Indianapolis Colts: 4 Keys to the 2011 Season

Last season, the Indianapolis Colts made it through one the most tumultuous seasons in recent franchise history. The team suffered several injuries to key players and failed to win 12 games in a season for the first time since 2002.

The Colts did still manage to win the AFC South division crown for the seventh time in eight years, but lost on a last-second field goal in their AFC Wild Card game against the New York Jets.

This season, the the team will be entering the regular season with an injury to a player who is unquestionably the most valuable on the team.

Prognosticators from across the country foresee a changing of the guard in the AFC South, but here are a few keys to the Colts' season that will allow them to reign supreme for at least one more year.

A Healthy Peyton Manning

Without Peyton Manning, this Colts team does not stand a chance—no other player is as valuable to their team as Peyton is.

Manning has yet to play in a single preseason game, and it has gotten to the point now where his timing will likely be off.

The team signed recently-retired Kerry Collins to help alleviate the situation, but the offense was created for Manning. The last time he missed all four of the team's preseason games was in 2008; he won his third MVP award, throwing for 4,002 yards and 27 TDs.

As long as Manning misses just one game maximum and is able to get his timing, pocket presence and conditioning up to his usual level, Indianapolis will always be a Super Bowl threat. 

Running Game Must Show Improvement

Manning has never missed a game due to injury in his NFL career, but even when he is healthy, the Colts are not a skilled running offense. Over the last three seasons, the Colts have finished 31st, 32nd and 29th overall in rushing offense. 

The Colts hope to improve in this area, but don't appear to have done anything to improve the situation since they have brought back the same committee of backs and will be fielding an aging offensive line that appears unsettled to this point.

"In the red zone, our running game has been pretty strong, about sixth in the league (3.0-yard average)," head coach Jim Caldwell said in a Sporting News Magazine interview. "We have to have that same type of efficiency out in the field. What that will do is help us overall in terms of balance of our offense. We won't have to depend upon the passing game nearly as much."

The team absolutely must do these things to help assuage the situation with the now-35-year-old Manning getting his first football action during the season.

Offensive Line Needs to Gel

The Colts' offensive line has been tough to beat in pass protection season after season for a few years now. There have been changes to the line each of the past couple of years, but this year the line is looking to make some considerable adjustments.

Jeff Saturday will remain the key cog to the line and appears to be the only starter playing at the same position as the year before. Former tackle Ryan Diem is being moved inside to right guard, while first-round pick Anthony Castonzo is expected to be the starting left tackle.

Joe Reitz is set to be the starting left guard, and Jeff Linkenbach at right tackle. How quickly these guys can come together and get used to adjusting to Manning's audibles at the line of scrimmage are vital to the success of Indianapolis' season. 

Defense Becomes More Stout

Defensive coordinator Larry Coyer continues to try to add bulk to the Colts' defense and transition them away from being a Cover 2 defense. Throughout the offseason, the team has added Tyler Brayton (6'6", 280 lbs), Jamaal Anderson (6'6", 289 lbs) and Tommie Harris (6'3", 295 lbs) to the defensive line.

None of the three are starting material, but they all add bulk to a defensive line rotation that must handle run-heavy offenses better than in the pass. The team also drafted defensive tackle Drake Nevis, who brings more size behind Antonio Johnson and Fili Moala.

With Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney on the team, the Colts will always have an imposing pass-rush duo. This should help Coyer in taking the team away from being a Cover 2 scheme.

Perhaps more than any other year, the Colts' defense needs to take a step forward in 2011.