Twenty questions with the Indianapolis Colts . . . No. 13: Who will start at running back?

QUESTION NO. 13: WHO WILL START AT RUNNING BACK FOR THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS?

If there is a hot-button, emotion-heightening issue among Indianapolis Colts fans and followers in the 2009 offseason, it has been the running back position -- and specifically Joseph Addai.

Is he the same player he was as a rookie?

Is he the right player to be the starter?

Will he start now that the Colts have drafted Donald Brown?

Those are the questions fans and followers have asked all off-season, particularly since the Colts used the No. 27 selection of the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft on Brown, who rushed for more than 2,000 yards at the University of Connecticut this past season. They are legitimate questions, and ones that likely will continue into the regular season.

(Note: This is the 13th of a 20-part Examiner series on the Indianapolis Colts -- Twenty Questions with the Colts -- leading into 2009 training camp. Over 20 days, we'll take a look at 20 questions facing the team entering the season . . .)

Addai, a first-round selection in the 2006 NFL Draft, rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, and he was named to the Pro Bowl following the 2007 season. He was a versatile back, strong as a receiver, and scored 19 touchdowns in his first 31 games. But last season, with both he and the Colts' offensive line hit at various times by injuries, Addai rushed for 544 yards and five touchdowns on 155 carries.

The performance made Addai a focal point of criticism among fans and observers, but around the Colts, he hardly has been singled out for blame.

Said OT Ryan Diem: I put no blame on the running backs whatsoever, because if they don’t have anywhere to go, it’s not their fault. It’s something we definitely need to fine-tune and get working a lot better, because it just opens up the rest of the offense.

Throughout the offseason, Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell often has voiced his support for Addai:

I think you’ll see him come along and develop. He’s going through a process right now of getting things back to where he feels good and comfortable. He had a few things clinged up here and there, but overall, you’re going to see: Joe’s going to have a fine year.

Still, when the Colts selected Brown in the first round, it added a layer to the already-growing concerns over Addai. Brown is a big-play running back with big-time breakaway speed, and a natural reaction among many observers is to assume that Brown was selected to either replace Addai or as a way for the team to send Addai some sort of message.

On draft day, Colts President Bill Polian was asked what the selection of Brown said about Addai:

“Not a thing," Polian replied.

Said Caldwell: It’s not any different than what we’ve been over the years. If you look back to since we’ve been here, there always has been two quality backs. He shouldn’t change anything in terms of his midnset, but he does indeed have some help. . . . It’s important to have two good backs in your system. No question about that. You need two good guys who can carry the mail for you.

Said Polian: What it says to Joseph Addai is, ’You’re going to have a longer career — a more productive career.'

The thought here is that Caldwell's quote describes the reason for drafting Brown. Addai didn't have the season last season that he had in 2006 and 2007, but he didn't suddenly decline to become a sub-par player in one season. He's a solid running back and a solid receiver who beginning in 2009 will be what so many NFL starting running backs are these days -- part of a two-running back rotation in which each runner offers individual strengths. The Colts used two running backs in recent years, but in recent seasons, those two backs were always a first-round level talent such as Addai or Edgerrin James with a late-round or undrafted talent such as former backup Dominic Rhodes. Now, the Colts will have two first-round backs an will count on large contributions from each player.

QUESTION NO. 13: WHO WILL START AT RUNNING BACK FOR THE COLTS IN 2009?

Answer: Addai, but look for the Colts to rotate running backs more extensively than they have in the last decade.

EXAMINER SERIES: TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH THE COLTS . . .

1) Will Jim Sorgi be the backup quarterback?

2) Will Special Teams be Special?

3) Who will be the Colts' breakout player in 2009?

4) Will loss of former Head Coach Tony Dungy hurt in 2009?

5) What will defense look like in 2009?

6) Will DT Ed Johnson impact the defense in 2009?

7) How important is the return of OG Ryan Lilja in 2009?

8) Will K Adam Vinatieri be ready in 2009?

9) Will WRs be improved in 2009?