By Brian Moore
July 15, 2009

The Indianapolis Colts have been similar every year. Their defense had some questions but many would debate whether Tony Dungy can work them through any tough times. The offense was fantastic and they would likely score enough points so that the team would prevail in a large number of regular season games. Would they be able to run the ball and stop the run well enough to advance in the playoffs?.

The Colts had some geniuses working up their gameplans in years past. In 2009, there is a new head coach, new offensive coordinator, new defensive coordinator, and new special teams coach. It is a new era.

Marty Moore was one of the best offensive coordinators the NFL has ever seen having coached a number of high powered offenses over the years. Superstar quarterback Peyton Manning has developed into a coach on the field besides being a great quarterback. The Colts should be alright without Moore, so long as they continue to operate the offense with all the wisdom he bestowed upon them. Any deviation from Moore's system could be terrible. Manning does not seem to have any patience for mistakes, when he's barking at players while being lined up under center. Manning seemed to want perfection and that was good then. In 2009, he is going to have to be tolerant of changes and the mistakes being made while the team adjusts to those changes. Manning has never been very good when he's frustrated, he's just become so bright that defensive cooridinators struggled to frustrate him anymore. This team implodes if Manning is not running it.

Joseph Addai has not been gaining enough yards rushing and there's just no sugarcoating that. Rookie Donald Brown is expected to spell Brown some. It is very possible that Brown beats out Addai for his starting spot in training camp. Mike Hart was an exciting runningback in camp last summer that sat out the 2008 season due to injury. Addai must get his act together. There are two quality backs waiting to get carries besides him.

Jeff Saturday is one of the top centers in the game. Ryan Diem is a very good tackle. Tony Ugoh is developing into a very good tackle himself. Ryan Lilja was hurt last year. He's been a very effective guard for the Colts for quite some time. Charlie Johnson is a good player that rounds out a talented group of linemen. The Colts have regularly drafted linemen to protect "their boy" since they grabbed Manning with the first pick in the NFL draft. There is always enough depth so that if the starter are ineffective(and they haven't been) they can be replaced. The Colts flat out manage their personnel with protecting Manning in mind. The offensive line is not a concern.

The Colts and Marvin Harrison have parted ways. That is an emotional loss that will likely haunt them at times. The upside is the big play ability of Anthony Gonzalez and Reggie Wayne who have far more speed than Harrison had in his later years. Add to that, the dynamic tight end, Dallas Clark, and Manning has a plenthora of options to throw to. The Colts like backup tight end Gijon Robinson and feel he can spell Clark at times. The depth behind the starting wide receivers is almost non-existent. Pierre Garcon has been a special teams player. Roy Hall has been injured far too often. The Colts drafted Austin Collie in the fourth round out of Brigham Young. Collie could be forced to contribute. Expect the Colts to sign more wide receivers before week 1. The cupboard is simply too bare. Samuel Giguere, from Canada, is an intriguing prospect that broke his leg the year before. He returns in hopes of making an impact. Giguere is a very well built, husky?, wide receiver that could add a level of grit and toughness, ala Wayne Chrebet, to the Colts.

The defense is much of the same. While Dungy is gone, Jim Caldwell is well versed on Dungy's Tampa-2 as he's been coaching with Dungy since his days in Tampa. Dwight Freeney has lost a step and can be a bit of a pushover at times, but Robert Mathis is outstanding. The Colts are expected to start Eric Foster and Keyunta Dawson at defensive tackle, both of which aren't even 270 pounds. Terrance Taylor, out of Michigan, was the Colts fourth round pick and at 319 pounds he is "the beef" the line sorely needs. Teams can and will run straight at those smallish defensive tackles.

Clint Session, Gary Brackett and Phillip Wheeler return to bring much of the same to the linebacking corps. Short of re-signing Tyjuan Hagler after letting him go, or doing the same with Freddy Keiaho, the Colts are quite short in linebacker depth. This is yet another area that could be addressed before week 1.

Bob Sanders is a terrific playmaker that makes everyone around him better. Sanders has a knack for getting injured though. Antoine Bethea, Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson are all good defensive backs that must learn to play well without Sanders. Melvin Bullit has improved in Sanders' absence, but he'll never be Sanders.

The jury is out on Jim Caldwell. He'll get his share of criticism and the Colts will seem quite different at times. All that matters here is how they do in the playoffs. Unless there's an implosion (mentioned above) the Colts should make the playoffs and be a dangerous team with Manning at the helm.