New Colts offensive coordinator, Bruce Arians, knows Heinz Field and the Pittsburgh Steelers very well. Arians was part of the Pittsburgh offensive coaching staff from 2004-2011. He also served as the offensive coordinator for the Steelers from 2007-2011. Arians helped the Steelers reach three AFC Championship games and two Super Bowls during his time on their coaching staff, winning a title with that team in  2005 and 2008. Arians has brought his successful offensive strategies to Indianapolis, hoping to implement the same ideals and successes to this relaoded team.

Running back Mewelde Moore was brought into a crowded Colts backfield earlier this off season, bringing a much-appreciated veteran presence to the young running back roster. Moore is a eight-year veteran who was initially drafted by the Minnesota Vikings, but played for the Steelers from 2008-2011. Moore has been dealing with banged-up ribs since last Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams, so his availability for the game at Pittsburgh is still up in the air.

New head coach Chuck Pagano, safety Tom Zibikowski, and defensive end Cory Redding were all playing a role with the Baltimore Ravens last season, before moving over to Indianapolis. As part of the Ravens, these new Colts had the chance to battle against the Steelers at least twice every year, and sometimes again in the playoffs.

So even if this rookie-heavy team might have wide eyes when the step on to the hostile territory of Heinz Field, they will be able to look towards several other players and coaches to guidance and assistance as how to handle the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

The Colts have spent draft picks on running backs in three straight years, but have not quite found a big-play back to take the bulk of the carries. Even after bringing in free agent back Mewelde Moore, the Colts find themselves with a full running back roster, but still without a clear starter. Moore, as well as second-year player Delone Carter, have both found themselves with nagging rib injuries after the first preseason game. Going into Pittsburgh on Sunday will be no walk in the park either. As the Colts wrap up their final few days of training camp, they must keep hopes up that no other injuries will hinder their stacked back roster any further. even if these limiting injuries are minor, the Steelers will be licking their chops to take a shot at these young and bruised running backs.

Third-year player, Donald Brown, is slated as the starting back for the Colts offense. Brown has had a slow start to his career, but did have a breakaway toucdown on Sunday, catching a screen pass for a score on Andrew Lucks’ first pass as a pro. The Colts also have a hometown back on the roster in the form of former Warren Central High School player, Darren Evans. Evans fumbled once last Sunday, but bounced back with a short touchdown score. Indianapolis also drafted running back Vick Ballard in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

The coaching staff will have to trim down the running back roster, before the start of the regular season, but not by much. As is obvious by the injuries early in the preseason, and in today’s multi-back NFL, it’s better to have the bodies and not need them, then to need the backs and not have them.

This new-look Colts squad may have looked dominant in their home preseason debut last Sunday, but the team did not walk away from the game unscarred. Linebacker Pat Angerer, the team’s leading tackler last season, will miss over a month with a broken foot that he suffered against the Rams. Linebacker Robert Mathis and new Colts running back Melwelde Moore both ended up with rib injuries, and it is still yet to be determined how much of this preseason either player might miss. The Colts also lost second-year linebacker Scott Lutrus with an ACL injury, forcing the team to place him on the injured reserve list for the season. Lutrus is the third linebacker to go down for the Colts in this early preseason.

On Tuesday, the Colts also signed running back Alvester Alexander.