Eight reasons why the Colts will win the AFC South during the 2018 season.
1: Andrew Luck is healthy
With a fully healthy Andrew Luck, there is no question in my mind that the Colts get a winning record this year. Andrew Luck is the Colts’ franchise quarterback that has been bitten by the injury bug multiple seasons in a row. If Luck can stay healthy, he is by far the best quarterback in the AFC south and top 10 if not better in the league.
2: New coaching staff
Last year the Colts led or were tied going into halftime in 12 games, including the four that they had won last year. The Colts lost the eight games that they blew by not making a single adjustment during halftime. The Colts had leads against teams like the Steelers and Seahawks. With a whole new and uplifted coaching staff led by new head coach Frank Reich, I see no problem with the Colts finishing the season 12-4.
3: New defensive scheme
Along with the new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, he brings a new 4-3 defensive scheme which I explain in my “What will a shift to 4-3 look like” article.
4: 2017 free agent experience
The 2017 season came and went way too quickly, but now that some players like Jon Bostic, John Simon, Jonathan Hankins, and Jabaal Sheard were able to get to know the other players and progress as the season went on, we get to see all the players that GM Chris Ballard brought in almost exactly a year ago improve.
5: Health
Besides franchise quarterback Andrew Luck, there are many more players like Pierre Desir, Jack Mewhort, and Rashaan Melvin who got injured but need to be resigned. Other players like Henry Anderson, Malik Hooker, John Simon, and Ryan Kelly will all be returning from injury.
6: Newcomers
The past 2017 free agency GM, Chris Ballard made a huge splash signing the likes of Jabaal Sheard and Johnathan Hankins just to name a few. Ballard also had a great 2017 draft when he drafted a Safety for the future, running back for the future, and many more backups or possible starters. Chris Ballard and Frank Reich will need to do this again in order to reclaim the division.
7: Cap space
The Colts currently have $82 million in cap space which will allow Chris Ballard to make multiple big signings, possibly bigger than the year prior. Check out my “Indianapolis Colts 2018 offseason mock” article.
8: Youth
In 2016, the Colts were ranked number 29 in youth by phillyvoice.com and in 2017, improved all the way up to number five. If the Colts can stay young and talented, this will help majorly with the future and contracts in years to come.
