Indianapolis Colts
Last Season: 10 – 6
2011 NFL Draft: T Anthony Castonzo (Boston College, Rd. 1/Pick 22), T Benjamin Ijalana (Villanova, Rd. 2/Pick 17), DT Drake Nevis (LSU, RD. 3/Pick 23), RB Delone Carter (Syracuse, Rd. 4/Pick 22), CB Chris L. Rucker (Michigan State, Rd. 6/Pick 23)
Key Additions: LB Ernie Sims, DT Tommie Harris
Key Losses: S Bob Sanders
2010 Individual Stat Leaders:
• Passing yards — Peyton Manning — 4,700 yards
• Passing touchdowns — Peyton Manning — 33
• Rushing yards — Donald Brown — 497 yards
• Rushing touchdowns — Joseph Addai — 4
• Receiving yards — Reggie Wayne — 1,355 yards
• Receiving touchdowns — Austin Collie — 8
• Tackles — Antonie Bethea — 106
• Sacks — Robert Mathis — 11
• Interceptions — Kelvin Hayden/Aaron Francisco/Jerraud Powers — 2
2011 Regular Season Schedule:
Week 1: @ Texans
Week 2: Browns
Week 3: Steelers
Week 4: @ Bucs
Week 5: Chiefs
Week 6: @ Bengals
Week 7: @ Saints
Week 8: @ Titans
Week 9: Falcons
Week 10: Jaguars
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: Panthers
Week 13: @ Patriots
Week 14: @ Ravens
Week 15: Titans
Week 16: Texans
Week 17: @ Jaguars
Analysis: Many thought the Colts would miss out on the playoffs last season for the first time since 2001. However, the rest of the AFC South collapsed and the Colts played strong down the stretch to win the division. They eventually lost to the New York Jets in the first round of the playoffs. So, is 2011 the year the Colts miss the playoffs? QB Peyton Manning will continue to throw strong, and his receiving core is growing. With young receivers Pierre Garson, Austin Collie, Blair White and Anthony Gonzalez behind veteran WR Reggie Wayne, Manning will have many targets. However, the running game struggled last year. RB Donald Brown was the team’s leading rusher with 497 yards. RB Joseph Addai wasn’t far behind with 495 yards. If the running game doesn’t get going, then defenses will continue to have success reading Manning, who threw 17 picks last year. The defense received some help from the acquisition of LB Ernie Sims, but the secondary was the problem. It didn’t improve and opposing offenses will continue to take advantage of the weak secondary. So yes, I think this is the year the Colts miss the playoffs.
2011 Season Prediction: 9 – 7, Second in the AFC South
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