INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
2009 RECORD: 14-2-0
(1st in AFC South)
HEAD COACH: Jim Caldwell
Key Additions: OL Adam Terry (FA/Baltimore), OL Andy Alleman (FA/Kansas City)
Key Losses: QB Jim Sorgi (FA/NY Giants), DE Raheem Brock (FA), CB Marlin Jackson (FA/Philadelphia), DT Ed Johnson (FA/Carolina), CB Tim Jennings (FA/Chicago)
Offense: Peyton Manning continues to hum along (4,500 yards passing in '09 with 33 TD passes and 16 interceptions) and will be back for his 13th season.
With two new primary targets last season, the Colts offense didn't miss a beat as Pierre Garcon (47 catches for 765 yards and four TD) and Austin Collie (60 catches, 676 yards and seven TD) stepped in to compliment Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark, who each made 100 catches and had 10 touchdowns in 2009.
The running game features Joseph Addai, who gained 828 yards and scored 10 TD while also catching 51 passes, including three for touchdowns. Donald Brown is the backup and rushed for 281 yards and scored three times.
The offensive line has Jeff Saturday at center, Andy Alleman and Mike Pollak at guard and Charlie Johnson and Ryan Diem at the tackle spots. These guys do a great job protecting Manning, as he was sacked just 11 times last season.
Defense: Led by Defensive Ends Dwight Freeney (13.5 QB sacks) and Robert Mathis (9.5 sacks), the Colts are solid up front and can get after opposing quarterbacks. The tackles are Antonio Johnson and Dan Muir.
The linebackers are Gary Brackett in the middle and outside are Philip Wheeler and Clint Session.
The secondary has Kelvin Hayden and Jerraud Powers at the corners and the safeties are Antoine Bethea and Bob Sanders, provided he can stay healthy.
Sanders, who was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year three years ago, played in only two games in 2009 and with him back healthy, the entire defense seems to play better.
Indianapolis ranked in the middle of the pack last season, allowing 339 yards per game, including 127 yards per game on the ground.
OUTLOOK: The Colts made it back to the Super Bowl last season for the second time in four years, falling short against New Orleans this time around.
With Manning at the controls, the offense will continue to move the football, particularly through the air, where they ranked number-two in the NFL with 282 yards per game.
The running attack must step it up as the Colts averaged 81 yards per game on the ground, which ranked dead last in the league. That has to improve in order for the team to get back to the Super Bowl.
Defensively, the Colts should have a better run defense with Sanders back healthy this season.
The evidence of Sanders' impact on the defense is very indicative with the run defense. In 2006, when Sanders returned to the Colts defense, opposing running games struggled after running all over the team without Sanders on the field.
Head Coach Jim Caldwell had the team at 14-0 last year before deciding to "rest" the starters in the second half of a late season game against the New York Jets. That choice cost the Colts the game and they finished 14-2 and did make it to the Super Bowl, but the defense let up too many points in the second half against the Saints and they fell short.
Don't look for the Colts to do that again (go 14-0 before losing a game) in 2010 as they won half of their 14 games by seven or fewer points.
If they get the breaks again in 2010 as they did last season, 13 or 14 wins is possible, but the call this season is for the Colts to go 12-4 and with a healthy Sanders playing on the defense heading into the post-season, possibly another Super Bowl appearance.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- at Houston
Week 2- vs. NY Giants
Week 3- at Denver
Week 4- at Jacksonville
Week 5- vs. Kansas City
Week 6- at Washington
Week 7- Bye Week
Week 8- vs. Houston
Week 9- at Philadelphia
Week 10- vs. Cincinnati
Week 11- at New England
Week 12- vs. San Diego
Week 13- vs. Dallas
Week 14- at Tennessee
Week 15- vs. Jacksonville
Week 16- at Oakland
Week 17- vs. Tennessee
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