For the first part of the season, and for the first time in a long time, the Indianapolis Colts have struggled to put together any resemblance to their previous year’s efforts. After starting multiple seasons without losing a game until nearly midseason, the Indianapolis Colts find themselves sitting at 2-2, and in second place in the AFC South. Just like in previous years, it’s injuries and a lack of depth on the offensive and defensive lines that have the Colts scrambling to get it together before it’s too late.
The Indianapolis Colts’ offensive line has been riddled with injuries, and they have been forced to start their backups at multiple positions in all four of their games this season. With Jeff Saturday going down for the first two games of the season, and Tony Ugoh missing games as well, the Colts have had to dig deep and try to get by with minimal experience up front. This has not been good to the passing or the running game. Joseph Addai has been held to just 213 yards and 4 touchdowns on the year, and Peyton Manning has been 
limited to 1,031 yards and 5 touchdowns. Manning has been sacked 7 times, and pressured or hit countless other times throughout the year.
This is all after an offseason where, after knee surgery only a few weeks before the year, Peyton Manning did not take any snaps until right before the season started. He has returned to form fairly quickly, and is starting to look like he has found his comfort zone again. But with a lack of protection, he is not the quarterback that he has been the past few seasons. After getting Marvin Harrison back, the Colts receiving corps is one of the league’s best. Joseph Addai adds to that potency as a great receiver out of the backfield, so Manning has no shortage of weapons at his disposal. But an injury to Dallas Clark and an inexperienced offensive line have not allowed Peyton Manning or the Indianapolis Colts the success they would like to have.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Colts’ offseason has not been good to them. Losing young backup Quinn Pitcock to early retirement, and being forced to release starter Ed Johnson due to behavioral issues off the field, the Colts are looking for answers up front. Despite the fact that Dwight Freeney ha
s returned, and Robert Mathis is looking healthy, the Colts have lacked the push up the middle that is crucial to rushing the passer and stopping the run. With Bob Sanders out yet again, the Colts run defense is in shambles, as opponents have put up 754 yards on the ground in just four games, 29th in the NFL. Instead of outscoring opponents in the first half and forcing opponents to throw in the second half, the Colts have been forced to defend the run all game. This has kept the Colts’ offense off the field, with the Colts first four opponents having the ball for an average of ten minutes longer than them in the first four games. Not the recipe for success.
But despite all this, the Colts have managed to maintain a .500 record, and second place in what should turn out to be a highly contested AFC South. Jacksonville has struggled, and Houston is still a few years from contending, but what was supposed to be the toughest division in football before the season started has turned out to be the most unpredictable. Tennessee barely made the playoffs last year, and has posted a perfect 5-0 record despite losing their starting quarterback Vince Young to injury. Jacksonville was supposed to be competing for a Super Bowl this year, but has struggled to get by and sits at 2-3. Houston was supposed to be much improved, with a healthy Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson, but sits at 0-4, and cannot figure out how to translate talent into victories.
If the Indianapolis Colts plan on competing for another Super Bowl title, they will have to figure out a way to stay healthy, and may need to make some moves to fortify their offensive and defensive lines. Just ask John Madden: everything starts at the line of scrimmage, and if you don’t control that, you don’t control your destiny.
[tags]indianapolis colts, peyton manning, AFC South, NFL, football[/tags]
