2011 Indianapolis Colts Roster: Guessing Time

by Brad Wells on May 13, 2011 11:07 AM EDT in 2011 Colts News

If I read more about the longest work stoppage in NFL history, I'm going to need to start taking anti-depressants. So, to help pick me up a little bit today, I'm taking a stab at guessing the Colts 53-man roster come September. My hope is that by doing this I'll, somehow, send positive vibes in the direction of the owners, convincing them to lift the lockout and getting us back to discussing football.

So, knowing full well this roster could be totally different come August, or September, or (gulp) October when football starts, here's my projected Colts roster for 2011...

QB: Peyton Manning, Free Agent*

RB: Joseph Addai, Donald Brown, Dominic Rhodes, Mike Hart, Delone Carter

WR: Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, Anthony Gonzalez, Blair White

OL: Anthony Castonzo, Jeff Linkenbach, Ben Ijalana, Jacques McClendon, Mike Pollak, Jeff Saturday, Charlie Johnson, Free Agent*

TE: Dallas Clark, Jacob Tamme, Brody Eldridge, Justin Snow

DL: Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Jerry Hughes, Ricardo Mathews, Drake Nevis, DeMario Pressley, Antonio Johnson, Fili Moala, Free Agent*

LB: Gary Brackett, Tyjuan Hagler, Pat Angerer, Kavell Conner, Cody Glenn, Philip Wheeler

CB: Kelvin Hayden, Jerraud Powers, Justin Tryon, Jacob Lacey, Chris Rucker, Kevin Thomas, Free Agent*

S: Antoine Bethea, Melvin Bullitt, Free Agent*, Jamie Silva, Aaron Francisco

P: Pat McAfee

K: Adam Vinatieri

*I list five 'free agents' on the team. These free agents can be either undrafted players or veteran free agents like Quintin Mikell or Barry Cofield.

For special teams return duties, I think the Colts would be happy tossing Dominic Rhodes, Justin Tryon, Blair White, or some random free agent out there. The Colts simply don't care about ST returns. If they did, you'd see veterans playing on special teams, blocking for the returners and tackling people on coverage. Clubs like the Patriots do this, and it's been successful for them. Don't see why the Colts don't employ it.

For other moves, Curtis Painter is left off because he sucks. The Colts should have ditched him last year and gone with Tom Brandstater. He thoroughly outplayed Painter in training camp and preseason last year. But, whatever. It's obvious that, should Peyton go down, the Colts would start forfeiting games.

I also left Clint Session off because Kavell Conner will take his starting job. Clint won't like that, and he will probably ask for his release. The only way Session stays is if there is an injury to Angerer, Conner, or Brackett. Mike Hart stays on the team because of special teams play.

Toss out your thoughts on the roster. It will help take your mind off the stupidity of the work stoppage.

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Comments

I don't see Clint Session on this roster.

He’s a play maker in the prime of his career. Please keep him and not Wheeler!

by BlueLagoon_18 on May 13, 2011 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

Wheeler is good on STs

But yeah, I trust Session way more, put him back at SLB if Conner’s going to take over WLB

by GoHorse88 on May 13, 2011 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I dont see both Rhodes and Hart

I think Moore will substitute one of them. I also see Richard getting a spot as an OL backup

by Marrebou on May 13, 2011 12:01 PM EDT reply actions

Richard had shoulder surgery about a month ago

Maybe a PUP candidate? Then stash him in case of injury or IR him to bring him back in the rotation after Saturday’s contract expires.

by GoHorse88 on May 13, 2011 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Dline

I gotta say that I’d be very happy to see Mookie still with the team next year even though based on comments regarding his effort from the FO and the lack of confirmation of a RFA tender extended to him, they may be washing their hands of him. It would be STUPID not to recognize that we’re much better at stuffing the run with him in there instead of Muir, but Polian loves Muir.

Also, I really think they value EFos’ contributions. He’s a great rotational Dlineman and is solid on specials as well. Interesting that you feel Pressley will turn the light on in camp, eh?

by GoHorse88 on May 13, 2011 12:10 PM EDT reply actions

Free Agent sounds amazing

How’d we get him and who is he? He does everything from play QB to get dirty in the trenches on both sides of the ball and play cover D? Dude is awesome and he doesn’t count against the salary cap? This Free guy sounds too good to be true.

by Snozzberry on May 13, 2011 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

He'll save us so much roster $ cap space that we can finally carry a third QB, a FB, & a KOS!

Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game and dumb enough to think it's important. -- Eugene J. McCarthy

by zherebyonki on May 13, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions

RBs...

I honestly don’t see us keeping 5 running backs on the roster… with our wide receiver health issues, I’m guessing the FO will want to give that roster spot to a WO or even another DB

by bluefacedcolts on May 13, 2011 12:29 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

Last year was a fluke with regards to RB #s, we had a healthy Dline last year (thank god) so by the end they could afford the extra RBs on the roster, due to injury.

With better run blocking from the Oline (please god) we should be able to get by with a 3-back rotation. I could see them keeping 4 as long as the 4th is a return option (i.e. Devin Moore).

by GoHorse88 on May 13, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

it really was the healthiest the DLine has been in years

how many years in the playoffs had we been worrying about Freeney’s ankle or Mathis’s knee?

Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game and dumb enough to think it's important. -- Eugene J. McCarthy

by zherebyonki on May 14, 2011 3:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Agrred

Both Rhodes and Hart will be gone. At least one of them would be a FA if needed. 3 RB’s on Roster.

I’ll be shocked if Diem doesn’t make the team (though he probably shouldn’t) and I think they’ll sign a FA DT. Don’t know who, but someone that is big who can simply make RB’s run around him on known run downs. I think when they sign that FA, Johnson is gone.

Yeah, I'm Shure.

by Music Man on May 13, 2011 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

What is it with Mookie?

Colts run defense was only decent to above average when Mookie was in playing at DT. Coach’s took him out and stayed w/ Muir and Moala and we were gutted in the middle. Is there something I do not see?
Hart will be cut do to injuries. Dom is a question mark.
Will need more than four safeties on roster, 2 are injury prone.
All of us will love Painter and Francisco back on the roster. You know Colts Management.

by Team2 DaBears on May 13, 2011 1:21 PM EDT reply actions

FA for DL

John Chick

by metal_militia on May 13, 2011 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

Devin Moore

Last year Moore’s season ended with a horrific foot injury. Any word on what exactly that was?

by coxandreweric on May 13, 2011 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

It was shoulder/nerves

I think I heard Polian talk about it being similar to Addai’s injury, by now he should be doing a lot better. Some of the reports mentioned that he was involved in the passing camps with Peyton and the other backs and receivers.

by GoHorse88 on May 13, 2011 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

WR

I also see the Colts picking up Ricardo Lockette for ST. Just a hunch.

by coxandreweric on May 13, 2011 2:04 PM EDT reply actions

Clint Session...I want # 55!

we need 55, and one of the coaches need to whip his but into shape and have him ready on gameday.

this dude is a playmaker

W. Morton

by wmorton2 on May 13, 2011 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

Lock-out will reduce reliance on new players

It obviously depends on when this lock-out ends, but I’d expect there to be a pretty significant impact on a team’s ability to bring in new players. Even if it gets resolved a week or two before training camp, that’s a lot less time than usual for any sort of free agent to study the playbook, work with the coaching staff, work on particular skills the Colts value, etc. And of course the effect will be greater if we end up with a shortened training camp.

I think that makes it especially unlikely that Curtis Painter will be dumped this year. It improves the odds of Thomas, Richard, or Diem sticking around. I think it also makes it very likely that the additional DE will be John Chick and the additional safety will be Ken Hamlin or one of the many players who ended up on IR last year.

And there’s no way that Hart, Brown and Rhodes all make the roster. Probably one of them, two at the most.

by ex-Viking fan on May 13, 2011 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

absolutely true. The longer the lockout lasts, the more familiar faces will be back.

Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game and dumb enough to think it's important. -- Eugene J. McCarthy

by zherebyonki on May 14, 2011 3:28 AM EDT up reply actions

RBs

Addai, Brown, Carter, and Moore. Hart is a smaller and more injured version of Carter. Rhodes is toast. Moore is the best return option available.

by FatDT on May 13, 2011 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

+1

by Marrebou on May 14, 2011 5:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Barry Cofield would be a dream come true

Like if Corey Simon and/or Booger Mcfarland had stayed healthy, kind of dream come true.

by jackj7 on May 13, 2011 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t see Rhodes or Hart making the team. You left off Devin Moore, who would hopefully be our return guy.

We rise. They fall.
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by MonkeyBusiness on May 13, 2011 4:49 PM EDT reply actions

If a new CBA gets cut I see a lot of changes on the roster

QB – Manning and Painter (They may decide next year to draft Peyton’s successor so why make a move now

RB – D. Brown, D. Carter, J. James, and J. Addai/Reggie Bush (My surprise pick if the Colts don’t resign Addai, he’s 2 years younger too)

WR – R. Wayne, P. Garcon, A. Collie, A. Gonzalez, B. White

OL – A. Castonzo, C. Johnson, J. Saturday, J. McClendon, J. Linkenbach, B. Ijalana, M. Pollak, and J. Thomas (Thomas is based solely on what Bill Polian stated but, that has been known to change)

TE – D. Clark, J. Tamme, B. Eldridge, T. Santi, and J. Snow (Santi should get one last shot)

DL – D. Freeney, R. Mathis, J. Hughes, K. Mathias J. Chick, R. Mathews, D. Nevis, A. Johnson, E. Foster, F. Moala, and B. Cofield/B. Mebane (Could the Colts really go after two ex-Giants? Doubtful but, I’m thinking one of these free agents makes there way to Indy)

LB – P. Angerer, G. Brackett, T. Hagler, C. Session, K. Conner, C. Glenn (Session’s market value isn’t going up anytime soon and Wheeler has worn out his welcome)

CB – J. Powers, J. Tryon, K. Hayden, K. Thomas, J. Lacey, C. Rucker, and C. Brown (Brown did a decent job filling in last year and may end up rounding out this group)

S – D. Landry/ Q. Mikell, J. Silva/M. Newton, A. Bethea, and ? (Sorry for the uncertainty but, if the Colts sign a free agent to boost the SS spot then Bullitt is gone. With the back-ups being whomever stands out the most from last years bunch.)

P – P. McAfee

K – A. Vinatieri

Bill Polian sticks to his guns on his promises of being more involved in free agency and is right by holding onto projects like Jamie Thomas and/or John Chick. Could we be in store for some more major changes to the roster?… For Sure. If these are the guys than I believe Indy is Superbowl bound.

NeXt Man Up

by Dann Giszewski on May 13, 2011 6:18 PM EDT reply actions

I like this..

but just to be clear you Mathias Kiwanuka from the Giants correct?

by BleedingBlueAndWhite on May 13, 2011 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry, your correct there.

NeXt Man Up

by Dann Giszewski on May 13, 2011 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I cant see us keeping Baby James and letting Mike Hart go at RB

by Marrebou on May 14, 2011 5:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Meant to have that as K. Mathias/J. Chick. So people don’t think I have 54 people listed.

NeXt Man Up

by Dann Giszewski on May 13, 2011 6:22 PM EDT reply actions

cut rhodes and hart and keep moore

keep session and let him play slb. he is better than angerer

by omahacolt on May 13, 2011 7:20 PM EDT reply actions

I don't see a chance for

-5 RBs
-7 CBs
-Silva after his injury (Afalava over him)
-only 8 OL to start the season

by Ty46 on May 14, 2011 2:58 AM EDT reply actions

Two

people I absolutely DON’T want to see on the roster next year are Aaron Francisco and Mike Hart. Francisco is just plain garbage and Hart doesn’t offer anything that they cant find in a bigger, younger, faster Javaris James!!!!

by Dito29 on May 14, 2011 3:26 PM EDT reply actions

i disagree

hart is a way better football player than james. problem is he cant stay healthy

by omahacolt on May 14, 2011 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Looks about right

QB: Peyton Manning, Curtis Painter (Sorry, we are keeping him)

RB: Joseph Addai, Donald Brown, Dominic Rhodes, Mike Hart, Delone Carter

WR: Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, Anthony Gonzalez, Blair White

OL: Anthony Castonzo, Jeff Linkenbach, Ben Ijalana, Jacques McClendon, Mike Pollak, Jeff Saturday, Charlie Johnson, Jaimie Thomas (like a previous poster referenced, I remember Polian washing this guy’s balls on his show. I hope JT turns into a nice Guard for us).

TE: Dallas Clark, Jacob Tamme, Brody Eldridge, Justin Snow

DL: Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Jerry Hughes, Ricardo Mathews, Drake Nevis, DeMario Pressley, Antonio Johnson, Fili Moala (I really do not want to see Dan Muir ever again in a Colts uniform. Perhaps we could keep Eric Foster or go after a FA. BTW, loved picking up Pressley. Hope he works out, could be a huge plus for our D-Line).

LB: Gary Brackett, Tyjuan Hagler, Pat Angerer, Kavell Conner, Cody Glenn, Philip Wheeler, Clint Session (I think we find a way to keep Session. Maybe I am just a big fan?)

CB: Kelvin Hayden, Jerraud Powers, Justin Tryon, Jacob Lacey, Chris Rucker, Kevin Thomas, Free Agent* (I totally agree with going out and getting a FA. I like this group, but I lack confidence in their health. I really liked the Tryon trade last year. Complete steal and will continue to add some much needed depth).

S: Antoine Bethea, Melvin Bullitt, Free Agent*, Jamie Silva, Aaron Francisco (See above).

P: Pat McAfee

K: Adam Vinatieri

by davis3217 on May 14, 2011 10:34 PM EDT reply actions

Curtis Painter

The only reason he’s on the team is money……meaning, he doesn’t make that much and therefore helps with the cap situation. That will have to change soon because the Colts FO is just playing with fire everytime they have Painter as #2 behind Peyton.

Visit Drafttek.com

by BoilerMacR on May 15, 2011 8:59 AM EDT reply actions