Sunday Debate: Indianapolis Colts Make the Playoffs in 2016

Brendan Pignataro and Mark Morales-Smith will be debating a different topic each Sunday. This week will feature a debate on on the Indianapolis Colts. Will the Colts make the playoffs?

In last week’s installment of our Sunday Debates, I proved to my colleague Mark why the Raiders are improved, but not yet ready to make the playoffs. For this week’s article, I will explain why the Colts have bounced back to form, and will indeed return to the postseason. Saddle up Indianapolis, you are in for a treat this season.

Related Story: Sunday Debate: The Colts Will Not Make the Playoffs

Let’s begin by discussing the obvious. Andrew Luck is back and healthy, as he is practicing fully during this month’s OTA’s. Since he was drafted, Luck has always been under constant fire from pressure up the middle. No quarterback can perform well when the pocket collapses before he can even get thru his first read. If he stays healthy, and they can keep him on his feet, Luck will be an MVP candidate this season.

The Colts made their best draft pick in the last few years when they took center Ryan Kelly out of Alabama n the first round. Amazingly, Kelly did not allow a sack in his last two years at college, and only had one penalty called against him in 2015. . There is no doubt in my mind that Luck poured a celebratory glass of champagne when the Colts made this selection.

In addition to Kelly, left guard Jack Mewhort continued to improve in 2015, and third round pick Le’Raven Clark will help with pass protection this year. Clark may be able to solve their issues at right guard before eventually taking a tackle spot. The offensive line has been revamped.

Another need for the Colts which they wisely decided to attack in the draft was to find a defensive tackle who can put pressure up the middle. They did this with an underrated selection in round four. Hassan Ridgeway slipped in the draft due to the great depth at the position, but he has the power and athleticism to cause havoc on centers and guards in this league when motivated.

Quick side story, I often watch games on Sundays at a bar that shows every NFL game. Each week there is one television dedicated to the Colts where a huge fan of the team is constantly and hilariously screaming at the top of his lungs “Penetration!” His biggest gripe with the team is the defensive lines’ trouble at getting pressure. With the addition of Ridgeway and the return of the disruptive tackle Henry Anderson from an ACL injury, I believe this Colts fan won’t be yelling much about their ability to penetrate this season. They have intriguing depth now on the defensive line.

Next, I want to dispel a common notion among football fans. I often hear how Andrew Luck is their whole team, and the Colts roster is weak. I believe their roster is a little underrated and definitely getting better. Indianapolis rallied to go 5-3 with a 40-year-old quarterback Matt Hasselbeck mostly at the helm. They can’t do this without talent on this roster.

On offense, T.Y. Hilton is a bonafide number one wide receiver in this league. His 2015 production (1,124 yards) dipped with the poor quarterback play, but I believe he will bounce back this year and surpass his 2014 totals of 1,345 yards and seven touchdowns with Luck at quarterback. Alongside Hilton, Donte Moncrief has the size (6’2”) and speed (4.40, 40-time) to excel as the Colts number two receiver.

Second year player Phillip Dorsett and his ridiculous explosiveness is not bad to have as a third option either. Andre Johnson was a tremendous player in his career, but was awful in 2015. Releasing him was addition by subtraction for this roster. Lastly, at tight end Dwayne Allen has proved he can be productive if he can just stay on the field.

On the defensive side of the ball, cornerback Vontae Davis doesn’t get the recognition for being a star corner that he deserves. He was hampered by a foot injury in 2015, but in 2014 he was ranked the sixth best player overall in the league by Pro Football Focus. Also, despite being 34 years old last year and missing three games, safety Mike Adams had a very good season and made his second straight Pro Bowl. Adams will be a mentor for new second round pick T.J. Green, who has the potential to be a very good cover safety.

Although the AFC South has gotten better, it certainly isn’t murderer’s row. The Jaguars had a great off-season, but are most likely a year or two away from being legitimate contenders in the division. The Texans are the reigning division champions and retooled their offense, but I am skeptical of Brock Osweiler’s ability to lead them to a division title in his first year.

Let’s not forget that Osweiler was benched last season with the number-one seed on the line, against a lowly Chargers defense for Peyton Manning, who could barely throw the ball anymore. Their draft picks of Will Fuller and Braxton Miller are nice, but both will take time to develop. Pulling up the rear of the division is the Titans, who are rebuilding efficiently, but still have glaring holes all over their roster.

I worry more about the Colts running game and linebacker corps then their division rivals. To be fair, Frank Gore did not look himself last season, and the loss of Jerrell Freeman does hurt the defense. Not making these positions a higher priority in the off-season could come back to haunt them. However, I do not believe it will hinder them from a playoff appearance.

Indianapolis will take the AFC South. With the front office finally addressing needs on both sides of the trenches, Luck back and healthy, and young and talented players all over the depth chart, the Colts are indeed back. I’ll let Homer Simpson tell Mark how he did in this week’s debate…

More nfl spin zone: Sunday Debate: Oakland Raiders Will Not Make the Playoffs

Please check out Mark’s opposing article, and feel free to join in on the debate in the comments!