More needed from D, O-line
AFC South rivals have improved
Injuries to franchise quarterback Andrew Luck played a major role in the end of the Indianapolis Colts’ two-year run as AFC South champions and their three-year playoff streak.
Luck was limited to seven games, going 2-5, dealing with a shoulder injury and then a season-ending lacerated kidney.
He participated fully in organized team activities, and the Colts are negotiating a blockbuster extension. But Luck might need to adapt his game this season in order to stay on the field.
“Get him healthy, keep him healthy, keep him protected,” coach Chuck Pagano said. “He plays the position like a linebacker, with a linebacker’s mentality. He can’t do that all the time. We love how he can extend plays, but he’s got to be smart and know it’s OK to slide.”
Pagano also is back with the team after rampant speculation during the offseason that he might not return. Owner Jim Irsay signed the coach to a fouryear extension in January.
There was a shakeup on his staff, though, with 11 new assistants.
The biggest change was the firing of defensive coordinator Greg Manusky after Indianapolis allowed the eighth-most points and seventh-most yards and racked up the third-most penalty yards. Ted Monachino, who had been the linebackers coach of the Baltimore Ravens since 2010, will run the defensive unit.
The Colts will have a daunting task navigating a tougher division. The 2015 AFC South champion Houston Texans added offensive firepower with Brock Osweiler and Lamar Miller. The Jacksonville Jaguars, who signed Malik Jackson and Chris Ivory and had a fantastic draft, could be the next young team to break out.
The Colts didn’t have much player turnover, especially on offense, but that might not be enough because of their rivals’ improvement. They will need their defense to step up and their offensive line to protect Luck better if they want to compete against the Texans and Jaguars. In the little time Luck played last year, he was a shell of himself, throwing 12 interceptions to only 15 touchdowns. Matt Hasselbeck went 5-3 after replacing him, but he retired to become an ESPN analyst. Scott Tolzien, who played with the Green Bay Packers, is the new backup, but Indianapolis hopes it won’t have to rely on him much. After all, Luck started every game of his first three seasons without issue and says he is 100% entering this season.
RUNNING BACK
The ground game has been a weak point since Joseph Addai left in 2011. Frank Gore last season was consistent and scored six times on the ground, but at 33 he is