The Indianapolis Colts have developed a tendency to post a great regular season record, only to get dropped out of the playoffs in the first or second round. There are many contributing factors to this, and they are becoming more and more obvious every year.
There are many weak spots on every team in the league, and the success for the upcoming season depends on how well they address them during the off-season. Some are more difficult than others to fix, but the ones that do so, usually find themselves playing in late January.
1. Effective Running Game
Joseph Addai struggled in nearly every game last season. He tried to play through his injury, but he just wasn't the same. Dominic Rhodes stepped in nicely in spurts for the Colts, but the line just couldn't get anything going on the ground.
Rhodes has left the Colts once again, and they will now turn to rookie Donald Brown to take some of the load off of Addai. He will be a good change of pace back, but it is yet to be determined if he will be able to get through the rigorous NFL season.
2. Stop the Run on Defense
The inability to stop the run last year really hurt the Colts' chances at any success. There always seemed to be a gaping hole in the middle of the defense. They addressed this issue in the draft by selecting USC Defensive Tackle Fili Moala. He will be tested early, but should be a nice fit.
The inconsistent defense also hurt the Colts' offense last season. The longer the defense was stuck on the field, the less opportunities Manning and company had to work with on offense. The Colts need some three and outs on defense to give Peyton more touches each game.
3. Let Manning Control Tempo
With the departure of the coaching staff in the off-season, many people were left wondering how it would effect the team. The fact is, with a veteran Peyton Manning under center, they basically have a coach on the field every play.
Peyton knows what he is doing, and there won't be a noticeable difference in the offense this year than what Colts fans are accustomed to. The Colts have proved they have one of the best offensive units the NFL has seen this decade. If Manning is able to control the tempo, the offense won't miss a beat.
4. Stay Healthy
This basically applies to every team in the league, but it is vital to the Colts. They have had so many injuries the last few years, it is time to buck the trend. Usually it is Bob Sanders, a few other players on defense, and a few linemen. Doesn't sound horribly bad, but that could really put a damper on the Colts' season.
Manning is obviously the one that this really applies to. If he goes down, the Colts season is done (Tom Brady 2008). The line does an excellent job of protecting him, and he knows when to get rid of it or just take a knee. He has a Favre health characteristic about him, and it is important to keep that going this year.
5. Improve Kick Returning
The Colts have never really had a good return man at any point in the season. It would really help if Manning had better field position to start 3 or 4 drives during the course of the game. This is an underrated position in the NFL today, and Colts fans know just how bad they need one.
The special teams needs to improve to complete this team. The loss of Hunter Smith won't be a huge deal, as long as the new punter can just do his job. The return game is going to be a vital piece of the Colts' season this year.
The injury bug can bite at any time, and it can take anyone it chooses. There is no way to predict who will be hurt this year and who will be able to stay healthy. The Colts have been so close for so many years before finally getting over the hump against Rex Grossman and the Bears.
The road will be long and exhausting, but with a few minor improvements to the team, Peyton can grab another trophy and book another appearance on SNL.
