What's New?
After winning Super Bowl XLI, the Indianapolis Colts roster was picked over during free agency, and several players who played key roles in last year’s playoff run are gone. The Colts chose, however, to fill the vacancies that were created from within for the most part. In fact, the team had no noteworthy veteran additions at all.
In the draft they did pick a couple guys who will play key roles in Tony Ugoh, who is being pressed into starting duty at the critical left tackle position, and Anthony Gonzalez, who is expected to fill the No. 3 receiver role. If early preseason returns are any indications, Gonzalez, a smart receiver with great hands, should allow the Colts to revert back to more three-receiver sets this year.
NFL Draft Picks
1st Round - Anthony Gonzalez, WR Ohio State
2nd Round - Tony Ugoh, OT Arkansas
3rd Round - Daymeion Hughes, CB California
3rd Round - Quinn Pitcock, DT Ohio State
4th Round - Brannon Condren, S Troy State
4th Round - Clint Sessions, LB Pittsburgh
5th Round - Roy Hall, WR Ohio State
5th Round - Michael Coe, CB Alabama State
7th Round - Keyunta Dawson, DE Texas Tech
Who's Gone?
Tarik Glenn was on the downside of his career, and was probably no longer an elite left tackle, but his retirement hurts nonetheless, and it forces the team to give rookie Tony Ugoh a baptism by fire. Other offensive departures include wide receiver Brandon Stokley, who was waived after an injury-plagued 2006, and backup running back Dominic Rhodes, who signed with the Oakland Raiders.
The defensive side of the ball took a big hit as well with the losses of weakside linebacker Cato June and cornerbacks Nick Harper and Jason David, all three key starters for the Colts Super Bowl-winning squad.
Before the preseason even got under way, Indianapolis suffered a big loss at an already-thin defensive tackle position when 300-pound starter Booger McFarland injured his knee in a scrimmage earlier this month. The surprising emergence of undrafted rookie Ed Johnson out of Penn State could help soften the blow, but it will be tough to replace his experience.
What Needs to Change?
Other than finding an answer for McFarland’s absence, the Colts are pretty well set. They believe they can fill most of their defensive needs from within, but the question is, can they play at the level produced during last year’s playoffs. They can’t expect to be able to turn it on like that again in the post-season this year, so some of that improvement has to carry over to this season.
Under Pressure to Perform
Tony Ugoh - The rookie left tackle is being thrown into the fire prematurely because of Glenn’s retirement. Ugoh will be expected to protect the blind side of the NFL’s best quarterback, and the team’s fans will never forgive him if a rookie mistake allows Peyton Manning to get hurt. Charlie Johnson, although unspectacular, is probably capable of stepping in if Ugoh can’t get the job done consistently.
Dwight Freeney - After a down season in 2006, Freeney is looking to rebound and justify the huge contract extension he signed. The problem is, teams have learned to neutralize him somewhat by running right at him. With two new cornerbacks starting this year, both Freeney and Robert Mathis are going to have to keep pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
2006 Rankings
Overall Offense - 3rd (379.4)
Rushing Offense - 18th (110.1)
Passing Offense - 2nd (269.3)
Overall Defense - 21st (332.3)
Rushing Defense - 32nd (173.0)
Passing Defense - 2nd (159.3)
Prediction - With a core on offense that consists of Manning, Joseph Addai, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, and a veteran offensive line, they should remain among the league's highest scoring units. The question that needs to be answered is how well and how quickly can the new starters on defense step in and be effective?
Barring disastrous circumstances, the Colts will be in the playoffs again this season, but the competition is stiff at the top of the AFC and a return to the Super Bowl is far from a guarantee.
Record:12-4 and first in the AFC South