Chuck Pagano not happy with T.Y. Hilton's criticisms of offense

Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano was in a jovial mood Thursday, strolling into the media room at the team’s West 56th Street facility with holiday greetings and wishes of a Merry Christmas.

His mood stiffened, though, when asked about receiver T.Y. Hilton’s critical comments earlier in the week about the team’s play-calling in Sunday’s 16-10 loss to the Houston Texans.

“We got a sign in our locker room that says, ‘What you see, hear and say here stays here,’ ” Pagano said. “I don’t think any of us should air our dirty laundry outside this building, to be quite frank and honest with you.”

Asked if he addressed the issue with Hilton this week, Pagano wouldn’t divulge much.

“I’m not going to go into details in how we handle things, but there’s a right way to do stuff and a wrong way,” he said.

Pagano's sentiment: Hilton has handled this the wrong way.

The Colts' leading receiver sounded off earlier in the week, expressing his displeasure with the team’s overly-conservative approach on offense in Sunday’s loss.

“The throws have been there, but we just haven’t been calling them,” Hilton said. “It’s more the play-calling.”

Asked why yards have been so hard to come by late – the Colts are averaging just 13 points a game in December – Hilton didn’t hold back.

“Because we’re really not using us: Donte (Moncrief), me, Phillip (Dorsett). We’re fast guys and we’re going down the field how we’re supposed to. We’re running stick routes, chain routes. I mean, you can do that, but at some point you have to take your shots to get the defense (moving) back.”

He added this: “I don’t know what’s going on (with the coaches). I’m just out there running routes. Whatever the play call is, that’s what we’re running. Hopefully it gets better this week.”

Hilton does have a point: The explosive plays were a staple of the Colts offense under former offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton. The Colts tallied 78 plays of 20 yards or more last season and led the league in offense.

This year? Not so much. The Colts tried just seven throws of 10 yards or more on Sunday, completing just three. But, as offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski noted Wednesday, it’s not that simple. Their quarterback is 40 years old and banged up. The offensive line can’t protect. The running back has nowhere to go.

“It is tough in this league to move the ball consistently without getting some chunks,” Chudzinski said. “We understand that. We recognize that. I wish it was as easy. I think everybody knows, it’s not as easy just calling a different play. It’s a lot more to that. It ties into a lot of different areas, not just one.”

Call Star reporter Zak Keefer at (317) 444-6134. Follow him on Twitter: @zkeefer.