Questions

It would be heartily unrealistic to hope for double-digit wins from the Colts in 2012. But there are a few keys to look for that would make the future appear brighter.

1. Someone develops at split end
Look at the Colts' offense. None of the backs who looks to get significant playing time is a serious breakaway or receiving threat. The leading returning receivers are flanker Reggie Wayne and slot guy Austin Collie. They will be augmented by rookie tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen. While there are some great sets of hands in that group, there isn't any deep speed. In fact, Fleener (a 250-pound tight end) probably has the best game speed of them all. Certainly Wayne's days as a deep threat appear over, especially after he caught just four passes that traveled 20 yards or more in the air last season.

So somebody has to emerge at split end to prevent all 11 opposing defenders from crowding the area close to the line of scrimmage. And they would have to be speedy. The leading candidate right now is veteran Donnie Avery, who had two decent seasons in St. Louis before mangling his knee. His comeback attempt last season with Tennessee, however, saw him looking timid and without burst. He will need to be more like his pre-injury self to be of any help to the Colts. The logical option if he doesn't pan out would be third-round draft pick TY Hilton, but there are doubts there as well. Hilton was limited in rookie minicamp by a hamstring pull he suffered at his pro day, and now the Colts are public extolling his future as a slot guy.

2. Find a right cornerback
I hate to beat that well-decayed horse, but since the Colts neither signed nor drafted a cornerback this offseason (and there are no attractive free agent options remaining), they will have to find one from the current set of prospects on the roster. Either the light goes on for Kevin Thomas or Chris Rucker this year, or the Colts had better have a terrifying pass rush.

3. Protect the passer
The Colts' offensive line certainly looks decent on paper: Youngsters Anthony Castonzo and Ben Ijalana certainly have talent, and veterans Winston Justice and Samson Satele should be good enough. But two questions persist: a) Who'll start at left guard? and b) is Ijalana healthy enough to be depended upon?