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Indianapolis Colts RB Joseph Addai (Darron Cummings/AP Photo)
In the second of a series, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser continues to break down the Colts' roster entering the 2010 offseason . . .
PART TWO: THE RUNNING BACKS
Throughout the Indianapolis Colts' roster in 2009 there were studies in perception.
At few positions was that as true as running back, where veteran Joseph Addai surprised many who believed he was no longer an elite-level player.
That was the perception of many.
The reality hardly could have been more different.
Addai, a first-round selection in the 2006 NFL Draft, didn't put up huge numbers this past season, but the biggest reason for that was the Colts didn't ask him to. Still, Addai proved once again this past season he is an ideal fit in the Colts' pass-oriented offense.
Addai, after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2006 and 2007, rushed for 544 yards and five touchdowns in 2008. Addai was bothered by injuries much of the season, as was the Colts' offensive line, and each went into 2009 wanting to make up for the previous season.
They did, even if the results couldn't be clearly seen in the statistics.
With the Colts having selected RB Donald Brown in the first-round of the 2009 NFL Draft, many believed Brown – not Addai – would be the featured back by season's end. Instead, Addai started the first 15 games of the season, finishing with 828 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing on 219 carries.
As importantly in the Colts' offense, Addai continued to be one of the league's best pass blockers, as well as a reliable threat out of the backfield, catching 51 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns.
“He’s certainly been a guy that’s helped us quite a bit,” Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said. “I mean when you watch Joseph, first of all you have to consider a number of things. At that particular position they have to do a lot.
“Number one obviously he has to be able to run the football and run it effectively when given the opportunity and I think he’s been able to do that. I think you can see Joseph, when he gets on a roll he’s got the quickness and speed to be able to find gaps and holes and get in those cracks. Number two, he has to be able to pass protect. That’s one of the things that I think often times is under estimated about the job that he does. We do a lot in terms of our protection schemes. We do quite a bit in terms of requiring him to certainly know a lot just in terms of different looks he has to adjust to so on and so forth. (QB) Peyton (Manning) depends on him to be where he’s supposed to be. Joseph does a tremendous job in that area.
“Then, you couple that with the fact that he also is a pass receiver in our scheme. We certainly like to be able to get him out on routes. Sometimes we flex him outside wide in an empty back field. He’s a guy that has to be able to catch and run after the catch, that’s extremely important. And he’s shown the ability to do all those things. He’s an extremely valuable guy for us.”
Addai, a Pro Bowl selection following the 2007 season, didn't have the numbers this season to make a Pro Bowl push, but he was as valuable in several areas as several of the Colts' Pro Bowl selections – certainly enough so to be without question the Colts' top running back entering the offseason.
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