45-year old head coach Jim Caldwell had quite a rookie season for the Colts.  He led the team to a 14-2 (87.5%) record during the regular season and the two losses they didn’t even try to win as they were resting players.  The Colts then went 2-1 in the post-season losing the Super Bowl to the Saints.  The only way Caldwell can improve on his rookie season is to win the Super Bowl in 2010 and he has the players to do it.

37-year old kicker Adam Vinatieri is still one of the best kickers in the NFL.  He played in only 6 games for the Colts last season and he made 7 of 9 field goals (77.8%).  He also made 17 of 18 extra points to finish with 38 points for the Colts last year.  Vinatieri has now played in 211 games in his NFL career and he has made 338 of 412 field goals (82%).  He has also made 514 of 521 career extra points as he has scored 1,528 points in his career. 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE COLTS KICKERS in 2010:  B

The Colts have signed 34-year old cornerback Deshea Townsend.  Townsend played in 16 games for the Steelers last season and he had 27 tackles, defensed 3 passes and he had 1 interception.  He has now played in 183 games in his 12 years in the NFL and he has made 439 tackles, defensed 122 passes, has 15.5 sacks, he’s forced 5 fumbles and he has 21 interceptions (3 of which he has returned for TDs).  Townsend will be a solid backup for the Colts in 2010 so I really like this signing for them.

31-year old Reggie Wayne is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon for the Colts.  He played in 16 games (all starts) for the Colts last year and he caught 100 passes for 1,264 yards (12.6 avg) with 10 TD grabs.  Wayne has now played in 141 games (128 starts) in his 10 years with the Colts and he has caught 676 passes for 9,393 yards (13.9 avg) with 63 TD grabs.  Wayne has made 4 Pro Bowls in his NFL career and he will likely make a fifth one in 2010.

23-year old speed burner Pierre Garcon really stepped up when Anthony Gonzalez went down to injury early last year.  Garcon played in 14 games (13 starts) for the Colts last year and he caught 47 passes for 765 yards (16.3 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  He has now played in 28 games (13 starts) in his two years with the Colts and he has caught 51 passes for 788 yards (15.5 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Garcon was huge for the Colts last season and he will be again in 2010 making his college Mount Union proud.

24-year old Austin Collie really played well as a rookie for the Colts in 2009.  He played in 16 games (5 starts) for the Colts last year and he caught 60 passes for 676 yards (11.3 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  The sky is the limit for Collie but he will likely be the #3 or #4 WR for the Colts in 2010.

25-year old Anthony Gonzalez appears ready to return to action in 2010.  He hurt his knee in the Colts’ first game and it ended his season without a catch.  Gonzalez has played in 30 games (12 starts) in his three years with the Colts and he has caught 94 passes for 1,240 yards (13.2 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  If Gonzalez is healthy in 2010 the Colts’ passing game will be even more potent than before.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE COLTS WRs in 2010:  A

I’ve been saying for years that 31-year old TE Dallas Clark was one of the best players in the NFL.  Last season he proved me right in a big way as Clark stepped his game up to a Pro Bowl level.  He played in 16 games (all starts) for the Colts last season and he caught 100 passes for 1,106 yards (11.1 avg) with 10 TD grabs.  Clark has now played in 98 games (95 starts) in his seven years with the Colts and he has caught 356 passes for 4,188 yards (11.8 avg) with 41 TD grabs.  Clark has a great set of hands and he’s fast enough to exploit defenses deep and down the middle.  Look for him to have another outstanding year in 2010.

25-year old Jacob Tamme is more of a blocker than Clark is.  Tamme played in 16 games (1 start) for the Colts last season and he caught 3 passes for 35 yards (11.7 avg).  He has now played in 28 games (1 start) in two years with the Colts and he has caught 6 passes for 47 yards (7.8 avg).  Don’t look for him to catch too many passes in 2010 unless Clark gets injured.

25-year old Tom Santi got off to a fast start last season before injuring himself.  Santi played in 3 games (2 starts) for the Colts last season and he caught 8 passes for 107 yards (13.4 avg).  He has now played in 9 games (4 starts) in his two years with the Colts and he has caught 18 passes for 171 yards (9.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Santi has a nice upside but he needs to stay healthy to show it.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE COLTS TEs in 2010:  A