Indianapolis Colts: Jerraud Powers and the 7 Players Who Have to Step Up in 2011

With Peyton Manning leading the way, the Indianapolis Colts are almost always considered contenders to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. As Colts fans have learned quite a bit since the Manning era began, however, he can't do it alone, especially in the playoffs. There are several players who need to step up and make an impact in 2011 for the Colts to reach the Super Bowl.

Last season was full of ups and downs for Colts fans. Through seven games, the Colts were 5-2 and appeared to be cruising to another playoff berth in the weak AFC South. A span of five games, albeit against tough opponents, saw the Colts go 1-4 to fall to 6-6.

A big victory on Thursday Night Football against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field followed by an equally important win over the Jacksonville Jaguars put the Colts back in control of their own destiny at 8-6. The Colts finished the season by defeating the Oakland Raiders and the Titans (again), to finish the season at 10-6.

A loss to the New York Jets in the Wild Card Round was disappointing for Colts supporters, but not shocking, considering the Colts hadn't beaten a high-quality opponent since week two.

If the Colts plan on making a deeper run in the playoffs this season, several role players will need to make their presence felt. Which ones? Here is a list of the seven key pieces to the Colts championship puzzle.

RB Donald Brown

Starter Joseph Addai missed half of last season due to injury, leaving the door open for Donald Brown to take the job and run with it. Instead, his less than inspiring performances led the Colts to give Mike Hart and Javarris James extra carries while also bringing back Dominic Rhodes.

Brown's first two seasons in the league have been a major disappointment after the Colts used a first-round pick to select the Connecticut running back in 2009. He has scored just five touchdowns and his 3.8 yards per carry isn't nearly good enough to be a full-time starter in the NFL.

Entering his third season, it will likely be make-or-break it time for Brown. He isn't highly agile and doesn't have explosive speed. He relies on his vision to find holes, but his lack of acceleration through the hole has led to quite a few runs for no yardage in his career.

The Colts' front office spent a high draft pick on Brown, so they are going to give him another season to prove his worth before they consider cutting ties. That said, if he doesn't show improvement early in the season, he'll likely get buried on the depth chart before being let go in the offseason.

OT Anthony Castonzo

Selected with the 22nd overall pick in this season's NFL Draft, Anthony Castonzo will be expected to step right in and help an offensive line that has struggled in the run game in recent seasons. It is unclear whether Castonzo will be asked to immediately slide into the ever-important left tackle position, or if the Colts will start him at right tackle first, so he can get his feet wet.

Castonzo was on the First Team All-ACC squad in his final two seasons with the Boston College Eagles. He was considered the top available offensive tackle by a couple of outlets, but was picked after fellow tackles Tyron Smith and Nate Solder.

For most NFL teams, plugging a rookie offensive lineman into the starting lineup isn't a major project. It's a different story for the Peyton Manning-led Colts offense. The “King of Audibles” makes it much tougher for a collegiate lineman to step in and make an immediate positive impact.

Jeff Saturday will take Castonzo under his wing and make sure he is ready for week one, but once the lockout officially ends Castonzo's head will be spinning as the Colts pack all of the needed information into his head. As with all offensive linemen, the less you hear his name during the game, the better.

DE Jerry Hughes

It would be tough to consider any first-round pick a bust after just one season, but Jerry Hughes was thoroughly unimpressive in his rookie season after being selected with the 31st pick. The front office said continually last season that they hadn't lost faith in Hughes, but his usage on the field sent a different message.

A great example of Hughes' ineffectiveness was trying to find a picture for this slide. The two choices were him being deked out of his jock by Carson Palmer or him running down the field on special teams. Not exactly the type of production you're looking for from your first pick.

Hughes finished the season with six tackles and no sacks. He spent most of the season of special teams and looked completely outmatched when used as a defensive end. Being mentored by Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis should have a positive influence on Hughes' game, but judging by his performance last season, his game needs a lot of work.

Freeney and Mathis are both high-motor players that give 100 percent every snap in an attempt to get to the quarterback. However, that means by the time the playoffs roll around neither of them is at full health. Hughes will need to become an effective third pass rushing option if the Colts defense is going to hold down the fort in the playoffs.

DT Fili Moala

The Indianapolis Colts' run defense has been a problem for as long as most Colts fans can remember. The story wasn't any different last season. The Colts gave up 127 yards per game on the ground, which ranked as the eighth-worst in the league. They allowed 4.6 yards per carry (sixth-worst) and gave up 111 first downs via the rushing game (seventh-worst).

Fili Moala gets listed because he was the least productive of the Colts' four main defensive tackles, but Antonio Johnson, Eric Foster or Daniel Muir could have easily been the face of this slide. The good news is that it appears the Colts are starting to bulk up on the defensive interior in an attempt to solve the run stopping woes.

Moala had 26 tackles last season while playing in all 16 games. He was used sparingly in his rookie season after being selected in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. At 6'4'', 303 pounds, Moala represents that change in style for Colts defense tackles.

Although Moala did show improvement as his playing time increased, the statistics say he and his fellow run stoppers weren't as successful as they needed to be last season. The main focus of the Colts defensive line is third downs.

Whether it be aggressively rushing the passer on third-and-long, or in Moala's case, stuffing the run on third-and-short, getting off the field and give Peyton Manning the ball is the key to success for the Colts in 2011.

LB Pat Angerer

Pat Angerer was a pleasant surprise for the Colts defense last season. He totaled 89 tackles, good for second on the team, and one sack while playing on defense and special teams. He also proved capable of playing the middle linebacker position while filling in for the injured Gary Brackett four times last season.

Angerer was selected late in the second round of last year's NFL Draft and the Colts didn't expect him to get much playing time on defense in his rookie season. Brackett's injury and inconsistent play from the other linebackers in the rotation opened the door for Angerer and he flourished.

He isn't a tremendous athlete and he did get exposed in coverage on a couple occasions, but his performance as a whole was more than acceptable for a rookie. He is a sure-tackler that understands how to orchestrate a defense and the Colts can't ask for much more than that.

The Colts are hoping that Angerer can avoid the dreaded sophomore slump that has caused many second-year players to struggle, even after successful rookie campaigns. Although nobody is certain which linebacker position Angerer will fill in 2011, he will definitely be a starter.

CB Kelvin Hayden

Kelvin Hayden missed the final five games of the regular season as well as the playoff loss to the New York Jets due to a neck injury. He was sorely missed as Mark Sanchez converted third downs with ease against the Colts' loose coverage.

Hayden reached his peak in 2007 when he made 83 tackles and had three interceptions. After another productive, but injury-shortened season in 2008, the Colts gave Hayden a five-year, $43 million dollar extension.

Since the extension, Hayden has missed seven and five games over the past two season respectively. He has just three interceptions over that time span. In all, Hayden has missed 18 games over the past three seasons after missing just one game in the first three seasons of his career.

The Colts used a frustrating coverage scheme for much of last season that saw the cornerbacks giving opposing wide receivers a huge cushion. Hopefully Hayden and Jerraud Powers both effectively return from their respective injuries in 2011 and the Colts can stop giving up so many easy first downs through the air.

CB Jerraud Powers

Jerraud Powers was in the middle of an impressive second season before fracturing his forearm in week 13 and landing on the injured reserve. He avoided the sophomore slump and looked like the Colts best cornerback for most of the 10 games he played.

After drafting Powers out of Auburn in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft, the Colts put him right into the fire as he played 12 games in his rookie season. Powers proved he could handle the job, making 66 tackles and intercepting one pass.

His improvement continued into his second year, with 53 tackles and two picks before getting injured against the Dallas Cowboys. There were periods of time last season that Powers showed lock-down cornerback abilities.

All reports say that Powers arm is completely healed and should be ready for the beginning of the season, whenever that may be. If Powers can shake off any rust that might have developed and continue his ascent toward becoming an elite cover man, the Colts defense will be in much better shape than last season.