More from Chris Polian: Bigger guards do not signal a "shift" in offensive line philosophy

I think they’re trying to say they’re not changing any philosophies. They’re (pretending) like they’ve always been after big OGs. I’m not shocked at all about any of either Polians’ weird behavior. They’re always cloak and dagger. If they are shifting anything, for whatever reason they don’t want anyone to know about it. Just like they lied to us about the Manning injury (it was a blatant lie, if you recall). And they’ll continue to lie about this strategy shift, for God knows what reason. Same Polian, different first name.

BTW, I don’t care either way.

I thought the reason the DTs were so much smaller in 2008 was because Pitcock retired suddenly and Big Ed got caught smoking the Mary J. So, we brought in Mookie in ‘08 and drafted guys that were our normal size the following year. I remain confused about this. I didn’t perceive it as a “shift” so much as a run of bad luck.

I am relying on my memory here, so I could be completely wrong. If I am, I’d like to know.

And his dad also said that Tony Ugoh could be as good as D’brickashaw Ferguson… In the middle of last year.

Foster, 810
Muir, 645
Mookie, 555
Moala, 187
Ed, 139
Gill, 71

Throw in 936 snaps from Brock between DE, rush DT and Joker and it’s obvious the Colts are still using undersized DTs. They have just been allowed to move back to a situational role now that they have competent 300lbers integrated into the system.

I believe it is possible that the reason the two people who are in charge of acquiring, overseeing the development of, and ultimately the retention of the best possible 53 players for their final roster don’t want to suggest there is a “shift” from one kind of player to another is because there are still an awful lot of players on the roster now, competing for spots now, and who are probably even likely to make the final roster now that are not in the “new mold” of players that they have brought in.

The people who administrate and oversee the organization are less concerned with placating the wishes of journalists and bloggers and more concerns about maintaining what is considered by many around the league as possibly the team year-in and year-out that has the best chemistry. No player is over-valued, under-valued, makes the team or does not make the team, based upon his weight, his size, or his speed compared to another. For the Polians and the Colts, for some time now, it’s about performance and execution.

As a result, he admitted that they are focusing on possibly adding some size to the offensive and defensive lines so those units on the team do not “become too much of one thing.” But he’s not ready to accept the idea of a “shift” because regardless of dictionary definitions the general picture that paints is that the Colts no longer want, value, or will retain the best players available for their roster but will instead keep bigger players, etc.

You say to the media, publicly, “yes, Dan, I think we’ve reached the conclusion that our players are too small, not heavy enough, in order to be effective and so we’ll be replacing those small players with bigger ones… it’s a shift in our philosophy and you can expect to see more of that in the future,” then you’re shooting yourself in the foot by discouraging players you might want to draft, or recruit to accept your contract offers, etc. that coming to Indianapolis under 300 lbs. and trying to compete for time at defensive tackle is a waste of time.

The reasons to say or not say things when you’re trying to run a franchise in professional football are far more complicated than, “well he should just say it because the fans would rather hear it, and the bloggers, and the media doesn’t like it either >.<.” They’ll say, “you don’t have to like it, that’s fine, but we’ll continue to put together a 53 man squad that is capable of winning 12+ games a year, is almost a shoe-in for the playoffs, and almost always a favorite to get to the Super Bowl every year and we’ll do it with the best players we can… no matter how big they are.”

Are they focusing on getting bigger? I think Chris admitted that, and referenced the defense line last year in the same vein, but are they “shifting” their philosophy from one where quickness/athleticism etc. are their primary focus? I don’t think he, Bill, or anyone is comfortable making a statement like that because when you get down to brass tax, they’ll retain the players they feel fit the bill best regardless of size.

As for the release of Lilja, I think it probably has to do with his performance in run blocking to a degree, maybe the size of his contract, maybe the status of his health long-term, or something that none of us on the outside really know or appreciate at all. Do I think it’s a blatant sign that, well duh, he was released because he is only 290 lbs? Not necessarily.

because he was expensive.

He was the best guard last year, but that wasn’t saying much. The interior line, which was the most reliable during the regular season, was decidedly less so in Miami.

With the retirement of HOF-level Coach Mudd, we have a new and inexperienced OL coach. Maybe he won’t be as good at getting the most out of undersized undrafted prospects. A good hedge against that is acquiring skilled players who also happen to be larger. There are a million different reasons why they acquired the guys they did (who still have to battle to make the team, it should be noted), and none of them are necessarily a damning indictment of the player who was just released, again, largely because of money.

Nor is Alleman “his replacement.” He’s a scrap heap player that they picked up afterwards. The timing was close and they each have Chiefs ties, but it wasn’t a one-for-one swap with Alleman expected to start. I’d consider that a long shot.

This conversation is going to get really interesting come November and December when Peyton’s numbers are a bit down and sacks are a bit up. Regardless of the personnel, the simple loss of Mudd makes me quite pessimistic about the line’s play next year. Sure, maybe they’ll be a bit stronger and maul people for a few 3rd and 1 conversions straight ahead, but I see it being a tougher road for Peyton next year. Last year’s line was flawed, but he was familiar with it. Next year it’ll be brand new.