As everybody in the state of Indiana knows, the Indianapolis Colts aren\u2019t a great team. They\u2019re not good either. Okay, they\u2019re a really bad football team right now.<\/p>\n
Mateo Caliz of Stampede Blue<\/a> wrote that he wants the Colts to be a great team again:<\/p>\n \u201cOverall, I just want this team to be great again. Not good, but great. I want to go into games confident that the team will finish on top, not just waiting for the inevitable screwup. If it means cleaning house and having to go through yet another rebuild then so be it, but carrying on with this unwatchable mediocrity is just going to keep pushing the fans away.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Colts currently own a 7-9 record, good for second place in the AFC South. But after an embarrassing Week 17 loss to the New York Giants<\/a>, they will miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.<\/p>\n The Colts have been disappointing for the past few years. Will they ever be great again?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve only followed the Colts for the last three years or so, you don\u2019t know much about the \u201cGood Ol\u2019 Days.\u201d You don\u2019t remember the team being a Super Bowl contender every season.<\/p>\n Landing Peyton Manning<\/a> was the main reason for Indy\u2019s success back in the day. The Colts drafted the former Tennessee star first overall in 1998. He went on to become one the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.<\/p>\n With Manning under center, Indianapolis made the playoffs for nine straight seasons. They also won five straight AFC South titles from 2003 to 2007 and had seven consecutive seasons of 12 or more victories from 2003 to 2009. The Colts won Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears<\/a>\u00a0but lost to the New Orleans Saints<\/a> in Super Bowl XLIV.<\/sup><\/p>\n Following Manning\u2019s time in Indy, the Colts enjoyed success with his replacement, Andrew Luck. The Luck-led teams were good, but certainly not at the level of the Manning Era squads.<\/p>\n It won\u2019t be shocking if the Colts make major moves this offseason. General manager Chris Ballard<\/a> might get fired, ending his eight-year tenure. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will likely be shown the door. Head coach Shane Steichen could be let go as well, but that\u2019s unlikely<\/a>.<\/p>\n Building a great NFL team isn\u2019t an easy task at all. To return the Colts to the elite franchise they used to be, they must find a new general manager. Ballard just isn\u2019t the guy. The team has only made the playoffs twice under his leadership. Perhaps someone like Mike Borgonzi would be an ideal replacement<\/a>. He has won three Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs.<\/p>\n The Colts undoubtedly need a new defensive coordinator. Indy\u2019s defense was horrible this season with Bradley calling the shots. Hiring someone like Robert Saleh might be the way to go.<\/p>\nColts Analyst: \u201cI Just Want This Team To Be Great Again”<\/h2>\n
Remembering the Good Ol\u2019 Days<\/h3>\n
What Will It Take To Get Back On Track?<\/strong><\/h3>\n