With training camp a little less than a week away, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser will spend the final days of the off-season examining 21 questions about the Indianapolis Colts entering 2010 . . .

No. 16: What should be expected of Jerry Hughes?

We move today to the 16^th part of this series examining 21 questions around the 2010 Indianapolis Colts, this one addressing what will be a pressing question as the season approaches: What should be expected of DE Jerry Hughes?

The first answer is that the Colts are expecting quite a bit from Hughes.

The second is that it may not be fair to measure his contributions only in numbers.

Hughes, a defensive end from Texas Christian University, was the Colts’ first-round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft, a player selected to help add depth to an already talent-heavy position and an added element to an already potent Colts pass rush.

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With training camp a little more than a week away, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser will spend the final days of the off-season examining 21 questions about the Indianapolis Colts entering 2010 . . .

No. 15: Will Jerraud Powers be a Pro Bowl corner?

We move today to the 15th part of this series examining 21 questions around the 2010 Indianapolis Colts, this one addressing what could become a pertinent question within the next season or two:

Will Jerraud Powers be a Pro Bowl corner?

Perhaps not this season, but it may not be much longer before he is.

Powers, a second-year cornerback for the Colts from Auburn University, was selected in third round of the 2009 NFL Draft, emerging last season as one of the most-productive members of one of the NFL’s most-productive rookie classes.

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With training camp a little more than a week away, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser will spend the final days of the off-season examining 21 questions about the Indianapolis Colts entering 2010 . . .

No. 14: Can Pierre Garcon be a No. 1 receiver?

We move today to the 14th part of this series examining 21 questions around the 2010 Indianapolis Colts, this one addressing what could be an increasingly pertinent question in coming months and seasons: Can Pierre Garcon be a No. 1 receiver?

It’s too early to know for sure, but the signs are better than perhaps previously expected.

Garcon, a third-year wide receiver, was selected in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft from Mount Union (Pa.). Since a rookie season spent mostly adjusting to his first experience of big-time football at any level, he has steadily improved.

Garcon played sparingly as a rookie in 2008 – playing mostly on special teams and only late in the season offensively – then starting WR Anthony Gonzalez sustained what became a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 of 2009.

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With training camp a little less than two weeks away, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser will spend the final weeks of the off-season examining 21 questions about the Indianapolis Colts entering 2010 . . .

No. 13: Will WRs be best of QB Peyton Manning’s career?

We move today to the 13th part of this series examining 21 questions around the 2010 Indianapolis Colts, this one addressing what has been a question throughout the off-season and one with a very positive answer for the Colts: Will the Colts’ wide receivers be the best of QB Peyton Manning’s career?

The answer is they absolutely could be.

And they almost certainly will be as deep as they ever have been in Manning’s era.

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With training camp a little less than two weeks away, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser will spend the final weeks of the off-season examining 21 questions about the Indianapolis Colts entering 2010 . . .

No. 12: Will the run blocking improve?

We move today to the 12th part of this series examining 21 questions around the 2010 Indianapolis Colts, this one addressing what has been a question throughout the off-season – and really, what has been a question for several years: Will the run blocking improve?

The answer is if it doesn’t, the Colts certainly will be disappointed.

It has, after all, been a major focus of the 2010 off-season.

The Colts, after ranking 31^st in the NFL in rushing in 2008, ranked 32^nd – last – in the category last season, and while the Colts focus more on yards per carry than the NFL’s measure of rushing yards-per-game, the area is still enough of a concern that the team made several off-season moves addressing the area.

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With training camp a little less than two weeks away, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser will spend the final weeks of the off-season examining 21 questions about the Indianapolis Colts entering 2010 . . .

No. 11: Will CB Kelvin Hayden be a Pro Bowl selection?

We move today to the 11th part of this series examining 21 questions around the 2010 Indianapolis Colts, asking what has been a pertinent question for several seasons: Will CB Kelvin Hayden be a Pro Bowl selection?

The answer is the same as it has been for several years:

He absolutely can, and ability to stay healthy is the key to his season.

Hayden, entering his sixth season with the Colts, is well-established as a veteran leader and core player. He’s a cornerback with coverage skills, quickness to the ball and the ability to play at a big-time level in run support as well.

But when discussing his future this off-season, Hayden didn’t mention those things.

He mentioned doing what he could to stay on the field.

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With training camp a little less than two weeks away, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser will spend the final weeks of the off-season examining 21 questions about the Indianapolis Colts entering 2010 . . .

No. 9: Will Curtis Painter be the backup QB?

We move today to the ninth part of this series examining 21 questions around the 2010 Indianapolis Colts, this one addressing what has been asked a lot since the end of last regular season: Will Curtis Painter be the backup quarterback?

All indications are he will.

And that’s entirely in keeping with the Colts’ recent history.

For the first time in six seasons, the Colts next season will enter the regular season with someone other than Jim Sorgi backing up Peyton Manning at quarterback. Sorgi, the backup since 2004, became a free agent following last season, and will back up Manning’s brother, Eli, after signing with the New York Giants.

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With training camp a little more than two weeks away, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser will spend the final weeks of the off-season examining 21 questions about the Indianapolis Colts entering 2010 . . .

No. 8: Will Fili Moala emerge as a force?

We move today to the eighth part of this series examining 21 questions around the 2010 Indianapolis Colts, this one addressing what has been a question for more than a year: Will DT Fili Moala emerge as a force on the interior of the line?

Part of the answer is that if he’s going to do so, this likely will be the year.

Another part is that it’s impossible yet to know.

The third part, and the best news for the Colts, is while the Colts very much want Moala to fulfill the potential he showed in college – potential that made him a second-round selection in the 2009 NFL Draft – they’re not desperate for that to take place.

That’s how much the Colts improved at defensive tackle last season.

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With training camp a little more than two weeks away, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser will spend the final weeks of the off-season examining 21 questions about the Indianapolis Colts entering 2010 . . .

No. 7: Will the Colts’ linebackers be the best in memory?

We move today to the seventh part of this series examining 21 questions around the 2010 Indianapolis Colts, this one addressing what has become an intriguing possibility as the regular season has approached: will the linebacking corps be the Colts’ best in memory?

The answer is that it could be.

Experience is a huge reason that’s true.

That started to be a real possibility early this off-season when the Colts made their most major move since Super Bowl XLIV by re-signing middle linebacker Gary Brackett.

It wasn’t necessarily an unprecedented move for the Colts. They had, after all, re-signed Brackett to a long-term deal early this decade.

But it was a move that gave the Colts something they haven’t always had at the linebacker position:

Continuity.

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