Indianapolis Colts OTAs: Latest Player Reports and Analysis

The Indianapolis Colts' offseason workouts are well underway.

In addition to the team's rookie minicamp, held the weekend after the draft, the team has three separate "organized team activities" (OTAs) over the next three weeks before the team's mandatory veteran minicamp in early June.

The team's first OTA period started this week, with many of the Colts veterans returning to the club after taking time away throughout the spring. This time is critical for new players to begin to get integrated in the locker room and on the field, especially with the rookies in play. Coaches will begin organizing their lineups and rotations as well.

Fortunately, there hasn't been any particular breaking news out of the club of late, as news at this time of year usually is due to significant injuries or off-field trouble. Still, there's plenty of chatter involving the team as the Colts begin the journey to a hopeful Super Bowl title in 2015.

Dwayne Allen Returns

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During the early parts of the offseason program, Dwayne Allen—a key leader on and off the field—wasn’t in Indianapolis.

Instead, the fourth-year tight end was in Arizona on an eight-week trip working at Exos, a high-end training facility. Allen wanted to get his body ready for the season and decrease his potential for re-injury, something that has plagued him over the last two seasons.

“I felt a disconnect because of the hip surgery that I had (in 2013), and I didn't really have time to train," Allen told Zak Keefer of The Indy Star. "My legs were on my body but it didn't feel like I was controlling them always. Everyone plays hurt, not everyone plays injured. I understood for a lot of the year I was hurt, and towards the end of the year, I was injured."

But the Colts needed Allen back in Indianapolis as the team enters into the third “phase” of offseason training. Not only is Allen key on the field—catching eight touchdowns in 2015 while often being used as a third offensive tackle—but he’s one of the team’s key leaders in the locker room.

Allen is the team’s NFLPA representative and takes an assertive approach to leadership. He’ll be key as the Colts get the rookies and free-agent additions to “buy in,” not to mention his role in mentoring young, raw tight ends Erik Swoope and Jean Sifrin.

Center Competition Begins Immediately

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One of the Colts' most important offseason battles will be between Jonotthan Harrison and Khaled Holmes at the center spot.

Harrison came in last season and started 10 games for the Colts as an undrafted free agent, a remarkable accomplishment in all respects. While a powerful run-blocker, Harrison often struggled in pass protection, and he hit what many would call a "rookie wall."

“Jon would even tell you the wear and tear of the NFL and the grind, it does. That’s where a little bit, those guys don’t realize that first year, they get worn down a little bit,” offensive line coach Joe Gilbert told Steve Andress of Colts.com. “But he did a phenomenal job.”

The other candidate, Holmes, worked back from lingering issues last season in time to take over for Harrison after that rookie wall was hit. Holmes struggled, having not seen the field much in his two-year career, but overall he did a good job of keeping the offensive line on the same page and performing well as a unit, even if his own play was often sub-par.

The mental and communication part of the position, especially with the Colts' constant line-shuffling, is a huge key, and something that both will be focusing on during the non-contact part of the offseason.

Forget About Deflategate

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Obviously the biggest story of the offseason since the NFL draft has been Deflategate, including Tom Brady's four-game suspension and penalties to the New England Patriots organization.

After the Ted Wells report (note: NSFW) found it "more probable than not" that Brady had "general knowledge" of attempts to illegally deflate footballs, the team was hit with draft pick forfeiture and a $1 million fine.

While the Patriots have been very vocal in their disdain for the report and subsequent penalties, the Colts have refused to comment on the issue apart from generic party lines. While the Colts were the team that "blew the whistle" on the Patriots, the players in the Indianapolis locker room know why they lost the AFC Championship Game, and it had nothing to do with under-inflated footballs.

For Indianapolis, as with much of the rest of the league, the sooner this story is behind us, the better.

Defensive Improvements Begin Internally

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The need for the Colts defense to improve is a well-known one.

Losing 45-7 in the AFC Championship Game will do that.

But while many outsiders would point to that game as evidence that the team needed major upgrades from a personnel standpoint, the Colts would tell you that the biggest improvements needed to start inside.

Though the team was crushed by New England in multiple matchups, as well as a few other high-end offenses (Pittsburgh and Dallas come to mind), the defense actually put together a pretty good season statistically. The Colts ranked 13th in Football Outsiders' defensive DVOA last year, including ranking 19th against the run.

Now, 19 is below average, and 13 isn't necessarily what any team is shooting for, but it hints to a defense that was maybe closer to average than a 45-7 beating. It hints at schematic issues in those few poor games, issues that start with coaching as well as on-field communication problems.

“Well I think the communication part is big,” defensive coordinator Greg Manusky told Kevin Bowen of Colts.com. “We did a study at 419 plays we gave up 2.2 (yards per carry) and then 59 plays we gave up 11 or 12 yards per carry. It’s either missed tackles or communication. So communication is one of the biggest things defensively that we need to do across the board. That’s what we’ve been focusing on.”

The new additions in the front seven (Kendall Langford, Trent Cole, Henry Anderson, David Parry and Nate Irving) will help, but showing up against teams like the Patriots will start with that communication and better preparation.

Herremans the Stabilizing Factor on the Offensive Line?

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The biggest problem for the Colts offensive line last season was continuity. The team had the least consistent lineup in the league last season, according to Football Outsiders, with line-shuffling coming due to inconsistent play and a barrage of injuries.

Although the 2015 season has not yet begun, injuries are already affecting how the line will shape up. The Colts haven't given out any more hints on Gosder Cherilus' recovery from knee and groin injuries last year, and in this case no news is not good news. The team doesn't have a timetable for its $35 million right tackle, and that's concerning.

Fortunately, newly signed Todd Herremans brings a versatile level of experience that could be a big aid in stabilizing the line while Cherilus continues rehabilitation. Herremans has started 124 games in his career, including stints at both tackle positions as well as guard. While his best spot is inside, Herremans may be able to be a steady force for the Colts on the edge.

"I played two full seasons at right, one full season at left and I've filled in in spots in a bunch of games," Herremans told Stephen Holder of the Indy Star. "(The transition) is not really tough. I've done it enough now. I'm pretty comfortable with it."

While the Colts have plenty of options inside, although many of them are underwhelming, the options at tackle have been limited in recent years. Herremans gives the team another option to slide outside, and the Colts will certainly be experimenting with where he can best fit on the line as camp goes on.