Peyton Manning gave the Colts 13 fantastic seasons before an injury forced him to sit out the 2011 season. His absence may have turned into a blessing in disguise, as it led to a 2-14 season that brought Andrew Luck to town.

Based on his rookie year in 2012, Luck is likely to ensure at least another decade of solid play at the helm. Luck, head coach Chuck Pagano; General Manager Ryan Grigson and a new cast of characters led to a dramatic nine game single-season turnaround and a return to the playoffs.

So how good can Luck be? There are still a lot of holes to be filled on this Colts roster. But Kyle Rodriguez, assistant editor of  Colts Authority and a featured columnist at Bleacher Report, says last year’s run is quite likely just the tip of the iceberg.

Here’s what he had to say.

Zoneblitz: Indianapolis made it back to the playoffs much more quickly than expected. To what do you attribute the 2012 playoff run?

Rodriguez: There were plenty of factors in the Colts’ improbable playoff run, from the emotional #CHUCKSTRONG movement to the relatively easy schedule. But the biggest reason was Andrew Luck, who was a threat to create a big play at any given time. Despite having a horrendous offensive line and young skill players around him, Luck managed to carry the team offensively to numerous wins.

Zoneblitz: How good can Andrew Luck be?

Rodriguez: Luck’s ceiling is unmatched. He has the skill set to be as good as we’ve seen in the NFL. Now, will he live up to his potential? Nobody knows, but we do know that he has the potential to be a Hall of Fame player. He can make any throw, has the vision and awareness to find the open man, and the legs and toughness to withstand pressure in the pocket. If he can improve his efficiency with Pep Hamilton’s offense, he can be a top-five quarterback next season.

Zoneblitz: How would you assess the jobs Ryan Grigson and Chuck Pagano did in their first seasons as general manager and head coach?

Rodriguez: It’s tough to assess Chuck Pagano, with most of his season spent in the hospital. But the time that he was healthy seemed positive. He quickly got the veterans and rookies alike to buy into his philosophy, which is always a good sign. Ryan Grigson’s work in free agency has been a little questionable, but his drafting has been fantastic and the overall direction of the franchise is looking fantastic.

Zoneblitz: How much will the Colts miss Bruce Arians and what do you think of hiring Pep Hamilton to replace him?

Rodriguez: To be honest, we don’t know if the change from Arians to Hamilton is positive yet. It looks like Hamilton was a very good hire, as he’ll incorporate some West Coast principles that will help make the offense much more efficient. The good thing about Arians was that he understood that Andrew Luck and the passing game was the lifeblood of the offense. Hamilton is certainly going to incorporate more running into the offense. As long as he keeps passing as the priority, the Colts will be just fine.

Zoneblitz: Darrius Heyward-Bey adds some wide receiver depth, but Reggie Wayne is aging and Donnie Avery and Austin Collie are gone. And last year’s tight end duo and running backs, from a distance, appeared inconsistent. How are the Colts doing at surrounding Luck with the skill position talent he needs to maximize his skills?

Rodriguez: The Colts used the entire draft last year to equip Luck, drafting two tight ends, two receivers, and a running back. One of the tight ends, Dwayne Allen, was fantastic as a rookie, a blocking phenom and a solid weapon underneath. Coby Fleener was a bit disappointing, but was misused in Arians offense, and should go back to his college ways under Hamilton. T.Y. Hilton was incredibly dynamic as a rookie, although he needs to improve his hands. LaVon Brazill showed promise, and looks like he could improve in his second year. Vick Ballard may not be a workhorse back, but he can be effective as part of a committee. So, yeah, there’s no reason to complain at this point.

Zoneblitz: Two veteran additions, Matt Hasselbeck and Aubrayo Franklin, caught my eye in the early days of free agency. What was your thought on those signings?

Rodriguez: Hasselbeck should be a good veteran presence for Luck as he continues to grow, but hopefully he never sees the field. Similarly, Franklin should be a good veteran to act as a mentor for a guy like Josh Chapman. Unlike Hasselbeck however, Franklin should be a contributor at nose tackle. If things go as planned though, Chapman should develop into the starter at nose tackle.

Zoneblitz: With Dwight Freeney likely moving on, what else does the defense need to do to improve?

Rodriguez: The Colts need to improve their pass rush and add a playmaker in the secondary. The pass rush struggled last season, and losing Freeney doesn’t help. Pass rush along the defensive line was non-existent last season, so help there would be incredibly helpful.

Zoneblitz: Who on the roster do you see having a breakout season in 2013?

Rodriguez: I expect to see Coby Fleener to have a much better season in 2013 than he did rookie year. Fleener has great speed, and should be used in space. Last season Arians had Fleener running a lot of underneath routes. With Hamilton we should see Fleener running down the seam and down the field much more, which suits him. Add to the fact that he is comfortable with Hamilton’s schemes already, and you have a perfect set up for a breakout year.

Zoneblitz: How do you feel about the Colts’ approach to the early round of free agency and what would you like to see the team do in the draft and the rest of free agency?

Rodriguez: The team has done well in free agency in that they’ve addressed all of their glaring needs by signing starters. They may not have gotten great value in their signings, but they’ve definitely improved the team. Now they can afford to  go into the draft with aim at getting the best value possible. They have needs across the board, with no glaring weakness that absolutely needs addressing.

Follow Kyle Rodriguez on Twitter at: @ColtsAuth_Kyle
Follow Colts Authority on  Twitter at: @ColtsAuthority
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