INDIANAPOLIS –A much-needed missing piece.
A cloudy future.
A new role that was a major long shot just a few years ago.
For the following five Colts, the 2017 Training Camp (and season) is quite significant for individual and team success.
While these five might not be the most important Colts to wins/losses in 2017, the handful of names below have some questions to answer:
- RT-Le'Raven Clark:This is your right tackle entering the 2017 Training Camp. The time is now for Clark to cement himself as the right tackle of the present (and future). Entering his second NFL season, Clark's experience is only three games deep, but he showed enough last year to have this staff believing in the development of the offensive line. Clark locking up that right side of the line would do wonders for the Colts improving their most scrutinized position group.
- WR-Jacoby Brissett:Competition is coming at Dorsett, who is entering his third NFL season. Newcomer Kamar Aiken and the emerging Chester Rogers are serious threats to pushing Dorsett down the depth chart. Dorsett had his moments during the offseason program, but a late-spring injury kept him sidelined for the team's minicamp. With a decision to make on Dorsett's rookie contract coming next offseason, the 2017 campaign is definitely going to shape the future for the 2015 first-round pick in Indianapolis.
- S-T.J. Green:Like Dorsett, Green is entering the important time on a rookie contract. He's also part of a position group with a lot of questions heading into camp. Green did not receive first-team work during minicamp, despite Clayton Geathers and Malik Hooker on the sideline. Do the Colts envision a specific sub package role for Green? Or will Green be squeezed out of playing time with the potential returns of Geathers and Hooker?
- DL-Johnathan Hankins:The big fella is going to start in 2017. But where? That's the question on Hankins, the new defensive lineman. Hankins gives the Colts a presence in the middle of their defensive line that they've longed for. It will either be nose tackle or defensive tackle for Hankins, with the Colts having to sift through the other options on their defensive line before locking in their prized free agent at a specific spot.
- TE-Mo Alie-Cox:Offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski loves to use his tight ends. That's good news for Erik Swoope. The new No. 2 tight end of the Colts, Swoope has made quite the leap from a football novice back in 2014. There's not much proven depth behind top tight end Jack Doyle, so Swoope will be counted on a lot, in a much more expanded role (i.e. added blocking responsibilities and extra playing time).
The analysis from those producing content on Colts.com does not necessarily represent the thoughts of the Indianapolis Colts organization. Any conjecture, analysis or opinions formed by Colts.com content creators is not based on inside knowledge gained from team officials, players or staff.
