Colts reincarnated
Scott Kacsmar (yes, our own Captain Comeback) says the 2012 Colts are hoping for a reincarnation as something better. He wisely tempers our expectations however with this prognosis:
Totally premature 2012 diagnosis: It’s going to be a real struggle for the Colts in 2012. Unless Chuck Pagano is the next coach to get the “genius” label, Andrew Luck exceeds the hype with an incredible rookie season, and they draft a class that can rival the 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers, the Colts have virtually no shot at competing for a Super Bowl or even playoff spot this season. A 5-11 finish would be considered a very successful season.
I couldn't agree more. Five wins would electrify me. Heck, 3 wins would make me happy if they showed signs of becoming what we need them to become.
A lot has to go right, but I don't think a playoff run is unrealistic this year - not probable, but certainly possible. NFL teams can turn around pretty fast, and I think this team does have some talent. I'd rate the O-line, D-line, and LBs as the best we've had for quite awhile. Receiving corp needs to be rebuilt, but still has some pretty good talent, RBs are solid. DBs need some corners to develop or be added. Big questions are: (1) is Andrew Luck for real, and how quickly does he catch on; (2) how well can Pagano revitalize the defense; (3) how well does the young O-line develop and gell; and (4) how well do they handle close games?
Note that at this time last year the Bengals' QB was demanding a trade so he could play for a playoff contender, and predicting that the 49ers would host the championship game would have been pretty funny. For the Colts to do it, the old guys have to stay good another year, the young guys have to develop, the new system needs to take hold, but if all that happens they could be good right away.
I dont agree with the low expectations. Had Dan O played all of last year, Colts probably win 7 games. Andrew Luck, as a rookie, should be better than Dan O. The defense should be better. The guys we cut, other than Manning, or either backups or at the end of their careers. I expect a 7-9 season and some surprises.
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@heavywoody If the Colts won seven games with Orlovsky, they would have been the luckiest team in the history of the world.
@Kyle Rodriguez The Colts in 2011 should have won these games but blew it at the end. I feel if Dan O played, they would have won: ClevelandPittsburgTampa BayKansas CityCarolina So throw in the two games they won, I don't think they would have had to be the luckest team ever to win 7 games last year.
@heavywoody @Kyle Rodriguez But the bad teams continue to lose those games (year after year even). See 76 Bucs & 08 Lions. Orlovsky was better than Painter, but he still wasn't a quality starter.
If Colts are still playing people tight in 2012, they should pick up a few more wins by virtue of Luck being what he is supposed to be. But this team is not in any shape ready to compete for a winning record.
@heavywoody @Kyle Rodriguez "should have won" for us colts fans is skewed. for most teams, things don't go as well at the end of games as the colts have grown accustomed to, because if we were within a score or two, or even three, Peyton would almost always brings us back.
That said, I do think we win one or two more games if orlovsky was playing all year...
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@heavywoody orlovsky was every bit as horrid as Painter. They wouldn't have won any more games if he had played all year. His garbage time stats fooled people into thinking he was better than he was.
@Nate Dunlevy @heavywoody Dead on. I think we liked the fact that Orlovsky wasn't Painter. Statistically they were the same guy in a different jersey.
That said, I liked cheering for Dan more. Felt good when he got his first win.
@coltsauth_todd @Nate Dunlevy Nate, on another note, I love your writing. After having to suffer through that moron on Stampede Blue, it is actually good to read some good stuff.
@Nate Dunlevy Nate, I love your writing, but I disagree. Curtis Painter was so bad I think Mike Pagel could have done jumping jacks and accomplished more than Painter
@heavywoody @Nate Dunlevy Before the Saints game, Painter played no worse than Orlovsky. I don't know if that game crushed his confidence for whatever or what, but there was a major difference before and after.
