If the Colts learned anything in this game it’s that they better pray that nothing happens to Peyton Manning because they don’t have much behind him.  Manning looked sharp as usual completing 8 of 10 passes for 91 yards.  Curtis Painter was downright pathetic yesterday for the Colts.  He completed 9 of 19 passes for 64 yards with 3 INTs.  One of his INTs was returned 91 yards for a TD by Niners’ S Reggie Smith.  Tom Brandstater finished up the game at QB for the Colts by completing 8 of 12 passes for 34 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT.  Devin Moore led the way on the ground for the Colts in this game by carrying the ball 4 times for 26 yards (6.5 ypc).  Javarris James also had a solid game with 4 carries for 17 yards (4.3 ypc).  Joseph Addai carried the ball 5 times for only 11 yards (2.2 ypc) with a TD run and he also caught 1 pass for 12 yards in this game.  WR Blair White (4 rec, 38 yards) and TE Jacob Tamme (3 rec, 26 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Colts yesterday.  The Colts finished up with 58 yards rushing (2.4 ypc) and 177 yards passing in this game.

Rookie LBs Pat Angerer (8 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 sacks and 2 QB hits) and Kavell Conner (6 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) led the way for the Colts in this game.  The Niners finished up with 132 yards rushing (4.6 ypc) and 203 yards passing in this game. 

25-year old WR Sam Giguere likely is atop the depth chart as the kickoff returner heading into training camp but he has no lock by any means.  He played in 1 game for the Colts last season and he returned 5 kickoffs for 122 yards (24.4 avg).  Rookie 7th round pick, cornerback Ray Fisher will likely get a shot to unseat Giguere as the kick returner.  Don’t count out undrafted rookie Brandon James out of Florida as he is pretty darn fast. 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE COLTS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  D+

The Colts will be without starting center Jeff Saturday for the next 2-6 weeks due to knee surgery.  Jamey Richard will likely fill in at center until Saturday is ready to return to action.  Richard has played in 25 games (7 starts) in his two years with the Colts.  The Colts hope that Saturday returns soon because using Richard at center would be a huge dropoff.

The Colts only allowed 13 sacks in 2009 which was a NFL low and a new club record.  The reason for the possible changes on the front line has to do with run blocking….which was not too good last year.  Charlie Johnson isn’t a natural left tackle but he’s the best the Colts have and he did a decent job in 2009.  Left guard will be a training camp competition between Tony Ugoh, Mike Pollak and rookie 4th round pick Jacques McClendon out of Tennessee.  The center will be Jeff Saturday who has been to 4 Pro Bowls in his career.  He is the leader of the O-Line.  RG appears to belong to Kyle DeVan who has a motor that never stops until the whistle blows.  RT Ryan Diem was a Pro Bowl alternate last season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE COLTS O-LINE in 2010:  B

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.