That's not to say he's infallible. We all saw chinks in the armor a little last season, with the biggest coming in the Super Bowl. Teams have caught on to the pre-snap antics and have countered with tactics of their own, showing several looks to try to keep him guessing. Despite being pressured less than any other QB, his 16 INTs in 2009 were the highest in 8 years. Some of that stems from his increasing late-game reliance on Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne, but he missed a few more reads than in the past. At 34 and looking increasingly un-athletic as he ages, Peyton just might be getting to the point where he starts to decline ever so slightly. His legendary durability can't last forever either, though because he has such a quick release and exceptional pocket awareness it's more likely he gets hurt in some minor fluke injury.
The Colts are praying that he makes every start for the 13th consecutive year, because they're in deep trouble without Manning. Curtis Painter looked very much like a greenhorn 6th round rookie in limited duty, and his inability to handle pressure appears chronic. The Colts football jerseys have only carried two QBs for years now, but a birdie tells me they like Drew Willy just enough that he'll stick on the practice squad as the #3.
RB: There is a wide gulf between potential talent and actual results here. Joseph Addai is a versatile, shifty back that can make the first man miss and has good wiggle in the open field. Or at least he flashes those skills, because too often he seems indecisive and unable to break the big runs. His longest effort last year went just 21 yards, and his 3.8 yards per carry is not good enough. Some of that goes on the line in front of him and the pathetic blocking effort of the tight ends and wide receivers (more on those later), but the former 1st rounder just has not been the dynamic rusher they expected or need. He gains some of that back by being an exceptional receiver, and the Colts jerseys love using him on swing passes. Addai also thrives on draw plays, in part because of his great patience but also how well Peyton Manning sells it.
Donald Brown, their first round pick in 2009, struggled in his rookie season. He often looked Adam Vinatieri unsure of where to take the run and a little too intimidated by what might be waiting for him, or as one opposing LB told me late last year, "That boy don't want no piece of gettin' smacked". To be fair to Brown, he was suffering from a chest injury, but tentative running tends to be a problem that doesn't get healed. Brown also had issues in pass protection and seemed uncomfortable with the precise timing of the pass offense, which struck me as bizarre considering I know Brown to be one of the most intelligent hombres in the league. I suspect he'll be better in his second season, but it's hard to imagine him proving worthy of the 1st round pick.
Mike Hart is the #3 and is far and away the toughest back on the team despite being the smallest player on the roster. Blessed with huge thighs and relentless drive forward, he is the best short-yardage (intentional short yardage, that is) back and is also the best pass blocker of the group. Hart could see more opportunities this year if Brown continues to struggle. There are always the caveats that Hart is reliably injury-prone and one of the slowest backs in the league. Speedy Devin Moore should stick as the 4th back, which the Colts seldom put on the active roster. That's still a meatier role than fullback, which the Colts have basically eradicated from Lucas Oil Field.
WR/TE: The Colts have talent in spades here. Reggie Wayne has stepped from Marvin Harrison's shadow and become a legit star in his own right. Long, lithe, and blessed with some of the best body control you'll ever see, Wayne can run all the routes and make all the catches. Bagging 100 receptions last season for 1300 yards and 10 TDs, Wayne clearly established himself as an elite weapon. He should post similar yardage and TD totals this year, but a return to the 100-catch plateau seems unlikely.
Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark, selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time after the 2009 season, will serve as the grand marshal of the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Clark will wave the green flag to send the field of 43 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers at speed into Turn 1 at IMS. The race starts at 1 p.m. (ET).
"Being a NASCAR fan, it is an honor to be grand marshal for the Brickyard 400," Clark said. "We were at training camp for so many years prior to this, so it will be my first opportunity to see a race at the Brickyard. I am really excited."
After all, the team has done nothing over the past seven seasons but win at a record pace. The one constant in that stretch has been Manning, who threw for 4500 yards and 33 touchdowns last season in leading the offense to a 26 point per game average. The four time MVP returns as does the team's deadly receiving corps, which will be even more potent with the return of Anthony Gonzalez from a 2009 knee injury.
The Colts ground game did not do much last year, posting a league worst 80.9 yards per game, but that number reflects more on commitment than talent. Indy's offensive focus clearly centers on the passing game, leaving running backs Joseph Addai and Donald Brown few occasions to shine. The talented tandem may get a better opportunity this season, though, as the coaching staff has indicated a renewed commitment to improving the run blocking along the offensive line.
Indianapolis fielded a quality defense last year, ranking 18th in yards and eighth in points per game allowed. The offseason saw some contributors take their services elsewhere (Marlin Jackson CB, Raheem Brock DE), but the unit's biggest stars are back, including Dwight Freeney, Bob Saunders (who knows for how long), Gary Brackett, and Robert Mathis. The Colts also upgraded the defense through the draft by adding TCU linebacker/defensive end Jerry Hughes and Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer with its first two picks.
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