Indianapolis Colts 2007 Preview
Background: The Colts franchise has always lurked on the periphery, with supporters bleeding into the Swampland footprint, from the early Baltimore era to the modern one in Indianapolis. The NFL saw fit to place the team in the AFC South, and they certainly have a strong fan base in Kentucky as well as parts of Tennessee.
The Colts are the NFL's modern "glamour" team. They have the record-setting QB in Peyton Manning. Manning comes from one of the South's biggest football family. Peyton grew up in New Orleans and played for the Vols in Knoxville. He has been blessed with weapons such as Marvin Harrison, Edgerrin James, Reggie Wayne, and Joseph Addai to name a few.
When Tony Dungy became head coach, he brought the defense. Instituting his favored "Cover Two" model and drafting smaller, quick players, Dungy slowly built a solid defense through the draft that could finally compliment Peyton's offense.
The Colts are this year's defending Super Bowl champion. Nuff said!
Team Identity: Again, there aren't many teams like this in today's NFL, but the Colts are a true "national" team. They have stars. They are exciting. They are to this decade what Joe Montana's 49ers and Troy Aikman's Cowboys were to the 80's and 90's.
This all makes the stumbling and fumbling that marked the franchise since its move from Baltimore seem like a distant memory. Everything about owner Jim Irsay is night and day from his father. The younger Irsay has spent on good management, good coaches, and good personnel. Additionally, after many years of discussion about moving the franchise out of Indy, next year's opening of their new, "state of the art" stadium finally lets the hometown faithful know that they aren't going anywhere.
Now that he has won a Super Bowl, Peyton Manning only needs to play his way into the record book. Very possibly, Manning might end up as the greatest QB ever. He has both the numbers, and now the ring. Everyone in the Swampland footprint has seen Peyton grow up and mature into the great player he is today. He is a true star.
Irsay and Indy have it all - a new stadium, a great player still in his prime, and a Super Bowl ring. If the sports world at large loves the team, it is hard not to love them if they are your hometown team.
2007 Storyline: The monkey finally came off the back of the Colts when they won last season's Super Bowl title. Both Manning and Dungy were seen as not being able to win the "big one" but that talk is over now.
Despite losses on the defensive front and the offensive line, the Colts still look like the team to beat. The champs are usually always the happiest team coming into each season, but the Colts are especially so.
Expectation Meter: While expectations are high, it is likely the Colts will meet them. There are defensive issues. Many big names were either released or signed on elsewhere. However, the Colts offense will still put up big points. All the defense has to do is to slow down the other team. Barring a season ending injury to Manning, most expect the Colts to contend for another title.
Until Manning starts to show his age, the Colts will always be in the hunt. Replacing Edgerrin James with rookie Joseph Addai changed nothing. (In fact, I'm sure Edge wishes he had hung around and won a ring rather than getting blasted behind Arizona's anemic line.) The other Indy players that jumped ship this offseason might be just as disappointed.
The Colts offensive efficiency would almost be boring if they didn't play such an exciting brand of football!
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