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Projected starting lineups Offense No. Player Pos. No. Player Pos. 87 Reggie Wayne WR 88 Marvin Harrison WR 44 Dallas Clark TE 81 Bryan Fletcher TE 78 Tarik Glenn LT 65 Ryan Lilja LG 63 Jeff Saturday C 73 Jake Scott RG 71 Ryan Diem RT 18 Peyton Manning QB 33 Dominic Rhodes RB 4 Adam Vinatieri K Defense No. Player Pos. No. Player Pos. 79 Raheem Brock DE 97 Corey Simon DT 90 Montae Reagor DT 93 Dwight Freeney DE 51 Gilbert Gardner LB 58 Gary Brackett LB 59 Cato June LB 25 Nick Harper CB 42 Jason David CB 20 Mike Doss S 21 Bob Sanders S 17 Hunter Smith P 2006 Draft No. Player Pos. School 1 Joseph Addai RB LSU 2 Tim Jennings CB Georgia 3 Freddie Keiaho LB San Diego State 5 Michael Toudouze T TCU 6 Charlie Johnson T Oklahoma State 6 Antoine Bethea S Howard 7 T.J. Rushing CB Stanford Outside the Huddle No problem here Tony Dungy said that criticism of Peyton Manning for his comments about Indianapolis’ offensive line after the postseason loss to Pittsburgh came from outside the organization. “I don’t think any of the (criticism) comes from any of his teammates. And that’s the most important thing. When you lose, everything’s bad. But within our building, I don’t think there’s any conjecture about that, so we don’t really worry about that,” Dungy says. Run to the Edge Edgerrin James accounted for 9,226 of the team’s 12,296 rushing yards since he joined the team in 1999. The list of running backs who also contributed to that total includes Dominic Rhodes, James Mungro, Ran Carthon, Ricky Williams, Autry Denson, Kevin McDougal, Jim Finn, Lennox Gordon, Keith Elias and Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar. Where’s the Pope? Outside linebacker Kendyll Pope, who missed the 2005 season after a one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy last fall, might be in the mix for a roster spot with the Colts in 2006. The former Florida State standout, however, must petition the league office in order to regain his eligibility.

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Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has an answer for all of those naysayers who think that with the loss of running back Edgerrin James to the Arizona Cardinals - along with the departures of outside linebacker David Thornton (to Tennessee), defensive tackle Larry Tripplett (Buffalo) and placekicker Mike Vanderjagt (Dallas) - the window of opportunity for the Colts may be starting to close.

Ever the optimist, Irsay sees the Colts remaining as one of the NFL's premier teams. He doesn't expect that to change anytime soon.

"(Colts head coach) Tony Dungy mentions it all the time, that it gets tougher every year," Irsay says. "Teams get better, and when you're an outstanding team, winning your division, people are looking to knock you off. Your draft picks are later in the round. The schedule's tougher. All those types of things are working against you.

"But if we're blessed by the football gods and we stay healthy, there's no doubt in my mind we'll be back in the thick of things come January."

While admitting that it's been tough to absorb the AFC playoff loss to eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh, especially after the Colts rolled off 13 consecutive wins to begin the 2005 season, Irsay knows his team must move on.

"It's one thing to have temporary success," he said. "It's another thing to be able to do it over a period of time. We're very proud of being a consistent winner over a long period.

"The great news is we continue to be in the thick of things. People know when the early preseason favorites come out that we're at the top of the list. That's something I'm very proud of, because in terms of the difficulty of losing some players as time goes on, we've been able to move forward. (Colts president) Bill Polian and Tony Dungy have done a tremendous job of doing that. We're a young team, and we've got a lot of good years ahead of us."

Quarterbacks

Statistically speaking, Peyton Manning is the National Football League's premier quarterback and has been for the past several seasons.

But statistics can only take you as far as Canton, Ohio.

Manning, however, has yet to guide the Colts to the league's promise land, falling short in each of the past three years. After getting off to such a strong start in 2005, and considering the loss of James to the Cardinals, the former two-time league MVP is quite aware that the spotlight will be squarely on his him this season.

Jim Sorgi is back for his third year as the Colts' primary backup. Sorgi has shown the capability to step in and be productive if needed.

Running Backs

With James now enjoying the sun and heat of Phoenix, Dominic Rhodes will have an opportunity to show what he can do. Rhodes has been used as a backup and as the team's primary kickoff returner. He will now share the bulk of the workload with first-round draft choice Joseph Addai.

James Mungro also returns to his role of being the team's short-yardage and goal line specialist. Kory Chapman, signed off of New England's practice squad last year, may also get a look.

Receivers

It's a given that the Colts have one of the better trio of receivers in the league with Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley.

With Troy Walters signing a free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals last spring, former undrafted free agent Aaron Moorehead may get a chance to work his way into the team's fourth receiver slot. Indianapolis' coaching staff has wanted to get the 6'3" Moorehead more playing time.

Dallas Clark, Bryan Fletcher, Ben Utecht and Ben Hartstock constitute a strong group of tight ends. Fletcher and Utecht's development a year ago kept Hartstock on the sidelines.

Offensive Linemen

Indianapolis returns its starting line intact for 2006, led by a couple of Pro Bowl performers, center Jeff Saturday and left tackle Tarik Glenn. Also returning are offensive tackle Ryan Diem along with offensive guards Jake Scott and Ryan Lilja.

Dylan Gandy is expected to push Lilja for more playing time. Tackle Makoa Freitas returns from a knee injury, and tackle Kurt Vollers is back after joining the team late in the regular season. Indianapolis drafted a pair of tackles, Michael Toudouze and Charlie Johnson, in an effort to shore up the team's depth. The Colts did give up 25 total sacks a year ago, including five in the postseason loss to Pittsburgh.

Defensive Linemen

Although the Colts lost Tripplett to free agency and veteran Josh Williams was released at the end of the season, there is a good nucleus of key players returning.

Defensive ends Dwight Freeney, Raheem Brock and Robert Mathis should team with defensive tackles Montae Reagor and Corey Simon to make Indianapolis a force up front. Brock could work inside at tackle on occasion, which should give Mathis more playing time as the team's designated pass rusher. Undrafted free agent Darrell Reid was impressive when given a chance to show what he can do.

Defensive end Josh Thomas and a pair of second-year players, tackle Vincent "Sweet Pea" Burns and defensive end Jonathan Welsh, appear to be okay after missing most of last season with knee injuries.

Linebackers

Indianapolis got a lot out of its linebackers last season. Outside linebacker Cato June and middle linebacker Gary Brackett posted impressive numbers.

Brackett had a team-high 131 total tackles along with three interceptions. June, meanwhile, earned his first-ever Pro Bowl appearance after coming up with 109 tackles and a team-leading five interceptions, two of which he ran back for touchdowns.

Gilbert Gardner will most likely get a chance to take over Thornton's spot in the Colts' lineup. Rob Morris, a former first-round draft choice by the Colts, has seemingly settled into his role as the primary backup to Brackett and has become one of Indianapolis' special teams leaders.

Second-year linebacker Tyjuan Hagler missed his rookie season with a sports hernia injury but should be able to provide depth at middle linebacker. Rookie Freddie Keiaho will backup at either outside or middle linebacker.

Defensive Backs

Hard-hitting safeties Bob Sanders and Mike Doss set the tone while Nick Harper, Jason David and Marlin Jackson figure to battle it out for playing time at cornerback. Jackson, however, might get shifted to safety.

Von Hutchins got off to a slow start last year due to injuries but could see more playing time this year. Kelvin Hayden, the Colts' second-round pick last year, may get a longer look at cornerback. Indianapolis has good veteran depth at safety with Gerome Sapp, Dexter Reid and Matt Giordano.

Draft picks Tim Jennings and T.J. Rushing at cornerback and Antoine Bethea at safety are expected to push for playing time this year.

Specialists

The Colts have exchanged the league's most accurate field goal kicker in Vanderjagt with former New England Patriots placekicker Adam Vinatieri, who is probably the best big-game kicker in league history. He has two game-winning Super Bowl kicks and a miracle against the Raiders in the "Snow Bowl" on his resume.

Punter Hunter Smith is back for his eighth year with the team. Smith, who also serves as the team's holder, has excelled at pinning opposing offenses back against their own goal lines.

With Rhodes expected to take over as Indianapolis' starting running back, Walters gone to Arizona and Brad Pyatt not re-signed, the Colts will be looking for some new faces to return kickoffs and punts. Rookie T.J. Rushing will get a chance to fill those roles.

Coaching Staff

There are no changes in the Indianapolis coaching staff from a year ago. Tony Dungy has been able to keep a strong staff around him since he arrived in 2002. Tom Moore and Ron Meeks are back to run things on offense and defense, respectively.