Are the Colts pretenders or contenders?

Last season was a roller coaster for the Indianapolis Colts. After an abysmal start to the season going 1-5. The Colts were able to turn their season around and shock the entire football world. With all the questions that surrounded the Colts last season ranging from if superstar quarterback Andrew Luck would be healthy to who would be the head coach? Can the Colts make a strong playoff run?

After one season under head coach Frank Reich I think it’s safe the day the Colts are back in the position to contend with the best. Frank Reich and company turned a 1-5 start to a 10-6 finish with a road playoff victory in Houston.

Every offseason question had seemed to be answered. Andrew Luck won the Comeback Player of the year, Frank Reich was a legit candidate for Coach of the year, Chris Ballard knocked it out of the park drafting not one but two All-Pro players in Quenton Nelson and Defensive Rookie of the Year Darius Leonard. After attacking defense in this years NFL draft Chris Ballard did manage to snag yet another weapon for Luck in Parris Campbell.

Look for the Colts offense to be extremely competitive this season. Signing Devin Funchess in the offseason and adding Campbell the Colts WR corp looks to be the best it has been in years. When you factor in T.Y. Hilton, Chester Rogers, the two TE’s in Doyle and Ebron, and of course a healthy Deon Cain, it is a very formidable group.

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After resigning Mark Glowinski and having all 5 of the offensive line starters locked up and the Colts have surrounded  Luck with weapons, I can fully expect this offense to finish in top 5 in every category.

Looking at the defensive side of things, Matt Eberflus really has this group of guys reaching their full potential. With additions like Justin Houston, Ben Banogu, the pass rush need looks to be filled. Bringing in a guy like Houston will fill a leadership role in which I feel the Colts ultimately lacked on defense last season.

Last season the Colts had a team pass rush grade of 65.8 which was 26th in the league per Pro Football Focus. I fully expect that 26th pass rush will skyrocket up to top 13. Outside of the pass rush, the Colts defense ultimate looks promising.

Drafting a young corner in Rock Ya-Sin and adding him with Kenny Moore and Quincy Wilson while signing back Pierre Desir and Clayton Geathers there seems to be a good amount of leadership that’s spread out through that defense. Retaining the two linebackers in Leonard and Walker will be a key cog into the defensive success.

Walker looks to be in a great position to take a leadership role this season and fully have a breakout season. I would call him the unsung hero of the defense. Although Leonard gets all the recognition, none of that would be possible without the help that’s provided by Anthony Walker. Look for the Colts defense to be in the top 15 as a team next season, and possibly higher.

With all of that being said, I fully expect the Colts to not only win the AFC South but also have a lengthy playoff run. With having most of the defense returning for another season and having the offense in year two of Frank Reich, I think it’s safe to say the Colts are back and ready to roll. This Colts season will be a special one for multiple reasons.

There’s a quote by Frank Reich it was after a big victory and he said “that was a good football team *took a pause* BUT SO ARE THE COLTS”. And that’s the absolute truth because the Colts are ready to contend and will be contending for a Super Bowl this February.