2011 was a dismal year in Indianapolis. Once Peyton Manning was declared out for the season, which took quite a while, the team went completely south. The Colts did manage a burst of energy at the end of the season to avoid a winless campaign, but there is a lot of work to be done in Indy this offseason.
2012 NFL Offseason Needs: Indianapolis Colts
The first and potentially most controversial order of business is what to do with the aforementioned Manning. The future Hall of Famer’s future in the league is uncertain. It’s unclear whether or not he will ever return to 100 percent health or be able to play at the same level he once did. Meanwhile, a once and a generation quarterback prospect is starting the Colts in the face, so it’s an interesting dilema.
Jim Irsay has already to started to clean house, ushering in a new era of Colts football. The new regime plenty of needs to address in the offseason, so let’s get to it after the jump.
Offense
Red - Glaring Need
Yellow - Need
Green - No Need
Quarterback: Quarterback is a good place to start with the Colts. Will they bring back Peyton Manning? That’s the question on everyone’s ind, but regardless of what they decide to do with No. 18, the quarterback position must be addressed in the draft, and the team has to pick Andrew Luck. It would be ideal if Manning would stay on to ease Luck’s transition, but Indy has to make the pick regardless.
Wide Receiver: Both Pierre Garcon and Reggie Wayne are free agents this offseason. Wayne is getting up there in age and will likely look for one last contract, while it seems feasible that Garcon will test the open market. Both will either need to be retained or replaced.
Offensive Line: All three of the starters on the interior of the offensive line for the Colts will be free agents. The group also didn’t perform particularly well this season, so you can count on the Colts beefing up in the trenches either through free agency or the NFL Draft.
Defense
Note: New coach Chuck Pagano runs a hybrid defensive scheme that is mostly focused on the 3-4, but for now, I thought I would diagram what the Colts struggled with a season ago, and that is the 4-3 scheme.
Secondary: Cornerback is the most glaring need on Indianapolis's putrid defense. The team was torn apart in the secondary all season long. Indy would also be wise to replace the injury prone Melvin Bullitt at strong safety. I noted that the Colts have glaring needs at two corner spots, but that was more to emphasize the need for depth. It is not a slight on Jerraud Powers, who played well
Defensive Tackle: Regardless of the defensive scheme the Colts choose, the team will need to find some interior lineman to beef up their defensive front. There is not a true nose tackle on the roster, and very few of the Colts draft picks have panned out at the position.
Outside Linebacker: I only list this position because Phillip Wheeler is a free agent. The Colts would be wise to retain his services.
Defensive End: Robert Mathis is a free agent. If the two sides don't agree to a contract, the pass rush will take a big hit.
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