Indianapolis Colts Lose a Key Part of the Team

The Indianapolis Colts will have a new challenge to face this year.  They have lost a key member of the team.  And while this team member never put on a Colts uniform, helmet, or shoulder pads, he has, nevertheless, been vital to the Colts success.

I speak of long time offensive line coach Howard Mudd.  Coach Mudd retired at the conclusion of last season.  And for the first time in 12 years, someone else will guide the line that protects Peyton Manning.  But what will that mean for the Colts' future success?

It's no secret that one of the biggest reasons Peyton Manning has been able to put up such huge numbers during his career is because he has had outstanding offensive line protection.  In fact, I would say that the play of the offensive line has been the biggest reason for Manning's success.

Peyton Manning is undoubtedly a great player, but his strength's don't include getting outside the tackles and creating his own offense.  He is a pocket passer.  Tom Brady is very similar to Manning is his need for line protection in order to be successful.  If either Manning or Brady really get pressured, they tend to get "happy feet," which usually results in bad things for their teams.

All one needs to do is to look back at the Colts' key losses, particularly playoff losses, in order to see the great importance of the offensive line to Manning.  And now, the man who guided and mentored that offensive line is gone.

There are those who will argue that Peyton Manning and Tom Brady get rid of the ball quickly.  But that is one of those generic statements that people say without really having facts to back it up.  If one were to actually time how long Manning holds onto the football, I don't think they'd see any real disparity between him and any other good quarterback. 

In fact, Tom Brady sometimes holds onto the ball for what seems an eternity.  Brady's line has given him such good protection that commentators joke about him sitting back in the pocket like someone rocking in a rocking chair.  Any good quarterback will have success given that kind of time to throw the football. 

Peyton Manning has enjoyed similarly great line protection.  He has been sacked very few times in the past.  And for the Colts to win, Manning will need to receive great protection in the future.

Many fans will say that the players should be able to continue the success they've had with or without Mudd.  But I would argue that the difference between a great offensive line and a mediocre one can be summed up in one word: cohesion.

Great lines work as one cohesive unit.  They understand their own assignments and how their assignments relate to their teammates assignments.  They know that the man next to them has their back and they will also protect his.  They feel so prepared that they fully intend to dominate their opponent.

This is how the offensive line has functioned under Coach Mudd.  He has been able to mold them into that cohesive unit.  The Colts haven't necessarily had players on their offensive line that were, somehow, magically superior to all other team's players.  But instead, they've been so dominant because they learned to work as a superior unit.

So what happens now?  This will be an interesting year to watch the Colts.  After last season's Super Bowl loss, the only way to have a really successful season will be to get back to the Super Bowl again.  But the loss of Howard Mudd may prove too big of an obstacle for the Colts to make it back to the big game.