Indianapolis Colts preseason primer: Five things to watch from the offense against Minnesota

Colts rookie RB Donald Brown (AP Photo)

An Indianapolis Colts preseason primer: Week 1, versus the Minnesota Vikings . . .

PART ONE: OFFENSE

The Indianapolis Colts' first 2009 preseason game is Friday, and that means -- however briefly --fans will have something for which most have longed for a little more than seven months.

Football. Real football. In pads. Full speed.

Against another team.

But what, exactly, will be seen Friday? What should fans be looking for when the Colts (12-4 last season, second place in the AFC South) play host to the Minnesota Vikings (10-6, NFC North Champions) at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

We'll start with offense, where you can expect three-time NFL Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning and the rest of the Colts offense to be out of the game after a series, maybe two. But that doesn't mean there won't be storylines, and that doesn't mean the game isn't important to a lot of players.

So, five things to watch Friday when the Colts have the ball:

5) Primary running back. If you're looking for insight on the Colts' here, look quick, because neither starter Joseph Addai nor backup rookie Donald Brown is likely to play too, too much. Addai likely will play a series or two and Brown won't play too much longer. You might see the Colts allow each player a series with the starting offensive line, and Brown almost certainly will play a bit longer than Addai. Addai has looked good early in camp and it would be surprising to see Brown -- the Colts' first-round selection in this past April's 2009 NFL Draft -- push seriously for a starting role during preseason. Really, it won't matter much who starts. As was the case with Addai and Dominic Rhodes in 2006, these players will rotate throughout the season and the trick will be finding a role in which each player is comfortable and productive.

4) Third-team running back. This could be more interesting Friday than watching the starters because not only is there a roster spot at stake, the reserves are likely to get far more extensive work than the top two. Mike Hart, a sixth-round selection in the 2009 NFL Draft and the likely No. 3 back behind Addai and Brown if healthy, is coming off ACL surgery last fall and is out with an ankle injury. The other two players competing are healthy and Chad Simpson and Lance Ball each have played well enough at times to make the roster. Simpson has looked good in practice and is fast enough to score from anywhere on the field. Ball had an impressive game in the season finale last season and has shown he can produce at the NFL level if needed.

3) Tony Ugoh at right tackle. The Colts named Charlie Johnson the starter at left tackle this week, in the process moving Ugoh -- a second-round selection in the 2007 NFL Draft -- to the backup position at right and left tackle. Ugoh began working at right tackle Monday, and said Tuesday the move was comparable to a left-handed person writing right-handed -- that that person might get the letters correct, but it wouldn't likely look pretty. The Colts are hoping Ugoh will rebound and battle Johnson for the starting job, but with RT Ryan Diem likely out with a back injury, Ugoh likely will start and play extensively at right tackle Friday.

2) Wide receiver. If you're looking to see three-time Pro Bowl selection Reggie Wayne or new outside starter Anthony Gonzalez, don't blink, because they'll almost certainly be out along with Manning after a series or two. More compelling is the competition for playing time at third receiver. Second-year veteran Pierre Garcon has shown good stretch-the-field speed and rookie Austin Collie has shown the skills necessary to be a solid slot receiver. The Colts have been as vague as possible their specific roles, and Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said this week a positive for the Colts is that both players have the skills to play inside and outside. Speculation among the media is that Collie will play the slot and Garcon will play the outside, but Caldwell said the Colts will move receivers around to best fit their strengths.

1) The offensive line. This is the crucial story of the Colts' season, and while many of the questions won't be answered for some time -- i.e., can the unit stay relatively healthy for 16 games? -- the preseason opener will feature the line at close to full strength. Guard Ryan Lilja likely will play Friday for the first time since the 2007 postseason and Johnson will make his first start at left tackle. The members of this unit have been forthright in saying they want to improve this season after the Colts ranked 31st in rushing offense a year ago. Although a few series in a preseason game won't be enough to prove Indianapolis will have a dominant offensive line, players said this week the preseason opener will be another step toward regaining the consistency they had for the better part of a decade.

** COMING FRIDAY: FIVE THINGS TO WATCH WHEN THE COLTS ARE ON DEFENSE **

TRAINING CAMP NEWS

K Adam Vinatieri says he'll be ready for regular season

Colts becoming Head Coach Jim Caldwell's team

WR Reggie Wayne continues to be team leader

Magnificent Seven I: Seven training camp thoughts and observations

On Colts RB Joseph Addai

Defensive coordinator Larry Coyer says no Blitzburgh necessary for Colts

Moore, Mudd together just one more year

Magnificent Seven II: On the Colts' defensive tackle position and WR Reggie Wayne

Indianapolis Colts offensive line moving forward with lineup few expected

Colts Uncertain when Bob Sanders will return

EXAMINER SERIES: TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH THE COLTS . . .

1) Will Jim Sorgi be the backup quarterback?

2) Will Special Teams be Special?

3) Who will be the Colts' breakout player in 2009?

4) Will loss of former Head Coach Tony Dungy hurt in 2009?

5) What will defense look like in 2009?

6) Will DT Ed Johnson impact the defense in 2009?

7) How important is the return of OG Ryan Lilja in 2009?

8) Will K Adam Vinatieri be ready in 2009?

9) Will WRs be improved in 2009?

10) Will OL improve in 2009?