Detroit Lions 2016 Opponent Preview: Indianapolis Colts
By Zac Snyder
As training camp approaches, we check in on the Indianapolis Colts. The Detroit Lions will open the season with a week one road game in Indianapolis.
The Detroit Lions need to avoid the kind of slow start that doomed their 2015 season if they are to have any success in 2016. That starts with a good showing in their season opener, a week one road trip to face the Indianapolis Colts.
To check up on the Colts, I got together with Horseshoe Hero’s Evan Reller for a Q&A. My questions followed by his responses are below:
1. How would you assess the Colts’ offseason? Did they do what they needed to do through the draft and free agency?
In a word, boring. But that was expected with Andrew Luck‘s deal. The Colts have to do a better job from here on out of drafting and skewing younger. After a rough foray into free agency in 2015 (which was about 50-50 on hits and misses) it was unlikely they would spend big in 2016. The one big addition in free agency, CB Patrick Robinson, is a huge upgrade over Greg Toler and should immediately improve the secondary.
The draft strategy seemed to be “pick up all the offensive linemen and throw them at the problem.” It worked last season for the defensive line, and with a player like Ryan Kelly already playing with the starters, it will likely work. Something resembling consistency at center would be a nice improvement over what Luck has had in the past.
The Colts were quiet out of necessity, not because of a huge fundamental shift in strategy. That said, it has been a necessary offseason for the team.
2. Which rookie are you most excited to see play in 2016 and why?
Ryan Kelly is certainly interesting, and he’ll likely be better than any other center the Colts have had recently even as a rookie. But he won’t be exciting to watch (although there will probably be a pancaking highlight here and there).
Clemson safety TJ Green is interesting, if only for his exceptional speed. He needs a lot of work though and won’t be starting on defense. Green’s impact will be felt on special teams as a gunner though.
Personally, I want to see what Texas DT Hassan Ridgeway can do. The Colts defensive line is deep and talented. Ridgeway will be a rotational player but one with a lot of upside that we could see make a number of splash plays this season.
3. What is the biggest question that still needs to be answered heading into training camp?
Is the offensive line improved enough to keep Luck upright? Luck goes down and the season is over. Matt Hasselbeck isn’t around to eek out a few wins this year (and after a few good starts faded fast).
4. What are your expectations for the Colts in 2016?
The Colts should be right back in the mix for the AFC South title. If Luck is healthy and improved, they can win the division again. The other teams all seemed to get better, but we’ve been saying this for years now and the results on the field don’t match. The Titans and Jaguars are perpetually picking in the Top 10 of the draft while the Texans struggle to find a QB every year (and Brock Osweiler isn’t proven yet).
5. Right here, right now, are you marking down the game against the Lions as a win, loss or toss-up for the Colts?
This feels like a win for the Colts. At home and the Lions don’t have their matchup trump card on offense anymore. Plus the last time these two teams met in 2012 the Colts pulled off a dramatic rally and that was a much worse team than the 2016 iteration.
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