his coming Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts will kick off season number 29 here in the Circle City, hosting the Oakland Raiders. After last year’s surprising 11-5 season and a 1 and out in the playoffs, the Horseshoe can’t count on that element of surprise to help them over the hump this season. Their rivals in the AFC South, the Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, and Jacksonville Jaguars are now fully aware of what the Colts can do and will certainly be gunning for them. The Big Blue has a tougher schedule to contend with this season with the Broncos, Bengals, 49ers, Seahawks and other contending teams in the lineup. This Sunday’s contest with Oakland should be a win for our guys but anything can happen.
Head coach Chuck Pagano is back, healthy and roaming the sidelines. Last year’s interim head coach Bill Arians is now the head man in Arizona with the Cardinals. Arians was also the offensive coordinator last season and took a lot of credit for developing Andrew Luck. Pep Hamilton is the new offensive coordinator and was at Stanford University in that capacity when Luck, tight end Coby Fleenor, and wideout Griff Whalen were playing with the Cardinals. It looks like the Colts will be running a “West Coast” style offense that uses short horizontal passing routes instead of a running offense to open up opposing defenses. Wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey,
fullback Stanley Havilli, and running back Ahmad Bradshaw have been brought in to give Andrew Luck a few more weapons and add a little more punch to the offense. Bradshaw spent most of the preseason nursing a post operative foot, but he is supposed to be playing this Sunday. Havilli has shown blocking and receiving skills in preseason and looks to be a valuable addition to the backfield. Heyward-Bey gives Luck a third option at wide receiver. Speaking of wide receiver, second year man T.Y. Hilton looks poised for a Pro Bowl season. Second year running back Vic Ballard is expected to improve on his team-leading 814 yards rushing from last year. The hope is that the offensive line can stay healthy this season and do a better job of protecting Number 12.
The Colts cut their roster to 53 players over last weekend but added three more players this week. Jack Doyle a tight end from the Titans, Da’Rick Rogers from Buffalo, a wideout added to the practice squad, and Cam Johnson, a pass rushing linebacker from the 49ers. Rogers has run into drug problems but says he is now clean. Tight end Justice Cunningham, this year’s “Mr. Irrelevant” was waived to make room for Johnson.
The defense got some much needed help in free agency with cornerback Greg Toler from Arizona added, along with Pro Bowl safety LaRon Landry from the Jets, and Ricky Jean Francois from the 49ers adding some crunch to the “D”. Tolar has had a big preseason. Last year free agent linebacker Jerrell Freeman had a really great year for the Horse defense. This year it’s hoped that Caesar Rayford is the free agent find in the linebacking corps. Rayford is 27 years old and is 6’ 7” and 267 pounds. Rayford led the team with 5 preseason sacks and if he can continue that kind of production in the regular season he could become the next Dwight Freeney. Rayford attended the University of Washington. Rayford has played in both the Arena and Canadian leagues. He could be Coach Pagano’s big find this year. The Colts don’t have a top six defense, but the one they have this season is much improved over last year’s defense.
Finally, there is an argument going on about Luck and the Colts and how they will finish. Many experts say that last years Colts team was a fluke and the Colts will be brought back down to earth with a 7-9 or 8-8 season and no playoff berth. Well, I predict a 10-6 or 11-5 season with a trip to the playoffs. Luck is the real thing and uplifts his teammates. He is ready to be one of the all-time greats.
The Colts have challenges on the offensive line and special teams, but their coaching staff and solid drafting will help them overcome any problems that will come up during the season. GO BIG BLUE!!!!
snicewanger@yahoo.com