What does Former Coach Tony Dungy Think the Colts' Biggest Needs Are?

Former Colts head coach and two-time Hall of Fame finalist Tony Dungy was back in Indianapolis this weekend, and as you might expect, it was for a great cause.  Dungy was the keynote speaker at the Sports World's Choose to Win banquet benefitting youth in Indianapolis and other places.

Of course, with his return to Indy he also took time to talk about the Colts and about football.  Talking with the Indianapolis Star's Dana Hunsinger Benbow, Dungy weighed in on what he would do with the Colts' first round draft pick.

"Just from an outsider looking in, you've got to solidify the offensive line," Dungy said.  "You've got a great asset in Andrew Luck.  Make sure you can protect him.  If it was me, from a fan's perspective, let's get some offensive linemen, let's get some pass rushers and we're going to be in great shape.  I don't want to say I'm running this team.  That's just my suggestion."

It's a good one, though, and it's one from someone who was a coach for a long time in the NFL, is the winningest coach in Colts history, and won a Super Bowl with the Colts in Indianapolis.  And Dungy's absolutely right in that the Colts need to improve their offensive line, because they need to keep Andrew Luck standing and healthy.  His statement about getting some pass rushers is also right in line with what current general manager Ryan Grigson and head coach Chuck Pagano mentioned this week at the Combine - that you can never have enough pass rushers.  The two areas that Dungy suggests the Colts should work on are definitely two of their biggest areas of need this offseason in the offensive line and pass rush.

With that said, Dungy thinks the Colts are close to getting to and winning a Super Bowl.  "I think they're very close," he said.  "You've got a great quarterback.  You're going to be in the hunt every year.  Now, what does it take it to win it?  You've got to be healthy at the end of the year.  You've got to have momentum.  Robert Mathis being injured it's such a big part of things.  You've got to keep that pipeline of pass rushers coming and you're going to be in great shape."

The former coach also weighed in on a number of other things as well.  On Andrew Luck's contract, Dungy noted that "Jim Irsay's history has been to wait," but he also stated that, "it's going to get done whether it's this year or next year" (not that there was any question about that).  He said that he's able to sympathize with receiver Reggie Wayne and his upcoming retirement decision, as it's something Dungy went through as well.  On the Hall of Fame, Dungy said that, "I'm kind of looking forward thinking that, well maybe next year maybe Marvin and I go in together."

It's always good to hear from former Colts head coach Tony Dungy, and while back in town this weekend he weighed in on some of the Colts' biggest needs: offensive line and pass rusher.  Without a doubt, those are areas that the Colts are going to focus on this offseason.