2014 Colts NFL Handicapping
Luck, Colts Once Again The Class Of The AFC South
The Indianapolis Colts have opened the Andrew Luck era with back-to-back 11-win seasons and a playoff win over the Kansas City Chiefs a year ago, so it’s easy to understand why expectations of this team are high.
2014 Indianapolis Colts Team Preview/Predictions
- 2013 Record: 11-5
- ATS Record: 9-6-1
2014 Colts Futures
- Super Bowl Odds: +2200
- Conference Odds: +950
- AFC South Odds: -150
- 2014 Regular Season Wins: Over 9
Luck has passed for more yards in his first two seasons than any other quarterback in NFL history, but in order for the Colts to do more than win the AFC South he is going to need more help on both sides of the ball.
The return of Reggie Wayne is a positive after he missed most of last year with a knee injury. At 35-years old, Wayne doesn’t have a lot left in the tank but he has looked strong in camp and can still compete at a Pro Bowl level for one more season.
Indianapolis signed Hakeem Nicks to battle for snaps with TY Hilton and third-round rookie Donte Moncrief. Tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen are solid.
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The Colts need better play from their offensive line in order to keep Luck protected and open up running lanes on the ground – something they have struggled with over the past two seasons as Luck has been sacked 73 times already.
Indianapolis selected Ohio State tackle Jack Mewhort in the second round and will move him inside to guard, while last year’s fourth-round pick Khaled Holmes attempts to prove he is capable of taking over for the departed Samson Satele at center.
Left tackle Anthony Castonzo is solid but unspectacular and there are major question marks about whether Donald Thomas can hold off Lance Louis to start at left guard. This is a make or break year for running back Trent Richardson.
While he may never live up to his status as the third-overall pick from the 2012 NFL Draft, the Colts traded a first-round pick to get him and need more consistency. Ahmad Bradshaw could very well end up as the team’s No. 1 back this season with Vick Ballard also getting touches as the No. 3 runner.
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The Colts had the NFL’s ninth-ranked scoring defense a year ago, but they ranked 20th in total defense including 26th against the run.
The team addressed issues in the front-seven with the additions of defensive lineman Arthur Jones and linebacker D’Qwell Jackson in free agency and both players will make an immediate impact. Jones in particular is a major upgrade as a massive 3-4 end that will line up next to Cory Redding and Ricky Jean Francois on the line.
Jackson is a big hitter that will team up with Jerrell Freeman in the middle in a move that will make both players more effective, with the ageless Robert Mathis providing pressure from one outside side while Erik Walden and 2013 first-round pick Bjoern Werner attack from the other.
Vontae Davis is paid like a shutdown corner and while he is very effective on an island he does have lapses. The bigger concern is on the other side where Greg Toler has had trouble staying healthy. There isn’t much depth at the position with Darius Butler and Josh Gordy competing for the nickel spot.
Indianapolis also lost safety Antoine Bethea in free agency, which means undrafted free agent Delano Howell will get the first crack at free safety ahead of Corey Lynch, with LaRon Landry bringing his physicality to the strong safety position.
Luck and the passing game will help this team secure another AFC South title and get back to the postseason but how far they go from there will be determined by their balance on offense and defensive improvement.
The Colts need more from their run game in order to take some pressure off of Luck and the additions on the other side of the ball should help the defense improve if it can stay healthy.
Indianapolis should once again compete for a double-digit win total as the class of the AFC South.
2014 Colts Predictions
- Place they’ll finish in AFC South: 1st
- Place they’ll finish in AFC Conference: 3rd
- Over/Under Wins Prediction: OVER
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