Indianapolis Colts LB Clint Session (A.J. Mast/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 . . .
The Indianapolis Colts could find themselves with something relatively rare in the 2010 season:
A linebacking corps full of returning starters.
Not only that, a corps of above-average returning starters.
Because the Colts long have taken a draft-and-develop approach with their linebacking corps, they typically have allowed starting linebackers to leave as free agents. That has kept the group young, but it also has meant a new starter entering most seasons,
That may not be the case this season.
With the re-signing of MLB Gary Brackett preventing him from becoming a free agent this offseason, the Colts' starting linebacking unit of Brackett, weakside backer Clint Session and strongside backer Philip Wheeler is expected to return next season.
And while many observers long have criticized the Colts' linebackers, the unit had a solid season this past season.
While the group remains largely unknown – with even Brackett still categorized as “underrated' by many after signing a long-term deal – the unit had one of its best tackling seasons in recent memory, and was a reason the team was improved against the run this past season.
It was hardly surprising that Brackett had a solid season.
He long has been a player who performed above his reputation and his size, and with his veteran leadership and savvy, he long has made big, game-turning plays at clutch times. He has been a defensive captain since 2006, a starter since 2005, and his lockerroom presence is critical enough that it likely was a huge reason the Colts re-signed him in early March.
And while it has been written often this offseason that the Colts broke a pattern by re-signing him t a long-term contract, that's less the case than many might think. He has been important enough to the Colts' long-term plans for long enough that they originally re-signed him following his third season and first as a starter, 2005. The contract this time was more lucrative, and a double-digit signing bonus surprised some, but given his status as a core player and team captain, it wasn't as much of a departure from long-term philosophy that some might have believed.
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