Indianapolis Colts
Offense
Andrew Luck has elite written all over him, and this offense has the chance to be among the league’s best for 2014. Reggie Wayne was his go-to target early in his career; now he’s healthy and is a solid option opposite the explosive T.Y. Hilton. In addition, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen are solid receivers to create mismatches for opposing defenses.
Trent Richardson and Hakeem Nicks are the names to keep an eye on. Richardson needs to better familiarize himself with the playbook in order to regain that form he showed his rookie year. If Nicks, too, can round into shape, he can be a solid No. 3 option out wide to further perplex opposing secondaries.
Defense
Top pass-rusher Robert Mathis will miss the first four games of the season, putting added pressure on second-year player Bjoern Werner to exceed expectations right off the bat. Antoine Bethea is now in San Francisco, so Delano Howell needs to grow up quickly. Free-agent signee D’Qwell Jackson was brought in to solidify a very shaky run defense.
At best, Chuck Pagano’s defense will be mediocre in 2014. It doesn’t have to be great; it just has be solid enough to make stops when need be.
Outlook
The Colts should have no issue maneuvering through the weak AFC South. Their playoff run will be dictated by how clutch Luck proves to be against the best of the AFC, and how well the defense can progress throughout the year.
This is a championship-caliber offense, but a defense of a team that would hover around .500. A second-round playoff exit is the likely fate of Indianapolis barring an unforeseen turn of fortune.
