Breaking Down All the New Faces on the 2015 Indianapolis Colts
There's turnover in the NFL every year. For the Indianapolis Colts, turnover has been the norm, rather than the exception, over the last three years.
This offseason has been no different. The team projects to have at least three, possibly four new offensive starters, as well as shifted responsibilities on the offensive line for several players. On defense, the same story applies, with at least three new starters and a few other possibilities.
That happens when you allow veterans like Reggie Wayne and Cory Redding to leave in free agency. Replacements have to come from somewhere.
With a continually active presence in free agency and the Colts' eight draft picks, the new faces are as plentiful as ever in Indianapolis.
As we head into the dead zone of the offseason, let's take a closer look at those new faces and how they will impact the Colts in 2015.
RB Frank Gore
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After cutting colossal bust Trent Richardson, the Colts needed a new solution at running back this offseason. Dan Herron had done an admirable job down the stretch, but he was not a lead back.
With the signing of Frank Gore, the Colts gave themselves a bell-cow back for 2015 as well as a veteran to lead a young running back group. Gore is a short-term solution, sure, but he may just have long-term impact.
How much Gore has left in the tank is questionable, as he did have just four rushing touchdowns last season and has averaged just 4.2 yards per carry over the last two years. His receiving production has been minimal, averaging just 18 receptions per year over the last four years.
But as we looked at in-depth last week, there is some context needed to those numbers. Gore has faced the highest percentage of eight-man boxes in the league over the last three seasons, per Scott Kacsmar of Football Outsiders, yet has still managed to be very productive. As far as the receiving goes, Gore was averaging 51 receptions per year prior to offensive coordinator Greg Roman joining the San Francisco 49ers, and a scheme change should be very valuable for him.
He won’t get the workload he did in San Francisco, but Gore should still be able to put up solid efficiency numbers in a better offense this year.
RB Josh Robinson
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Another key offensive newcomer is former Mississippi State running back Josh Robinson. The 5'8", 217-pounder is just a sixth-round pick, but has a strong chance of contributing as a rookie while the Colts look to save Frank Gore’s legs for the playoffs.
The Colts saw a lot of their veterans hurt or ailing in the playoffs over the last two seasons, and have paid for it with big losses in New England. The team having both Robinson and Herron behind Gore should equate to more of a committee approach than some may expect.
"Josh Robinson to #Colts. Absolutely love it. Frank Gore was comp I ended up w/ for him. IMO, best balance & deceptive power in the RB class.
— Chris Trapasso (@ChrisTrapasso) May 2, 2015"
Robinson, who is similar to Gore in size and power, is the best long-term option for Indianapolis, but he may be beat out by Herron early on in 2015. However, Robinson was one of the most elusive backs in college football during the 2014 season, and the Colts could use that kind of playmaking from their backfield. By the end of the season, it would not be surprising if Robinson was the most efficient back on the roster.
WR Andre Johnson
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Arguably the most high-profile addition this offseason, future Hall of Famer Andre Johnson was the perfect replacement for Reggie Wayne as a veteran possession receiver.
While Johnson isn’t as vocal as Wayne was in the locker room, he’s still a smart, experienced player who can fill the role of a wise leader in the wide receiver room. On the field, Johnson should own the intermediate areas of the field while his speedy teammates drive defenses crazy with vertical routes and yards-after-catch opportunities.
Yes, Johnson is aging, and yes, 2014 was the worst season of his career. But in Indianapolis, Johnson unites with the best young quarterback in the league, a massive upgrade from the dumpster fire the Houston Texans have trotted out at quarterback over the last few years.
Because of the vast wealth of targets Luck will have, Johnson may not have the same bulk opportunities he had in Houston, but in a better offense, Johnson’s efficiency should rise dramatically.
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WR Phillip Dorsett
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Arguably the most intriguing of the new skill position players, former University of Miami wide receiver Phillip Dorsett was the Colts' surprise first-round pick after wowing them with his speed during the predraft process. General manager Ryan Grigson called Dorsett’s speed a “blue trait," per Mike Chappell of IndySportsCentral.com.
But Dorsett’s speed isn’t the only thing that earned him favor in the eyes of the Colts. His natural talent, the ease at which he uses his speed in context of football, stood out to Indianapolis. There are plenty of fast receivers in the NFL. The ones who succeed, like T.Y. Hilton, are the ones who can also catch, gain separation in their routes and learn the playbook.
So far, it seems Dorsett has been able to combine those things, making waves during organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp. Dorsett should battle with second-year receiver Donte Moncrief for the third spot among receivers, and the rookie has a good chance of finishing the year with more snaps because of his natural ability in the slot.
At the time, it seemed that Dorsett was a bit of a redundant pick given Hilton’s presence, but he really rounds out the receiving corps in a dangerous way.
OL Todd Herremans
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If you’re familiar with the Colts’ current linemen, the most apt way to describe Todd Herremans is as a more run-oriented Joe Reitz.
The Colts realized Reitz’s value as a depth player who could play both guard and tackle last year after suffering injuries to both starters near the end of the season. The Colts re-signed Reitz on a three-year, $9 million deal in the offseason, but addressed the need for more depth with the signing of Herremans.
Not only does Herremans have a wealth of starting experience that is missing among most of the Colts linemen, but he’s also versatile enough to play both outside and inside, which could pay big dividends if injuries come into play again.
Herremans isn’t a world-beater, but he’s a dependable upgrade if Hugh Thornton’s development continues to flatline.
Other Key Offensive Newcomers
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RB Tyler Varga—Varga has a chance to make the roster as a fourth or fifth running back, particularly because of his ability and willingness to play fullback. Varga was an undrafted free agent out of Yale.
WR Duron Carter—The son of Hall of Fame wideout Cris Carter, Duron Carter should make the roster as a fifth wide receiver, although that's certainly not guaranteed. The former CFL player has a unique size-speed combination that should fit well in Indianapolis as a developmental player and immediate red-zone tool.
WR Vincent Brown—A former third-round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers, Brown isn't one of the favorites to make the roster, but the veteran will certainly compete. However, after catching just 12 passes in Oakland last year, his chances rely on beating out Carter or having the Colts keep six receivers.
OL Ben Heenan—Another coveted CFL product, Heenan is a versatile guard that should compete for a depth job. The starting jobs are all somewhat accounted for, but Heenan should add needed depth if he makes the roster.
OL Denzelle Good—While the Colts' seventh-round pick from the 2015 draft could compete to make the roster on a team with little tackle depth, Good is so unrefined that he'll likely find himself on the practice squad for at least a year.
DL Kendall Langford
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The Colts wanted to get younger and cheaper on the defensive line, so the only free-agency move after letting Cory Redding walk and cutting Ricky Jean Francois was to sign former St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Kendall Langford.
Langford is a versatile interior defender that is able to play both in a 3-4 and a 4-3 front, having experienced the former in Miami and the latter during both previous stops. There has been some optimism regarding Langford’s return to a 3-4 defense, since he was most successful in that scheme for Miami from 2008-2011. Langford said as much, telling Mike Wells of ESPN.com that he came to Indianapolis in part because he preferred the 3-4.
Still, Langford wasn’t a world-beater in Miami, receiving negative grades against the run from Pro Football Focus in all four years in the 3-4. Langford did earn positive pass-rush grades in those four years, which is a nice plus for Indianapolis. The Colts desperately need some interior pass rush, especially with Redding gone.
Playing the 5-tech position, Langford will have competition from rookie Henry Anderson as the season goes on, but his experience should net him the starting job to begin the season.
DL Henry Anderson
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Arguably the most exciting of the Colts’ rookie picks, third-round selection Henry Anderson was one of the most disruptive linemen in college football last season. If you like offense, you probably lean toward Phillip Dorsett, but defensive-oriented fans can’t wait to see Anderson on the field.
As has been talked about nonstop since the 2014 season ended, and even some time before that, the Colts desperately need some playmaking ability on the defensive line. Whether it’s making the quarterback uncomfortable in the pass or penetrating and blowing up runs in the backfield, the team desperately needs more splash plays from the defensive line.
Enter Anderson, who was talked about as a potential first-round pick at times throughout the predraft process and was especially hyped up by Pro Football Focus as being the most disruptive lineman in the country. Pro Football Focus named him the top lineman on its All-America team, citing his 57 pressures in pass rush as the most in the country. Analyst Sam Monson also famously posited that he may be better than sixth overall pick Leonard Williams.
That’s a high bar for Anderson, especially as a rookie. Fortunately, there should be plenty of opportunities for Anderson, even though he will likely be coming off the bench to start the season behind veteran Kendall Langford. But Langford is not untouchable by any means, and it would not be surprising at all if Anderson passed him up for a starting spot by the end of the season.
OLB Trent Cole
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The biggest defensive name to join the Colts this offseason, Cole is the defensive version of Frank Gore or Andre Johnson. At one point, Cole was arguably the best pass-rusher in the NFL, and while he’s certainly aged, he still is a fairly effective pass-rusher by most measures. According to Pro Football Focus, Cole was the ninth-most efficient pass-rusher in the league among 3-4 outside linebackers last season.
There is some scheme advantage here too. Cole is able to beat one-on-one matchups fairly regularly, while the Colts earned much of there pressure last season by creating favorable matchups for pass-rushers with stunts and blitzes. The team didn’t have that one-on-one winner that it now has in Cole, or Robert Mathis returning from injury.
Cole also has been a very effective run-stopper on the edge throughout his career, giving the Colts a well-rounded, if aging weapon for the outside.
Like Gore and Johnson, Cole is just a short-term solution, and his two-year contract reflects that. But with the team needing an infusion of pass-rushing talent and Robert Mathis’ injury recovery generally being a cloudy situation, Cole’s presence as a veteran pass-rusher could pay huge dividends for the Colts in 2015.
ILB Nate Irving
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Needing both depth and youth at linebacker, the Colts went out and signed former Denver Broncos linebacker Nate Irving in free agency, a quietly high-value signing that could pay off big. Irving was very effective as a linebacker early in 2014, racking up a positive-5.9 grade against the run from Pro Football Focus in eight games before tearing his ACL in November.
Now, Irving did struggle against the pass at times, something the Colts have seen far too often from starter D’Qwell Jackson, but Irving definitely showed enough as a starter in Denver to give some confidence in his ability to take over if either Jackson or Jerrell Freeman were to be injured.
Speaking of injured, that’s the biggest obstacle for Irving currently as he recovers from the previously mentioned ACL tear. According to Kevin Bowen of Colts.com, Irving is currently expecting to return to the field for training camp and should compete for a starting job right away.
We’ll see if Irving has a real chance at starting, but it’s a good thing for Indianapolis to have competition there. The Colts' biggest downfall in run defense against teams like New England last year was its linebackers, and adding another body with starter potential can only benefit.
CB D'Joun Smith
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It’s always nice to see confidence from young defensive backs, especially after using a high third-round pick on one.
So when rookie D’Joun Smith told Kevin Bowen of Colts.com that he was likely going to be the best cornerback in the game if he got the right coaching, head coach Chuck Pagano didn’t bat an eye:
"You don’t want a meek kind of milquetoast type of guy sitting there. This sucker was on the edge of the seat in his (Combine) interview. When he came in, it was all business.
This guy truly believes. At the time when we asked him who the best corner in the draft this year and he said, ‘It’s me.’ He plays with a chip on his shoulder. It’s because I think everybody’s probably told this kid you’re too short, you’re too this, you’re too that. He plays with a chip on his shoulder, and he’s got great confidence. You have to have it to play that position
"
Will Smith turn out to be the best corner in the class, or in the league? Nobody can say at this point. He does have a good baseline of athletic talent and technique, and he can play both in the slot and outside. While he doesn’t have the prototypical size of a press corner in the Colts scheme, he plays big, looking for contact and tracking the ball well.
In 2015, Smith will be the fourth cornerback, but his versatility means he could move up into any of the top three spots if one of the starting cornerbacks (including slot cornerback Darius Butler) goes down with an injury.
S Dwight Lowery
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The starting safety for the Atlanta Falcons in 2014, Dwight Lowery comes into Indianapolis with a relatively simple path to success. Following up LaRon Landry, who was a locker room negative and an on-field disappointment, will do that. It’s a low bar.
Still, Lowery has been a fringe starter for his entire career, and it doesn’t seem like now is the time when he’ll transform into an above-average player. The longest stint of his career was three years with the New York Jets, starting 18 games in that span to begin his career. Lowery did start 15 games for Atlanta last season, but that team finished dead last in Football Outsiders’ DVOA. Lowery should have a bit more help this season, however.
As a veteran presence with fairly dependable tackling skills, Lowery has value. But he’s not the long-term plan. He is too unreliable in coverage and doesn’t make enough plays to be that. With Mike Adams and Lowery as the starters, the Colts have a boring but dependable last line. Both need to be replaced, but for now, the Colts can live with them starting.
S Clayton Geathers
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Knowing that both Dwight Lowery and Mike Adams are just temporary solutions at safety, it wasn’t surprising that the Colts took a safety in the 2015 draft, the question was just where he would come from.
Geathers, a former Central Florida Knight, is a hard-hitting strong safety who has already impressed enough in the offseason to get himself some plays as a linebacker in nickel and dime sub-packages. Chuck Pagano told Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star that Geathers has exceeded expectations:
"We're playing him down in the box in sub-packages as a dime (line)backer. So, he's learning the back end plus he's learning the sub (package). He's been really impressive as far as picking things up… He's going to be one of those guys that in today's football you can play inside as a dime backer and get faster, get more speed on the field and match up with the tight ends that we've got to cover now.
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This is almost a Kam Chancellor-type role for Geathers, which is the ceiling on what the Colts have to hope he’ll become. That starting role won’t come in 2015, but if Geathers proves that he can keep up with those tight ends and running backs in the passing game, he could be a bigger part of the defense moving forward.
Other Key Defensive Newcomers
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NT David Parry—The former Stanford Cardinal should compete for time with Montori Hughes and Josh Chapman at nose tackle, but a starting position is going to be difficult to grab as a rookie. Parry will likely play on run downs only.
OLB Zack Hodges—It will be difficult for Hodges to make the roster, given the Colts' depth at outside linebacker, but the former Harvard player has enough ability that he might make the practice squad and give the team an injury fill-in down the line.
ILB Amarlo Herrera—A tackling machine at Georgia, Herrera should fill 2014 rookie Andrew Jackson's role as a situational run-stopping linebacker right away, especially if Nate Irving's injury recovery takes longer than expected.
CB Donald Celiscar—The former Western Michigan player is a versatile cornerback that is comfortable in the press system, but we may see Celiscar make the roster because of his ability to play safety as well. The fifth cornerback spot is open for the taking.
CB Deveron Carr—The veteran combine was, overall, a sad experience, but Carr managed to get a contract out of it. Now he just hopes to make the roster as the fifth cornerback. Odds are against him, however, as the Colts need youth and developmental talent.
S Robert Smith—One of the fan-favorite undrafted free agents, Smith is a former Clemson player who is versatile and may be able to play his way into a depth safety and special teams role.
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