It’s hard to stay completely up to date on every detail of each of the NFL’s 32 teams. So we’ve decided to try and reach out to the blogger community to help provide some insight.

Over the next few weeks we’re going to get in touch with someone who covers each team to get their thoughts on how the 2011 season went, how they see the draft and free agency playing out and what they expect and hope for in 2012.

The plan is to do a post every couple of days in the same order as the draft. As such, we start with the Indianapolis Colts.

Few teams went from penthouse to outhouse as quickly as Indianapolis did, thanks in large part to the neck injuries that afflicted Peyton Manning all season. So was this a one year aberration? Or are there deeper problems the Colts must address before they can think of being competitive again?

We asked Brett Mock, managing editor and head writer at The Colts Authority, for his thoughts on that and much more. Here’s what he had to say:

Zoneblitz: Peyton Manning’s injuries were obviously a large reason for the Colts’ struggles in 2011, but I was stunned by the level to which the team fell apart. What else factored in?

Brett Mock: My biggest criticism, and what made an otherwise talented football team — though not all will agree with me — look really bad, is that all members of the Colts front office, from owner Jim Irsay down to head coach Jim Caldwell, were really slow to react to issues that were blatantly obvious with their franchise for multiple seasons.

At no point in Larry Coyer’s tenure with the Colts did the defense look comfortable fulfilling its responsibilities. Even veteran defenders looked lost at times.

A historically stingy defense, with regard to allowing big plays, was suddenly susceptible to them. A secondary that had done more with less at cornerback for many years continued to get worse. Then, like someone turned on the light switch, after the team fired Coyer and promoted linebackers coach Mike Murphy the defense looked focused, on the same page, limited big plays, and dropped their average points allowed dramatically.

Similarly, on the other side of the football, for some reason the team entered the season with the same pass-heavy Manning-style offense they have played since 1998 — and apparently seemed to think it would actually work until late in the year. It was never going to be a successful game plan, particularly with the quarterbacks that Indianapolis had to work with, and it wasn’t until the offense focused more on their refreshingly productive running game that the team was able to be more competitive.

Zoneblitz: I suppose it may depend on what happens with Manning, but in your opinion are the Colts in full rebuild mode or can they make another run and why?

Mock: After owner Jim Irsay’s press conference and comments on the season-end Colts radio program Monday, I think the team is very seriously considering — and preparing for — a wide-scale rebuild. He wisely left the option open to retain some veterans in order to be able to win in the short-term and long-term future, but it is clear that his focus is on getting salary cap concerns under control and he said there is no denying that the team is in a rebuild mode.

If there is even a remote chance that the Colts will make a play for top billing in the AFC in 2012, it requires a full Manning recovery, aggressive contract restructuring, and probably veteran stars like wide receiver Reggie Wayne, center Jeff Saturday, defensive end Robert Mathis, and even second contract hopefuls like tight end Jacob Tamme and wide receiver Pierre Garcon to accept smaller contracts than they could probably demand on the open market. Absent total confidence in Manning, it makes much more sense to clear the cap and enter an aggressive rebuild.

Zoneblitz: Who will be the quarterback in 2012 —  Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck or someone else?

Mock: Right now, given Irsay’s comments and continued uncertainty surrounding Manning’s health, one would have to think Luck will be drafted.

Again, the only way I see any change in the Colts draft strategy is a full recovery and 100% confidence for Manning, along with all of the contractual considerations mentioned above. Otherwise, a new era (a phrase used often by Irsay in his press conference) is probably about to start with Andrew Luck under center. I don’t see the Colts choosing another quarterback in the draft over Luck, if they do end up going that direction.

Zoneblitz: If the Colts do draft Luck is it automatic that Manning is gone or can they co-exist?

Mock: I think Manning and Luck co-existing on the same team is highly unlikely. The only way I see that happening is with Manning taking a much smaller one-year deal to prove he is healthy to the rest of the league with promises made to Luck that he has one year to learn from Manning and then he’s in.

Of course, in order for that to be a consideration at all, it requires that the team take a chance and spend a lot of money on a quarterback whose not convinced the league that he’s ready to go. Moreover, Manning will only play in Indianapolis or elsewhere if he is convinced that he is playing with a team that can win a championship. For that to be Indy, it means the entire group of veteran players will likely need to be retained — making the size of the investment even more prohibitive and very risky.

I doubt it happens.

Zoneblitz: What was your reaction to the firing of Bill Polian?

Mock: I think it hurts the team in the short-term if Manning can return healthy. I think it was a good move in the long-term if Manning is unable to return healthy and the team is preparing to rebuild. It all depends on Manning.

Zoneblitz: Will Jim Caldwell now survive for another year or is his firing a matter of time?

Mock: I can’t imagine Caldwell keeping his head coaching job given the circumstances. No matter who the general manager is, I think they will have relationships with some guys they will want to bring in. Irsay mentioned that he thinks general managers like to maintain some continuity but keeping the head coach of a 2-14 team with questionable game day decision making is something I imagine most solid general manager candidates would try to avoid.

Zoneblitz: Besides the Manning/Luck situation, what else do you see the Colts addressing in the draft and free agency for 2012?

Mock: An astute question, to be sure, but one that is impossibly difficult to answer. Honestly, it depends on whether the team enters a major rebuild or attempts to retain much of the veterans.

In a rebuild scenario, the team will focus on best player available — most likely — at impact positions. With Luck, the team might grab a top-flight receiver, or the best pass rusher on the board. Of course, even those suggestions will depend on scheme, coaches, and the general manager.

Unfortunately, there are more questions than answers right now in Indianapolis.

Zoneblitz: Despite having Dwight Freeney and Pat Angerer as a couple of solid anchors, the defense has needed some work for quite awhile. What needs to be done to fix that side of the ball?

Mock: If the Colts stick with the Dungy-2 defense, the biggest areas of need are defensive tackle, cornerback, and safety.

Melvin Bullitt has been hurt two consecutive seasons and though there is some promising depth behind Antoine Bethea, there is not another proven player at the position. Cornerback Jacob Lacey looked like a solid NFL cornerback in the last three or four games of the season under Mike Murphy’s modifications but Indianapolis has lacked a shut down corner for many years. Finding the counterpart to 2011 rookie Drake Nevis in the middle could significantly improve the pass rush, and run defense.
If the defensive scheme changes, or if the veterans are released, defensive end will become a priority.

Zoneblitz: Colts Authority just came together in the last few days – what can you tell me about the collaboration that created this site?

Mock: Colts Authority is an exciting project that is the product of extremely talented Colts fan writers coming together in one location to create a one-stop location for the Colts community to gather, learn, and connect. While the basic back-bone of the site is rooted in a merger of 18to88.com, Coltsider.com, and Coltzilla.com, a group of new contributors and a new relationship with the Bloguin Network gives us an opportunity to be more than just a blog, and hopefully a place the Colts fan community will embrace as their first visit for news, analysis, and conversation.

Zoneblitz: Anything else you’d like to add?

Mock: We’re excited about the launch and appreciate you thinking of us to answer questions for your readers.

Follow Brett Mock on twitter at: @coltsauthority
Follow Zoneblitz on twitter at: @zoneblitzcom

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