Indianapolis Colts: Full Offensive-Line Breakdown and Depth-Chart Analysis
Building a solid offensive line was never supposed to be a decade-long project for the Indianapolis Colts.
But since the retirement of left tackle Tarik Glenn during the 2007 offseason, the Colts have been behind. From their drafting of busts such as Tony Ugoh to the signing, and starting, of free agents Samson Satele and Mike McGlynn, to say the Colts have struggled in linemen acquisition would be the understatement of the offseason.
The list of offensive linemen drafted since that 2007 offseason is a graveyard of NFL careers.
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- Anthony Castonzo, 2011 (60 games started)
- Mike Pollak, 2008 (52)
- Tony Ugoh, 2007 (28)
- Hugh Thornton, 2013 (20)
- Jack Mewhort, 2014 (14)
- Jamey Richard, 2008 (11)
- Jacques McClendon, 2010 (5)
- Khaled Holmes, 2013 (2)
- Steve Justice, 2008 (1)
- Jaimie Thomas, 2010 (0)
- Ulrick John, 2014 (0)
- Justin Anderson, 2012 (0)
- Ben Ijalana, 2011 (0)
Some of the more recent picks could still go on to have nice, long careers, but right now, only Castonzo and Mewhort have shown enough to provide optimism that they could be decent starters in the long term.
Having two young, upward-trending linemen just might put this Colts offensive line in the best place it's been in for years. That's not to say it's an above-average line by any means; there are still question marks at two positions and another regarding a 32-year-old veteran who played just eight games last season.
Even with a little bit of optimism, this unit is the weakest link on an otherwise stacked offense. This is a unit that could make or break the franchise's chances to reach 2003-2006 levels of offensive dominance.
Heading into the 2015 season, what does the Colts' depth chart look like? The team has made some changes, but many of the players from last season will return.
The Stud: Anthony Castonzo
The best offensive-line draft pick the Colts have made since Glenn, Castonzo has been the lone rock on the Colts offensive line for the last three years. Though not an elite left tackle, Castonzo made some significant strides in 2014 as he solidified his pass protection, something that had been prone to frustrating inconsistencies before.
| 2011 | -2.8 | -0.5 | +0.1 | 6 | 28 | 94.5% |
| 2012 | +3.3 | -11.1 | +9.7 | 10 | 58 | 93.8% |
| 2013 | +3.9 | -8.7 | +11.2 | 4 | 62 | 94.0% |
| 2014 | +18.5 | +18.1 | -2.1 | 2 | 36 | 96.5% |
After finishing 56th in Pro Football Focus' pass-blocking grades among all tackles in 2013, Castonzo finished sixth in 2014. Castonzo has always had the potential to be a stud pass-blocker. After all, that was why the Colts drafted him back in 2011. He was the most pro-ready pass-blocker at left tackle of his class, with good technique and the requisite physical tools.
While Peyton Manning, the intended beneficiary of the pick, never reaped the rewards of upgrading from Charlie Johnson, Luck and the Colts have been lucky to have Castonzo around, especially with what has been a crumbling mess elsewhere on the line.
Castonzo's play, especially in pass protection, can be affected by what's around him, a big reason why he struggled in 2013 before blossoming next to Jack Mewhort. Regardless of surrounding talent, though, Castonzo still is an above-average tackle with good athleticism and an ability to run-block well on the move, including on outside runs and while getting to the second level.
The Colts' runs averaged 3.9 yards per carry last season, per Pro Football Focus, but they averaged 4.3 yards per carry around the left end and 5.8 yards per carry on runs behind the left tackle. In contrast, the team averaged just 3.1 yards per carry behind the right tackle and 2.6 yards per carry around the right end.
With solid performances in both run and pass blocking, Castonzo has become one of the team's best overall players, earning some well-earned praise from Pro Football Focus as their 66th-ranked player in the PFF 101 list.
Castonzo will have to do it for more than one season in order to be able to command a top contract, but he's the Colts' best lineman and a rock for Andrew Luck.
The Rising Star, Future Tackle?
The other saving grace, in terms of the Colts' future on the offensive line, is Jack Mewhort, the second-year player out of Ohio State. Mewhort's selection was a disappointment to many Colts fans last season, as Mewhort wasn't graded very highly as a tackle and the Colts needed impact defensive and skill players.
But Mewhort was moved to guard in Indianapolis, and he performed well enough as a rookie for Colts fans to accept Ryan Grigson's selection as a smart move.
Ben Gundy of Colts Academy charted Mewhort's performance all season and articulately wrapped up his performance:
"Mewhort still has a long way to go to reach elite guard status, but his rookie season has to be considered a resounding success. When Donald Thomas went down with an injury during the preseason, Mewhort stepped into the left guard spot and made it his own.
He missed weeks five and six with an injury and took a trial run at right tackle in week 17 (with mixed results). Otherwise, he played every snap at left guard, and he was the best player the Colts have had in that position in years – other than the occasional Joe Reitz cameo (#FreeJoe).
Mewhort came roaring out of the gate, pass blocking at 94% in the first four weeks and looking like a good, if not great, run blocker. He appeared set to emerge as a stud, but an ankle injury knocked him out of the next two games. When he came back in week seven, he promptly gave up his first sack of the year, and it took him a few weeks to get back to his previous pass blocking level.
He seemed to wear down as the year went along, culminating in a disastrous pass blocking performance against the Bengals in the Wild Card round.
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National analysts or fans of other teams weren't blown away by Mewhort, but for Colts fans, it was a breath of fresh air to see a rookie come in and be as dependable as he was. His presence had a strong effect on Castonzo as well, and he is one of the few drafted Colts from the last three years who could be considered a long-term asset.
An injury to Gosder Cherilus may see him move to right tackle this season, as Cherilus still hasn't recovered from offseason surgery. According to Mike Wells of ESPN, Mewhort is penciled in as the starter right now. This would break up a solid left side for Indianapolis and could have ripple effects.
If Mewhort plays well at right tackle, it will be well worth it. But if he is below average, and a poor left guard has a debilitating effect on Castonzo, it may prove to be another mistake in a long line of offensive-line issues.
The Aging, Stabilizing Vet
The Colts only made one significant addition on the line this offseason, signing former Philadelphia Eagles starter Todd Herremans to a one-year deal in free agency.
Herremans has been a starter for the Eagles for the last 10 years, starting at left guard and eventually moving to right tackle for two seasons and right guard. He's been an effective starter for the Eagles, especially as a run-blocker, and he should be an upgrade over the Hugh Thornton/Lance Louis/Mike McGlynn mess that has persisted for the last three years.
But that's not guaranteed. Herremans has missed at least half the season in two of the last three years, playing just eight games last time out. His health is certainly something to question, especially in light of the Colts' history of injuries on the offensive line. If you're looking for a squad that extends players' careers with reliable team doctors and trainers, the Colts show little evidence of that.
Then there is his play, even when healthy.
Per Pro Football Focus' grading, Herremans has left much to be desired in pass protection recently and hasn't been trending in the right direction.
| 2012 | 8 | 543 | +8.6 | +7.9 | -1.9 |
| 2013 | 17 | 1,187 | +9.8 | +24.2 | -18.3 |
| 2014 | 8 | 585 | -12.5 | -0.1 | -11.9 |
What does this mean for 2015? Nobody is quite sure. Herremans is in a different city in a different scheme, which can have a distinct effect on lineman grades. We haven't seen that really pan out for free-agent linemen in Indianapolis quite yet, but you never know.
Either way, the Colts hopes for Herremans rest on him being a stabilizing force for the offensive line, rather than another consistency concern.
Fighting for the Anchor
One of the most high-profile camp battles this offseason will be between Jonotthan Harrison and Khaled Holmes for the center position.
How much can we say about this battle before it really begins? The two are neck-and-neck so far, and the real news won't come until training camp.
We can look back at 2014 as a bit of a template, however. If that's what it is, it seems Harrison is the more athletically gifted player, especially when it comes to strength and run-blocking potential. Holmes, on the other hand, has more experience with the team and is generally less prone to bone-headed mistakes.
Neither was good last season, with Harrison finishing the year with a negative 12.8 grade from Pro Football Focus from his 708 snaps while Holmes finished with negative 13.2 from 390 snaps. Harrison was benched for Holmes late in the year, which is worth keeping in mind, but it seems the two have reset for the 2015 competition.
Based on the information available, it seems the battle will come down to Harrison's mental capacities. If he can cut down on the big mistakes, his physical talent should win him the job. If he continues to miss snap counts, snap poorly and blow pass-protection blocks, however, Holmes will win the job on the basis of being the lesser of two evils.
Filling out the Starting Lineup
The last position on the starting lineup to fill, then, is left guard, a spot opened up by Mewhort's transition to right tackle. As has been mentioned, Hugh Thornton and Lance Louis have been the most frequent players there through the offseason.
Thornton is the key for Indianapolis, which we briefly touched on in a recent article. He is one of, if not the most athletically gifted interior lineman on the roster, with a strength and quickness combination others lack. But he struggles mightily in pass protection, with his communication, picking up blitzes and technique being inconsistent at best.
If Thornton doesn't win the job, it will likely go to Louis, a journeyman backup who is too beat up and old to be an impact player. Even as a stopgap, Louis doesn't exactly inspire confidence.
The real question is simple: Why is the versatile Joe Reitz not getting a look at left guard?
Is it because he's focusing on tackle with Cherilus still out, meaning he'll get a look at guard come training camp? Is it because the team just wants him to focus on tackle? Is it because the team legitimately thinks Thornton and Louis are better options on the interior?
No matter the case, the fact is Reitz has simply been better than the other two, and it's not particularly close. In fact, it can be argued that Reitz has been the second-best Colts lineman of the last two seasons when he's gotten a chance to play.
We know the Colts value Reitz, signing him to a three-year contract this offseason. But they seem to value him more as a sixth-man type than a consistent contributor, which invites scrutiny. What's the point of bringing back more depth this season if better players still won't be playing?
| Hugh Thornton | 1473 | -23.6 | 0.6 | -21.0 |
| Lance Louis | 543 | -10.5 | -3.7 | -14.3 |
| Joe Reitz | 426 | 5.1 | 3.5 | 10.1 |
Reitz has the best chemistry on the team with Castonzo on the left side, perhaps even better than what Mewhort and Castonzo showed last year. The communication and pass protection on that side would continue most seamlessly if Reitz took over from Mewhort.
Reitz has a Castonzo-like athleticism in the open field, even if he's not the most powerful of run-blockers. He's is also a much better guard than tackle and gives you more bang for your buck inside. His foot speed is a little too slow to handle speed-rushers on the edge.
You can't complain too much before training camp even begins, but the thought of Reitz on the bench with at least one guard position floundering will already be seeping into the minds of Colts fans.
Depth: An Unlikely Mix
The rest of the roster is an odd mix of veteran players and unknowns.
Donald Thomas leads the way inside, a former starter reduced to potential camp fodder by season-ending injuries in consecutive campaigns. Thomas is a complete wild card in this regard. If he reaches anywhere near his pre-injury level, he'll be a fringe starter and someone the Colts can potentially throw in. Otherwise, he may be cut by September.
Ben Heenan is another one to keep an eye on on the interior, as he was a coveted CFL free-agent signing. His roster spot certainly isn't guaranteed, but he looks to continue the Colt's trend of picking up productive CFL players and turning them into producers on the next level.
Two other depth players who could be in the mix are Ulrick John and Denzelle Goode. Both players are ultra-athletic, ultra-raw tackle prospects out of small programs. John is from Georgia State, and Goode is from Mars Hill.
If either player develops into a quality player, the Colts would be much better off on the outside rather than relying on natural guards Herremans and Reitz for depth.
Along with the guys who lose out on starting competitions, the Colts have arguably their deepest and most versatile offensive line in years, containing a few significant developmental players. But for 2015, the team has a lot of hopes riding on a few very tough questions, questions that won't be answered until training camp.
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