The Sixth in an Off-Season Position-by-Position Series on the Colts
INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts' center position in 2010 shared a notable trait with the rest of the offense, as well as the rest of the organization.
The position had success and was key to the success of the team.
And to achieve those things, it had to overcome adversity.
With Jeff Saturday, a 12th-year pro, again turning in a productive year, the center position helped solidify the offense and the offensive line as the Colts qualified for the post-season for a ninth consecutive season.
That streak tied an NFL record.
It's a streak and a record that Saturday has contributed to in a major way, with center being a critical role on the Colts' complex, dynamic offense.
For his effort, Saturday this season was named to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time in his career.
"It's one of those things where you feel awfully honored because it takes everybody," Saturday said shortly after the 2010 NFL regular season. "It takes coaches. It takes players. It takes fans.
"It's all of those things coming together at once. So, it's a special thing."
Saturday, who also made the game in 2009 and 2005-07, this past year missed the entire preseason, but returned to start 16 games for a second time in as many seasons and the ninth time in 11 seasons.
For Saturday, it was the latest memorable season in what has become one of the most decorated careers for an offensive lineman in Indianapolis Colts history.
"At the Pro Bowl, there's a lot of turnover," Saturday said during Pro Bowl week. "It's not one of those things where you keep making it. You have to perform each year. You just have to keep battling and keep playing, and then those things tend to take care of themselves.
"My wife and I were talking about it on the way out – five times out here, and a couple of Super Bowls. I don't know that I could ask for a better career. It's been blessing after blessing."
In 2010, the focus late in the season for not only Saturday but the entire Colts' line and the offense was improving the run offense.
The unit did just that, and did so in striking fashion.
After finishing 31st in the NFL in rushing in 2008 and 32nd in 2009, the Colts ranked 32nd in the area much of this past season, and in only three of the first 13 games did they rush for more than 100 yards – victories over the New York Giants (160 yards), Washington (170) and Houston (107).
They also rushed for 97 yards in a victory over Kansas City.
Entering the final month of the season having lost three consecutive games, the Colts re-emphasized the run game. They rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville in Game 14, and added a season-high 191 yards in a Game 15 victory at Oakland. It was the first time since 2006 the Colts rushed for more than 150 yards in back-to-back games, and in the game before that, the Colts rushed for 87 yards against Tennessee.
The Colts won all three games, ending a three-game losing streak and moving from second-place in the AFC South into first-place in the division.
Saturday, who had talked the previous off-season about the need to improve the running game, spoke late in the season about the improvement – and the December emphasis on the area.
"The last few weeks have been really good," Saturday said. "I feel like the coaching staff has committed to it and our running backs are running hard. The line's blocking well.
"You talk about the run game: the more you do it, the better you're going to be at it."
Saturday, as has been the case much of the last decade, also played a key role in the overall offense, making calls and checks at the line of scrimmage in the team's no-huddle offense. His veteran leadership was key as the team started four different lineups through the season, with only Saturday and right tackle Ryan Diem starting all 16 games.
The offensive line play, which has helped the team to 13 consecutive seasons with at least 5,000 yards of net offense, has registered many of the best ratios of sacks-per-pass attempt in franchise history in the last 13 seasons.
The Colts allowed just 16 sacks in 695 pass plays, and that came after a preseason in which Charlie Johnson and Saturday missed significant time with injuries. Still, the unit – and particularly Saturday – recovered to play its most productive football late in the season when the Colts rallied to a seventh AFC South title in eight seasons.
For Saturday, it was the 11th playoff appearance in 12 seasons, and he said as has been the case throughout his career, that success is what made individual honors possible.
"Winning games obviously goes a long way to help that," Saturday said. "The more we won, the more well-known you become."
Mike Pollak, a second-round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, started 13 games at right guard. He also is the Colts' backup center.
