2012 NFL season: Are Indianapolis Colts on a rebound? – NFL Feature
The Indianapolis Colts ended the 2011 National Football League (NFL) season on the poor note of 2-14. The team aims to rebound this season.
Jim Irsay – the owner - has been making changes in the franchise all along the offseason to fulfil the aim of bouncing back.
In certain cases the changes are rash and a result of urgency in the decision-making. The owner does not agree to it, and no one can challenge him. After all it is his franchise and no one can take care of the Colts better than Jim himself.
Also, it is for the future to bear witness to the credibility of the decisions and choices he has made. He insists it is for a better future for the team.
The immediate target in front of him in the team’s future build-up is to help the side turnaround in the 2012 season.
He particularly faces a challenge of proving his decision of parting ways with veteran quarterback Peyton Manning after the long association of 14 years was right one and made at the right time.
It was a decision taken solely by the owner. The team’s officials, coaches, players and more importantly fans were in the opposition of his choice. Yet he went for it and now hopes his new promising hiring – rookie QB Andrew Luck - comes
up to his expectations.
The team’s future is dependent on the rookie. He has impressed at training camp. Yet this is no guarantee he will be a success in pro career straightaway. Even Peyton waited for six years to win his first playoff game.
So any failing on part of the rookie should not be a surprise. The rookie year tends to remain below the mark in case of a majority of players. The possibility of below the mark or average performance by Luck is greater amid the pressure
he is facing.
He is new to the pro conditions and can take time to adapt to its demands. Also, there is a great hype built around him and he is wary of it.
It is pertinent to mention that the QB is seen a direct replacement Peyton. He is expected to walk into his shoes straightaway, a very challenging task for him indeed.
Further, the owner expects the Colts to clearly improve from the previous year’s level. The team remained winners throughout when Peyton was present in the squad. One year's absence of the QB due to a neck problem cost the team the entire
regular season.
This on one hand reflects on the significance of Peyton's presence in the team and on the other exposes the poor quality of talent that the team has at other positions. This challenge remains in front of Luck now. It seems the team is
carried away with the hype of signing the new QB, giving a little attention to their needs at some other positions.
So Luck will have to play not just for his own sake but to make up for the lack of talent at other positions. Amid the situation, it will be very challenging for the Colts to make a great difference to their previous year’s performance
level.
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