What do the Colts Need?

For a team that has done so well for the last decade it is not an easy thing to figure what they need to look for in the coming draft or free agency. Someday soon they will need to look for the next guy to take over behind center; Peyton Manning can’t play forever (although he does have a good 4-6 years left at least). A better running attack would take a lot of the pressure off of Manning to win every game. However, Addai ran well at points throughout the season as did Donald Brown, so one has to wonder if the running game could be better if the Colts would just give it a chance.

A lot of players in key positions are fairly young. Reggie Wayne is the elder statesman of the wide receiver corps (9 years) with tight end Dallas Clark (7 years) next in pass catcher seniority. Both have many good years left and the new guys, Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon, looked pretty good this past season.

A vastly improved defense is pretty young as well. So with a young team that plays well in most facets of the game what do you look for in order to improve?

The Colts may need to be prepared to lose Gary Brackett who is an unrestricted free agent this year (although very unlikely). Brackett is without  a doubt the heart and soul of the defense and a player the club can’t afford to lose (good thing they will not).

One spot that should be addressed soon is the one guy that will always touch the ball every single offensive play- center. Jeff Saturday is one of the best in the game without question. The man is also an eleven year veteran. For a NFL offensive lineman the typical career is only about 4 years long. Those guys take a tremendous beating on their bodies yet this guy has managed to maintain a level of excellence for sometime.  I and every other Colt fan do not want to see the guy go, but the team needs to be prepared for the injury that may be the end or retirement.

Whomever Polian and Caldwell think the Colts need, they’ll be sure and get a good look at a lot of guys starting this wednesday when the NFL Scouting Combine comes to Indianapolis.