Owner and CEO Jim Irsay stayed busy this offseason,
recruiting veterans Andre Johnson, Frank Gore,
and Trent Cole, from Houston, San Francisco, and Philadelphia respectively. GM Ryan Grigson drafted well, adding speedy
wideout Phillip Dorsett (Miami), and defensive end Henry Anderson (Stanford). On paper, at least, these additions seem to fill the holes the Colts have always had.
While many Colts fans expect the new additions to have an
immediate positive impact, I think the offense will need some time to gel. The
veteran leadership of Johnson, Gore, and Cole will provide an excellent
foundation to an already explosive team, but I do not expect those three to have
standout years stats-wise. Johnson and Gore are certainly not the same threats
they used to be, and likely signed with the Colts in an effort to have a few
more cracks at a championship before considering retirement (I wouldn’t be
surprised to see the duo taking 70-80% of the snaps they have in previous
years).
Instead, I believe they will be more valuable as diversions,
or methods of keeping defenses honest for Andrew Luck. I see offensive
coordinator Pep Hamilton using his added weapons to force one-on-one match-ups
by defenses on vertical threats like T.Y. Hilton, Phillip Dorsett, and Coby
Fleener. Expect Johnson, Gore, and Cole to have modest seasons, while still
playing crucial roles in the overall success of the team. The effectiveness of
the offense hinges on whether or not Indy’s young, explosive talent can
capitalize on the opportunities created by Johnson and Gore.
Other players to watch include All-Pro cornerback Vontae
Davis, coming off the best season of his career, pass rusher Robert Mathis, and rookie running back Josh Robinson, whose running style has been compared to
C.J. Anderson of the Broncos.
Now I’ll be frank – many fellow Colts fans see this likely
offensive juggernaut as the answer to all their problems in past seasons. However, I'm not quite as ready to buy into the hype. With Andrew Luck under the helm, the offense will only continue to improve; the real problem with the Colts is their defense. Jim Irsay seemed to address the Colts’ woeful run defense by adding Trent
Cole and Henry Anderson. However, Cole is 32, on the back-end of his career,
and has failed to live up to the potential he showed in earlier seasons.
Meanwhile, Anderson is likely to be used in more of a pass rushing capacity
than run-stopping. Either way, the Colts will need to show a significant
improvement to their run defense if they want to make it to the Super Bowl.
Prediction?
What I hope will happen: The Colts offense shreds their
opponents on their way to a 14-2 record. The defense plays well during the
regular season, and does just enough in the AFC Playoffs to take the Colts to
the Super Bowl.
What will probably happen: The Colts ease into the playoffs
with a 12-4 record, only to be let down by their defense in the AFC
Championship.
Notes:
- - After the latest NFL draft, the
Colts now have six Stanford alums on the roster, plus OC Pep Hamilton
- - The Colts’ strength of schedule for
the upcoming season is the second easiest, with an average opponent win
percentage of just .417
- - Former Colts receiver and future
Hall-of-Famer Reggie Wayne recently signed with the New England Patriots,
setting up what could be an interesting scenario should the longtime rivals
meet in the playoffs
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