National Football League

Colts' short memory could be useful in 2010

Published Aug. 25, 2010 5:19 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Colts are reverting to their short-term memory these days.

The record-setting winning streak? History. Peyton Manning's personal stash of MVP Awards? Safely packed away. That incredible run of seven straight 12-win seasons, eight consecutive playoff appearances, a shot at perfection and last year's Super Bowl run?

Forget about it, fans, the players and coaches already have.

''One thing we've always done, whether finishing on top or finishing short, is to put the previous season behind us,'' Manning said. ''We are just going to keep trying to do things the right way.''

There's no reason to change now.

Players and coaches often explain they couldn't have won six division crowns, two AFC championships, a Super Bowl title and a league record 115 games over the last decade by constantly reliving their accomplishments or failures.

So, to nobody's surprise, the Colts have reverted to their old form six months after the stinging Super Bowl defeat.

''It's just a loss,'' coach Jim Caldwell said. ''We've had our joyous moments and some where we're not real happy, but you can't linger on it. We're looking ahead. It's a new year, a new season and obviously our future is bright.''

Few conference champs in the salary-cap era have been as well-positioned to bounce back as Indy.

The 34-year-old Manning has shown no signs of decline. He's coming off a record fourth MVP season, a career-best completion percentage (68.8) and his highest TD total (33) since breaking Dan Marino's league record in 2004.

And, if the Colts are healthy, Manning just might have the best supporting cast of his 13-year career.

He has four experienced receivers - Pro Bowler Reggie Wayne, 2007 first-round pick Anthony Gonzalez, Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon. Tight end Dallas Clark is coming off his first Pro Bowl season, and Clark's backups, Jacob Tamme and Brody Eldridge, have stood out during the preseason.

''It's got to be the best in the league,'' Clark said when asked to describe Indy's receiving corps. ''There are a lot of guys that can make a lot of big plays at any point. There are a lot of good threats and everyone has a different tangible they bring. On paper they look good, but like anything else you have to go out and prove it.''

The Colts also spent a second straight summer trying to improve their stagnant ground game.

Four of the five offensive line starters return, though left tackle Charlie Johnson (foot) and Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday (knee) missed most of training camp with injuries. Saturday is expected to return by early September. The Colts have not said how much longer Johnson will be out.

To help running backs Joseph Addai and Donald Brown, the Colts brought in some bigger linemen through free agency and the draft - with mixed results. In the first preseason game, the Colts again struggled to run the ball. Last week, however, the Colts averaged 4.7 yards per carry, a significant improvement.

And with 10 of 11 starters back, the biggest change will be the most significant coaching transition of Manning's career. Clyde Christensen has replaced longtime offensive coordinator Tom Moore as the play-caller, and Pete Metzelaars has replaced the retired Howard Mudd as offensive line coach.

How much will things change?

''I don't think much,'' said Christensen, who hasn't been in charge of an offense since 2001 in Tampa Bay. ''There will be some tweaking, but we tweak things every single year. So basically, it's the same offense.''

That's not good news for defensive coordinators.

But in Indy, where offense has always gotten top billing, the defense is evolving.

Owner Jim Irsay re-signed linebacker Gary Brackett and safety Antoine Bethea to big offseason deals and has now committed $242.5 million to six defensive players. Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders are healthy, and recently-signed free agent Deshea Townsend gives Indy 13 defensive players with Super Bowl starts.

With five rookie draft picks, including pass rush specialist Jerry Hughes, it could be the best defense of the Manning era, too.

''I think that there are guys who have really proved themselves and have done a great job stepping in in my place,'' said Sanders, who missed all but two games last season. ''Last year was a great year. It did not end the way they wanted it to, but the guys did great things.''

The Colts aren't look back, though.

With a second year in Larry Coyer's defense, the experience of Collie and Garcon and the addition of another crop of promising talent, well, the Colts believe they can start this decade the same way they finished the last one - with one exception.

''I won't say we are going to work harder because we've always worked hard. I think saying work harder means saying you didn't work hard enough,'' Manning said. ''But we are going to keep working and hopefully we are going to take it one step further this year.''