Indy Football Report: A look at the Indianapolis Colts' safety position entering the 2009 NFL season

In the 12th of a position-by-position series, we'll examine the Indianapolis Colts' safety position entering 2009 training camp . . .

The Indianapolis Colts' safety position is one of the deepest, most-talented spots on not only the Colts' roster, but in the National Football League.

The Colts have a ton of front-line talent at the position, with 2005/2007 Pro Bowl selection Bob Sanders and 2007 Pro Bowl selection Antoine Bethea, and they also have depth. Third-year veteran Melvin Bullitt started in Sanders' place much of last season and helped solidify a secondary that allowed an NFL-record six touchdown passes. The Colts also in the offseason re-signed veteran safety Matt Giordano and second-year veteran Jamie Silva developed into one of the Colts' top special teams players last season.

Few teams in the NFL can match the Colts' talent at the position, and with the development of Bullitt, few teams can match the depth they have at the spot.

Breaking down the Colts' safety position . . .

Bob Sanders, sixth season, Iowa. Sanders in the last few seasons has become one of the most discussed, polarizing players on the Colts' roster. Some Colts fans love him for his hard-hitting, dynamic playmaking ability when he's healthy. Others are frustrated that he misses extended periods of time with injuries. The Colts invested big, long-term money in Sanders because when he is healthy, he is one of the NFL's best defensive players. He made the Pro Bowl in 2005 and 2007 and was the Associated Press' NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He made 48 tackles last season with an interception and a pass defensed last season while starting six games. Outlook: If Sanders can stay healthy -- and considering his history, that's a big if -- there's no reason he can't return to his Pro Bowl/Defensive Player of the Year form.

Antoine Bethea, fourth season, Howard. Since being selected with a sixth-round selection in the 2006 NFL Draft, Bethea has been one of the Colts' most reliable, effective defensive players. He has missed just five games in three seasons, and last season he not only played in all 16 regular-season games, he led the Colts in tackles with 126 and registered three passes defensed and two interceptions. In a secondary in which starters missed 23 games because of injury, Bethea was critical to holding the group together and allowing the Colts to set an NFL record by allowing six touchdown passes for the season. Outlook: Barring injury, he should continue to develop into one of NFL's better players at his position.

Melvin Bullitt, third season, Texas A&M. Few reserves at any position had the impact Bullitt had on the Colts' defense last season. After signing as an undrafted free agent in 2008, Bullitt developed into a solid special teams player in 2007 and last season, he filled in for Sanders in nine games. He led the Colts in interceptions with four and also had 69 tackles. Three of the interceptions clinched Colts victories. Outlook: If either Sanders or Bethea is injured, Bullitt is more than capable of playing at a starter's level.

Matt Giordano, fifth season, California. The re-signing of Giordano this offseason moved the Colts from a good safety unit to a potentially great one. Not that Giordano is necessarily a Pro Bowl selection in waiting, but he is a fifth-year veteran who is a big-time special teams player and who could start at safety for some teams. Before Bullitt's emergence this past season, the Colts felt good about Giordano as the first option behind Sanders and Bethea. He also is one of the team's fastest players, having run down Chicago Bears returner Devin Hester in Super Bowl XLI, tackling Hester as he crossed the goal line. Outlook: He'll be a leader on special teams and available should injuries hurt the safety position.

Jamie Silva, second season, Boston College. Silva surprised many by emerging as a roster player for 14 weeks last season. But in retrospect, it shouldn't have been a surprise. He's a tough safety who makes plays and he has the potential to be a solid special teams player/backup. If the Colts hadn't re-signed Giordano, he likely could have played the fourth safety role and the team wouldn't have been concerned about the spot. As it is, Silva gives the Colts unusual depth at the spot. He finished seventh on the team with 12 special teams tackles.Outlook: Expect Silva to be a big-time contributor on special teams.

Brannon Condren, third season, Troy. A fourth-round selection in the 2007 NFL Draft, Condren played eight games for the Colts as a rookie then four each for St. Louis and Miami last season. He spent the last half of last season on the Indianapolis practice squad and re-signed with the Colts in early January. Outlook: Condren has big-time physical talent. His offseason objective was to be more in the playbook and take advantage of his second chance with the Colts.

Synopsis

The Colts are confident enough in their safety position that they are bringing to camp just six true safeties, with five likely to make the roster. If healthy, their starters are as good as any tandem in the NFL and if they're not healthy, their depth is solid enough to get through long stretches without being a liability. Unless there is an unforeseen rash of injuries, this is a very strong area for Indianapolis.

Starters: Sanders, Bethea.

On the roster: Bullitt, Giordano, Silva. 

THE POSITION-BY-POSITION PRE-TRAINING CAMP SERIES: 

• The QUARTERBACKS
• The RUNNING BACKS
• The TIGHT ENDS
• The WIDE RECEIVERS
• The OFFENSIVE TACKLES
• The OFFENSIVE GUARDS
• The CENTERS
• The DEFENSIVE ENDS
• The DEFENSIVE TACKLES
• The LINEBACKERS
• The CORNERBACKS

OTHER EXAMINER COLTS TOPICS . . .

• Colts QB Peyton Manning on Steve McNair
• Steve McNair's career often intertwined with the Colts
• QB Peyton Manning nominated for ESPY
• QB Peyton Manning omitted from ESPN.com's All-Decade team
• The best of the Indianapolis Colts blogosphere . . .
• 2009 Colts training camp schedule
• SERIES: Top Five reasons to worry about Colts in 2009 
• SERIES: Top Five reasons to feel good about the Colts in 2009
• Manning: Influence of Tony Dungy still felt around Colts
• A look back at 2009 Colts minicamp
• Mudd, Moore return inevitable, happy end to long story
• Colts to allow sponsors on practice uniforms
• QB Peyton Manning willing to be patient regarding assistants
• A look at the defense entering 2009 minicamp
• A look at the offense entering 2009 minicamp
• QB Peyton Manning among three Colts players ranked highly in Madden 2010
• Hints Emerging about potential Colts defensive changes
• Top Five Real Issues Facing Colts Entering 2009
• Top Five Myths Surrounding the Colts Entering 2009
• Top Five Underrated Players on Colts Entering 2009
• Top Five Breakout Players for Colts Entering 2009
• Top Five Nonissues facing Colts Entering 2009
• Why Colts QB Peyton Manning is primed for another big season
• Preseason dates and times
• Former Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy essays on Michael Vick
• Re-signing DT Ed Johnson makes DT situation even better
• SERIES: Peyton Manning Top 10 underrated moments.
• Breaking Down the 2009 Colts Schedule
• Colts Rookie Minicamp
• Too early to quit on Addai
• A recap of the Colts' 2009 NFL Draft