The Colts aren't contenders anymore, but I still think they will edge out the Texans and win the AFC South. Although the Texans got much better in the secondary with the additions of stalwarts Jonathan Joseph and Danieal Manning; I don't think their defense has the right personnel to successfully run the 3-4. I also think the Colts' offense is far more consistent and more potent. Even though the Colts don't have a dynamic back like Arian Foster, Joseph Addai is a more than capable player.

I don't think I even need to talk about the Colts' at quarterback. Peyton Manning is a beast, and he's going to play every game this season. If he somehow doesn't; then Curtis- well, we don't need to talk about that either.

I love the receiving weapons around Peyton because they are so diverse. Reggie Wayne is one of the best five receivers in the NFL, Pierre Garcon is a nice deep threat, Austin Collie is the best receiver out there at catching, and Blair White is a nice fourth option. We all know that Peyton loves to use his mind to create mismatches. Well, he's got two of the best receiving tight ends in the NFL to use to confuse and over-match defenses.

As far as the running game goes, the Colts need Addai to be healthy. He's really the only thing they have at running back, and he is a very underrated player. People are writing him off, but Addai is one of the top 20 backs in the league right now. Donald Brown and Mike Hart, on the other hand, are two liabilities in the running game. I've basically given up on Brown as a starting-caliber running back- or even a decent number two- in this league.

The offensive line, however, is a mess. Manning helps mitigate the concerns on the line, but the front office certainly knows how bad the guys blocking for Manning are. I should have said "the guys blocking for Addai", because it is Addai who suffers the most from the incompetent blocking up front.

Anyway, the Colts drafted Anthony Castonzo and Ben Ijalana, and they are both starters on the left side of the line. They both look like decent players, but they only good player on this line is veteran center Jeff Saturday. The other two starters, Mike Pollak and Ryan Diem, are liabilities.

The other line has improved from last season, and there's no doubting who the two most dangerous players on that line are. Newly signed backup end Jamaal Anderson has the versatility to play inside, as does backup end Eric Foster. Antonio Johnson, Fili Moala, rookie Drake Nevis, and recent signing Tommie Harris will get snaps at defensive tackle. Harris's career went on a strange decline, and it will be interesting to see how he does in Indy.

Clint Session moved on and is now playing with the Jags- I have no clue why they played only an average LB that much. It doesn't really matter much to the Colts, because they're already solid at the position. They signed Ernie Sims, but he's a subpar player who is worse than Session. He was terrible last year with the Eagles, but he is a legitimate downhill run-stuffer.

Gary Brackett is a leader on defense and a fixture at MLB. Young, speedy linebackers Pat Angerer and Philip Wheeler will both get significant playing time on the outside.

The Colts only have one corner that I like, and that's nickel corner Justin Tyron. He's a solid player who is their best player in coverage. Jerraud Powers is physical and can make plays, but he's a liability in coverage. I'm not a fan of Jacob Lacey, or really any other corner on this roster for that matter. I think the Colts are really going to struggle to hold down the opposition, because this defense just doesn't look that good.

Melvin Bullitt is a solid player who can hit and make tackles, but he can't cover all that well. Antoine Bethea is one of the best safeties in the NFL, and he is far and away the best player in this terrible Colts' secondary. Although he does have lapses in coverage, he can actually cover and makes a ton of plays. Bethea makes mistakes, but he is a difference-maker on defense.

As always, the Colts are going to score points, but they will also give up their fair share of points. And as always, their offense will score enough points for them to be a playoff team. The Colts aren't what they used to be, but they are still a good team with a high-powered offense.

Can he turn up the heat?

Vote

Comments (1)

Add Comments

Email this Post to a Friend

3/2011: NFL Safety Rankings

March 10th 2011 15:58

1. Troy Polamalu- Do I even have to explain his impact?
2. Quintin Mikell- He is one of the most underrated players in the league. Mikell doesn't get appreciated much, and he is the best coverage safety in the league who also plays some nice run support D. Reed gets the picks, but Mikell is the true star in coverage.
3. Ed Reed- A pick machine.
4. Nick Collins- A big playmaker who showed it in the Super Bowl.
5. LaRon Landry- Did you see this guy at the beginning of 2010? Expect more big things with Atogwe next to him.

6. Antoine Bethea- Remember when Bethea was more than just a tackle-machine?
7. Adrian Wilson- He'll bounce back in 2011. He's still too good to not improve from last year.
8. Michael Huff- I can't wait to see what he achieves next year after building on an amazing 2010.
9. Eric Weddle- The Chargers really need to lock this guy up.
10. DaWan Landry- He may be poor in coverage, but boy does he make plays and tackle well.

11. Chris Harris- One of the best leaders and most underrated players in the game.
12. Jim Leonhard- He showed his importance after the Jets' secondary really took a step back when he went on the IR.
13. Eric Berry- This guy is a stud and another one of Pioli's great picks.
14. Tyvon Branch- He was game last year with Huff. Man can he disrupt plays behind in the line of scrimmage.
15. Kerry Rhodes- I love his run D. He was underpaid and under-appreciated by the Jets, and he has shown just how good he is with the Cardinals.

16. Roman Harper- I know he sucks in coverage, but he is the best pass rushing safety in the league and can hit like heck.
17. Dashon Goldson- He oozes raw ability.
18. Donte Whitner- A real prize in free agency.
19. Bernard Pollard- It's not his fault that the Texans' secondary is bad.
20. Thomas DeCoud- He was one of the most improved players last season.

21. Michael Griffin- He would be much, much higher if he stopped making an excusable number of whiffed tackles.
22. OJ Atogwe
23. Malcolm Jenkins
24. Ryan Clark
25. Jairus Byrd
26. Gerald Sensabaugh
27. Charlie Peprah
28. Yeremiah Bell
29. Earl Thomas
30. Charles Godfrey
31. Sean Jones
32. Danieal Manning
33. Antrel Rolle
34. Louis Delmas
35. TJ Ward
36. Sherrod Martin
37. Deon Grant
38. Chris Hope
39. George Wilson
40. Nate Allen