OK, so most everyone's reported for camp now, the regular season is coming up, my Colts have an awesome new stadium those of you who will be going to Gen Con get to see, and its time to talk football.
If you need to get in the mood, here's still the
greatest football commercial of all time.
So, let's name our teams, and how we think they'll finish.
Indianapolis Colts: They have one of their most talented rosters, but a lot of potential health issues. But its the NFL, and you have to deal with injuries They continue to play smarter than the mouthy Jaguars, and for that reason and their usual fast start will hold them off and win the division yet again. Peyton should be back 100%, Reggie Wayne is solid, and Anthony Gonzalez (not the TE, the WR) should step up as Marvin Harrison's career begins the wind-down. Also look for bigger numbers from Dallas Clark. At running back, Joseph Addai is great, but needs a quality second back to keep him from getting so run down. Hopefully that's Dominic Rhodes, who re-signed with the Colts, Kenton Keith, Harvard's Clifton Dawson, or possibly dark horse Mike Hart, a Michigan Man I'm hoping makes the team.
On defense, the Colts can't win it all without a pass rush--we saw that when Dwight Freeney got hurt last year. No pressure, no ring. The linebacker corps is not deep, but as talented as its been in the past 8 years. Bob Sanders will continue to destroy his own body, but it will be glorious while it lasts. But the defensive line needs to ensure it has enough quality bodies to make rotation effective.
In the playoffs, they'll need some luck, and will have to hope New England's age catches up with them. I worry most about the Steelers and Chargers (how's their QB situation going to be?), aside from the Pats, but think all those teams have their issues. It'll be a tough year, but I'll steel myself for more January sadness.
For the AFC South--I see no changes--the Colts and Jags at the top, Titans in the middle, and the Texans just possibly catching them. A tough division all-around.
And lest we forget: