Indianapolis Colts 2005 season preview
 |
The Colts are poised to top last year's amazing offensive accomplishments. Except for tight end Marcus Pollard, Peyton Manning has all his offensive skilled players back. Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley each had 1,000-yard seasons, and Manning isn't going to stop throwing to them. The Colts need a big year from tight end Dallas Clark, who had only 25 catches last year but figures to double that total this season. Edgerrin James is playing for a free-agent contract next year and hopes to top his 1,548-yard season of 2004. Manning is more focused than ever to get this team past the New England Patriots and try to make a run to the Super Bowl.
On defense, the Colts might not be better in their starting 11, but they are deeper. Their game is quickness, not size. The Colts have plenty of players along the defensive line to rush the passer when they are ahead -- Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and developing young players Vincent "Sweet Pea'' Burns and Jonathan Welsh. Gary Brackett, listed at 5-11, might be short at middle linebacker, but he has range and he makes plays.
The biggest improvement is in the secondary. Rookie Marlin Jackson has a decent chance of starting along with either Nick Harper or Donald Strickland. Jason Davis developed into a solid inside cover guy at corner. At safety, the Colts have rising star Bob Sanders, Joseph Jefferson, Gerome Sapp and Mike Doss. The Colts' plan is to come out and score 10 points on team's in the first couple of possessions. That makes life easier for the defense.
The Big Question?
It all comes down to defense again for the Colts. Can they get one series better? That's all they need to do to make a Super Bowl run this season. They just need to take one more series away from opposing teams to give their offense another shot or two to put points on the board.
Sleeper: Dallas Clark, TE
With Marcus Pollard departed to Denver, the door is wide open for Clark to step in and become a more integral part of the Indianapolis passing game. With Brandon Stokley hurting, Clark might be needed even more during the early part of the season to catch important passes on third downs.
Bust: Cato June, OLB
If you play in an individual defender league, be careful not to overrate June. Tony Dungy's team usually produces active weakside LBs, but June might not be very consistent. He doesn't always make the needed plays against the run and does not consistently diagnose what he sees in front of him well.
This O succeeds because it's flexible. Pay too much attention to Harrison and Wayne hurts you. Go soft in a nickel or dime and James (left) runs over you. But the key is coordinator Tom Moore's creativity. Rare will be the two-TE sets he commonly ran with Clark and departed free agent Marcus Pollard. But with Brandon Stokley's emergence as a Manning fave, Moore will really open it up in 2005. Scary.
| Team Preview Centers |
| Key Stretch: Weeks 7-11 |
|
Oct. 23: at Houston Nov. 7: at New England Nov. 13: Houston Nov. 20: at Cincinnati |
| Comings & Goings |
|
Key Departures: FS Idrees Bashir; OLG Rick DeMulling; LB Jim Nelson; ORG Tupe Peko; TE Marcus Pollard. |
| Offensive Starters (as of 8/31) |
|
RB: Edgerrin James FB: James Mungro QB: Peyton Manning WR: Marvin Harrison RT: Ryan Diem RG: Jake Scott C: Jeff Saturday LG: Ryan Lilja LT: Tarik Glenn TE: Dallas Clark WR: Reggie Wayne |
| Defensive Starters (as of 8/31) |
|
LDE: Raheem Brock LDT: Larry Tripplett RDT: Montae Reagor RDE: Dwight Freeney LOLB: David Thornton MLB: Gary Brackett ROLB: Cato June LCB: Bob Sanders SS: Mike Doss RCB: Donald Strickland • Complete roster |
