It’s not like the Indianapolis Colts haven’t addressed the issue. They just haven’t solved it. The Colts have been working on offensive line issues for four years now. Last season, they had 10 different men in the five spots, and still managed to have the third-best offense in the National Football League. But this time it’s different. In last week’s season opener at Buffalo, the Colts took on a defense led by the blitz-happy Rex Ryan, and the results appeared to be the one game a year where Indy seems to just lay an egg. For the home opener, the Colts got the New York Jets, an organization seemingly in perpetual disorganization. It should have been the remedy for what seems to ail the Colts. The trouble is, the Colts didn’t seem any better prepared for the blitz packages the Jets brought than they did for the Bills. Those packages aren’t going away anytime soon. Even in high school, teams will continually throw plays at you until you prove they are no longer effective. That’s what the Colts are up against now. Fortunately, this season is only two weeks old. I’d respectfully disagree with my esteemed colleague, Roger Grossman; a two-game losing streak in the NFL is not like a 20-game losing streak in baseball. And this time last year, many of us (including myself) thought maybe the Patriots had finally come back to earth. Well, we all know the reports of New England’s death were greatly exaggerated. And there’s never been a world champion with a 20-game losing streak. I’m not even going to bother researching that one; I’m really confident that’s the case. There is time to fix this thing. It’s not like linemen grow on trees, and with all due respect to the other positions on the field, if the linemen don’t work as a unit it tends to stands out more, like the proverbial sore thumb. I’m sure we’ll hear how many teams have made the NFL playoffs after starting 0-3 should the Colts not figure out how to beat the Tennessee Titans in Nashville on Sunday. In a season with “Super Bowl or bust” expectations, this AFC South game takes on added importance. I know the Titans have a rookie quarterback, they don’t have the experience in the skill positions the Colts or Jets do, and they aren’t as strong defensively. But the Titans can and will throw all kinds of blitzes at the Colts, as will the Jaguars, the Texans, and that Week 6 game that looms large on the schedule. There’s opportunity to right the ship, and take control of the AFC South, before New England comes to town. The thing is, this isn’t necessarily on head coach Chuck Pagano. At the sports desk yesterday, we discussed the theory of the alleged rift between Pagano and general manager Ryan Grigson, and whether the GM can undermine a head coach he doesn’t like. After last night’s performance, it seems plausible. If that rift exists, then it’ll get wider as the Colts underachieve this season. With the lofty Super Bowl expectations, underachieving seems almost predestined. The tools are there everywhere else. Grigson signed veterans Frank Gore and Andre Johnson, who are anxious to show they still have what it takes. They signed with the Colts with specific Super Bowl intent. If nothing else, the Colts coaches will figure out how to work with what they have. Either that, or Grigson will get what he allegedly wants – a reason to bring in new coaches.
