Colts Game Changing Offseason Moves: Add more beef!
by Brad Wells on Apr 19, 2010 9:00 AM EDT
in Colts Game Changing Offseason Moves
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Sprint has partnered with us and is sponsoring a few posts over the next few weeks. The topic for the Sprint posts is "Game Changing Offseason Moves," which for the Colts pretty much means the offensive line. No other area of the team, save maybe defensive back, has undergone more change this offseason.
Ryan Lilja: Cut
Adam Terry: Signed
Andy Alleman: Signed
Those are the moves we have seen. Everything else, from rumors regarding Marcus McNeill to everyone's fantasy about Jared Gaither, tells the tale of a club that is transitioning from a quick, pass-oriented o-line to one that will feature a lot more beef up front. Even as we get ready for the draft this Sunday, it seems almost every mock draft has the Colts taking someone like Charles Brown, Rodger Saffold, or Maurkice Pouncey in the first or second round. Just FYI: Pouncey is 6'5, 318; Brown is 6'6, 298; Saffold is 6'5, 318.
These behemoths are a far cry from Colts starters Charlie Johnson (6'4, 305), Kyle DeVan (6'2, 306), or Jeff Saturday (6'2, 295).
Now, you all know I am a fan of saying "size doesn't matter," and when you get past the "that's not what she said!" jokes, the reality is that many sub-300 pound offensive linemen have had great careers in the NFL. You do not need to be big to dominate. Go back and watch the final moments of the AFC Championship Game in 2006. When you see 295 pound Jeff Saturday absolutely MAUL Vince Wilfork (335 pounds) on the goal-line to help Joseph Addai score the game-winning TD, the whole "size is everything" argument gets dismissed pretty quickly.
Still, based on the off-season moves by Bill Polian, it seems that new offensive line coach Pete Metzelaars, a former tight end who played for Polian in Buffalo back in the 1980s and 1990s, does not fully share the philosophy of his mentor, Howard Mudd. Mudd coached the Colts offensive line from 1998 to last year. He's now retired. Mudd utilized quick, under-sized guys that were best at zone blocking. Pass protection was the focus, run second. The results fielded the greatest offense in NFL history over a 10 year period.
Will this new shift produce similar or better results? For Pete Metzelaars sake, it damn well better.
I understand why the team wants to add a bit more bulk. For two years in a row, a playoff game has been partially decided against them because the offense was unable to convert a short yardage run. We know it isn't the backs. So, it's gotta be the line. The argument against this change is the team has, essentially, traded Ryan Lilja (an outstanding but under-sized guard) for Andy Alleman (a nobody that the horrid Kansas City Chiefs discarded because he... well, sucked last year). Terry is just camp fodder right now, competing with Mike Pollak, Jamey Richard, and Jaimie Thomas for back-up guard or tackle duty.
So, unless we see a significant player taken in the draft, I don't see how the line has gotten better. Has it changed? Absolutely. But change is not always a good thing.
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How do you know Terry is competing for guard duty?
I think his listed position is tackle.
Anyone who has a problem with Joseph should stop watching Colts football. It's unfair to expect a back to replace Edge, and Addai has been excellent in all areas when he is healthy.
bigger should be preferable, provided all other factors are equal
If talent and attitude are equal, bigger should win out. A good big man will win out more often than not over the good smaller man.
Having said that, many times it’s the size of the fight in the dog more than the size of the dog in the fight. Bob Sanders has lots and lots of fight in him, but seems like he could stand being a tad larger and maybe he wouldn’t be on IR so much.
I miss behemoth Tarik Glenn
Howard Mudd may have preferred smaller lineman, but his best lines were the ones anchored by 330 pound behemoth Tarik Glenn.
Defense is more important than breathing.
by BetterD on Apr 19, 2010 9:40 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I don't see a drastic change
Lilja cut (because of the constant injuries) and camp fodder added.
If we get a LT, we are back to something that aside from the LT looks like the line-up we had at the start of the 2008 season:
New LT ( instead of Ugoh), CJ, Saturday, Pollak/DeVan/New RG, Diem
Unless we draft 3 320+ offensive lineman, I don’t see the “getting bigger” talk.
"It's the greatest job in the world until Peyton comes off the field and you think his thumb might be broken and there's three minutes left in the AFC Championship Game and you're down by three to New England and you haven't taken a snap all year. Yeah, it's a great job until that point." - Jim Sorgi
Size psssh forget about it
We are a passing offense, why would we draft Edge over Ricky? Why did we get Joe Addai? Because they can catch the ball out of the backfield. I agree it is frustrating when we can’t pick up a 3rd and 1 but how many time did we get a 30 yard connection to Wayne or Clark in that same situation? So go ahead add more beef but in my opinion there is no need to try and change who we are now.
Jacob Wise
Indianapolis Document Management and Scanning
SB Nation
I find it funny how people say bigger = better run blocking.
The only place we could run last season was behind Lilja and Saturday, the smallest men on the line.
"It's the greatest job in the world until Peyton comes off the field and you think his thumb might be broken and there's three minutes left in the AFC Championship Game and you're down by three to New England and you haven't taken a snap all year. Yeah, it's a great job until that point." - Jim Sorgi
Well, god for Sprint
at&t is still better though.
On topic though, I will reserve my judgment on the new OL based on production. If the Colts win the SB it means success. If they don’t make it to the SB, it’s a bust of an idea. Period.
St. Louis Cardinals and Indy Colts fan. Avid fan of the Springfield Cardinals, the Cards' AA team!
Ummmm.........
Why is the SB the measuring stick?
"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: After waiting seemingly forever, it is finally draft week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and the schedule for next season is being released or something like that this week.
Cuz last year.
We had a shot to hell Secondary, major injuries on offense, rookie(sque) WRs, shotty O-line, injured front 7, and Manning.
This year, we have a healthy secondary, no current season ending injuries on offense, matured WRs, a more formal O-line, a healthy and more seasoned front 7, and Manning.
If we accomplished getting to the SB with what we had, then we should have a perfect season even if we play SD and NYJ with Painter under center…
In all seriousness though, with what we did last year, its difficult to see us making a huge regression, and now that our kryptonite (SD) has shot itself in the foot, we may be able to get our mojo back from them like we did against the patsies. Still, if the Saints and colts get a rematch, I do not see the Colts getting punked by an onside kick, or every one of our WRs and RBs failing to make the same catches they’ve made all year, or getting sloppy on their routes, or Freeney not getting some good pressures on Brees. Despite how bad the game was, That only strengthened my resolve in how good the Colts are. If we can play that badly the whole game and only lose really to a sloppy route/good CB coverage on one play, then we really did have something special last year, inspite of everything that went wrong last year. Still, if the Colts get a chance at a perfect season again, then keep peyton in till the game is decided, then put Painter in.
Because the Super Bowl is ALWAYS the measuring stick.
St. Louis Cardinals and Indy Colts fan. Avid fan of the Springfield Cardinals, the Cards' AA team!
So,
the Super Bowl is the measuring stick for how well the O-line changes worked out because……just because?
"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: After waiting seemingly forever, it is finally draft week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and the schedule for next season is being released or something like that this week.
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