| This series of analysis on the 32 NFL teams takes a look at where teams have been over the last three years for each position - where they have ranked in the most notable categories and the hard statistics produced. This is to give a view of each team heading into training camp and what they most likely need to improve on this season and where their strengths lie that likely won't need any changes. Ending each team review is a brief summation of what to watch in training camp in August to uncover those developing situations that you can take advantage. Combining where teams have come from and what they have done in free agency and the NFL draft gives you the very same thing that NFL coaches are looking at as they attempt to improve their team for 2009. |
|
Training Camp Opens: August 2
Head Coach: Jim Caldwell (1st year)
Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium (Retractable Roof) Surface: FieldTurf
2009 Schedule 2009 Roster 2008 Statistics 2008 Record: 12-4
| QB |
Carries |
Rush YD |
Rush TD |
Pass |
Comp |
Comp % |
Pass YD |
YPP |
Pass TD |
Int |
Rank YD |
Rank TD |
| 2006 |
23 |
36 |
4 |
557 |
362 |
65% |
4397 |
12.1 |
31 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
| 2007 |
26 |
-9 |
3 |
551 |
355 |
64% |
4172 |
11.8 |
32 |
14 |
8 |
5 |
| 2008 |
25 |
29 |
1 |
585 |
393 |
67% |
4180 |
10.6 |
27 |
12 |
5 |
6 |
Quarterback - Peyton Manning stands an excellent chance of being the starting quarterback for the 12th straight season (should all gambling be this easy). While Manning may seem to jump around from between the 1st and 5th best quarterback each year, that's mostly him remaining just the same and everyone else changing around him. Marvin Harrison is finally and officially gone now so Manning has Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez as main targets along with Dallas Clark. The Colts drafted Austin Collie to eventually challenge for the slot role but in the end, this team starts and ends with Manning. And he'll make do with whatever he has to work with.
| RB |
Carries |
Rush YD |
YPC |
Rush TD |
Target |
Rcv |
Catch % |
Catch YD |
Rcv TD |
Rank YD |
Rank TY |
Rank TD |
| 2006 |
416 |
1726 |
4.1 |
13 |
97 |
76 |
78% |
576 |
1 |
13 |
16 |
14 |
| 2007 |
447 |
1746 |
3.9 |
17 |
94 |
62 |
66% |
500 |
5 |
9 |
14 |
2 |
| 2008 |
345 |
1245 |
3.6 |
12 |
108 |
79 |
73% |
615 |
5 |
29 |
28 |
13 |
Running Backs - This is where all the interest lies for the summer. Joseph Addai comes off a horrible, injury-ridden season where he failed to break 1000 rushing yards for the first time in his career. It was basically half what he had managed in his first two seasons and led the Colts to procure Donald Brown with their 1.27 pick in the draft since the rushing game fell apart without a healthy Addai or decent backup. Going into camp, it is Addai as the starter and Brown as the expected relief player at a minimum. But a great showing by Brown could go as far as to reverse the roles - it just all depends. Both backs were first round picks and Addai alone was a problem last year. Chances are at least one of the runners will prove to be very undervalued in fantasy drafts this year unless they truly split everything.
| WR |
Target |
Rcv |
Catch % |
Catch YD |
YPR |
Rcv TD |
Ranks YD |
Rank TD |
| 2006 |
325 |
200 |
62% |
2873 |
14.4 |
23 |
6 |
2 |
| 2007 |
299 |
188 |
63% |
2564 |
13.6 |
15 |
9 |
14 |
| 2008 |
324 |
204 |
63% |
2477 |
12.1 |
15 |
11 |
10 |
Wide Receivers - With Harrison clearly out of the picture, Reggie Wayne should have free reign to be the stud on this team and after five straight 1000 yard seasons, there's no reason to not expect this will be his sixth. Anthony Gonzalez enters his third season and if any third-year player breaks out, it would probably be Gonzalez playing with Manning. So far he's been locked around 600 yards in his first two years but should, could and must step up for 2009. Austin Collie was drafted to compete for the slot role which will more likely end up with Pierre Garcon or Roy Hall for this year. Harrison has really not been a factor for two years in Indianapolis anyway, this is the same set of players other than Collie.
| TE |
Target |
Rcv |
Catch % |
Catch YD |
YPR |
Rcv TD |
Ranks YD |
Rank TD |
| 2006 |
133 |
85 |
64% |
946 |
11.1 |
6 |
6 |
12 |
| 2007 |
164 |
107 |
65% |
1123 |
10.5 |
12 |
4 |
1 |
| 2008 |
149 |
109 |
73% |
1090 |
10 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
Tight Ends- Dallas Clark comes off a career best season when he had 848 yards on 77 catches and scored six times. Clark is a trusted outlet for Manning and a reason why Gonzalez may not become a viable fantasy starter. When Harrison left the picture for the last two years, more than anyone it was Clark who filled in.
Training Camp Fantasy Angle - The passing game seems like it would worth noting in August but the reality is that it should resemble 2008 with Wayne and Clark leading the way and Gonzalez playing third fiddle. But the backfield has to be watched to see what Donald Brown can do since whenever Indy uses a back more than just split carries, there is fantasy value to be had. While it is likely the veteran Addai will maintain a primary role, Brown could make a case for more work and in the end, the best player plays. Training camp will help determine exactly who that is.
|
Facebook 
Twitter 
Mobile
