INDIANAPOLIS —The phrase "What a year a difference makes" might even be an understatement.
Heading into Sunday's 2017 regular season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, the Indianapolis Colts' roster has undergone a considerable amount of turnover, especially when looking at the depth chart from one year ago today.
On Sept. 7, 2016, the Colts were out on the practice field for the first time with their 53-man regular season roster, beginning preparations for that week's season opener against the Detroit Lions.
Today, on Sept. 7, the team conducted its third practice of the week, and of the regular season, to prepare for the Rams.
Let's go position by position and get a perspective of just how much things have changed from one year to the next for the Colts under new general manager Chris Ballard:
OFFENSE (10 total changes from 2016; 53 percent turnover):— 2016 Week 1 Quarterbacks (3):Andrew Luck, Scott Tolzien, Stephen Morris— 2017 Week 1 Quarterbacks (3):Andrew Luck, Scott Tolzien, Jacoby Brissett— Year-To-Year Changes:1
— 2016 Week 1 Running Backs (4):Frank Gore, Robert Turbin, Jordan Todman, Josh Ferguson— 2017 Week 1 Running Backs (4):Frank Gore, Robert Turbin, Marlon Mack, Matt Jones— Year-To-Year Changes:2— 2016 Week 1 Tight Ends (3):Dwayne Allen, Jack Doyle, Mo Alie-Cox— 2017 Week 1 Tight Ends (3):Jack Doyle, Brandon Williams, Darrell Daniels— Year-To-Year Changes:2
— 2016 Week 1 Wide Receivers (5):T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, Phillip Dorsett, Quan Bray, Chester Rogers— 2017 Week 1 Wide Receivers (6):T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, Chester Rogers, Kamar Aiken, Quan Bray, Matt Hazel— Year-To-Year Changes:2
— 2016 Week 1 Offensive Linemen (9):Anthony Castonzo, Jack Mewhort, Ryan Kelly, Denzelle Good, Joe Reitz, Joe Haeg, Jonotthan Harrison, Austin Blythe, Le'Raven Clark— 2017 Week 1 Offensive Linemen (9):Anthony Castonzo, Jeremy Vujnovich, Ryan Kelly, Jack Mewhort, Denzelle Good, Le'Raven Clark, Deyshawn Bond, Ian Silberman, Joe Haeg— Year-To-Year Changes:3
————————————DEFENSE (21 total changes from 2016; 81 percent turnover):— 2016 Week 1 Defensive Linemen (6):Kendall Langford, David Parry, Zach Kerr, Henry Anderson, T.Y. McGill, Hassan Ridgeway— 2017 Week 1 Defensive Linemen (6):Henry Anderson, Al Woods, Johnathan Hankins, Margus Hunt, Grover Stewart, Hassan Ridgeway— Year-To-Year Changes:4
— 2016 Week 1 Outside Linebackers (4):Erik Walden, Robert Mathis, Curt Maggitt, Trent Cole— 2017 Week 1 Outside Linebackers (4):John Simon, Jabaal Sheard, Barkevious Mingo, Tarell Basham— Year-To-Year Changes:4
— 2016 Week 1 Inside Linebackers (5):D'Qwell Jackson, Sio Moore, Antonio Morrison, Josh McNary, Edwin Jackson— 2017 Week 1 Inside Linebackers (4):Antonio Morrison, Jon Bostic, Anthony Walker, Jeremiah George— Year-To-Year Changes:4
— 2016 Week 1 Cornerbacks (6):Vontae Davis, Patrick Robinson, Darius Butler, Antonio Cromartie, Neiko Thorpe, Darryl Morris— 2017 Week 1 Cornerbacks (7):Vontae Davis, Rashaan Melvin, Quincy Wilson, Nate Hairston, Chris Milton, Pierre Desir, Kenny Moore II— Year-To-Year Changes:6
— 2016 Week 1 Safeties (5):Mike Adams, Clayton Geathers, Winston Guy, T.J. Green, Matthias Farley— 2017 Week 1 Safeties (4):Matthias Farley, Darius Butler, T.J. Green, Malik Hooker— Year-To-Year Changes:3
————————————SPECIAL TEAMS (2 total changes from 2016; 50 percent turnover):— 2016 Week 1 Specialists:Punter Pat McAfee, kicker Adam Vinatieri, long snapper Matt Overton, returner Quan Bray— 2017 Week 1 Specialists: Punter Rigoberto Sanchez, kicker Adam Vinatieri, long snapper Luke Rhodes, returner Quan Bray— Year-To-Year Changes:2
