2013 NFL Preview: Indianapolis Colts
Added on Jul 25, 2013 by Scott in
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Life without Peyton Manning was a-okay for the Colts in 2012. Of course that was due in large part to new franchise quarterback Andrew Luck, who more than lived up to expectations by leading his team to an 11-5 record and a Wildcard berth in the playoffs. The result of their surprising season is even loftier expectations in 2013, which may prove difficult to meet.
Indianapolis Colts – For the Colts to match or exceed last year’s heroics, two things must happen: 1) the defense has to improve across the board, and 2) the offense has to become more balanced. Ricky Jean Francois, Erik Walden and Greg Toler don’t inspire visions of Lombardi Trophies, but each will have a chance to contribute on a defense that lacks dominant players. Luck accounted for 23 turnovers as a rookie and those stats could’ve been much worse if not for dropped interceptions.
Player in the spotlight: Ahmad Bradshaw – The good news is Bradshaw brings toughness and Super Bowl experience to a thin backfield. The bad news is he’s still recovering from foot surgery and is currently on the preseason PUP List. Vick Ballard was decent as a rookie, but he lacks Bradshaw’s nose for the endzone. If the Colts can get 12 healthy games from the ex-Giant, Luck and the passing game will benefit greatly.
Trouble spot: Pass rush – Dwight Freeney is gone and Robert Mathis is 32. Who will get to the quarterback? Rookie first-round pick Bjoern Werner is talented, but he might not be ready to make an impact in his first season. This leaves a bunch of unknowns and untested players to pick up the slack. Jerrell Freeman has upside and Walden could blossom in an expanded role.
Fearless forecast – Relying on miraculous comebacks against a much tougher schedule isn’t a recipe for success. Luck’s fourth quarter wizardry masked a lot of weaknesses. Odds dictate that unless the defense starts stopping opposing offenses, the win total will decrease. 8-8 won’t please the fanbase, but it might be the best record this roster can muster.
