Life in the NFL can change very quickly. Last year this time, Anthony Gonzalez was the unquestioned starter at outside WR heading into 2009 training camp. This year, all signs point to him fighting with Austin Collie to get time at slot receiver. And while Gonzo likely doesn't have to worry about getting cut or anything, the same cannot be said for several other Colts veterans.

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One player the Colts brought into former-Titans receiver Dudley Guice into the fold back in January, when the 2009 season was still ongoing. However, I consider him an acquisition for the 2010 season because he is still very much a player in development. At 6'3, 209 pounds, Guice is an absolute beast of a player at WR. But what makes Guice intriguing is not his size, but his speed and his size.

On a team loaded with WR talent, Guice will have his work cut out for him to make this team. But, when you watch clips of the kid, you really see the kind of stellar potential he brings to Indy's roster. And if anyone can get Guice to reach that potential, it's Colts coaches Clyde Christensen, Ron Turner, and Tom Moore.

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Today, the Colts opened their 2010 mini-camp for veterans and rookies. This camp is one of two events that are mandatory for all signed Colts players, with the other being Training Camp. Unlike Training Camp, rookies who are not yet signed can attend mini-camp. For these rookies, mini-camp is a critical opportunity for them to work with many of the established Colts players, like Peyton Manning, Jeff Saturday, and Gary Brackett.

However, one area where there likely won't be much significant rookie involvement is the safety position.

Oh sure, the Colts have rookie safeties like Donye' McCleske and Mike Newton on the roster, but I'm not holding my breath that these guys are going to be starting caliber safeties. Then again, I probably felt the same about one-time undrafted rookie safety Melvin Bullitt (2007). Now, look at him. He was the Colts starting safety last year.

For me, mini-camp at the safety position is less about integrating rookies and more about watching the continued progress of a big time game changer: Bob Sanders.

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John Oehser, the man behind the CBS Rapid Reports updates, informed us yesterday that one-time starting left tackle Tony Ugoh is now taking snaps at left guard on the first day of the Colts OTAs. For many (myself included), the thought was 2010 would provide Ugoh an opportunity to reclaim his old job.

But, with this news that the Colts are using Ugoh at guard, it puts a major dent in the hope that Ugoh would return to the left tackle spot for which he was drafted in 2007.

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Obviously, we aren't going to really know whether or not this draft addressed the key needs for this team heading into 2010. And, regardless of my personal feeling about selecting Pat Angerer in the second round and Kevin Thomas in the third, the Colts did address their four main needs going in: Offensive line (Jacques McClendon), corner depth (Kevin Thomas, Ray Fisher), pass rusher (Jerry Hughes), and duel return threat (Fisher, again). When you factor in free rookie agents, like left tackle Jeff Linkenbach, linebacker Vuna Tuihalamaka and return threat Brandon James, this was a nice haul of young talent added to a Super Bowl-caliber team.

Also, you can never discount internal talent development. Last year this time, no one really considered Daniel Muir a viable option at defensive tackle. Now, the Colts are so happy with Muir, Antonio Johnson, Fili Moala, and Eric Foster that they did not draft or sign a defensive tackle during Draft Week. Yes, you could possibly consider Ricardo Mathews a DT, but Bill Polian called him a "power end" at his press conference on the final day of the draft suggesting Matthews will play more DE than DT.

So, again, internal development of people like Mookie and Muir has turned a once glaring hole into a position of strength.

We also saw players like Pierre Garcon develop significantly last season. Philip Wheeler, while not there yet, did show significant improvement from 2008 to 2009. We also had diamonds-in-the-rough like Jacob Lacey emerge from out of no-where.

This year, it will be interesting to see if Sam Giguere, Cody Glenn, Rudolph Hardie, and perhaps Roy Hall will develop further. All have shown they can potentially contribute to this team. The question remains, "Can they take the next step?"

And then there are players like Mitch King, Adam Terry, and Andy Alleman. What will they bring? Joe 'shake" Baker and I have been big on King since he left Iowa last year. He just seems perfect as a lineman for the Colts. The question is, in what capacity? Does he replace Raheem Brock? Can he rush the passer from the DT spot? Regarding OT Adam Terry, Polian spoke very well of Terry's ability and competitiveness during one of his draft press conferences. His issue right now is health. I have no idea what Andy Alleman is going to bring. He might just be fodder for camp. We will see.

While considering all this, as a Colts fan your eyes have to light up a bit at the thought of Bob Sanders, Anthony Gonzalez, and Adam Vinatieri all returning healthy.

The Colts made, and nearly won, Super Bowl 44 without any of these guys playing. That's pretty remarkable. For all my criticisms of the 2007 and 2008 Drafts for the Colts, the fact that this team got to a Super Bowl without their starting wide receiver, their A-List kicker, and (arguably) their most dominant player on defense speaks to how amazing Bill Polian and his staff are at generating quality depth on this team. "Next man up" is not some empty marketing phrase the team throws out there to placate fans. They mean it!

When you factor in all these variables, it's hard not to get excited. We've got a pretty friggin talented team here. They are well-coached, well-conditioned, and they know how to win. Right now, on paper, this is the best team in the AFC. Will the make a Super Bowl appearance again this year? Who knows. What I do know is, for the most part, Bill Polian and his crew are doing a good job to make sure the Colts redeem themselves for the team's tough loss in Super Bowl 44.

Sprint has partnered with us and is sponsoring a few posts over the next few weeks. The topic for the Sprint posts is "Game Changing Offseason Moves," which for the Colts pretty much means the offensive line. No other area of the team, save maybe defensive back, has undergone more change this offseason.

Ryan Lilja: Cut

Adam Terry: Signed

Andy Alleman: Signed

Those are the moves we have seen. Everything else, from rumors regarding Marcus McNeill to everyone's fantasy about Jared Gaither, tells the tale of a club that is transitioning from a quick, pass-oriented o-line to one that will feature a lot more beef up front. Even as we get ready for the draft this Sunday, it seems almost every mock draft has the Colts taking someone like Charles Brown, Rodger Saffold, or Maurkice Pouncey in the first or second round. Just FYI: Pouncey is 6'5, 318; Brown is 6'6, 298; Saffold is 6'5, 318.

These behemoths are a far cry from Colts starters Charlie Johnson (6'4, 305), Kyle DeVan (6'2, 306), or Jeff Saturday (6'2, 295).

Now, you all know I am a fan of saying "size doesn't matter," and when you get past the "that's not what she said!" jokes, the reality is that many sub-300 pound offensive linemen have had great careers in the NFL. You do not need to be big to dominate. Go back and watch the final moments of the AFC Championship Game in 2006. When you see 295 pound Jeff Saturday absolutely MAUL Vince Wilfork (335 pounds) on the goal-line to help Joseph Addai score the game-winning TD, the whole "size is everything" argument gets dismissed pretty quickly.

Still, based on the off-season moves by Bill Polian, it seems that new offensive line coach Pete Metzelaars, a former tight end who played for Polian in Buffalo back in the 1980s and 1990s, does not fully share the philosophy of his mentor, Howard Mudd. Mudd coached the Colts offensive line from 1998 to last year. He's now retired. Mudd utilized quick, under-sized guys that were best at zone blocking. Pass protection was the focus, run second. The results fielded the greatest offense in NFL history over a 10 year period.

Will this new shift produce similar or better results? For Pete Metzelaars sake, it damn well better.

I understand why the team wants to add a bit more bulk. For two years in a row, a playoff game has been partially decided against them because the offense was unable to convert a short yardage run. We know it isn't the backs. So, it's gotta be the line. The argument against this change is the team has, essentially, traded Ryan Lilja (an outstanding but under-sized guard) for Andy Alleman (a nobody that the horrid Kansas City Chiefs discarded because he... well, sucked last year). Terry is just camp fodder right now, competing with Mike Pollak, Jamey Richard, and Jaimie Thomas for back-up guard or tackle duty.

So, unless we see a significant player taken in the draft, I don't see how the line has gotten better. Has it changed? Absolutely. But change is not always a good thing.