Andre Johnson in Line for Key Role with Colts in 2015

At age 33, veteran wide receiver Andre Johnson isn’t going to run by defensive backs, press the top of the secondary or consistently make plays down the field on deep balls.

That’s not Johnson’s game at this stage of his career in the NFL, and the tape reflects that. The speed just isn’t there.

But after ESPN's Josina Anderson reported that he signed a new three-year, $21 million deal with the Colts on Wednesday, can Johnson fill a need for Indianapolis and still play an impact role with quarterback Andrew Luck?

When news started to surface that the former Texans wideout would sign with the Colts, I went back to the game film and studied the routes Johnson ran this past season in Houston. Think about inside breaking cuts, the short-to-intermediate route tree and concepts that allow Johnson to work inside the numbers.

That’s where he can still produce given his size, frame (6’3”, 230 lbs) and route-running ability on middle-of-the-field throws. This creates opportunities for Johnson to gain leverage at the top of the route while using his body to shield defenders from the ball.

Here’s an example from the All-22 tape, with Johnson aligned in a standard split outside the numbers (plus-two split):

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

The focus is on those inside breaking routes, with the dig and curl breaking at 12 to 15 yards along with the slant, shallow drive and quick tunnel screen designed to get Johnson the ball quickly.

We can add in the hitch (versus off-man) and fade (versus press), but the point here is that Johnson can still work the three-step game and produce when he runs the intermediate route tree.

From the Colts' perspective, that sells with Johnson now essentially taking the place of Reggie Wayne after the team released the veteran.

With the deep-ball speed and playmaking ability of T.Y. Hilton, the Colts needed a wideout to move the sticks, run the curl versus man coverage, get open on the dig and sit down in the intermediate throwing windows versus zone coverage.

That’s a fit for both Johnson’s skill set and the offense in Indianapolis.

Take a look at the dig route with Johnson matched up versus Buffalo Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin playing Cover 1 (man-free) from an outside shade:

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

This is basic stuff with a slight outside stem on the release that forces McKelvin to open his hips as Johnson breaks back to the middle of the field on the throw.

As you can see, McKelvin closes quickly to Johnson's shoulder (proper technique), but the veteran wide receiver can still use his body at the point of attack to shield the cornerback while making the grab in front of the free safety driving on the ball.

At this point in his career, Johnson isn’t going to create a lot separation at the top of the route, and I do expect cornerbacks to squat more in coverage to challenge the break point. That’s kind of the drill when defensive backs are matched up versus older receivers who don’t have the acceleration or long speed to run past them. They take more risks and will sit on routes.

However, given Johnson’s experience as a route-runner—plus his size—he can still win on the dig, curl, etc. when the ball is on time and put on the proper shoulder.

And Johnson will get that working with Luck.

The impact of catching balls from Luck is something I can’t underscore enough, as the Colts quarterback is a top-tier player at the position in regard to ball placement and the ability to put throws into tight windows.

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

That will show up in the intermediate passing game versus tight coverage, and don’t forget about the back-shoulder throws out in the field or inside the deep red zone.

Luck will create even more opportunities for Johnson, and that will cover up some of the skills that are starting to decline with the veteran receiver.

Looking at this wide receiver group in Indianapolis, I really like the potential of Donte Moncrief, and I’m interested to see what Duron Carter can do in the NFL. Plus, this draft class is loaded at wide receiver. The Colts can get younger at the position if they want to, given the amount of talent coming into the league this year.

But after the team signed running back Frank Gore on Tuesday, the addition of Johnson gives the Colts another proven vet to go along with their star quarterback.

The two players carry some risk given their age and the number of years they have played in the league, but they both fill a need for a team—and an offense—that could be pretty tough in 2015.

Seven-year NFL veteran Matt Bowen is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report.

Follow @MattBowen41