INDIANAPOLIS – Each week, readers of Colts.com can submit their questions to have a chance of them being answered in our Wednesday or Saturday mailbag.
Here is the collection of Wednesday questions:Gann Will (Indianapolis)
Can Jack Mewhort get the job done at right tackle this year? If not, who on our team is likely to replace him, or will we have to bring in somebody else?
Bowen: A popular question that has been involved with several of our recent mailbags. Mewhort bounced back to play much better in St. Louis during the Colts third preseason game. That was a key outing for Mewhort facing extending playing time, and against a defensive line very similar to the one he's going to see right out of the gate in September. In the first five weeks of the season, the Colts face three of the more formidable front sevens in all of football. It will be a great barometer to see how Mewhort's progress is coming along at right tackle. If Mewhort can't get the job done there, and the Colts feel a replacement is needed, versatile reserve Joe Reitz would likely be the man at right tackle. Reitz has filled in nicely there before. Jim Irsay mentioned sustained durability the issue in calling Reitz, the Fishers, Indiana native, the long-term answer at right tackle.
Josh W (Marion)
Can you please explain the reasoning behind some of the cuts to get down to the 53 man roster? I think they made a mistake cutting Duron Carter. He shown significant progress during the preseason. Are the going to sign him to the practice squad? I don't understand how they can cut him but keep Vick Ballard. He had a solid rookie year but that was two injury filled years ago. Your thoughts please.
Bowen: When it comes to Carter, it's clear he's still in a developmental stage. There's a reason why the Colts didn't feel he was needed on the 53-man roster (and why 31 teams passed on Carter as well during the waiver period). This is still a very inexperienced football player so I don't think some time on the practice squad will hold him back in any way. The Colts have plenty of quality depth at wide receiver for Carter to develop on the practice squad. When it came down to Vick Ballard, the Colts feel that his talent is too immense to just let walk out the door. What the Colts saw from Ballard in limited reps this preseason was enough to have them wanting to see more. From a health standpoint, the current order of backs looks like: Frank Gore, Josh Robinson and Tyler Varga. Did it come down to Ballard and Boom Herron for the final running back spot?
Ken Kreke (Newburgh, IN)
why did we release Chapman and Hughes and only keep 5 defensive linemen ? Last year we kept 7. Seems like we are a little thin on a problem area for the Colts.
Bowen: Quite a few defensive line inquiries were sent into this week's mailbag. Ryan Grigson and Chuck Pagano both put it pretty simply in the decision to move on from Chapman and Hughes. "The other guys played better," is what the Colts head coach had to say on that topic. That means rookies David Parry, Earl Okine and Zach Kerr won the roster spots behind Kendall Langford and Arthur Jones. The number of bodies on the defensive line is up to six, with the addition of T.Y. McGill, who the Colts claimed off waivers over the weekend. The depth is definitely going to be tested along the defensive front this weekend, but the Colts like the more athletic look to this year's group. Colts.com will have more on the starting duo of Anderson and Parry later today.
Matthew Shockley (Muncie, IN)
Hello Kevin, Long time reader. First time sending in a Question.
I was curious, Have the colts figured out who will be there return man this season? Griff Walen seemed to be the most productive at that position when he was given the opportunity.
Thank for your time.
Bowen: Matthew, appreciate you following along. The Colts released their depth charts on Tuesday and you can find those here. At punt returner, first-round pick Phillip Dorsett will get the initial look there. That was a foregone conclusion, really, ever since the Colts drafted him No. 29 overall back in late April. At kick returner, Donte Moncrief will slide into that role. Moncrief is the starter after Boom Herron was listed No. 1 on the depth chart there during Training Camp.
Bruce Ingalls (New Whiteland, IN)
Any news on Anthony Castanzo contract extention.
Bowen: Benny, no update on the Castonzo contract situation. A few weeks back, Stephen Holder of the IndyStar reported that he didn't think the deal would get done before the start of the season. Based off everything the Colts brass has said about Castonzo, the left tackle is a major focal point of future plans. I fully expect a deal to get done for Castonzo, but it appears that timetable has shifted a bit.
Michelle M (Fort Wayne, IN)
I know you have a weekend mailbag if not I hope this prints on Wednesday. Sio moore, don't know much about him so I can't judge but this is what I was talking about earlier when I said injury prone players. we always seem to get them that have had previous injuries. I guess I don't understand maybe you can explain that I hope he does well.
Bowen: As for Sio Moore, he's coming off hip surgery in February. Moore played in the preseason for Oakland, so he's clearly healthy enough to participate in game action. The Colts obviously wouldn't have traded for him if they weren't pleased with the medical side of things/physical. During his rookie season of 2013, Moore was an All-Rookie performer for the Raiders. There is position flexibility on the inside or the outside of the Colts linebackers group for Moore to fit. The Colts right now have him listed as a backup inside linebacker. For additional information on Moore, check out these highlights.
Ben Dias (Voorhees, NJ)
Dear Colts,
One of the biggest issues that has constantly enraged us from BlueNation is that of the defense, particularly the safety and free safety positions. During the off season we released Laron Landry a dive heard no news of Howell. That leaves us with Sergio Brown as our other safety and while I'm not complaining, I am confused. How can the colts prepare for injury to that already delicate and fragile position. Is there another backup who might be able to fill a gap, or will the colts be looking for a trade or to pick up a player who didn't make the cut for another team? Basically, what's the future with the colts safety position?
Bowen: Ben, let me update you a bit on the safety position. This article goes in-depth on the starting duo the Colts will have in 2015. Returning at one spot is Mike Adams, after a Pro Bowl season last year. Veteran Dwight Lowery, who the Colts signed from Atlanta during free agency, will join Adams in the starting lineup. Rookie safety Clayton Geathers was the team's fourth-round pick back in May and is expected to play a role within the team's dime packages. Sergio Brown was a free agent this past offseason and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In Adams and Lowery, the Colts have a safety duo with ample experience and a group that shouldn't have too many mental mistakes in 2015.
