INDIANAPOLIS — With the Indianapolis Colts set to begin training camp soon at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Ind., Colts.com previews the team's offensive linemen.
NOTABLE RETURNERS:
» Josh Andrews (center/guard)
» Evan Boehm (center/guard)
» Anthony Castonzo (tackle)
» Le'Raven Clark (tackle/guard)
» Mark Glowinski (guard)
» Joe Haeg (tackle/guard/center)
» Ryan Kelly (center)
» Quenton Nelson (guard)
» Braden Smith (tackle/guard)
» J'Marcus Webb (tackle)
NOTABLE ADDITIONS:
» Jackson Barton (tackle)
NOTABLE CAMP BATTLES:
» Jake Eldrenkamp
» Antonio Garcia
» William Poehls
» Nico Siragusa
NOTABLE LOSSES:
» None
THE SKINNY:
Perhaps no position group in the entire league took as big of a leap forward last season as the Colts' offensive line, as the team went from allowing the most sacks in the league in 2017 (56) to allowing the fewest sacks in the league in 2018 (18).
And, perhaps most importantly, all five starting offensive linemen from last year's team are back and ready to go in 2019: left tackle Anthony Castonzo, left guard Quenton Nelson, center Ryan Kelly, right guard Mark Glowinski and right tackle Braden Smith.
Nelson, in particular, helped bring a new attitude to the offense last year in his rookie season, and was named First-Team All-Pro as well as to the Pro Bowl, becoming the first Colts offensive lineman selected to the Pro Bowl since guard Chris Hinton in 1983.
Smith, meanwhile, moved over from guard to tackle in Week 5 and was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.
Head coach Frank Reich has issued a clear directive to be more consistent at running the ball in 2019 — he wants a top-five rushing unit; the team finished 20th last year — and new offensive line coaches Chris Strausser and Klayton Adams, as well as the return of Howard Mudd as a senior offensive assistant, should play critical roles in getting this done.
