Indianapolis Colts' Projected Final 53-Man Roster, Pre-Training Camp Edition
As the Indianapolis Colts' training camp approaches, focus will be limited to a central topic: the final roster.
Right now is a dead period for the NFL, and the Colts are no different.
But with training camp beginning on August 1, we're beginning to look ahead to the ultimate goal of the summer practices. Figuring out the final roster is as close as fans and media will get to actually running a team, making it one of the more popular exercises of the offseason.
We'll look ahead to the final roster in several iterations over the next month-and-a-half, so without further ado, here is our first, way-too-early attempt at guessing the final 53-man roster for Indianapolis.
Quarterbacks
1 of 12
Starter: Andrew Luck
Backup: Matt Hasselbeck
Nobody should be surprised about the quarterback position in Indianapolis.
As Andrew Luck goes, so go the Colts. Matt Hasselbeck is a fine backup, and likely the third-best quarterback in the AFC South, but the Colts likely aren't a playoff team without Luck at the helm.
Running Backs
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Starter: Frank Gore
Backup: Dan Herron
Depth: Josh Robinson, Zurlon Tipton
The running back situation in Indianapolis is in a much better place than it has been over the last three years, when it's been tainted by disappointing first-round picks.
After Joseph Addai declined, Donald Brown never became the lead back the Colts envisioned him as. The ripple effect would eventually lead to the trade for Trent Richardson in 2013, made in part because the Colts didn't think Brown could take a full-time job on after Vick Ballard was injured.
The poor play by Richardson is well-documented, and I won't beat a dead horse here, but suffice it to say that a 32-year-old Frank Gore is a monumental improvement.
The depth is fine, though nothing to write home about. Herron is a decent, versatile back that can fill in in almost any capacity if needed. Robinson is a slippery rookie that could prove to be excellent value as sixth-round pick in the 2015 draft.
There's a potential wild-card situation in Vick Ballard, but I don't trust his body enough (coming off of an ACL and Achilles tear in the last two years) to project him onto the roster at this point.
Wide Receivers
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Starters: Andre Johnson, T.Y. Hilton
Primary Backups: Phillip Dorsett, Donte Moncrief
Depth: Duron Carter, Griff Whalen
The Colts have had plenty of talented wideouts in the franchise's history. From Raymond Berry and Bill Brooks to Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, pass-catchers have rarely been an issue for the Colts.
That being said, this might be the deepest, most talented overall group the team has ever seen.
The receiving corps may not have an in-their-prime Harrison and Wayne like some of the mid-2000s groups did, but it has more depth than those teams had.
Not only does the team start two Pro Bowlers and an eventual Hall of Famer in Andre Johnson and T.Y. Hilton, but the Colts also have two very high-ceiling youngsters in Phillip Dorsett and Donte Moncrief, making for a very diverse group.
Dorsett will likely fill the slot position right away for Indianapolis, and Moncrief can play any of the receiver spots.
Providing even more depth are Duron Carter and Griff Whalen, perfect opposites as players. Whalen is a smart, veteran slot receiver who has chemistry with Luck, while Carter is a big, fast target from the CFL who will be looking to carve out an NFL role with pure athleticism.
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Tight Ends
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Starter: Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener
Depth: Jack Doyle
The fantasy football community was put on notice by the Colts tight ends last season, as Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen combined for 16 touchdowns, 80 catches and 1,169 yards.
Pep Hamilton's tight end-friendly offense was much more generous with Dwayne Allen (mostly) healthy in 2015, and the two tight ends complemented each other extremely well in their respective roles.
Allen was the move tight end, able to play anywhere from H-back to split out wide. He was a possession receiver, blocker extraordinaire and red-zone weapon. Fleener was the matchup nightmare, stretching the defense with deep routes and taking advantage of slower linebackers and safeties worried about T.Y. Hilton.
Jack Doyle is a nice third tight end for this particular team, especially with his ability to play fullback. With Allen's injury issues over the last few years, Doyle also makes sense as a potential fill-in as a blocker.
Watch for second-year tight end Erik Swoope as a potential roster candidate as well, especially if the Colts only keep five receivers.
Offensive Line
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Starters: Anthony Castonzo, Hugh Thornton, Khaled Holmes, Todd Herremans, Jack Mewhort
Depth: Gosder Cherilus, Joe Reitz, Jonotthan Harrison, Lance Louis, Ben Heenan
Easily the weakest position on the offense, the Colts offensive line is going to be held together by Anthony Castonzo and (to a lesser extent) Jack Mewhort.
The two were very solid together on the left side last season, but they could be the bookend tackles for the Colts in 2015 if Gosder Cherilus' recovery from offseason surgery doesn't pick up. Mewhort's ability as an NFL tackle is still questionable, but it's pretty clear that his projections are still the most optimistic outside of Castonzo.
The interior, hopefully, will be stabilized by Todd Herremans, the dependable veteran out of Philadelphia. But the 32-year-old has declined in pass protection, and his run blocking has been helped by Chip Kelly's innovative offensive scheme. Herremans may be an upgrade from Lance Louis, but by how much?
An interesting battle at center should play out in training camp, with third-year center Khaled Holmes battling with 2014 UDFA Jonotthan Harrison for the position. Both started at different points last season, with Harrison's athletic advantage eventually being outweighed by his mental mistakes. The two seem to be on even ground heading into 2015.
Left guard is a battle between Hugh Thornton and Lance Louis at the moment, but that could change if Cherilus is able to return and Mewhort slides back to left guard. Joe Reitz could end up contending for the spot as well.
Defensive Line
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Starters: Arthur Jones, Josh Chapman, Kendall Langford
Depth: Henry Anderson, Montori Hughes, Zach Kerr, David Parry
The Colts didn't invest much high-end capital in improving their defensive line this offseason, and the team lost two of their top three linemen in Cory Redding and Ricky Jean Francois.
The team will need much more from Arthur Jones in the second year of his contract after injuries kept him from making much of a tangible impact in 2014. Jones was coveted by the Colts in last year's offseason, signed to a five-year, $33 million contract, and he clearly has the skills to be a fringe all-star level player, but will we ever see him get there without the surrounding talent he had in Baltimore?
Kendall Langford was the Colts' big defensive signing of the 2015 offseason, a rather dull move at a position that could have used a bit more spice. Langford disappointed in St. Louis, being benched on a very talented line. He projects to bounce back a bit in Indianapolis in his more natural schematic role, but is he a difference-maker? Likely not.
The long-term defensive line prospects lie with Henry Anderson, a third-round pick for the Colts in this year's draft. He has the potential to be a penetrating 5-tech that makes plays for a long time. Zach Kerr and Montori Hughes can both play multiple positions and are decent run-stoppers, but they don't make enough plays in the backfield to carry a big load.
Outside Linebackers
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Starters: Robert Mathis, Trent Cole
Backups: Jonathan Newsome, Erik Walden
Depth: Bjoern Werner
It's hard to put the Colts' outside linebacker position together.
On one hand, the team is very deep, with two former Pro Bowlers, a former first-round pick and a multiyear starter on the team. On the other, Mathis and Cole are both well past their primes and are injury/age risks from Day 1, and the team has no other established pass-rushers.
There is a middle ground here somewhere, but you could spin this group however you wanted to for Indianapolis.
Cole and Mathis will likely combine for double-digit sacks, although that number has a large range of potential outcomes. Can the two stay healthy for the entire season and be effective with consistent substitutes coming in?
Jonathan Newsome surprised with flashes of pass-rushing ability last season, leading both the team and the league's rookie edge-rushers with 6.5 sacks. He was better, in that regard, than 2013 first-round pick Bjoern Werner, although the latter has him beat in run defense.
There are also a few players that could battle for a roster spot if Mathis starts the season on the PUP list, including Cam Johnson and Zack Hodges.
Inside Linebackers
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Starters: Jerrell Freeman, D'Qwell Jackson
Backups: Nate Irving, Amarlo Herrera
Keeping five inside linebackers is pretty common for Indianapolis, but with the depth at outside linebacker, it's very possible that the team keeps an extra one there instead this season.
Last year's starters return for Indianapolis, which is both good and bad. On the plus side, you have continuity in the middle of the defense with two players that have been very good in previous seasons. But the two were very inconsistent last season, and when they were bad, the defense gave up some huge performances.
While much of the public looked at the defensive line when the team gave up a million rushing yards to the New England Patriots, it was the linebackers that put in cringe-worthy performances. Of course, this was two weeks after a fantastic performance by both against Cincinnati, where the Colts shut down the Bengals' powerful rushing attack.
Signing Nate Irving was an underrated depth move, as the 26-year-old will push for a starting role while providing strong depth as a run defender. Amarlo Herrera was a tackle machine in college, but his effectiveness in the NFL will depend on if he can trust his instincts and fill holes moving downhill.
Cornerbacks
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Starters: Vontae Davis, Greg Toler
Slot: Darius Butler
Depth: D'Joun Smith, Donald Celiscar
Cornerback is probably the strongest position on the Colts defense, led by emerging shutdown cornerback Vontae Davis.
The Colts made the wise choice to sign Davis to a four-year, $36 million contract last offseason, and the 27-year-old paid them back with one of the best seasons a Colts cornerback has ever had. Davis entered the position's elite in 2014 by cleaning up his inconsistencies, which had plagued an otherwise very solid season in 2013.
While Davis isn't the kind of player that Darrelle Revis or Richard Sherman have been in their primes, the Colts can shade a bit less help his way and focus on helping Greg Toler, which is much more needed. Toler, while a good fit for the Colts defense, gets beat far too often for a starting cornerback on an above-average passing defense.
Toler is entering the final year of his contract, and the Colts are hoping that rookie D'Joun Smith can push for playing time by the end of this season, making Toler expendable.
Darius Butler is a decent slot cornerback, although one that's not quite physically gifted enough to be labeled among the top slot corners in the league. Still, in the Colts' physical, press-man defense, Butler is generally able to stay physical with his man while also mirroring breaks well.
Safeties
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Starters: Mike Adams, Dwight Lowery
Depth: Clayton Geathers, Dewey McDonald
A question mark every year since Bob Sanders' body betrayed him, the safety position remains unsolved in Indianapolis.
Mike Adams played very well for a 33-year-old last season, earning a Pro Bowl alternate spot and generally being a reliable option in the defensive backfield. But while Adams is dependable, he's not a playmaker. Throw in his age, and the Colts know that a replacement will be needed sooner rather than later.
The Colts signed veteran Dwight Lowery in the offseason to fill in the second starting spot. Lowery has played in a variety of systems and started for the Atlanta Falcons last season, but he's much better as a backup and special teamer than he is as a starter.
This is where rookie Clayton Geathers out of Central Florida comes in. Geathers is a hard-hitting strong safety that will certainly get looks as a linebacker in dime packages this year, but if he can push for starting snaps at safety, the Colts defense will look much better, at least in the long term.
Special Teams
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Punter: Pat McAfee
Kicker: Adam Vinatieri
Long Snapper: Matt Overton
The Colts special teams has long been suspect, but with the best punter-kicker combination in the league leading the way, head coach Chuck Pagano and Co. have put together one of the league's strongest special teams units.
Pat McAfee and Adam Vinatieri both earned a well-deserved Pro Bowl spot last season. McAfee showed off an improved coffin-corner punting ability in 2014, and he'll continue to be a weapon on kickoffs through both touchbacks and onside kicks.
Vinatieri missed just one field goal in all of the 2014 regular season, and while he did miss two in the postseason, the entire city has complete confidence each time he's up.
Final Predictions
12 of 12
Quarterback (2): Andrew Luck, Matt Hasselbeck
Running Back (4): Frank Gore, Dan Herron, Josh Robinson, Zurlon Tipton
Wide Receiver (6): T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson, Phillip Dorsett, Donte Moncrief, Duron Carter, Griff Whalen
Tight End (3): Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener, Jack Doyle
Offensive Line (10): Anthony Castonzo, Hugh Thornton, Khaled Holmes, Todd Herremans, Jack Mewhort, Gosder Cherilus, Joe Reitz, Lance Louis, Jonotthan Harrison, Ben Heenan
Defensive Line (7): Arthur Jones, Josh Chapman, Kendall Langford, Henry Anderson, Montori Hughes, Zach Kerr, David Parry
Outside Linebacker (5): Trent Cole, Robert Mathis, Jonathan Newsome, Erik Walden, Bjoern Werner
Inside Linebacker (4): Jerrell Freeman, D'Qwell Jackson, Nate Irving, Amarlo Herrera
Cornerback (5): Vontae Davis, Greg Toler, Darius Butler, D'Joun Smith, Donald Celiscar
Safety (4): Mike Adams, Dwight Lowery, Clayton Geathers, Dewey McDonald
Special Teams (3): Pat McAfee, Adam Vinatieri, Matt Overton
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