With training camp at hand, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser will spend the final days of the off-season wrapping up a series examining 21 questions about the Indianapolis Colts entering 2010 . . .
No. 17-21: Wrapping up the off-season.
We move today to the final part of this series examining 21 questions around the 2010 Indianapolis Colts, this one quickly addressing five questions as the writer has run out of time while camp approaches and he frantically tries to prepare . . .
No. 17: Will the offense look different in 2010? This one's a logical question, considering there's a new offensive coordinator, Clyde Christensen, who succeeded Tom Moore this off-season after Moore spent 12 seasons in the position.
The quick answer is it will be surprising if there's a big change in the offense. Firstly, Christensen spent eight seasons as wide receivers coach under Moore, and in those eight seasons, the Colts consistently ranked among the NFL's top offenses. No reason to drastically change what has been working.
Secondly, Moore is still on staff and is still likely have influence on mid-week game planning and offensive philosophy. He is still a respected voice in the offense, and the Colts are unlikely to stray far from his philosophies.
Thirdly, with QB Peyton Manning integrally involved in the game-planning and making a lot of decisions at the line of scrimmage, it's doubtful the Colts will change much about an offense that has made Manning the NFL's Most Valuable Player in four of the last seven seasons.
No. 18: Can the Colts' DT trio be effective again? The trio of Dan Muir, Antonio Johnson and Eric Foster played huge last season, outperforming their reputation and the expectations of many observers, but can they play to that level again?
There's little reason to think they can't. Muir, Johnson and Foster each are among the Colts' more focused veterans, and worked throughout the off-season to improve. Each player entered the NFL as either a late-round selection or free agent, and each seems motivated to continue improving.
The unknown factor at defensive tackle for the Colts is second-year veteran Fili Moala, a 2009 second-round selection who played sparingly as a rookie and who has the potential to emerge as a starter. If he becomes the play-making impact player he could be, the Colts could improve drastically on the interor of the defense.
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