The Road to '09: Indianapolis Colts

1. What will be the effect of Tony Dungy’s retirement in Indy?

APFormer head coach Tony Dungy

Plenty of times in the media, the idea is thrown around that a new coach can come in and replace a guy like Dungy, who has a Super Bowl ring, and nothing will change — just because the new coach has been a part of the system.

But that’s just football talk, something to ease the transition between Dungy and new coach Jim Caldwell. We often forget that leadership — outstanding leadership — in this league is hard to come by. These are professional football players, and I can tell you from my own experience that they’re a tough sell when it comes to buying into coaching at this level.

In Indy’s case, I don’t have doubts about the veterans — the Peyton Mannings, Jeff Saturdays and others — but I do have concerns about the younger guys on the roster. Because Dungy was more than just a football coach in Indianapolis. There will be some effects as a result of his absence in training camp.

2. Who is going to fill Marvin Harrison’s role?

We all know that Harrison’s production dropped off last season and that he wasn’t the same explosive receiver who was almost a guarantee to make plays on third downs and in the red zone. But that doesn’t mean the Colt’s don’t have to find a valuable replacement – and in this case, it means finding someone who can replace 60 receptions, 636 yards and five touchdowns.

There are plenty of ways the Colts can go about solving this. One is to use TE Dallas Clark as a third WR, removing him from the formation in a double TE set and matching up against a nickel corner on third downs. But that limits Clark’s ability to win against a LB or a safety in the middle of the field — where he is almost unstoppable. We’ve heard the team likes WR Pierre Garcon to take over the No. 3 role, but his experience is lacking. We all understand that Manning can make receivers better — which he’s proved with Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez — but this is something to keep an eye on in August.

This offensive system needs a solid third option at WR.

3. Will Bob Sanders return to Pro Bowl form to lead the defense?

APBob Sanders

The bottom line with Sanders is and always will be his health. Sanders has missed 35 regular-season games since 2004. I agree that the Colts have some good depth at the safety position with Antoine Bethea, Melvin Bullitt and Matt Giordano, but I still believe that a healthy Sanders will enable this defense to play at a higher level in 2009.

Unfortunately for Sanders, it’s his style of play — an attacking style — that puts him in position to get injured, although that same style is the reason he’s so successful at this level, and the same reason he was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2005.

But he still has to find a way to stay on the field this season, because when you turn on the tape, this is a much more aggressive and intimidating defense when he’s flying to the football and delivering a physical blow at the point of impact.

4. Can the Colts establish a consistent running game?

We shouldn’t have to worry about Manning and the Colts’ vertical passing attack on first and second downs, but this is a team that struggles to run the ball in key situations.

APJoseph Addai

Our own Michael Lombardi did an excellent job detailing this today in the Diner Morning News -- that the Colts have to sell the idea that they’re good enough to move the ball on the ground so that Manning doesn’t check to the passing game at the line of scrimmage. I believe that the addition of rookie running back Donald Brown from UConn will help Manning buy into the idea that this team can become a more balanced attack on offense and can produce in the running game. Yes, Joseph Addai will most likely get the majority of the carries early in the season, but his ability to stay healthy is a concern, and Brown just might turn into the feature back of this football team.

Indy will never be a downhill, off-tackle football team in the run game, but it does need to establish some sort of confidence that it can run the ball effectively against the rest of the AFC South. It’s crucial to the team’s success.

5. Is the Colts’ window closing quickly?

This is something that has come front and center in the media with the departure of Dungy, as well as the news that longtime assistants Tom Moore and Howard Mudd will be back — but in reduced roles. Because of that, some experts questioning whether this team is on the downside of a long run that has produced a championship.

I still think the Colts are a dangerous football team, but the AFC South is not a one-man show anymore. Tennessee won the division for a reason in ’08, and both Houston and Jacksonville have improved enough to make a run at the division title. The Colts are definitely in a transition period when it comes to coaching, but it will still be up to the players — the veterans in particular — to take control of this team and manage the uncertainty that comes with a new head coach throughout the season.

This is still a football team to keep an eye on, but going ahead and punching their ticket to the playoffs is a thing of the past. There are no more guarantees in Indy.

The Draft

Our resident draft expert, Wes Bunting, breaks down some of the notable picks the Colts acquired last April.

APDonald Brown

Donald Brown RB Connecticut:

Brown gives the Colts a tough, physical runner who possess the ability to make plays in the pass game as well. He attacks the line of scrimmage, but at times will run up the backs of his linemen. However, he should have plenty of big holes to run through with the threat of the Colts’ passing attack.

Austin Collie WR Brigham Young

Collie is a natural receiver who catches the ball well and understands how to use his big frame to gain initial separation. He’s never going to run by NFL-caliber corners, but he’s a coordinated route runner who’s a perfect fit in the Colts’ precise passing attack.

Terrance Taylor DT Michigan

Indianapolis desperately needed to add more girth to the interior of its defensive line, and Taylor is the perfect fit. He’s a bit of a plugger who struggles making plays away from his frame, but he’s tough to move off the ball and should be able to help anchor the Colts’ D-line at the point of attack.

Next: Houston Texans

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