Establishing an identity should be of utmost importance for the Colts..
Who are the Colts?
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What is the identity of the Indianapolis Colts?
This should be the top question for Chris Ballard and his staff as they prepare for an offseason that finds a team with no current direction. Evaluating talent on the roster should be step one. Step two is determining which direction to go and who is out there to get them to that place. Can you honestly say you know what the Colts hang their hat on at the end of the day? That is the issue that must be addressed.
Ballard has preached for years that he wants to build in the trenches. That is where it all starts according to him, but we haven’t seen his trench warfare pan out. The defensive line was solid a year ago, but they fell off in 2024. That is an old school approach to team building, however, and hasn’t produced any level of success. Drafting dozens of pass rushers, hoping one will stick, has been an underwhelming failure. Additionally, the offensive line hasn’t been the same since Philip Rivers which was most likely a product of his ability to get the ball out immediately than the ability of the line to protect. This unit is extremely expensive and has been playing below its paycheck.
In the Peyton Manning days, it was all about the offense. We knew the team was going to give up points on the other side, but with so many weapons on offense, the Colts could almost always outscore their opponent. Looking at the offense now, it is far from a juggernaut. While it hasn’t been ignored, Ballard hasn’t gone anywhere close to all in to make it a superior unit. Yes, he finally drafted a quarterback, but in a league of premium receivers helping lead the charge, the current unit is far from the top.
The defense is about as bad as it can get, but that doesn’t mean things can’t change quickly. If that is where Ballard wants to focus, he can transform this unit overnight. Draft or bring in top tier cornerbacks, upgrade the linebackers in free agency, and solidify the safety positions. Those are all things that can be done in a season or two. Look no further than the Minnesota Vikings or the Philadelphia Eagles. Their defenses are two of the best after shrewd drafting and free agency moves.
Things can change quickly. Rosters can improve overnight, but Chris Ballard and his team need to pick a lane. Well, pick a lane and address the key positions that lead to winning in modern day football. It won’t be easy, but it wouldn’t be that hard either. Be aggressively focused. That should be the motto for the Colts this offseason. With a solid front, the defense seems to be the place to go all in. Shore up the secondary and get better tackling linebackers and this unit could take off. Do that and it could be enough to save Ballard’s job for another year.
