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Today's assignment: Find fault with the Indianapolis Colts.
Before we get started, let's be clear about the parameters. We will not assess Peyton Manning's commercial with Justin Timberlake. We will not weigh in on owner Jim Irsay's weighing in on Rush Limbaugh. We will not critique the sartorial choices of Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, except to say both sport their own style, with Wayne a tad flashier.
This is strictly an on-field assessment.
The Colts are 5-0. Manning is on fire; Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are crushing quarterbacks; and everyone loves to say “Pierre Garcon.”
So where are the weak spots?
In truth, they aren't weaknesses as much as concerns. All have, in fact, the possibility of becoming strengths. In my view from high inside Lucas Oil Stadium or low behind my keyboard, there are three problem spots: defensive tackle, the running game and place-kicking. Two of those are the result of recent departures. One is a nagging problem.
Let's look at each:
Defensive tackle
I've heard the explanations for cutting Ed Johnson, which seem to boil down to effort, weight and production: lack of effort and production, excess of weight. He was, however, clogging up the middle on runs, and the guys who'll step into the fray in his place are largely unproven. It also seems strange to make that kind of move during a hot streak.
However, we know the instincts of Colts president Bill Polian are nearly always right, give or take Corey Simon and maybe Tony Ugoh. Colts coach Jim Caldwell has yet to lose a game in his NFL head-coaching career, so we have to give him the benefit of the doubt, too.
But altering the lineup this drastically seems risky. The Colts travel to St. Louis on Sunday to play the Rams, an opponent well-suited to breaking in new players. Keep an eye on Daniel Muir, Fili Moala and Eric Foster. One of them will have to balance the strong early play of Antonio Johnson.
Running game
The 100-yard rusher has become rarer in the NFL because of the always-increasing use of the pass. However, the best teams in the league - other than the Colts - rely on a strong running game to complement their passing attack.
There are four unbeaten teams left in the Colts, Saints, Broncos and Vikings. Look at their rushing games. The Saints rank fourth in the NFL, the Broncos seventh and the Vikings ninth. The Colts are 29th, fourth from the bottom. The Colts' average per game (78.8 yards) is essentially the same as a year ago (79.6).
Granted, when Manning throws for 300 yards every game, the running numbers will be down. The Colts lead the NFL in passing. But it would be nice to see Joseph Addai and Donald Brown find a way to improve their yards per carry (3.4 for Addai, 3.5 for Brown).
Manning appears to have confidence in the runners, calling them a “nice 1-2 punch” two weeks ago. Addai's burst and north-south running is much improved from a year ago and Brown has shown ability to use strong legs to churn out extra yardage.
Manning's short passing attack to Addai (26 catches, 153 yards, 5.9 per catch) serves as a quasi-running game in some respects.
But if the Colts' rushing totals could rise to the middle of the NFL pack, how formidable would the offense be then?
Place-kicking
What a way to go into the bye week, learning that Adam Vinatieri was headed for surgery and a four- to eight-week recovery period. The Colts wasted no time in signing veteran (or old, depending on how you spin it) kicker Matt Stover to replace him.
Stover, 41, had a strong career with the Baltimore Ravens and has made his share of clutch kicks. But he was sitting at home before the Colts called, wondering if his career was over.
In terms of confidence, the Colts shouldn't miss a beat. Stover has been around the league two decades, so he's not going to wilt under the spotlight. Whether he can remain consistent remains to be seen.
“I've always said if I can't kick a 52-yard field goal, then I won't kick,” Stover said, adding that he proved it during his first practice with the Colts. “I'm here just to make sure this team continues to go in the right direction. And if it needs to be into the Super Bowl, I'm ready for that, too.”
Let's face it, the Colts' faults are few at this point. If they can iron out the few issues at St. Louis and during home games against the 49ers, Texans and Patriots, the next discussion will be whether they have a shot at regular-season perfection.
