With Organized Team Activities Over, five reasons to worry about Indianapolis Colts entering 2009

June 15, 8:42 AMIndianapolis Colts ExaminerJohn Oehser

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The Indianapolis Colts' 2009 organized team activities are over, which means the offseason essentially is over, too. The Colts will continue conditioning, but major preparation is on hold for several weeks.

Training camp is next. Players report to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., on August 2.

Then, preseason and regular season.

I spent the the last month or so around the Colts' OTAs and mincamps, and in that time did what I could to sift through what for the Colts has been a strikingly unsettled offseason. Not a "tumultuous" offseason, as it has been described by some. And not a poor offseason, as it also has been described. Despite a lot of national attention on the Colts' coaching staff this offseason, I don't see this as a team in crisis. Offensive coordinator Tom Moore and offensive line coach Howard Mudd are coming back and will perform essentially their former roles. Also this is a deeper, more talented team than it was a year ago, so if you're looking for teeth-gnashing or predictions of a Colts downfall, this isn't your place.

That said, this is the NFL in the salary cap era, and as such, any team has issues. Therefore, a day before we at Examiner present you the five reasons to feel very, very good about the Colts in 2009 we'll do the opposite and present five reasons for the worrying-inclined to do so:

5) Defensive tackle stability. The Colts made major moves at the DT position in the offseason, first drafting Fili Moala (Southern California) and Terrance Taylor (Michigan), then re-signing Ed Johnson several days later. The result? A position that was ravaged by unexpected losses last August and September is suddenly an area that could be a strength. The one caveat to that statement is that there is an emphasis on "could be." The Colts are largely depending upon two rookies (a second-round and fourth-round selection, respectively) and a player they suspended after a marijuana arrest (Johnson). The gut here is that the Colts have solified this position for several seasons, but considering the problems they have had at tackle in recent seasons, it's unlikely they'll ever rest easy when it comes to this position.

4) The health of K Adam Vinatieri. This became an issue this past weekend when the Colts announced that Vinatieri had undergone surgery on his right -- kicking -- hip. The team said in a statement that the surgery isn't expected to keep Vinatieri out during the regular season, but Vinatieri is 36 years old, so the hip will be an issue until he returns.

3) Offensive line health. This was a major problem last season, with three-time Pro Bowl C Jeff Saturday missing four games and six-year veteran Ryan Lilja missing the entire season with a knee injury. Partly as a result, the Colts' line struggled to one of its most inconsistent seasons in the last decade and the team finished 31st of 32 NFL teams in rushing. Liljla participated in Indianapolis' OTA sessions sessions in the last few weeks, and the team is optimistic about his return. If he and Saturday stay healthy, it's hard to imagine the Colts don't improve here.

2) The health of QB Peyton Manning. This may seem like a silly "concern" considering that Manning not only is one of the NFL's best players at his position, but one of the most reliable. Manning has made nine Pro Bowls, won three Associated Press Most Valuable Player Awards and he never has missed an NFL start in 11 seasons. Manning missed training camp and the preseason after knee surgery last offseason and although his dirability is unquestionable, his availability is obviously critical to the Colts' hopes.

1) Production at third wide receiver. The Colts got 57 receptions from WR Anthony Gonzalez last season, but with WR Marvin Harrison released in February, Gonzalez is expected to start alongside three-time Pro Bowl WR Reggie Wayne. Second-year veteran Pierre Garcon, a sixth-round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, looked good in OTAs, and he'll compete with third-year veteran Roy Hall and rookie Austin Collie for the third receiver position. Garcon has looked like a guy who can move into a productive role, and between he and Hall, the Colts should be able to approach Gonzalez's production from last season.

That's it. That's five. The reality is it's a relatively weak list. There's a reason for that and that's that on paper, there aren't many glaring areas about which to worry entering the 2009 season. Not to say the Colts are perfect at every positon. Far from it, but they're a solid roster that has improved in a lot of areas. As evidenced by the list, health is the main concern, but if the Colts can remain healthy, there's little reason to think they won't contend for a sixth AFC South title in seven seasons.
 

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• 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
• QB Peyton Manning must let assistant coaching situation play out
• 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 Frank Winters and Ron Johnson fit the Colts' philosophical approach
• 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
• On Loss of Dom Anile
• 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
• Top 10 rookie free agents in the Polian era
• Too early to quit on Addai
• A recap of the Colts' 2009 NFL Draft