Skip to main content
Indiana Nights
Advertising

Have Colts Found Their Starting Offensive Line For 2016?

Intro: The Colts were back on the practice field Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday was the day for coordinators to meet the media and each shared their thoughts on what they liked (and didn’t) from Week Two of the preseason.

LuckKellyBaltimore.jpg

INDIANAPOLIS – It's a regular season dress rehearsal week for the Indianapolis Colts.

The Training Camp schedule is history. The Colts are trying to script together what a regular season game week looks like for their 90-man roster.

On Wednesday, we also heard from offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski and defensive coordinator Ted Monachino.

Rob Chudzinski on having the same starting five on the offensive line this month:

"I am starting to see some of the chemistry grow."

Bowen's Analysis:* *This topic not being the most pressing right now is a good thing for the Colts. Entering Training Camp in Anderson, solidifying who the five would be in front of Andrew Luck was arguably priority No. 1. A month later, that group is all but locked in. Chud did like the pass protection from that starting lineup last week.

From left to right we have seen LT-Anthony Castonzo, LG-Jack Mewhort, C-Ryan Kelly, RG-Denzelle Good and RT-Joe Reitz in the starting lineup for virtually every first-team rep this month. That group we know. It's the backups that are up in the air right now. Top reserve Joe Haeg (ankle) is week-to-week after getting hurt against Baltimore. Hugh Thornton (ankle) remains week-to-week and hasn't been on the practice field since Anderson. Jonotthan Harrison in the interior and Le'Raven Clark on the edge would seem to be the likely top reserves right now.

Rob Chudzinski on having Andrew Luck back:

"Nice to have 12 back, huh?

"It was good to see him back out on the field. I thought Andrew was really decisive, did a nice job with his reads."

Bowen's Analysis: Chud began his weekly presser stating the obvious. Chud loved how Luck got the ball out quick and the specific placement of throws allowing for the wideouts to make plays after the catch.

It's clear Chud sees a major benefit in using those crossing routes we saw last Saturday. On Wednesday, Chud mentioned how his past stops in the NFL have been with offenses that relied heavily on yards after catch. Chud reiterated that the offense you are seeing in the preseason has some components of what will be seen in the regular season. We are only going to see around six total series from the starting offense in the preseason, which obviously will lead to more elements of the offense coming in September, and beyond.

Ted Monachino on the pass rush being impacted by Vontae Davis' loss:

"We have to manufacture some pass rush by bringing them from different ways."

Bowen's Analysis: The Colts will have to be creative in the front and disguise things in the back even more with the loss of Davis. On Wednesday, Monachino said the Colts have already started to build plans for how to use safeties Mike Adams, Clayton Geathers and T.J. Green---once Geathers returns to full health.

Monachino said on Wednesday that he liked how his unit controlled the run game and minimized things through the air in Week Two of the preseason. The new defensive coordinator still wants to see the penalties decrease, play sounder in two-minute situations and capitalize on big play chances.

Tuesday afternoon practice.

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.

Related Content

Single Game Tickets On Sale Now!

Single Game Tickets On Sale Now!

Our 2024 schedule is set! Secure your seats to all home games at Lucas Oil Stadium now.

Advertising