The NFL is a league of parity, but that doesn't mean there aren't exceptions to that rule. Since the beginning of the last decade, the Indianapolis Colts have won nearly every division title in the AFC South, and while some may be projecting the decline of the Colts to be rapidly approaching, that certainly doesn't mean 2011 is when it will happen. In fact, there are three great reasons why the Colts will continue their dominance in 2011, and any football fan would be amiss to ignore them.
1) Rookie Quarterbacks -- The Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans are the toughest division rivals for the Colts, and as it happens they both left the 2011 draft with shiny new rookie quarterbacks. While the decision to grab quarterbacks high in the first round might be great for the long-term future of both teams, it's certainly better for the Indianapolis Colts in the short-term than it is for the hopes of Jacksonville and Tennessee natives. The quarterback position is never guaranteed to be resolved after a draft pick, and even if it is, it can often take years for a quarterback to get acclimated to the speed and complexity of professional football.
2) Pass Rushers -- If you thought rookie quarterbacks in the division were good for the Colts, then imagine how good they will be for Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. The pairing of Mathis and Freeney is one of the most dominant pass rushing tandems in the NFL, and it only makes sense that they will have a field day with the rookie quarterbacks in 2011. While there is a chance that one or both of the quarterbacks won't be starting for their respective teams this year, we all know that highly drafted franchise quarterbacks have a way of slipping into the starting lineup early and often. For Freeney and Mathis, that's one prospect they can't wait to develop.
3) Peyton Manning -- No matter what happens with the quarterback situation in the AFC South for 2011, the Colts have a backup plan that is tried and true. When push comes to shove, they still have Peyton Manning, who is arguably the greatest quarterback in the NFL, with the only thing keeping him from being considered the greatest of all time being a few less Super Bowl rings than the other greats. Manning has a history of lighting up poor defenses, and last year the Texans had one of the worst of all time, the Jaguars hardly addressed their defense in the draft this year and the Titans sat around the bottom of the league in pass defense for much of the year. For Colts fans, if the pass rushers don't get it done for the Indianapolis Colts in 2011, then surely Peyton Manning will.
Author Resource:
David is an avid football guru, and a huge fan of the AFC South in the NFL. When David isn't writing about what we can expect to see in the NFL this year, he can be found writing about the upcoming Madden NFL 12 football video game on his popular Madden 12 football blog.
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