Colts Looking To Get Back To Playoff Prominence

Anytime Peyton Manning lines up behind center you have to feel comfortable with the Colts ability to make a lengthy playoff run. But with tough foes in the Division such as defending champs Tennessee and up and coming Houston, a wild card birth may be the Colts most realistic expectation in 2009.

The Colts wasted little time adding depth to the offense in acquiring Connecticut running back Donald Brown with their first round draft choice. A slashing runner and talented receiver out of the backfield, Brown looks to fill the void left with Dominic Rhoades leaving Indianapolis again in free agency.

The main question entering the season facing the Colts offense is how they plan to attack opposing defenses. Gijon Robinson proved is very effective late in the season.

Knowing this the Colts may plan to go back to a double tight end attack that proved to be very effective back in the Marcus Pollard days. Anthony Gonzalez will shoulder the duties at the team’s #2 receiver moving from the slot.

If the Colts decide to stay with their slot attack look for Dallas Clark in the slot instead of a #3 receiver. Jeff Saturday is healthy and looks to lead the line again in 2009 at Center.

The Colts have good depth at line if able to stay healthy, something they struggled doing a year ago. Still with all the injuries the patched up Offensive line still managed to only give up 14 sacks on the season.

Possibly the toughest questions to answer entering the 2009 season is on the Defensive side of the ball. First can the Colts stay healthy? Secondly will they be able to stop the run?

The Colts were ranked 24^th in the league last season against the run giving up 123 yards a game.  Trying to add depth to the defensive line the Colts used their second round pick on Fili Moala, a defensive tackle out of USC.

Moala will be a likely candidate to start right away. The toughest question of all is can the Colts stay healthy.

The 2007 defensive player of the year Bob Sanders missed ten games last year alone. Secondary mate Marlin Jackson missed nine and defensive captain Gary Brackett missed four. Staying healthy will be the key ingredient for the Colts to have a chance of another deep run into 2010.

With the non-conference schedule looking relatively easy a playoff birth is almost a definite if the Colts can stay healthy. The Colts play the entire NFC west division in a span of six weeks almost ensuring at least three wins.

The toughest stretch for the Colts will come in mid-November when they host the Patriots, game on the road to face Baltimore and Houston, and then return home to face the Titans. Again, if the Colts can stay healthy, somehow play defense as they did in their title run in 2006, they always have a chance of making it to Miami. That is as long as Peyton Manning is behind center.