Off-season Preview: Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts "To-Do" List

Owner, Jim Irsay is surely scratching his head right now pondering such questions as; Wow, is Peyton Manning really that good?   Was he making the receiving corps look like pro bowlers?  Did he really mask the defensive deficiencies that well?Is the secondary that pitiful?  Did the front office that many roster moves? 

All questions you were probably asking while watching the Colts get off to a 0-13 start.  Indianapolis did earn (and by earn, I mean played to horrible) the number one pick in April's 2012 NFL Draft.  

This will be an off-season of change in Indy.  It appears that Jim Caldwell will stick around for another year.  However, Vice Chairman Bill Polian and General Manager Chris Polian were fired in the wake of the worst season since 1991.  So, first order of business will be to find someone to run the day-to-day operations for Indianapolis.
  

Back to the first overall pick the upcoming draft...  What do you do with it?  The health of Peyton Manning could weight heavily on that decision.  Manning is due $28 million next year, which will be guaranteed if he's still on the roster March 8th.  Do you take a quarterback like Andrew Luck, and part ways with the face of your franchise?  Do you trade the pick and get another QB in free agency or later in the draft?  Or do you draft Andrew Luck and keep him as Manning's under-study?  I have a feeling it will be the latter, if Manning's health isn't an issue.  Although, ESPN will talk Manning/Luck to death until September, there are important issues for the Colts:

Re-signing key free agents: Two starting WRs (Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon) will be unrestricted free agents.  Their rock on the offensive line, Center Jeff Saturday and speedy Defensive End Robert Mathis are key free agents as well.  

Defensive Philosophy Changes: In 2012, Indianapolis used more man-to-man coverages than they did in recent years.  The problem was they didn't have the talent in the secondary to go with man coverage.  If they want to find a new defensive coordinator and/or philosophy, they need to draft and sign players who are suitable for that style.  Expect a "defense-heavy" draft.

Overall Depth of Roster: If Peyton's health did nothing else, it illustrated the necessity of solid depth in the NFL.  You won't get away with have twenty two good players.  Injuries will happen.  Also, the league uses so many sub packages and personnel groupings that you almost literally have fifteen starters on each side of the ball.  I don't advise a roster filled with rookies, so they need to be aggressive in free agency if possible.

Coaching Hires: Two coaches that have not been talked about enough are (ex-Offensive Coordinator) Tom Moore and (ex-Offensive Line Coach) Howard Mudd.  The pre-snap reads and audibles that every NFL quarterback is doing now is a result of the success the Colts' offense had under Moore and Mudd.  Remember, it was not long ago that Indy was thought to have one of the best offensive lines in the league.  If Indianapolis is to regain form sooner, as opposed to later, the coaching staff will play an equally important role compared to the front office.

Final Thoughts

2012 is going to be a busy off-season for Indianpolis.  And perhaps, a more challenging regular season than 2011 in many ways.  If success is to come quickly, there will need to be slew of "correct" decisions made starting with owner Jim Irsay's hire for General Manager, and followed by their decision(s) at quarterback.