Pro Football Focus: Colts Ranked #2 to start 2010 season

by Brad Wells on Jul 30, 2010 5:33 PM EDT in Colts Analysis

From PFF:

2. Indianapolis Colts
They may lack talent in a number of positions but for their team to work they need an elite, out-of-this-world quarterback and a fearsome pass rush. Check and check. It's a formula that has worked for so long for the Colts that we know that it gets them into the playoffs and to a Super Bowl (which this writer contends would have been very different if Dwight Freeney was completely healthy). Nothing has happened this offseason to suggest the Colts shouldn't be the team to beat in the AFC.

I'd kind of like to know where the Colts lack talent at "a number of positions." I like PFF and I think they do a good job overall, but the Colts are loaded with talent at a number of positions.

In fact, they might be the most talented team in football.

From the wideouts to the running backs to the linebackers to the d-line, the Colts are stacked with quality depth. I could go through each position, compare it to other teams, and make my point that way. Instead, I'll just keep this quick and say players like Anthony Gonzalez would be starters on most other team. Jerry Hughes, likely a reserve pass rusher for the Colts in 2010, would start for many other teams. Other key reserves like Donald Brown, Austin Collie, Pat Angerer, and Melvin Bullitt are all starting-caliber players who happen to be back-ups for the Colts.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't understand that "lack talent in a number of positions" remark. It just sounds... well, it sounds ignorant and uninformed. In general, PFF is not ignorant and uninformed. Thus, the statement is odd.

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Anthony Gonzalez is a reserve?

He’s twice the receiver Garcon is, so why would be a reserve if he’s healthy?

Since when did this become gospel? Training camp hasn’t even started yet.

by Naptime! on Jul 30, 2010 5:51 PM EDT reply actions

let's please not go down this road again.

the horse is dead!

"I throw him four wide ones then try to pick him off first base." - Preacher Roe on Stan Musial

by Shi on Jul 30, 2010 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

just don't, dude.

Careful what you wish for... "A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have." Gerald Ford, 38th US president

by teej813 on Jul 30, 2010 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions

well, there are plenty of such places without great talent.

pretty much the entire offensive line, as well as defensive tackle. and while we do have a talented secondary, it isn’t a very deep unit. also, special teams is still a huge question mark outside of mcafee. hopefully some rookies step up on punt and kick returns, but it’s very fair to say that we have some areas of concern. thankfully they are much fewer in number and lesser in importance than many teams, but they exist nonetheless. so the comment from PFF of the “lack talent in a number of positions” is neither ignorant nor uninformed.

"I throw him four wide ones then try to pick him off first base." - Preacher Roe on Stan Musial

by Shi on Jul 30, 2010 5:52 PM EDT reply actions

Thats what i want to know as well

The Colts are always revered as having some of the best group of safeties in the league. The talent at that position is stacked

by metal_militia on Jul 30, 2010 8:17 PM EDT reply actions

Oh, and the positions that the general football watching public sees us as lacking talent?

I’d say the OL in general and it’s hard to argue with the shift that’s taken place this year or the running stats the past two. Most people credit 18 for the low sack totals. 63 is steady and wifdely recognized as excellent, but our recent draft disappointments and the high number of UDFAs suggest a bit of a weak link.

RBs have performed poorly in traditional stats past couple years, but I think most serious fans see that as a result of the line and not the RBs, but who knows? the 32nd and 31st ranked run games the past couple years? Some people need no more info than that to start a bonfire and throw a couple men on it.

DT—they were actually pretty good last year, but they’re no-names who suffer from our old Spinal Tap curse, at least in terms of public perception. They are the filler in the Freeney/Mathis sandwich—perception-wise.

LBs—These guys are just disrespected and underappreciated in general. Brackett should have 2 pro bowls under his belt, and Session is a monster. Wheels is new and depth is sketchy, so I could see this as a point of complaints from general fans. No pro bowlers like we seem to have everywhere else, therefore a weakness.

CBs: I love our young guys, but we’ve had our share of injuries and fill-ins and the kids have no rep yet, so like our LBs they are very effective, but unheralded. Could well change this year. Guys like Revis and Asomugha will get all the press, but our guys are fine if underappreciated.

So I could certainly understand people saying we have talent gaps there, even if their only criteria is “I haven’t heard of these guys” or “they’re not pro bowlers.” Give the CB rookies some time to develop skills and reps, and they’ll be feared far and wide. For the LBs… Brackett is probably on the downward slope by now and if he did not get much league-wide recognition yet, he never will. For which I’ll forever be resentful.

I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.

by Bobman on Jul 30, 2010 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

I think

that’s a fair assessment and probably what the guy was getting at. Perhaps not the best choice of words by the writer to get his point across.

by 18forPrez on Jul 30, 2010 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t see much of a lack of talent.

this is probably one of the deepest teams i’ve seen, if we stay relatively healthy

"Are you f*cking kidding me???"

by danorocks17 on Jul 31, 2010 12:40 AM EDT reply actions

Waterboy is looking a bit weak this year

by Selador on Jul 31, 2010 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

Uh oh... Bobby Boucher just read your post.

And he’s comin fer ya!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSulFZ7XJ1U&feature=related

“So that’s what opening up a can of whoop-ass feels like.”

------

"How can a pickup truck contain enough mass to unfold into a towering machine? I say if Ringling Brothers can get 15 clowns into a Volkswagen, anything is possible."

Roger Ebert, Transformers review.

by E.M.H. on Jul 31, 2010 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Fair assessment

I agree with this being a fair assessment. Great summary by “Bobman”. I think they hit it on the head. Our 3 “weak” areas on this team are the DTs, LBs and CBs. I would also toss RBs in there, however I believe Joe Addai is going to have a pro bowl season this year and hopefully we will see a little more flash and power from both Brown and Hart.

by davis3217 on Jul 31, 2010 10:53 AM EDT reply actions