Indianapolis Colts: Grading the Strength of Every Position Before Camps Begins

As the Indianapolis Colts' training camp approaches, it's time to take stock of the roster. The Colts have some excellent groupings of talent in certain areas, but others are rather lacking.

In order to grade each of the position groups, I took into consideration a number of factors:

• Top-end talent: Are there any blue-chip studs on the roster?
• Depth: How many players on the roster are actually an asset?
• Versatility: Do the players on the roster help accomplish the different goals of each position?
• Age/Future Potential: Does the position have enough experience? Are there enough building blocks for the future?

Keep in mind that I'm using a traditional letter-grading system, so a "C" is the baseline average. We'll often look at grades and have very inflated opinions. For example, ESPN's offseason grades from earlier this summer included just three "Cs" and one "D" grade at the bottom of the list. For the purposes of this list, a position grade of C will indicate an overall group that would likely rank in the middle of the league.

With those characteristics in mind, let's get to the 2015 Colts roster.

Quarterback

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Roster: Andrew Luck, Matt Hasselbeck, Bryan Bennett

It's almost silly to include quarterback in these lists.

Andrew Luck is the premier young quarterback in the league, able to beat defenses in so many ways and having built up a reputation as a team-carrying competitor.

Mike Sando of ESPN.com recently asked 35 NFL personnel men to put the NFL's quarterbacks into tiers, and 30 of the 35 insiders ranked Luck in the first tier. The praise was effervescent:

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"Luck didn't get a 1 from everybody?" a GM asked. He was incredulous. "You want to talk about a guy who makes the team? He is Michael Jordan. Their defense sucks. Every game, he has to outscore everybody. He is the epitome of a 1. If I was to draft tomorrow any player in the NFL, it would be Andrew Luck one, Aaron Rodgers two."

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Behind Luck is a veteran with as much experience as anybody in the league. Matt Hasselbeck has started 152 games in his NFL career, the fifth-most of any active quarterback. He likely won't be winning any games for the Colts on his own, but as far as backup quarterbacks go, there are much worse options.

Grade: A+

Running Back

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Roster: Frank Gore, Dan Herron, Josh Robinson, Vick Ballard, Zurlon Tipton, Tyler Varga, Abou Toure

The Colts made a big leap in this category this offseason by replacing Trent Richardson with Frank Gore, and Dan Herron is a versatile but limited backup.

With those two leading the way, and the potential of sixth-round pick Josh Robinson added in, the position is a plus for the Colts, coming out as slightly above-average. Marc Sessler of NFL.com summed up the position well while ranking it 11th in the league earlier this offseason:

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The days of Gore seeing constant eight-man fronts are over. Like Lacy, he's playing with one of the game's best passers and should top last year's 1,106 yards if his body holds up. Let's not forget that Boom Herron caught 10 passes in Indy's playoff win over the Bengals and showed some fire down the stretch.

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Still, there are a lot of questions surrounding the unit, and they start with Gore.

Can the 32-year-old's body hold up for another season? At times it seems like Gore will outlast everybody in the NFL, but his body did show signs of slowing down periodically last season, and Father Time will come for him eventually. How much of a feature back will he be in December and January?

Behind Gore, the optimism is limited. Herron can be effective in the right role, but he's not a bell cow back and doesn't give the Colts a long-term piece. There's always hope that Robinson, Pro Football Focus' second-most elusive back in college football last season, can turn into something special, but banking on a sixth-round pick to pan out is risky.

Gore gives the Colts enough talent and savvy to push them to above average for the first time in years, but it's somewhat of a fragile group.

Grade: B-

Wide Receiver

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Roster: T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson, Donte Moncrief, Phillip Dorsett, Duron Carter, Griff Whalen, Vincent Brown, Ryan Lankford, Quan Bray, Ezell Ruffin, Tyler Rutenbeck

The Colts put a lot of resources into upgrading at wide receiver this past offseason after seeing depth at the position diminish quickly in the playoffs over the last two seasons, and the results looks fantastic on paper.

With T.Y. Hilton and Andre Johnson getting the majority of snaps, there are only a handful of teams that could boast a better starting two. Hilton is a bona fide No. 1 in the league, ranking among the top 15 in NFL history in total yards and receptions during the first three years of a player's career. Meanwhile, Johnson is aging, but he still has much of the talent that has helped him be an elite receiver for much of his career.

The unit gets a slight markdown for not having an elite No. 1 in their prime, like Green Bay, Denver or Detroit, but what really makes the Colts receiving corps special is the depth.

Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett both project to be long-term assets for Indianapolis, as both are dangerous downfield weapons for Andrew Luck to find. Both players can play all three wide receiver spots in Pep Hamilton's offense, and the different combinations in lineups should be a nightmare for opposing defenses.

Duron Carter, Griff Whalen and Vincent Brown could all potentially be bottom-of-the-roster contributors as well. Carter is a physical freak with an NFL pedigree, while Whalen is the ultimate special teamer and occasional slot guy. Brown was signed this offseason and is a dark horse to make the roster.

But the wild card in all of this is Dorsett. The Colts thought very highly of him, making him their first-round draft pick this year despite having much bigger needs elsewhere. If he turns out to be as good as the team hopes, this receiving unit can be the best in the league.

Grade: A

Tight End

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Roster: Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener, Jack Doyle, Erik Swoope, Sean McGrath, Justin Sinz

There has been a lot of disappointment surrounding the Colts' tight end duo over the last two years.

After Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener's rookie seasons, there was hope that the two would become the league's best tight end duo before too long. Allen was seen as one of the best all-around tight ends in the league, and Fleener's physical measurables gave him a high ceiling as a receiving tight end.

But Allen has played in just 14 games since, with injuries sometimes affecting his play even when he got on the field. Fleener has improved as a receiver, but he's still been prone to mishandling the ball in contested-catch situations.

Still, the two make for a better-than-average duo in a league where good tight ends are hard to find. Allen's versatility and Fleener's speed make for a well-fitting combination, and both are just now entering their primes. Who sticks around after this season, however, probably depends on what happens in 2015.

There is still potential for great things at the position, but we need to see more consistency from both players first.

Jack Doyle makes for a strong third tight end as well, fitting in as a "move" blocker who can play at fullback, H-back or tight end on any given play. His blocking also makes him a decent Allen replacement, in terms of role, in case of injury.

A dark horse to make the roster is Erik Swoope, especially if Doyle is the Colts' main fullback. Swoope had an impressive offseason, but he will need that to carry into training camp and the preseason to turn it into a spot on the active roster.

Grade: B

Offensive Line

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Roster: Anthony Castonzo, Hugh Thornton, Khaled Holmes, Todd Herremans, Jack Mewhort, Gosder Cherilus, Lance Louis, Joe Reitz, Jonotthan Harrison, Donald Thomas, Ben Heenan, Denzelle Good, Ulrick John, Will Corbin, Brandon Vitabile, David Arkin, Tyler Hoover

If Jack Mewhort continues to improve, the Colts likely have two above-average players amid their offensive line, but the rest is hard to watch.

Let's start with the good.

Anthony Castonzo finally hit his upside last season, doing a very good job of protecting Andrew Luck's blind side and allowing just two sacks all season despite playing more pass-protection snaps than any other tackle in the league. It was enough for Castonzo to land at No. 66 on Pro Football Focus' Top 101 of 2014 list:

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There may not be a more difficult job in pass protection than being the left tackle for the Colts. More seven-step drops, more drop-backs and more time with the QB holding onto the ball make it the lethal combination for a pass protector. So credit to Castonzo who has got better each and every year since entering the league, developing into an accomplished pass protector with 2014 being his finest example yet.

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Mewhort was right around average as a rookie guard last year, which is more than impressive, but there are questions about how he'll handle a full-time move to right tackle if Gosder Cherilus' injury continues to linger on.

The Colts added Todd Herremans to help solidify the line at right guard, but he's is turning 33 in October and has already started declining, finishing 2014 with a negative-12.5 grade from Pro Football Focus despite playing less than 600 snaps.

The left guard battle between Hugh Thornton and Lance Louis is not a pretty sight. Thornton has been very disappointing in pass protection over the last two years, but if he can't beat out Louis, his career as a starter is likely shot.

The competition for the starting center spot is even uglier, with Khaled Holmes and Jonotthan Harrison both showing glaring flaws in 2014. Harrison's awareness was abysmal in pass protection, and Holmes' functional strength seemed lacking.

The hope for the Colts in 2015 is that with some consistency in the lineup and Mewhort's growth, the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts. The line isn't the worst in the league, but there are much more concerns than there are assets.

Grade: D+

Defensive Line

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Roster: Arthur Jones, Kendall Langford, Josh Chapman, Henry Anderson, Zach Kerr, Montori Hughes, David Parry, Earl Okine, Kelcy Quarles, Jeris Pendleton

The problem with the Colts defensive line isn't that it's horrific, it's simply too average.

The team doesn't have a stud on the line that offenses have to plan for, and the unit makes too few plays for the rest of the defense to make up for. Against bad quarterbacks and mediocre offenses, they can hold their own just fine. Against better competition, it puts too much stress on the rest of the defense to make something happen.

The player the Colts hope can change that is Arthur Jones. The Colts signed him to a five-year, $33-million contract last offseason, but he was plagued by injuries for much of 2014 and could not be the playmaker the team wanted him to be. With a healthy body in 2015, the Colts need Jones to be the player they paid for.

Kendall Langford and Josh Chapman aren't exciting anybody in Indianapolis. Langford may have some passing-rush ability from the 5-tech spot, his more natural position, but he's replacing the Colts' best defensive lineman in Cory Redding. Chapman has never quite lived up to fans' dreams in the NFL, as he's an adequate nose tackle against the run but little else.

There is hope in rookie Henry Anderson, however, who was Pro Football Focus' top-graded interior defensive lineman last season. Anderson has a tendency to get in the backfield and blow up plays, but we need to see that at the NFL level before we crown it as a notable achievement for Indianapolis.

The rest of the depth are average bodies at best, at least right now. Montori Hughes was a fifth-round pick in 2013 that has versatility but has never flashed it. Zach Kerr is a good depth guy as a former undrafted free agent, but is his ceiling any higher? David Parry is another fifth-round nose tackle, a big body but little else.

Grade: C-

Outside Linebacker

AJ Mast/Associated Press

Roster: Robert Mathis, Trent Cole, Jonathan Newsome, Erik Walden, Bjoern Werner, Cam Johnson, Zack Hodges, Daniel Adongo, Cody Galea, Carlos Fields Jr.

The state of the Colts outside linebacker corps is an odd one. On one hand, the Colts desperately need more pass rush than they got last year, and the additions they made don't necessarily lead to concrete production.

Still, the position is very deep and has a relatively high ceiling for 2015 if things go well. But for the team to hit that ceiling, a lot of things have to line up.

Robert Mathis has to return with a vengeance. Trent Cole has to become more efficient in a more rotational pass-rushing role. Jonathan Newsome has to continue to develop. Bjoern Werner and Erik Walden have to be effective as run-stoppers while getting less consistent snaps.

All those outcomes are very possible, but is it likely that all (or even most) of them occur?

The position is definitely upgraded from last season. The additions of Cole and Mathis, along with Newsome's development, ensure that. But how much of an upgrade is it? That's what's left to see. Both Cole and Mathis' bodies are concerning, with Mathis' recovery from his Achilles tear still pending and Cole turning 33 in October.

Jonathan Newsome is the balancing force there, showing a lot of potential last season and being the Colts' best bet for the future. Werner has disappointed too often in the pass-rushing department, and projects like Cam Johnson and Daniel Adongo have yet to pan out.

Grade: C+

Inside Linebacker

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Roster: Jerrell Freeman, D'Qwell Jackson, Nate Irving, Amarlo Herrera, Henoc Muamba, Junior Sylvestre, Justin Shirk

The Colts have a lot of experience at inside linebacker with D'Qwell Jackson and Jerrell Freeman returning to the starting lineup, but the team lacks a well-rounded, playmaking linebacker to carry the unit. 

Freeman is quick in pass coverage, but gets lost in the run game. Jackson is decent against the run and makes a lot of tackles, but was roasted in coverage last season. The two combined for a negative-22.3 grade from Pro Football Focus last season, playoffs included. 

Now, are both players that far below average? No. 

But without a better defensive line, the Colts linebackers are forced into roles that they're not quite fit for. And although the ceiling is low, both players have the potential to be better if the defensive line improves. 

The addition of Nate Irving, formerly of the Denver Broncos, could pay big dividends. Irving looked good in six games before an ACL tear last year, and he could potentially push for a starting job. But Irving still has limitations in the passing game, much like Jackson, which could put a cap on the impact he'd have as a starter.

The rest of the depth at the position is murky. Amarlo Herrera was a productive linebacker at Georgia, but he is a rookie sixth-round pick. Henoc Muamba showed promise last year, but he played a very limited role and may get pushed out by Herrera this year.

Grade: C-

Cornerback

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Roster: Vontae Davis, Greg Toler, Darius Butler, D'Joun Smith, Donald Celiscar, Jalil Brown, Sheldon Price, Deveron Carr, Chance Casey

With one of the few blue-chip players on the Colts roster, cornerback is carried by none other than Vontae Davis.

Davis established himself as one of the league's premier cornerbacks in 2014, perhaps not on the level of Richard Sherman and Darrelle Revis but in the next tier. Right now, the four-year, $36 million contract he signed last offseason looks like a bargain for Indianapolis, and there will be very little guaranteed money left on it after this year.

Of course, the Colts will probably want to hang onto the player who landed at No. 6 overall on Pro Football Focus' Top 101 list:

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Vontae Davis was one of the league’s most dominant players in 2014, and he only got better in the playoffs. Long gone is the inconsistent and at times unreliable defender from early in his career and in his place is an aggressive, unrelenting coverage specialist, difficult to shake and extremely stingy when it comes to giving up catches.

Davis remains a little inconsistent, but those inconsistencies now come in the form of huge games rather than poor ones. Every now and again he will be virtually perfect over the course of sixty minutes of football, allowing nothing of significance while breaking up several passes sent his way.

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But Davis can't hold down the fort on his own, and that's where the questions come in.

Greg Toler and Darius Butler can both play their roles in the Colts defense, especially if there is a quicker pass rush than was present last season, but the team could use an upgrade, most notably on the outside.

That's where rookie D'Joun Smith may have a role to play, although likely not this season. The team has played him both inside and outside during the offseason, preparing him for the inevitable defensive backfield injuries, and he'll likely get a chance to shine in a nickel and dime role in 2015.

But if he can be a long-term solution as a starter, the Colts will be very pleased—and more well-off in 2016 and beyond.

Grade: B

Safety

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Roster: Mike Adams, Dwight Lowery, Clayton Geathers, Colt Anderson, Dewey McDonald, Winston Guy, Robert Smith

Safety has been a difficult position for the Colts to fill since Bob Sanders' body betrayed him. Is 2015 the year things turn around?

Mike Adams made the Pro Bowl last season, even if it was as an alternate, and is a dependent element to the defensive backfield. He's not a playmaker and can't carry the unit, but behind an above-average cornerback unit, he fills a role very well.

Next to Adams, however, is where the blur begins.

The Colts signed Dwight Lowery, a potential starter, in the offseason, but he has struggled to stay on the field for a full season throughout his career. With a one-year contract and an average resume, he's not a long-term option.

However, rookie Clayton Geathers may be. Geathers is a tough hitter in the middle of the field, and he's picked up the Colts playbook very quickly, head coach Chuck Pagano told George Bremer of the Herald Bulletin. Geathers played himself into a role as a nickel and dime linebacker in minicamp and OTAs. He may not start in 2015, but he's playing for a long-term role.

Grade: C

Special Teams

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Roster: Pat McAfee (P), Adam Vinatieri (K), Matt Overton (LS)

Both Pat McAfee and Adam Vinatieri made the 2015 Pro Bowl, and deservedly so. Pro Bowls aren't always a good measure of play, as they turn into popularity contests at times, but both McAfee and Vinatieri were brilliant in 2014.

McAfee has gotten better and better over the last three seasons, being worthy of a potential Pro Bowl spot in each of those seasons. Vinatieri has been incredibly consistent for the Colts, and while he will need replacing eventually, he's been great of late.

The Colts were eighth in Football Outsiders' special teams DVOA in 2014, carried by the Pro Bowlers.

Grade: A