After the 2011 season, Colts owner Jim Irsay blew up the team and decided to rebuild his franchise after the club went 2-14. Irsay cleaned house from the front office down to players riding the bench. Heading into training camp, roughly 40% to 45% of the roster is new faces. That includes this year's draft class.
In addition to the new players, there's also 17 new coaches including a new head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator. So not only will there be new starters on each side of the ball, but there will also be new schemes to learn. Many NFL analysts predict the Colts to finish with the worst record in 2012. They claim that the team has too many holes to fill, lacks depth, and hasn't proven anything yet. Some of this might be true, but there are a few positions on the roster that you do not have to worry about.
Here are the 5 positions that fans don't need to worry about heading into the 2012 season
5) Center - Samson Satele's knock is that he doesn't play every down to his full potential. The flip side of this is that Satele can be an All-pro center when he does play to his potential. The guy is tough and has the right attitude for blocking. Additionally, the new coaching staff loves him and believes he can be the key piece to their run game.
4) OLB - Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are proving that they can make the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker. They have the athleticism to get out in coverage and stop the outside run. If the secondary can hold up, these two will put pressure on the opposing quarterbacks.
3) Tight End - Both Fleener and Allen are rookies, but their athleticism and size will create mismatches against opposing defenses. The offense will feature multiple tight ends and a lot of shifting.
2) Quarterback - Yes Andrew Luck is still a rookie. However, he's a highly talented quarterback who has already shown his potential during this off-season. Additionally, Drew Stanton is a decent back-up who can help out if Luck struggles.
1) Kicker - Adam Vinatieri is a HOF kicker who's made some of the most clutch kicks in the history of the NFL. The man has won multiple Super Bowls and has ice in his vains. If the games come down to a battle of kickers, the Colts could go 16-0.
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