Colts Camp Battles, Part IV: O-Line and Safeties

The last installment of Colts Camp Battles is here. With the first big cuts coming later this month, the Colts have already begun determining who will stick around and who will be looking for work when the season starts.

This final camp battle analysis will break down the offensive line and the safeties.

Both of these positions are in a state of flux. At safety, the oft-injured Bob Sanders moved on to the Chargers and a now-healthy Melvin Bullitt signed a longer-term contract during the offseason. On the O-line, the Colts are hoping to upgrade at a few key positions (notably left tackle) and two high draft picks (Anthony Castonzo and Ben Ijalana) are very much in the rotational mix.

This slideshow will be able to provide insight into what the Colts brass are actually thinking at this point as the team just released their first depth chart. Let's start with the offensive line to see who might emerge from Anderson ready to help push the Colts back into the playoffs.

The O-Line Needs to Block More Effectively in 2011

The Colts O-line has taken lots of grief since the Super Bowl loss to the New Orleans Saints. Much of it has not been justified, especially since the line only gave up 16 sacks all year in 2010.

The running game (although admittedly not a focus of their offensive strategy) has been wretched. Charlie Johnson, who had been a jack-of-all-trades on the O-line, is now gone. There is no doubt that in his place will be a younger and less-experienced player.

Below is a breakdown of each O-lineman on the current roster, with a projection for the best possible rotation at the end of preseason.

Jeff Linkenbach: Yet another undrafted free agent gem, Linkenbach came in last year and performed well at both right guard and left tackle. He is currently slotted as number one at left tackle, and even if Anthony Castonzo eventually beats him out, he'll play a solid role on the line as a backup. 

Anthony Castonzo: Big and long with good lateral movement, Castonzo seems primed to be Manning's blind side protector until Peyton retires. He's still learning the system and may not start until half-way through the season, but he has the measurables and chutzpah to be tough on the left side.

Michael Toudouze: This poor fellow has bounced back and forth from being waived to being on the roster to being on the practice squad ever since he was drafted in 2006 out of TCU. It seems unlikely that he'll gain much traction in 2011, so look for him on the cutting room floor or on the practice squad once the season starts.

Jacques McClendon: A second-year man out of Tennessee, McClendon is currently the starting left guard on the depth chart. A fourth-round pick last year, McClendon showed promise last year as a pass blocker. Look for the battle between he and Joe Reitz to continue all the way up through the end of preseason. I expect that Reitz will be the eventual victor, but that McClendon will play a valuable role as a backup.

Joe Reitz: A former basketball player, hometown product Joe Reitz has the athleticism and length to be a standout O-lineman. He is tall at 6'7", but his technique isn't as sound as it needs to be quite yet. He has impressed so far in camp and has taken lots of snaps with the first team. Let's hope he becomes more famous for protecting Manning and opening up running lanes than he does for muffing a goal post jam when he was a Baltimore Raven.

James Williams: Harvard grad James Williams hung around the fringes of the team last year. He's currently listed third on the depth chart at left guard. He'll be cut again this year and probably won't have an impact on the team. He's on the lighter side for an O-lineman and doesn't move particularly well.

Jeff Saturday:  All-Pro center Jeff Saturday has been a linchpin since early last decade. He's a good blocker and he shares a brain with Manning. His leadership for this young bunch will be key in 2011.

Jamey Richard:  Occasionally a left guard and currently the backup center to Saturday, Richard lost his starting job to Kyle DeVan last year and doesn't seem to be in the running to win it back. Richard is a quality backup, but that's all he is at this point. A former seventh-round pick out of Buffalo, he has never truly caught on as a starter-type guy.

Jake Kirkpatrick: Currently listed as third-string center, there seems to be little likelihood that Kirkpatrick will make the team. He went undrafted out of TCU this year and seems to have some degree of upside. Right now he's too far behind in his development vis-a-vis most of the other linemen to be considered a serious contender for a roster spot. 

Mike Pollack: Underperforming former second-round pick Mike Pollack needs to step up in 2011. This is his make-or-break year, and if he can't hold on to his job against DeVan, Thomas or McClendon, Pollack may not be long for this team. Right now he's listed as the starting right guard. When he was drafted in 2008, he was thought to be the eventual replacement for Jeff Saturday. After a good finish to last season, there is optimism that Pollack may have finally turned a corner in his career.

Kyle DeVan: A scrappy former AFL 2 player, Kyle DeVan earned his stripes in 2009 as a solid backup at guard. He's definitely in the mix for a roster spot, with the potential to push Pollack for the starting job.

Jaimie Thomas: A seventh-round pick in 2009, Thomas has been bumped around between the practice squad and the roster throughout his short career. He will be trying to make hay as a backup guard this year. I anticipate that we'll see him on the practice squad this year.

Mike Tepper: Signed late last season to provide depth at guard but looks to have an uphill climb to make the team. The Cal product will probably be left without a chair when the music stops.

Ryan Diem: Sturdy and massive, Ryan Diem has had a solid 10 years with the Colts. Playing primarily right tackle, Diem blocks well for the running game. He's not overly quick, however, and isn't fantastic at blocking in space. He's a good starter, though, and should help to ease Ben Ijalana into the league.

 Ben Ijalana: Ijalana, this year's second-round pick, has the raw tools to be a force on the offensive line. Projected highly at either guard or tackle, Ijalana is a good pass-blocker with amazing hands. He should figure strongly into the Colts O-line rotation in 2011.

Casey Bender: A former undrafted free agent of the Cleveland Browns, Bender's odds to make the team are quite low. My best guess is that he'll be good to have around in August, but won't see the field when it matters.

Recommendations for 2011: At this point, Saturday and Diem seem like the only givens as starters. I'm guessing that Linkenbach will start out the season at left tackle, but be replaced by Castonzo later in the season.

Joe Reitz and Jacques McClendon will platoon at left guard, with Reitz ultimately winning the job. Look for Mike Pollack to finally settle in at right guard, with key reserves being Kyle DeVan and Ben Ijalana. 

The two Jaimeys (Jaimie Thomas and Jamey Richard) will probably stick around and Toudouze will end up in practice squad purgatory.

The Status of the Safeties Behind Bullitt and Bethea Is Unclear

A new (and hopefully less injury-filled) era is upon the Colts at safety. Hard-hitting and perpetually-sidelined Sanders is now in San Diego. Melvin Bullitt, who capably filled his shoes for the past few years, is now the man at strong safety.

The consistently excellent Antoine Bethea will remain as starting free safety. After those two, however, the backup situation becomes murky. Last year Aaron Francisco, of all people, played major minutes at safety. The Colts hope to have a better backup situation in 2011.

Let's look at the guys on the roster at safety.

Melvin Bullitt: Although not likely to be game-changer at safety, Bullitt is the type of steady presence who has proven himself to be an effective member of the secondary. He closes quickly in coverage and has good instincts for the football. He's not a great blitzer, but he's not often asked to do that. Bullitt is ready to take on the mantle as a full-fledged stater for the Colts.

Joe Lefeged: An undrafted rookie free agent out of Rutgers, Lefeged has been a training camp star so far. He is listed as Bullitt's backup at strong safety and he's shown that he has the potential to be a good special teamer and capable replacement in case Bullitt or Bethea go down. The knock on him had been that he wasn't a sure tackler in college and sometimes had trouble against the run, but so far he's shown grit and determination in Anderson. He will most likely join Eric Foster and Gary Brackett as another Rutgers undrafted free agent success story.

Mike Newton: Second-year man Mike Newton saw some action on special teams last year. He has already been supplanted by Lefeged's strong showing in camp this year, so a trip to the practice squad may be in the cards for this mediocre player.

Antoine Bethea: A Pro Bowl-caliber free safety, Bethea is a good hitter who can cover well and pick off ill-advised passes with alacrity. In Bethea's five years with the Colts, we have seen him get better in coverage and tackling. He still sometimes tackles poorly, but this weakness is off-set by his ball-hawk nature and hard hits.  

Al Afalava: Say his name three times in quick succession. Tough, eh? Former Chicago Bear Afalava can make the roster due to his value on special teams. He's not particularly fast and isn't a standout in coverage, but he does have the potential to be a workmanlike backup. I wouldn't mind continuing to say his vowel-strewn name throughout this season. 

David Caldwell: An undrafted free agent of the Colts last year, injuries held him down in 2010. He has the look of a practice squad guy to me. The William & Mary grad is a so-so coverage guy who does have good tackling technique and decent speed. I doubt he'll surpass Afalava for a backup role though.

Chip Vaughn: A late season pick-up when injuries ravaged the secondary, Vaughn is a borderline prospect currently slotted as fourth on the depth chart at free safety. He seems unlikely to make the team and will probably be shown the door during the first day of deep cuts.

Despite having some unproven guys at safety and on the O-line, the Colts seem to have gathered enough depth from the draft and free agency to strengthen both units for 2011. Look for good things out of the newcomers along the line (in particular Castonzo).

Bullitt and Bethea have shown that they can be an effective pair at safety. It will be fun to see how this team is able to add the extra pieces needed to keep at the front of their division for yet another year.