INDIANAPOLIS -- Finding a new coach, getting Andrew Luck healthy and improving the roster aren’t the only problems the Indianapolis Colts have to worry about.
They also have to worry about catching the rest of the teams in the AFC South. The AFC South, yes, the AFC South, had both of its playoff teams -- Jacksonville and Tennessee -- advance to the divisional round over the weekend. All the while the Colts and the Houston Texans, the two teams that had won the division in each of the past eight seasons prior to this season, are at home watching.
And barring any kind of significant injuries, the Jaguars and Titans will continue to be in the mix in the division. Jacksonville, though, will likely need to upgrade the quarterback position, especially after Blake Bortles threw for only 87 yards against Buffalo, to try to get the offense on par with the one of the NFL's best defenses.
The Titans, led by do-everything quarterback Marcus Mariota, got their first playoff victory since 2003 when they came from 18 points down to beat the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. Titans GM Jon Robinson has done an exceptional job putting pieces around Mariota for the present and the future.
The Texans were likely on their way to competing for a playoff spot until talented rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson unfortunately suffered a torn ACL just days before they were scheduled to take on the Colts in Week 9. Houston also was without defensive standouts J.J. Watt (knee) and Whitney Mercilus (torn pectoral) for most of the season.
That brings us back to the Colts.
First order of business is for general manager Chris Ballard to hire a head coach and see where things stand with Luck’s right shoulder. Luck's health could impact the direction the Colts go in free agency and the draft. Then comes the roster improvements, and there needs to be plenty of improvements made in several areas because Luck alone doesn’t fix being ranked 30th and 31st in defense and offense, respectively.
The Colts need help at almost every position on the roster. That currently makes them sound like a team closer to the bottom of the division than one that’s ready to compete with the other three teams.
“We’re going to continue to add competition everywhere,” Ballard said on Jan. 1. “That will not change.”
That means adding competition on the offensive line, running back, receiver, linebacker and cornerback to name just a few positions.
The offensive line played a major part in the Colts allowing an NFL-high 56 sacks to go with a total of 113 quarterback hits. Running back Frank Gore is about to be a free agent and will be 35 years old in May. It’s T.Y. Hilton and anybody’s guess at receiver. Indianapolis is still desperately seeking a pass-rusher to go with its need for help at inside linebacker. Rashaan Melvin and Pierre Desir, the two best cornerbacks this season, are both free agents.
That also doesn’t count the number of key players who went on injured reserve at some point in the season. Safety Malik Hooker, defensive lineman Henry Anderson, running back Robert Turbin, center Ryan Kelly, linebacker John Simon and tight end Erik Swoope are all players who didn't play or suffered season-ending injuries and are under contract for next season.
The Colts are hoping about $85 million in salary-cap space, a strong draft, a healthy Luck and a coach who can get the most out of his players will help them cut the gap in a division in which they're lagging behind.