New looks to both but which unit will rise above?
Rosters change every year in sports, and this is especially true in the NFL. Fielding the largest rosters creates the most opportunity for change. While the Indianapolis Colts didn’t undergo the largest roster haul ever, they did make more moves than normal considering last year was essentially a “run it back” type of season. Regarding the major changes, which unit stands to benefit the most and see the greatest improvement?
Neither the offense nor the defense was stellar last year. The defense experienced some key injuries, and the offense never seemed to find a rhythm bouncing between two quarterbacks for much of the year. Assuming both units stay relatively healthy, does one have an edge?
There is currently a quarterback competition which muddies the waters right away. Assuming Anthony Richardson wins out, there needs to be a massive step forward. Tyler Warren and the receiving group stepping up can go a long way to helping increase his completion percentage and confidence. Getting a healthy Michael Pittman Jr. who battled through injury all year will be a huge boost. The offensive line could be the wildcard here with both Kelly and Fries moving on to the Vikings. It might take a minute for the line to adjust to this major change.
While the hope is that the offense will improve, the Colts could be looking to hang their hat on the defensive side. It is a unit that has struggled for years. After a defensive line explosion of sacks in 2023, they regressed back to the mean. Health was an issue for this unit as well. Getting players back to full strength along with a more experienced Latu will be huge. The issue has been the secondary. Chris Ballard addressed that in a major way by adding Bynum and Ward; two players that could come in a contribute immediately. Ideally, Brents will be ready to go and stay on the field. His career has been plagued by injuries, which is a shame because he had plenty to offer this team.
Both units have room for improvement. The defense seems to have the most promise, however. Heath and an infusion of talent will elevate this group higher than last year for sure and most likely above the offense. Will they be a shut down unit? Most likely not, but that doesn’t mean they can’t take a giant step forward.
