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Indianapolis Colts DT Dan Muir (Rob Carr/AP Photo)
In the ninth of a series, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser continues to break down the Colts' roster entering the 2010 offseason . . .
PART NINE: THE DEFENSIVE TACKLES . . .
The Indianapolis Colts' 2009 season wasn't without a bit of irony at the defensive tackle position. A lot of irony, in fact.
With many observers considering the area a weakness, the Colts spent much of last season retooling the defensive interior. With Dan Muir, Antonio Johnson and Eric Foster – a trio of unknown, lightly-regarded players – making up the core of the position in 2008, the Colts drafted a pair of defensive tackles, and made a bold move there in free agents.
The interior indeed played better this past season. And although the Colts did not improve significantly statistically against the run from the previous season, there was an overall feeling that the run defense had improved.
And by the end of the season, the reasons were obvious:
Dan Muir, Antonio Johnson and Eric Foster.
Because while the Colts drafted Fili Moala and Terrence Taylor last offseason, and while they re-signed Ed Johnson as a free agent, no member of that trio made the expected impact. Instead, Johnson started the entire season, Muir started the last three months, and along with Foster, the unit made an impact that helped the Colts to their second Super Bowl appearance in four seasons.
“Our postseason, the whole season, it's been our defensive tackles," Brackett told the Sporting News shortly before the Colts' 31-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV. “As a defense, we go as they go. Dan Muir has really had a coming-out type of year. Antonio Johnson has been solid. Eric Foster comes in on third down and gets after it.
“When those guys are on, it makes our job a lot easier flying to the football, being free. Those guys are why we are successful.”
That was a sentiment repeated often throughout the postseason.
And just because it was surprising doesn't mean it wasn't true.
Johnson, who signed with the Colts off the Tennessee Titans' practice squad midway through the 2008 season, started 15 games and finished the season with 57 tackles and a sack.
Johnson emerged as a starter in the offseason, and held the position throughout. The roles of the rest of the tackles took more time to define, with Ed Johnson – a starter in 2007 before being released one game into the 2008 season – filling the role the first month of the season.
The Colts released Ed Johnson in mid-October, and while many observers questioned the move, and wondered if the Colts' early-season improved would continue, Muir moved into a starting role. The defense showed no dropoff, and Muir emerged as one of the surprise stories on the unit, leading the line with 66 tackles and registering six pressures.
And if he was underrated, Muir said he didn't worry about such labels.
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