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Indianapolis Colts Capsule

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (13-6)

OPEN CAMP: Aug. 1, Anderson University, Anderson, Indiana.

LAST YEAR: Continued steady progression with Andrew Luck leading way, winning second straight AFC South title and advancing one step deeper in playoffs for third consecutive year. Beat Bengals at home in wild-card round and beat Broncos on road before getting blown out -- again -- by Patriots in AFC championship game. Somehow, defense matched sacks total from 2013 despite losing league sacks champ Robert Mathis for whole season.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: OLB Trent Cole; WRs Andre Johnson and Phillip Dorsett; RB Frank Gore; OL Todd Herremans; DL Kendall Langford; S Dwight Lowery.

IMPORTANT LOSSES: S LaRon Landry; DE Cory Redding; RB Trent Richardson; WR Reggie Wayne; OT Gosder Cherilus.

CAMP NEEDS: Colts must find starting line that can keep Luck upright more often, get Dorsett, Johnson and Gore acclimated to offense, and help Luck figure out how to cut down turnovers. Defensively, 34-year-old Mathis remains big question after tearing left Achilles tendon last September. With or without Mathis, Indy's defense must get stouter against run and create more consistent pass rush.

EXPECTATIONS: Indy's steady ascension has spurred talk about Super Bowl or bust season. Favorable schedule, with Patriots and Broncos both at home, and playing in division where no other quarterback has measured up to Luck should lead to third straight division crown. But success or failure this season will be defined by two things: beating New England in playoffs and reaching third Super Bowl since 2006.

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