Robert Mathis was placed on the PUP list to open Indianapolis Colts training camp today, and will miss some time as he continues to recovery from a torn Achilles. He isn’t too far away from getting back onto the field, but the Colts are playing it very safe. That being said, Mathis is also the key to the Colts’ Super Bowl hopes.
There is no question that the Colts are going to have one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL. Andrew Luck is one of the best up-and-coming quarterbacks in the game, and general manager Ryan Grigson has gone out and brought in as many weapons as he can for Luck. Frank Gore was also signed this past offseason to bring stability to the ground game to take even more pressure off of Luck’s shoulders.
Last season, the Colts’ defense was extremely inconsistent and pass rushing was their biggest need. Neither Bjoern Werner or Erik Walden was able to step up and fill the role that Mathis left when he went down with an injury.
During the 2013 season, Mathis showed just how dominant he is capable of being for the Colts. He finished the season with 59 tackles, 19.5 sacks, and eight forced fumbles. If the Colts had that production last season, there is a good chance that they would have been able to finish the season with a better record as well as compete with the New England Patriots in the AFC title game.
At 34 years old, Mathis is still considered to be the leader of the Colts’ defense. What kind of production they can expect out of him coming off a torn Achilles is unknown, but he seems to think that he will get back to being the dominant playmaker that he once was.
Looking ahead at the 2015 season, Indianapolis has improved their defense with the addition of Trent Cole in particular. They also added Dwight Lowery and re-signed safety Mike Adams. Obviously they believe that they have done what needed to be done in order to take the defense to another level and where it needs to be.
If the Colts want to make a legitimate run at a Super Bowl win, they are going to need their veteran leader to come through with a monstrous season. Mathis has to get back to 100 percent first however, and the Colts can activate him from the PUP list at any point that they choose.
Expect to see Mathis get back on the field in the fairly near future, and to be a very big difference maker for the Colts in 2015. He may not put up the 19.5 sacks that he had in 2013, but he is still more than capable of making an impact. Patience is the key with him this year, and the Colts are going about things the right way to unleash the monster once again.
