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The Indianapolis Colts’ brass raised eyebrows around the league when, at No. 29 overall, they selected wide receiver Phillip Dorsett. And now, according to a report by ProFootballTalk, they’re also taking flak from their own team. An unnamed source claims that several Colt players were unhappy with the Dorsett selection, feeling that the pick needed to be spent on a defensive prospect. But the Colts were very, very smart to take Dorsett where they did.
The formula for winning in the NFL seems to be that you need to be truly elite on either offense or defense and just competent enough on the other side. With Andrew Luck in the fold, it’s pretty clear the Colts are geared to be an elite offensive team. So until the dynamic of winning changes, you need to keep Luck surrounded with as much firepower as possible.
You’re probably thinking, well, aren’t they already? Yes, they are. The Colts were a loaded offense that went ballistic most of last year. But here’s where the rub is: T.Y. Hilton, Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener are all entering the final years on their deals. Hilton’s getting a huge contract, Fleener is deserving of a more-than-modest raise and Allen will need more money also. Unless they’re ready to spend all their cap space, there’s no way the Colts can afford all three. They’re losing one, maybe two of those players depending on where the Colts throw their money.
The Colts need to keep Luck’s cupboard stocked through that transition. Andre Johnson is near the end of the line and may not be an every-week starter then. He may not even be that now. Come next offseason, the Colts could have seen a significant downtick in receiving weapons, which hurts their championship hopes far more than an average defense does. A “good enough” defense can still be built without using their first-rounder, but if they felt Dorsett was a solid playmaker they needed to take him.
I find it ironic that a team that pinned their hopes on the performance of Peyton Manning for all those years has a hard time understanding that surrounding Luck with elite talent is what they’re built to do. Luck will be what takes the Colts to the Super Bowl, not their defense. Their defense can be just “good enough”, but Luck can’t afford to be. He needs to be great at all times, and so must his offense. Be glad the front office realizes that, even if the players themselves don’t.
Doug Green is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com covering the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL. Follow him on Twitter @DGreenNFL.
