2001 COLTS
	Edgerrin James has won rushing titles in both seasons.
	Head coach: Jim Mora (4th year). 2000 record: 10-6. AFC East finish: 2nd. 2001 preseason: 1-2. Season opener: Sept. 9 at Jets. Schedule | Depth chart

The Indianapolis Colts went from pretenders to contenders as quickly as anyone in NFL history. But now, the patience demonstrated while the team waited for Peyton Manning to develop into a Pro Bowl quarterback is wearing thin.That's because Manning and the potent offense around him has done its job, becoming one of the AFC's top-rated statistical offenses. But, the team has failed in successive playoff games, giving up 455 rushing yards combined in two losses -- in 1999 to Tennessee and last season to Miami. The Colts have made late moves this offseason and during the preseason in an effort to improve their suspect defense. Just as importantly, the team acted swiftly to keep the entire offense intact for a third straight run at a Super Bowl.

Though the offense set a team record for points last season with 429 and running back Edgerrin James won his second consecutive rushing title, a midseason swoon nearly cost the Colts a playoff berth. While the defense was partly to blame, the offense struggled at times in the red zone, and it seemed to find a "dead zone" for long stretches in a game. Those inexplicable "dead zones" contributed to losses to the Patriots, Raiders and Bears.The offense can improve its consistency this season and may be helped by the addition of first-round pick Reggie Wayne, who will line up opposite Pro Bowler Marvin Harrison at receiver. The defense got younger in the offseason, a move that was spurred by the conclusion that it couldn't get much worse than it was. Rookie safety Idrees Bashir, a second-round pick, and second-year cornerback David Macklin will step into starting roles, as will second-year linebackers Rob Morris and Marcus Washington.

Last season the defense had trouble stopping opponents but successfully stalled the Colts' playoff run, giving up 209 yards to Dolphins running back Lamar Smith. The numbers were incriminating for the defensive unit, which gave up 4.3 yards per rush attempt (25th in the league) in 2000. The secondary wasn't much better for the NFL's 21st-ranked defense. Opponents completed nearly 60 percent of their pass attempts. The Colts hope improved speed and athleticism on defense will make the difference.

Offense
Quarterbacks: If anything, Manning has surpassed the lofty expectations of being the first overall pick in the 1998 draft. Coupled with the disaster that Ryan Leaf became, the Manning choice looks like the coup of the decade. Manning now has impeccable command of the offense and has begun to assert himself more as the team's unquestioned leader. His consecutive-starts streak, now at 48 regular-season games, is second to Brett Favre's active streak for quarterbacks. So in addition to the statistics he has put up in his three seasons, Manning has been incredibly durable. Despite spraining his ankle and knee in the preseason, Manning should be ready for the season opener. He has added bulk to his 6-foot-5 frame over the past couple of years and appears to be stronger than last season with more muscle mass in his upper body. The Colts have been without a legitimate backup for Manning his entire career. The backups have included Kelly Holcomb, Steve Walsh and Billy Joe Hobert. Now, veteran Mark Rypien has the edge. Rypien, 38, has been out of football for three seasons, but the MVP of Super Bowl XXVI impressed coaches enough in a workout early in training camp and was signed on the spot. If nothing else, Rypien knows the route to the Super Bowl -- and perhaps can show it to Manning.
Grade: A.

Running backs: James has rushed for more than 3,200 yards and won a pair of NFL rushing titles in his first two professional seasons. Few players have hit the league with such an impact. The offseason included a mild controversy when James skipped the team's voluntary workouts so he could work out at the University of Miami (Fla.) with former teammates and other pros. James shrugged off criticism and arrived at training camp on time and in his usual superb condition. That's good, because James rarely leaves the field. His 2,303 total yards last season came on 450 touches as the Colts' workhorse. The players behind James are unproven, but Lennox Gordon, formerly of the practice squad, and rookie Dominic Rhodes, from Division II Midwestern State (Texas), appear to have the inside track for the backup role.
Grade: A-minus.

Receivers: Harrison is the third member of the Colts' offensive triumvirate, compared most often to the Cowboys' threesome of Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith. Harrison is in short company as one of the premier receivers in the league, even though he has not had a consistent No. 2 receiver to help relieve double-team pressure from opposing defenses. Harrison still managed another outstanding season in 2000 with 102 catches for 1,413 yards and 14 touchdowns. That yardage often came in large chunks, as Harrison recorded eight 100-yard receiving games, seven of which came in the first eight games. This year, Harrison may have the complement he has lacked in Wayne. Wayne has been slowed by an ankle sprain in training camp and was held out of the team's first two preseason games. Behind Wayne and Harrison lies a battle among veterans Jerome Pathon, oft-injured E.G. Green and Terrence Wilkins for the No. 3 spot. The Colts also boast the best tight end tandem in the league in Ken Dilger and Marcus Pollard. The versatile Dilger does everything well, but he does not put up Pro Bowl numbers because he is often used as a blocker. Pollard has big-play ability, and the former college basketball standout is evolving into a top tight end.
Grade: A.

		The Colts have the modern-day version of the triplets on offense in Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison. Rookie receiver Reggie Wayne is a great addition. They have everything they need offensively, and there is no doubt they will score points. But the defense needs to perform. They got a few run stoppers like Christian Peter and Mike Wells. The Colts moved linebacker Mike Peterson outside, have Rob Morris inside, and drafted safety Idrees Bashir in the second round. They still don't have a lot of defensive depth, though. I don't know if the Colts are good enough on defense to win the championship. I think Jim Mora believes he doesn't need a defense like the Ravens to win it all. If the Colts can be just a little more consistent and stouter against the run, they will be all right. That's what Mora is banking on.

Offensive linemen: The offensive line, which is considered a unit whose whole is far better than its parts, returns intact. Left tackle Tarik Glenn and left guard Steve McKinney return to protect Manning's blind side. Overachieving Jeff Saturday is back at center, and guard Larry Moore and tackle Adam Meadows are on the right side. The Colts helped themselves depth-wise by re-signing Waverly Jackson, who had a chance to go to Cleveland as a restricted free agent, and drafting Ryan Diem, a 6-5, 332-pounder, in the fourth round. Moore missed the team's first two preseason games, giving Diem valuable playing time with the first team.
Grade: B.

Defense
Defensive linemen: The run defense and pass rush struggled last year. Right end Chad Bratzke's sack number dropped from 12 to 7½, but help may have arrived in the form of defensive tackle Christian Peter, who signed as a free agent from the Giants on Draft Day, and run-stopping defensive tackle Mike Wells, a cap casualty in Chicago. Wells gives the Colts needed beef up front and will join an interior rotation that includes veteran Ellis Johnson and Josh Williams, who was the gem of last year's draft class as a fourth-round pick. The front four took a hit when defensive end Shawn King abruptly retired at the beginning of training camp. That left Brad Scioli as the starter at left end, but Scioli is another youngster, like Williams, with a good motor and solid football instincts.
Grade: C-plus.

Linebackers: Morris has shown no ill effects from the knee injury that sidelined him just as he was beginning to work his way into the lineup a year ago. In preseason games, Morris has shown the sideline-to-sideline, seek-and-destroy game that made him an All-American at Brigham Young. Marcus Washington, a second-round pick in 2000, will replace Cornelius Bennett on the strong side but could see time as a rush end, the position he played at Auburn. Third-year weakside linebacker Mike Peterson has had a tremendous camp, and Colts head coach Jim Mora said the athletic Peterson is making strides toward becoming the impact player the Colts desperately need on defense. Though the linebacker corps is young, the Colts signed an insurance policies in former Bears starter Sean Harris.
Grade: B-minus.

Defensive backs: Chad Cota and Jeff Burris anchor the Colts' kiddie secondary, which includes Bashir at safety and Macklin at cornerback. Cota, a veteran strong safety, appeared rejuvenated early in training camp. Burris turns in the occasional big play, generally plays smart and, like Cota, can be a coach on the field for the inexperienced players. Bashir comes as advertised and could be a big-play maker for the defense. He was the first of three safeties drafted by the Colts, along with Cory Bird and Jason Doering. They all will see action this season. Macklin appears to have won the cornerback battle with veteran Mustafah Muhammad, and Rodregis Brooks also could be a factor in nickel and dime packages.
Grade: C.

Special teams
The same improved speed that theoretically will help the defense also should be a boon for the special teams -- and that should help strong-legged P Hunter Smith. Smith netted 36.4 yards per kick last season, emerging after a dismal rookie year. Mike Vanderjagt continued to rank among the league's elite placekickers. One of his rare misses, however, was memorable since it allowed the Dolphins to escape with a playoff victory. Kickoff specialist Danny Kight's position could be in jeopardy if Smith proves he can do the job -- but that has not happened thus far. A preseason concussion last year appeared to slow Wilkins, who was phenomenal as a rookie in 1999. After the injury, he appeared to be missing the fearlessness he had that first year. Wilkins is getting huge competition for the return job from free-agent wide receiver Drew Haddad.
Grade: B.

John Clayton covers the Colts for cnhi Media.

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