that DHB had) while also being a better route runner than DHB is with more proven ability to get in the end zone.

The Heyward-Bey signing didn't work due to his skillset not matching what the team needed, the talent was lacking around him, and the coaching staff had a blatant inability to develop talent. The Funchess signing will work for those exact same reasons; his skillset is what the Colts need, there is better talent around him, and Frank Reich's staff has shown a strong ability to develop talent.