Indianapolis Colts: What We've Learned Through Week 1 of the Preseason

Training camp is now complete for the Indianapolis Colts. 

While the team has a few more weeks of preseason and practice work before the regular season, the team's training camp in Anderson finished earlier this week.

The Colts had a lot of questions headed into camp, and much of those questions have yet to be answered. Still, two weeks of exposure in training camp as well as a preseason game have given us hints of what the Colts will look like in 2015. 

So, with training camp and one week of the preseason behind us, what have we learned about the 2015 Colts? 

Offensive Line Depth Is Dwindling

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Depth along the offensive line has rarely been a particular strong suit for the Colts.

While the line was sure to be a weakness going into the season, it seemed like there actually could be some usable depth across the board. But as the season has approached that depth has quickly begun to erode away.

It started with the release of tackle Gosder Cherilus, whose recovery from offseason surgery had not been going well. The former starting right tackle's departure meant that former left guard Jack Mewhort moved to tackle, forcing career backup Lance Louis into the starting job. Then the team waived promising CFL guard Ben Heenan after a torn meniscus sidelined him early on in training camp.

The team was hit with more injury news earlier this week, as third-year guard Hugh Thornton sprained his knee in practice and is currently "week-to-week," per Mike Wells of ESPN.com.

With Donald Thomas still attempting to recover from his second consecutive season-ending quad injury, the Colts' depth is quickly dwindling.

Joe Reitz and David Arkin are the depth guards at this point. But Reitz is also the best option to backup either tackle spot, and Arkin is barely worth making a roster at this point. The 27-year-old spent most of 2014 on the Colts' practice squad after bouncing around Dallas, Miami and Seattle's practice squads over the last four years.

The Colts desperately need to stay healthy in the starting lineup, especially while Thornton recovers. If not, it could get ugly.

Rookies' Upside Is Critical

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

If there is one thing that the Colts’ rookies have shown throughout this training camp, it is that they, as a group, possess tremendous upside.

This upside is something that the Colts have long missed on the roster, so it’s a rather exciting time for Indianapolis.

Still, these rookies haven’t earned starting roles just yet, and they likely won’t before the season starts. But their veteran counterparts should certainly be looking over their shoulders. This rookie class may simply prove to be too talented to take off the field.

Phillip Dorsett was Andrew Luck’s favorite target in the first preseason game, and he’s flashed star ability in training camp. Dorsett’s blazing speed gives him a trump card in almost any situation, and the Colts are using him in a variety of ways.

Clayton Geathers has settled in as the dime linebacker, and has starting potential unlike any young safety the Colts have had in years. Henry Anderson and David Parry were two of the Colts’ best-graded defensive players from Pro Football Focus last Sunday, and Parry has already begun to take first-team snaps, per Kevin Bowen of Colts.com.

Then there is Josh Robinson, whose talent is clearly the best the Colts have had in a young running back in a long time. He’s competing for more snaps in a rotational role, and may have enough of an edge as a runner to take some snaps away from Dan Herron.

With the rookies' upside being so particularly noticeable, it could play a big part in a potential Super Bowl run later this year.

More Balance Does Not Necessarily Mean Less Passing

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Colts have wanted more balance ever since Chuck Pagano was hired back in 2012.

After signing veterans like Frank Gore and Todd Herremans in the offseason, the team is better equipped to run the ball than they have been in Pagano's direction.

But just because the Colts will be able to run the ball better, increasing the overall efficiency of the offense, doesn't mean that they will necessarily run the ball more.

The Colts have made their high-powered, vertical passing offense a priority throughout training camp, showing a keen awareness of the team's personnel.

"

The aggressive downfield passing so far this camp is like nothing I've seen recently. Consecutive TDs to Allen and Dorsett

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) August 5, 2015"

Not only are the Colts' most talented positions involved heavily in the passing game (quarterback, wide receiver and tight end), but the team also has incredible depth at those pass-catching positions, especially versatile depth. The Colts can throw the ball while still mixing it up enough to keep defenses off guard.

The offensive line also better fits a pass-heavy scheme. The unit struggled tremendously in run blocking on Sunday, as the interior failed to get any kind of a push. But pass protection was a different story, and that will be the biggest key for Indianapolis in 2015.

T.Y. Hilton's New Contract Isn't as Expensive as You Think

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

There has been quite a commotion over T.Y. Hilton's five-year, $65 million dollar extension since the diminutive wide receiver signed last week.

The initial reaction involved some "overpaid" insinuations and irresponsible comparisons to Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas' contracts, largely because the initially reported numbers seemed so close.

"

The Colts gave T.Y. Hilton more guaranteed money than Dez Bryant or Demaryius Thomas. Yeah. http://t.co/59dvt8FiRf pic.twitter.com/II5aebBZ0C

— NESN (@NESN) August 14, 2015"

As is always true with contracts, assuming things based on the total numbers was extremely premature.

Originally reported as a contract with $39 million in guaranteed money, just short of the $45 million guaranteed for Bryant and $43.5 million guaranteed for Thomas, Aaron Wilson of National Football Post reported earlier this week that only the $10 million signing bonus was fully guaranteed.

The rest of that $39 million guaranteed? Guaranteed for injury only.

Also, because of the way the contract is structured as an extension, versus a completely new contract, the Colts will be paying Hilton something much similar to what Randall Cobb got from Green Bay ($40 million over four years, $13 million signing bonus).

"

For reference, here is how the Colts/Packers are paying Hilton/Cobb over the next four years. pic.twitter.com/vVfjto5Odg

— Kyle J. Rodriguez (@ColtsAuth_Kyle) August 18, 2015"

This matches up perfectly with what Hilton should have gotten paid, and it locks up Andrew Luck's favorite target until he's 30 years old. With the Colts still having $11 million in cap space this season, there still is also room to extend Anthony Castonzo.

Outside Linebacker Depth Remains Jumbled

Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

The Colts' outside linebacker group for the final 53-man roster should be all but decided.

It should be Robert Mathis, Trent Cole, Jonathan Newsome, Erik Walden and Bjoern Werner. A mix of established veterans and young, highly-touted players with a mix of pass-rushing and edge-setting abilities.

But Mathis' recovery from an Achilles tear that ended his 2014 season is complicating things.

Mathis likely won't be ready for the opener, as Jim Irsay told Zak Keefer of the Indy Star earlier this month. In fact, Irsay said he may not be able to play until October, meaning there have likely at least been conversations about putting him on the physically unable to perform list, which would keep him out for the first six weeks of the season.

So, there might be a roster spot open for a fifth inside linebacker to sneak in, and the Colts have several key options.

Cam Johnson was the most impressive one throughout the offseason, but he has been quiet during camp, while undrafted rookie Zack Hodges and former rugby player Daniel Adongo have made a few plays that have gotten notice from local media.

There are three more preseason games for each to make their case, and it will especially be key for Johnson and Adongo, both of which have had multiple years in the Colts' organization, but have failed to yet make their mark.