2009 Colts Preview: One Last Gasp?

AFC SOUTH
1. Indianapolis Colts
Projected Record: 12-4

Offense: A
Defense: B
Coaching: INC

What's new: The Colts, one of the NFL’s best models of consistency, will be breaking in a rookie coach following the retirement of Tony Dungy. Jim Caldwell is now the head man. It will be interesting to see how the longtime Colts assistant steps in. If this story is any indication, it’s not going all that well.

What’s good: Despite the loss of Dungy, and the loss of longtime receiver Marvin Harrison, these are still the same old Colts. Peyton Manning is still here. So are Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. Odds are Anthony Gonzalez will step up in the hole left by Harrison. The o-line is still very good. Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Bob Sanders and Antoine Bethea are still impact players defensively. The key will be keeping everyone healthy.


Without his favorite coach, how long can Peyton Manning keep leading the Colts to the playoffs?

What’s bad: While the o-line is still one of the best in the league, its performance has slowly declined in the past two seasons. Is it a mere blip on the screen, or a serious issue of age and injury conspiring against the unit? This season will tell. Other than that, the only obvious weaknesses in Indy are the linebackers. Gary Brackett is above average, but Clint Session and Phillip Wheeler don’t do much for the defense.

What to expect: Yes, the window of opportunity is rapidly closing on this team. But it’s still open for 2009. This is still a team that should be good enough to reclaim the division title from Tennessee if they stay healthy. Heck, they are probably the favorites to knock off Pittsburgh in the AFC and still have to be at the beginning of any conversation on championship contenders. Remember, even with all their problems last season, they still finished 12-4 and were only a game behind the Titans. However, should the Colts suffer injuries like last season, they will be hard-pressed to make the playoffs. They simply don’t have the depth they once did and Dungy won’t be there to rescue them.