Season 62 Power Ranking Preview - #8
by adelfish | 4 years ago | 0 Comments
Season 62 Power Ranking Preview - #8
Welcome to the 2020 Red Zone Power Ranking Preview. In this long-running preview, I will be going team at a time, ranking them 32-1, discussing the user, the team, the schedule, etc.
COVERED TEAMS: Lions, Jaguars, Bengals, Patriots, Bears, Vikings, Dolphins, Seahawks, Rams, Giants, Cowboys, Saints, Steelers, Panthers, Raiders, Browns, Texans, Jets, Cardinals, Falcons, Bills, Washington Football Team, Chargers, Chiefs
We are officially into the teams that make the 'Divisional Round' in my prediction, but like the two teams before them, I believe all are on a pretty equal playing field in terms of contention. In the first season of a cycle, so much is up in the air, I don't have a locked-in favorite, yet.
Here is a team with a ton of preseason hype, and a lot of that is due to the marriage of coach and team. This roster seems to be built in the image of it's head coach, and getting a head start like that in this leauge is a big deal.
#8 - Indianapolis Colts (Jake)
(12-4 Projected Record)
5th Seed, Loss in Divisional Round
Enter the Indianapolis Colts, this is growing into one of the preseason darlings for Season 62. Multiple podcasts in Red Zone Media have declared that Ricky Chapstick is the Season 62 Coach of the Year, and even the winner of it's 62nd trophy. Chapstick has never won a title in Red Zone history, under the Jake Allen ownership, but coming so close last cycle, is this finally the chance to do it?
So many pieces are in place, and it is tough to forget how strong Chapstick and company were last cycle. Trying to shake the narrative of a head coach with the yips, someone who can never win the big one, someone who is constantly worrying about the mental aspect of the game. He had done that, until losing in the big game more than once to Astin's Chargers, a result expected by most.
So do we just wipe away his regular season and postseason success due to going 0-for in the Super Bowl? Do we continue to say that Jake Allen and his coaching staff simply aren't cut out to win it all? Let's find out.
One Big Question
Coach Chapstick returns, in an unlikely move to the Indianapolis Colts. With Phillip Rivers joining the fray for at least one season, can Coach Chapstick put the pieces together to finally get over the hump?
As I mentioned above, the marriage between the Colts and Ricky Chapstick is a potentially elite combination on paper. What does an Allen regime like to do? They like to run the football, they like to control the game, and they like to play good defense. The Washington regime was all about Derrius Guice and company, while those Rams teams were among the best at pounding the rock.
Indianapolis is set up for success, right away, with this formula.
Coach Chapstick has even gone on a local Red Zone Podcast already to discuss his thoughts on the team and the outlook, and as candid as he always is, radiated excitement. One thing he has been very open about is his plans going forward, not just in Season 62. We all know Phillip Rivers is not long for Indianapolis, but he is a key piece to their upcoming season.
I think this fit is a good one. There is a high chance for immediate success with the way this roster is constructed, and the addition of a veteran in Rivers provides that stability. The young offensive line is likely the best unit in the entire league, and the Colts just added a dynamic rookie running back poised to challenge for Rookie of the Year.
We haven't even discussed the defense yet.
One Big Schedule Issue
When you lose only 4 games, finding an issue in your schedule is pretty difficult. We can start with the easy argument, that the AFC South is going to be a very difficult stretch for all four of the teams.
Despite ranking the Jaguars in the bottom 3 in the leauge, I expect them to be competitive and always a difficult out. Pat and Jake have a rivalry, so Pat is never going to roll over in games versus the Colts. The Texans are as unpredictable as they come right now, with Metal returning for his first full cycle in a few years. I won't spoil too much, but one of the only pairings I like more than Jake and Indy is Roc and Tennessee.
I have the Colts going 4-2 in the AFC South, splitting with both Houston and Tennessee.
Where I have them finishing second in the division are the other two losses, against Baltimore in Week 9, and Green Bay in Week 11. Two very tough games for them, and I just think those teams are flat out better.
The great part about this schedule is the opening two months, where I have the Colts ripping off 6 straight to start their year. Their two toughest games in the opening 6 are the Jets and Browns.
Reasons for Optimism
Look, there are a lot of reasons here.
Let's start offensively, with quarterback Phillip Rivers. Despite his age, he is the best quarterback the Colts have had since the abrupt retirement of Andrew Luck, and will bring poise and stability to the position. This is likely one of the best situations Rivers has ever been in as a player, and I expect him to take full advantage.
The weapons around him are intriguing, starting with the running back duo of Jonathan Taylor and Marlon Mack. Taylor is an exciting rookie who figures to be the leading rusher of this offense, and likely the conference. T.Y. Hilton is still a burner, while rookie wideout Michael Pittman Jr figures to fight for snaps right away, but don't forget about Parris Campbell either.
The offensive line is where this offense makes it money, with superstar guard Quenton Nelson, going into his third year, he is making an argument to be one of the best players in the entire league. On his left side is left tackle Anthony Castonzo, and on his right center Ryan Kelly. At right tackle, former guard Braden Smith has transitioned to tackle, and has improved each of his first two years.
Nelson and Smith are both 24, while Kelly is 27. This group is going to be together for a long time.
Defensively, the Colts swung for the fences and traded for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who blossomed into a superstar his final season in San Francisco. He will be the anchor of this defensive line, excelling in the run and pass game. Justin Houston still mans the edge, while the underrated Denico Autry will play next to Buckner. Another player I am really excited about is Kemoko Turay, someone who played very limited snaps last year but was fantastic when he was on the field.
Darius Leonard quarterbacks the defense at linebacker, becoming a star at the position in just two seasons. I do like the upside of linebacker Bobby Okereke as well, a guy who could play next to Leonard.
In the secondary, Kenny Moore is their best cornerback, and leads a group of comeback projects and young players. The safety duo is an interesting one, as Malik Hooker has a ton of potential, but has been up and down, while former 4th rounder Khari Willis surprised with his play in his rookie season.
There is youth all over this roster, littered with high-impact veterans.
Reasons for Negativity
The Colts will be freeing up over $100 million in cap room heading into next season, going from $224 million to $100 million in terms of contracts on the books. So why am I listing this under negatives?
The Colts have a ton of decisions to make. Coach Chapstick has made it known that Jacob Eason is not in his future plans at quarterback, and the Colts will lose Rivers and Jacoby Brissett into free agency, meaning he will have to select his future franchise quarterback right away.
Guys like Mack, Hilton, Trey Burton, Xavier Grimble, Ryan Kelly, Houston, Autry, and Hooker are all up for extensions in their first year. After that? 4 of their 5 starting offensive linemen, and Darius Leonard. Decisions will have to be made, hard ones.
The great thing is they have the money to do it, and the Colts have brilliantly retained all of their draft picks while constructing this roster, so replacing those they allow to walk should be doable.
The biggest things for this team is going to be finding the quarterback, and making sure it is the right guy. This roster is so talented and deep, that missing that pick could be the thing that sets that window back.
The other big area of need to address is the secondary, guys like Rock Ya-Sin and Xavier Rhodes should not be around for long, getting help for Kenny Moore is key.
Last Word
We are likely about to witness Jake's best cycle, but can he finally win a title? This has eluded him his entire career, but he has been closer than most without a ring to achieving it.
He has a roster that he can mold in his image, and it seems he has improved as a general manager every year since he has joined Red Zone. Being smart with that massive amount of cap money, and using the picks the right way, could set him up to dominate the AFC South.
Can he compete consistently in his division? He faces three difficult opponents, one of which is a multi-champion, and the other two have had success. I think he is set up for success throughout the cycle, but the first season he finishes 1 game behind the AFC South champion.
Do I think this is the year Jake finally hoists a trophy? I cannot predict that, but I think it is his best shot since joining the league. Just needs to get past those pesky Broncos...