Siegfried: A look at the Colts roster heading into training camp
By PAUL SIEGFRIED
ISL Correspondent
The second year of the Chuck Pagano era starts next week for the Indianapolis Colts as they head to training camp in Anderson.
Despite Pagano missing much of his first season as head coach battling cancer, the first year was a success under interim coach Bruce Arians. Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck led the team to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth.
Remaking the team continues as Pagano returns, Arians leaves to take over as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and Pep Hamilton joins the team as Arians’ replacement as offensive coordinator. Hamilton comes in from Stanford, where he served as Luck’s offensive coordinator.
The roster is also undergoing more change as second-year general manager Ryan Grigson was active in free agency and addressed some immediate needs in the draft, led by first-round pick Bjoern Werner, a pass rusher out of Florida State. The Colts are in the second year of a switch from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4. In that scheme, it can take multiple seasons to acquire the right personnel, especially along the front seven.
Despite last year’s success, the Colts still have some major holes to fill. Few positions are locks, and training camp battles could result in continued turnover of the roster.
Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the current Colts roster heading into training camp. The number in parenthesis is a projection of how many players will be kept at each position to get to the 53-man roster. The asterisk indicates probable starters heading into training camp.
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QUARTERBACK (2)
*Andrew Luck, Matthew Hasselbeck, Chandler Harnish
This position was solid for 13 years, then it was questionable for a year, and now it’s solid once again.
The turmoil surrounding Peyton Manning’s missed 2011 season to injury and subsequent departure to Denver resulted in the Colts landing Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall draft pick, and he didn’t disappoint as a rookie. They hope to have the position solidified for the next dozen years. Luck threw for 4,374 yards with 23 TDs and 18 INTs while completing passes at a respectable 54 percent clip. Luck is also reunited with his college offensive coordinator as Hamilton comes in from Stanford.
Hasselbeck was signed as a free agent with the expectation that he will never play. But he does give a bit of an insurance policy and a veteran presence as Luck continues to develop. Hasselbeck knows why he is there.
Harnish, the former Mr. Irrelevant, managed to stick with the team but spent much of last season on the practice squad. He’s a developmental project who may have a career as a backup somewhere.
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RUNNING BACK (4)
*Vick Ballard, Ahmad Bradshaw, Donald Brown, Delone Carter, Davin Meggett, Dan Moore (FB), Kerwynn Williams, Stanley Havili (FB).
The Colts haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2007 with Joseph Addai. Ballard finished with 814 yards on the ground a year ago and Brown added another 417, but the Colts just didn’t seem content with the group they had and added the oft-injured Ahmad Bradshaw from the Giants, who did crack the 1,000-yard barrier a year ago with 1,015 yards and 6 TDs.
Ballard will enter training camp as the starter, but the Colts coaches probably wouldn’t be too upset if Bradshaw would establish himself as the clear No. 1 back in camp. That would leave Ballard as a solid No. 2 and relegate the disappointing Carter to No. 3 or gone completely. Williams, a 7th-round draft pick, looks to stick as a kick returner and might take Carter’s No. 3 RB spot as a change-of-pace back.
Havili gives the Colts a a powerful lead back and a thumper, especially in goal line situations. He could also play into the passing game as well as Pagano looks to use the fullback more than the Colts have in past years.
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WIDE RECEIVER (6)
*Reggie Wayne, *T.Y. Hilton, Darrius Heyward-Bey, LaVon Brazill, Jeremy Kelley, Nathan Palmer, Rodrick Rumble, Jabin Sambrano, Lanear Sampson, Griff Whalen.
Even at 34, Reggie Wayne is still getting it done and shows no sign of slowing down after catching 106 balls for 1,355 yards and 6 TDs. He was just what the rebuilding Colts needed a year ago — a consistent, veteran leader on the field, and he will be counted on again to play that role in the second season of Luck and the coaching staff.
Hilton provided plenty of highlights in his rookie year with a team-best 7 TDs among his 50 catches. He averaged 17 yards per catch and had five grabs of more than 40 yards. He will also be the team’s top punt returner.
Donnie Avery left via free agency, but the Colts brought in Heyward-Bey, who struggled in his four seasons in Oakland after being a first-round pick of the Raiders. DHB has the reputation as a burner, but he has been inconsistent with his hands and with his route-running. He also has not had the caliber of quarterback to work with that he will when he hooks up with Luck.
Brazill was expected to play a bigger role, but he is suspended for the first four games of the year after violation of the NFL Substance Abuse Policy. His absence leaves an opening and training camp will provide an interesting battle between Whalen, Palmer, Sambrano and Kelley for backup receiver positions.
Whalen comes in from Stanford where familiarity with Luck and with Hamilton’s offense gives his an edge. Whalen was hurt in the preseason a year ago, but in the two games he played, he caught 12 passes for 125 yards.
Palmer and Sambrano were undrafted rookies last season who were able to stick around. Palmer is a burner in the mold of Hilton, but Sambrano might have an edge because of his return abilities. Kelley is a big target at 6’6″ but has bounced around in the CFL and AFL.
Rumble is intriguing only because he has a cool name.
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TIGHT END (3)
*Dwayne Allen, *Coby Fleener, Justice Cunningham, Dominique Jones, Weslye Saunders.
The Colts have one of the top tight end tandems in the league with Allen and Fleener, who combined for 71 catches and 5 TDs. Allen is the better blocker of the two, while Fleener, at 6’6″, can stretch the middle of the field and is a better red zone target. Jones and Saunders were the two backups a year ago as the Colts kept four tight ends, and will get some camp competition from 7th-round pick Cunningham. If the team keeps just three TEs, the battle for that last spot will be a tough one.
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OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
*Anthony Castanzo (LT), *Donald Thomas (LG), *Samson Satele ( C), *Mike McGlynn (RG), *Gosder Cherilus (RT), Khaled Holmes ( C), Rick Schmeig ( C), Justin Anderson (G), Robert Griffin (G), Joe Reitz (G), Hugh Thorton (G), Emmett Cleary (T), Ben Ijalana (T), Jeff Linkenbach (T), Bradley Sowell (T), Lee Ziemba (T).
This will be one of the more interesting areas to watch during training camp as the Colts rebuild the line to protect Luck, who was sacked 41 times last season. Cherilus and Thomas were brought in as top free agents, and Thorton and Holmes were added via the draft. Cherilus steps in immediately and solidifies right tackle and Thomas will hold down left guard. Castanzo is improving at left tackle and returns there. Thorton provides a challenge to McGlynn at right guard, as does Holmes to Satele at center. LInkenbach is a decent veteran backup, but Ijalana faces a make-or-break camp after an injury-riddled first two years with the Colts. The same goes for Reitz, who has started 17 games over the last two seasons, but has been plagued by injury and inconsistent play. The Colts had hopes also for Anderson, but he, too, was injured a year ago and is surrounded by question marks.
While offseason moves shored up the first-team line, if any of those starters get hurt, there is little depth unless someone emerges during training camp.
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DEFENSIVE LINE (8)
*Cory Redding (DE), *Josh Chapman (NT), *Ricky Jean-Francois (DE), Lawrence Guy (DE), Fili Moala (DE), Kellen Heard (DT), Montori Hughes (DT), Ricardo Matthews (DT), Drake Nevis (DT), Aubrayo Franklin (NT), Brandon McKinney (NT), Martin Tevaseu (NT).
The process of converting from a 4-3 to a 3-4 continues as the Colts remake their defense front seven, and the line is probably the weakest area of the team. Grigson was active in free agency on the front line, bringing in Francois as a 3-4 tackle and Franklin as a protypical 3-4 nose tackle. Chapman and McKinney didn’t play at all last season after injuries, so Franklin was brought in for some veteran experience. Chapman and Franklin will rotate and get a bulk of the time in the middle. McKinney will battle with Tevaseu to be the third man at the spot.
Moala, Matthews, Guy and Nevis return, and Montori Hughes was added in the draft. Guy played well when called on last season. Training camp will sort out who will be the backups in the rotation, but since play was sub-par a year ago, all positions can probably be considered open.
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LINEBACKER (8)
*Robert Mathis (OLB), *Erik Walden (OLB), *Pat Angerer (ILB), *Jerrell Freeman (ILB), Justin Hickman (OLB), Lawrence Sidbury (OLB), Bjoern Werner (OLB), Kavell Conner (ILB), Mario Harvey (ILB), Scott Lutrus (ILB), C.O. Prime (LB), Caesar Rayford (LB), Kelvin Sheppard (LB), Monte Simmons (LB), Quinton Spears (LB).
The switch to the 3-4 moved Colts’ all-time Dwight Freeney from defensive end to the linebacker position, and it just didn’t work out, and Freeney left via free agency. That leaves Robert Mathis as the leader of the defense at the rush linebacker spot. But the five-time Pro Bowler is 32 years old, and with the Colts still needing more rush help, Grigson went for Werner in the first round of the draft. He’s not there just to be the eventual replacement for Mathis; the Colts need production from Werner THIS season. Walden was added in free agency to become the run-stuffer needed at the strong-side spot. Disappointing Jerry Hughes was also jettisoned in a trade to Buffalo for Sheppard, a versatile player who can play inside or out. Hickman will likely stick as a solid backup. Sidbury is a veteran free agent signed from Atlanta hoping a change of scenery can revive his career.
Angerer was injured a year ago, but returns to team with Freeman as a solid duo inside. Freeman led the team in tackles last season. Conner is a capable backup. The rest of the group will battle for special teams positions if any remain.
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DEFENSIVE BACK (10)
*Vontae Davis (CB), *Greg Toler (CB), *Antoine Bethea (FS), *LaRon Landry (SS), Darius Butler (CB), Allen Chapman (CB), Josh Gordy (CB), Marshay Green (CB), Sheldon Price (CB), Cassius Vaughn (CB), Teddy Williams (CB), Sergio Brown (S), Larry Asante (S), John Boyett (S), Delano Howell (S), Joe Lefeged (S), Daxton Swanson (S).
This is another position undergoing an overhaul after the Colts were torched for big plays a year ago. Landry and Toler were added in free agency and Davis is in his second year after a trade last season. Bethea, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, has been a solid performer over the years, finishing second on the team in tackles last season.
Landry is also a former Pro Bowler with the Jets, and Toler is a physical performer that fits in Pagano’s press man coverage. Butler or Vaughn will compete for the nickel position. Butler had a team-high four interceptions last season and took two back the distance for scores. There should be a good battle for the last backup corner position. Swanson and Price are undrafted rookies battling with returnees Williams and Green, who spent last season on the practice squad.
Lefeged might have been in the mix for a backup safety spot, but he is facing gun charges and his future with the team is uncertain.
Boyett is a sixth-round draft pick and most likely makes the roster at safety. Returnees Brown and Howell might also have an edge, but in reality, the backup spots are wide open in the revamped secondary.
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SPECIALISTS (3)
*Adam Viniatieri (K), *Pat McAfee ( P), *Matt Overton (LS), Brandon McManus (P/K)
Viniatieri is 40 years old but still hit 11-of-17 from 40 yards or more and 4-of-7 from beyond 50. McAfee was the team’s franchise player and signed the one-year tender. McAfee could possibly also end up as the team’s kicker when Viniatieri hangs it up. Overton has the long snapper spot nailed down.
Hilton will return punts again and could become one of the top returners in the league. Rookie Kerwynn Williams was drafted with the expectation he would take over as the team’s kickoff return duties.
