The 5 Biggest Issues Facing Indianapolis Colts with OTAs Wrapped
With the Indianapolis Colts minicamp opening this week, the team got a continued look at the makeup of the 2015 team and how the different pieces fit together.
The eventual final roster has yet to be completed, and there is plenty of time before it will come, including the entire training camp and preseason process. But things are beginning to shape up, and we'll continue to get little hints as the summer continues.
Fortunately for Indianapolis, the Colts have been blessed with a group of veteran players who understand the value of these offseason activities, having a very high rate of participation in the voluntary portion of the offseason. One thing that head coach Chuck Pagano has done very well over the last three seasons is get the veterans to buy in early, and that's happened again this year.
But what else do the Colts still have to accomplish this summer before the season kicks off in September? That's what we'll look at today as the Colts minicamp winds down.
Finish T.Y. Hilton's Contract Extension
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With the Colts' selection of wide receiver Phillip Dorsett in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, some speculated that the team was preparing for T.Y. Hilton's exit after this season, with the selection indicating that the Colts would not pony up big money for their stud receiver.
According to owner Jim Irsay, that's not the case at all. On Wednesday, Irsay told Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star that he expected a Hilton deal to get done, possibly before the 2015 season begins. Irsay also mentioned a pending contract extension with offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo, per the Herald Bulletin's George Bremer:
"Irsay says he'd like to get something done with Castonzo, Hilton sooner than later. Goal is to draft great players and keep them. #Colts
— George Bremer (@gmbremer) June 10, 2015"
But on Thursday, general manager Ryan Grigson told Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star that the team was currently focused on 2015 and what's happening on the field, leading to Holder's proclamation that an extension was unlikely this offseason, as no current "constructive" talks are ongoing.
Personally, if the big boss wants to get something done, it will probably get done. Grigson—and Pagano—may be focused on the field right now as OTAs and minicamp wrap up, but during the next six weeks there will be little on-field activity in Indianapolis, opening the door for more negotiations.
The extension may or may not come this offseason, but I'd expect the Colts to try to get it out of the way with so many other negotiations pending for 2016.
Hammer out the OLB Depth Chart
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One of the deepest, yet questionable positions on the Colts roster is outside linebacker. The team has two former Pro Bowlers, a highly paid free agent, a third-year first-round pick and a second-year player who led the team and all rookie edge players in sacks last year.
But so far this offseason it's been Cam Johnson, a former seventh-round pick that was traded for out of San Francisco two years ago, that has gotten the bulk of offseason attention. Johnson caught the eye of Kevin Bowen of Colts.com again this week, receiving some work with the first team on Tuesday.
But there are obviously plenty of others in the mix.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network said on his latest podcast that he sees Jonathan Newsome as a breakout candidate in 2015, potentially being a "double-digit sack guy, getting 12 sacks."
Robert Mathis spoke to the media again this week, saying he is motivated by the doubters at age 34 and that he plans on being ready to play by Week 1, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. Then there is Trent Cole, Erik Walden, Bjoern Werner (who Bowen says returned to practice this week) and a few other fringe roster players.
Though the team doesn't have any stud, Pro Bowl-caliber players in their prime, the combination of different talents could work out well for Indianapolis as long as they get the mixture right.
Who Will Start at Left Guard?
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With more reports of Jack Mewhort seeming to be the expected replacement for Gosder Cherilus at right tackle, the questions of who will take his place at left guard continue to linger. According to Kevin Bowen of Colts.com, Mewhort was running with the first team again this week, with veteran Joe Reitz mixing in at times.
Mike Wells of ESPN.com reported earlier this week that Hugh Thornton and Lance Louis are currently the two leaders for the starting job.
The left guard spot is a critical one for Indianapolis because it's the spot next to Anthony Castonzo. He has developed into a very nice left tackle for the Colts, but a big part of that development has been the addition of Mewhort next to him last season. Castonzo thrives when he has a good working relationship with the left guard, something that wasn't necessarily the case with Thornton in 2013 or the revolving door in 2012.
This is where Reitz comes in. Reitz and Castonzo have long had good chemistry on the left side, going back to Castonzo's rookie year in 2011 when the two teamed up for long stretches of the season to provide a bit of a bright spot on a 2-14 team. Yes, Reitz can play tackle if need be, but if Mewhort is slated to start there in Cherilus' absence, let Reitz start at left guard, where he is most effective.
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Joint Practice with Chicago
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The Colts announced the possibility of a joint practice with another Midwestern team this week, with early signs seeming to point toward St. Louis.
But the Colts announced Thursday that the joint practice, the first under Chuck Pagano, would be with the Chicago Bears on August 19 and 20, days before the two teams' preseason game, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com:
"“I was glad we were able to come to agreement and get that thing solidified,” Pagano said. “It’s somebody else to go against. Scheme-wise you get to see hopefully some different things on both sides of the ball.
“At the same time, we’ve talked long and hard about the tempo of the practice. It’ll bring excitement and energy. It’s a boost. It’s a lift for everybody to do something different, to go against somebody. We’ll all do a great job of making sure that it’s productive and it doesn’t become anything other than that.”
Not only will the joint practices be different for the Colts, so will be the amount of time they spend at Anderson (Ind.) University at training camp. They’ve routinely spent about three weeks at training camp, but this year they’ll report on Aug. 1 and break Aug. 15, the day before they travel to play the Philadelphia Eagles in their preseason opener on Aug. 16.
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The joint practice will be fun for Indianapolis, not just because of the extra competition in camp, but also because of the strong fan ties in Indiana to the Bears, who were the closest NFL team for much of the state's residents before the Colts moved to town in 1984.
Stay Healthy
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The scariest part of Thursday's open minicamp practice was when tight end Dwayne Allen went down to the turf, holding onto his left knee and hamstring area before gingerly walking off the field.
It came as a great relief when he later returned to drills, according to Kevin Bowen of Colts.com.
"Pagano said TE Dwayne Allen just tweaked something during 7-on-7 but got right back into practice shortly after. "He's fine."
— Steve Andress (@ColtsReporter) June 11, 2015"
The Colts have several guys like Allen on the team, guys who have shown great promise but have also seen development derailed by injuries. For Allen, the 2015 season is one that could determine the course of his career one way or another, and another big injury would be a crushing blow.
With Indianapolis' tendency to suffer through injuries, the best thing the team could do this offseason is simply stay healthy and continue to rehabilitate injured players. If the Colts are going to make a serious Super Bowl run, they'll need as many bodies as they can get.
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