Joseph Addai

Joseph Addai may be one of the most interesting players in Indianapolis.  At times he is the most hated player, then at drop of a hat (or the pinch of a nerve) the good people of Indianapolis claim Addai to be the most important player on the team aside from 18.  However the dude is a player, though his numbers have been bad, or even abysmal at times, he can still show his worth.

Addai is the most important free agent for the Colts to retain.

Running back may be the deepest position on the Colts this upcoming season with returning former first round pick Donald Brown, recent draftee and Akron Ohio native, Delone Carter, fan favorite, but injury prone Mike Hart, the Colt's most legendary running back's cousin Javarris James, and possibly bringing back the aging, yet happy-go-lucky Dominic Rhodes.  Am I missing anyone? The reality is that no one position on the team has more depth, experience, and uncertainty.

JA has the most experience with 18.  JA has the best track record of protecting the franchise, 18.  JA has built a rapport with 18.  Having experience, the ability to protect a franchise, and a rapport with the best, yet aging quarterback in the NFL is a must.  I fear Brown may have lost his spot in the Colts rotation at running back, as was the case at the end of last season.  Would walking into one of the most crucial seasons in the Colts recent history with a "Super Bowl or bust" mindset starting a back in Brown who didn't see the field in the Colts playoff loss to the Jets be wise? It might be, given the fact that the Colts will potentially have 2 to 3 new starters on the offensive line, opening up bigger holes for DB. An inexperienced offensive line is a liability, and I want to have that last line of defense be reliable and in place.  The last thing we need is to lose Manning because of a missed block.

Comparing Addai and Brown in rushing ability is a toss up, and Brown actually might have the edge.  But Addai takes the cake when it comes to pass protection.

Lets take a look at Addai's rushing stats since coming into the league.

2006: 1081 yds, 7 TD, 4.8 avg.
2007: 1072 yds, 12 TD, 4.1 avg. (15 games)
2008: 544 yds, 5 TD, 3.5 avg. (12 games)
2009: 828 yds, 10 TD, 3.8 avg. (15 games)
2010: 495 yds, 4 TD, 4.3 avg. (8 games)

Addai being helped off the field.

Last season probably would have been his best season (aside from '07) ever had he remained healthy.  His average was the best it ever was when Tarik Glenn was not suiting up at left tackle, and he was on pace to come up 10 yards short of 1000 yards.  Addai, behind a porous, underachieving, offensive line proved to , find a way to make it work, all while reliably protection Peyton.  If Brown will benefit from Castonzo and Ijalana (the Colts first and second round offensive lineman drafted this year) you better believe Addai will.

The other interesting thing to note is Addai has been healthy for an entire 16 game schedule once.  That was behind that Tarik Glenn anchored O-line , and it was also when he backed up, then started, Dominic Rhodes.  I could see Addai and Brown run a dynamic one-two-punch which would in effect help keep Addai healthy.  The reality is that Addai has been forced to shoulder the load, but as previously stated, the Colts have some major depth at running back.  JA is also a great threat out of the backfield, and in space is one of the shiftiest runners I have ever seen.

I feel like Paul Kuharsky, AFC South blogger for ESPN.com hit the nail on the head.  Addai is most valuable to our team, and our team alone.  He would most likely be buried on the bench, or behind another runner on another team.  Who knows, if Brown will have larger holes with a bigger, bulkier, newer O-line, I think Addai will as well.  I think that this big O-line could show how talented Addai truly is.  I'd like to bring him back for another year, and let him prove himself.

I'm a huge fan of Donald Brown, I'd like to see him succeed, and I'd also like to see a two back system with Addai and Brown.  However that leaves a few people out, primarily Carter, Rhodes, and Hart, all either future or current fan favorites.

Addai, in my opinion, is the most important player to bring back for free agency for the Colts to make a significant Super Bowl run.

What do you think?  Check back tomorrow for other significant free agents.

Tweet