INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Minus One of Their Key Pieces, But Hoping It Finally Adds Up
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Wednesday, September 6, 2006
The Indianapolis Colts are stocked with perhaps the most talent in the league, a speedy defense and one of the NFL's most prolific offenses. Peyton Manning promises to put up mind-boggling numbers with the skill players he has at his disposal. This could be the year the Colts break through and make it to the Super Bowl.
Haven't we heard this before?
Aside from the departure of Edgerrin James to the Arizona Cardinals, it's the same old story for the Colts. There's no denying they have the capacity to win a championship, but whether they can transfer regular season dominance to postseason glory remains to be seen. After a 13-0 start last season, the Colts lost three of their last four games, including a devastating loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers decided, perhaps, by the lengths of Ben Roethlisberger's fingernail and Nick Harper's shoelace.
Replacing Dallas-bound place kicker Mike Vanderjagt, remembered for missing a potential game-tying field goal against the Steelers in the playoffs last season, with Adam Vinatieri, the NFL's ultimate clutch performer, should help reverse some of the Colts' late-season, late-game woes. Vinatieri should have no problem keeping his mouth shut, too, a policy to which Vanderjagt didn't always adhere.
While the loss of Vanderjagt might be addition by subtraction, saying goodbye to James is more significant. James reigned as the Colts' overlooked spark, capable of keeping defenses honest for Manning and serving as a dangerous target out of the backfield. His pass protection was sterling as well. Replacing those qualities falls to career backup Dominic Rhodes and rookie Joseph Addai.
The Colts could have tried to make a splash in free agency and gone after a big-name running back, but entrusting the dependable and familiar Rhodes and complementing him with Addai may prove to be the shrewdest move. Not only did they save money -- always an issue in Indianapolis with Manning's monster contract -- but they also kept a running back who fits their system and drafted one they could mold into it.
A star has left, but the Colts may be better equipped for a playoff run. Now there's something worth getting excited about.
