Another Early Guess As To The 2011 Colts Week One Depth Chart

RB – Addai, Carter, Evans, Moore (Brown cut, I can dream too)
RG – Diem, Devan
RT – Ijalana, Linkenbach/Diem (Link would start if available, otherwise Diem would move back to RT and one of the backup guards would move to starting RG)

NT – Mookie, Tank Johnson, Mathews (in a rotation I think he still can offer something)

SAM – Conner, Wheeler
MIKE – Brackett, Angerererer
WILL – Sims, Moten

I read the Redskins completely lost interest in Hayden after his visit with them. Chicago doesn’t seem in a hurry either. I thought he’d get a lot more interest than this. I agree he will re-sign here. I wonder how that would affect the cap.

Why would a cut player resign with a team? I don’t get it.

Realizing I’m horribly biased here, but why do you think Blair can make the cut?

Has anyone seen anything about Blair White’s injury? My suspicion is that they would like to keep him on PUP as long as possible as insurance if Gonzo or Collie go down. They usually only keep 4 WRs active unless either one is hurt or the fifth has a major role on special teams. I expect the hope is to go with four (or maybe Taj Smith as a special teams ace) with Blair White on PUP until either they need him or a roster spot opens mid-season.

QB: Peyton Manning, Dan Orlovsky, Curtis Painter (yes, 3 QBs for first time since Painter’s rookie year due to Manning’s uncertainty) (3)

RB: Joseph Addai, Donald Brown, Delone Carter, Devin Moore (KR/PR, why not?) (4)

WR: Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, Anthony Gonzalez, Stokely (5)

TE: Dallas Clark, Jacob Tamme, Brody Eldridge, Tyson DeVree (I like his size and upside and without Gijon, we are thin at blocking TE given Eldridge’s inability to stay healthy) (4)

LT: Anthony Castonzo, Jeff Linkenbach (2)

LG: Joe Reitz, Jacques McClendon (2)

OC: Jeff Saturday (no Jake Kirkpatrick, he goes to PS since Pollak & DeVan can play center) (1)

RG: Kyle DeVan, Mike Tepper (go watch Mike Tepper run block, he seems to be starter material to me for our O-line) (2)

RT: Ryan Diem, Ben Ijalana (2)

Defense:

RE: Dwight Freeney, Jerry Hughes (2)

NT: Antonio Johnson, Ollie Ogbu (replaces Ricardo Mathews, he played better, IMO) (2)

UT: Fili Moala (no Tommie Harris, he will be cut), Drake Nevis will play NT on passing downs and UT on run downs (he is definitely close to 310 lbs based on what he showed me), Eric Foster (3)

LE: Robert Mathis, Jamaal Anderson/Tyler Brayton, John Chick (3)

WILL: Kavell Conner, Ernie Sims (2)

MIKE: Gary Brackett, Adrian Moten (2)

SAM: Pat Angerer, Philip Wheeler (2)

CB: Jerraud Powers, Kevin Thomas, Justin Tryon, Jacob Lacey, Chris Rucker (5)

FS: Antoine Bethea, Mike Newton (2)

SS: Melvin Bullitt, Joe Lefeged (2)

ST:

P: Pat McAfee (1)

K: Adam Vinatieri (1)

LS: Justin Snow (1)

Does Triplett have any chance of making the team/ Is the position just too deep. He seemed to show some progress against the Rams.

I’d put the Offensive Line as (10):
LT – Castonzo/Linkenbach
LG – Reitz/McClendon
C – Saturday/Kirkpatrick
RG – DeVan/Beekman
RT – Ijalana/Diem

Ideally Pollak would be gone, replaced with the signing of Josh Beekman.

as for the skill positions on offense:
QB – Manning, Painter (2)
RB – Addai, Carter, Brown, Spann (4)
WR – Wayne, Garcon, Collie, Gonzo, Gilreath, White (6)
TE – Clark, Tamme, Eldridge, (3)
Offense – 25.

Defensive Line (9)
RE – Dwight Freeney, Jerry Hughes (2)
NT – Antonio Johnson, Ollie Ogbu, Ricardo Mathews (3)
UT – Drake Nevis (will start over Moala by week 3 I’d say), Moala (2)
LE – Robert Mathis, Jamaal Anderson (2)

Linebackers (7) –
WILL – Kavell Conner, Ernie Sims
MIKE – Gary Brackett, Cody Glenn
SAM – Pat Angerer, Phil Wheeler
7th LB – Adrian Moten

CB – Powers, Tryon, Hayden*, Thomas, Lacey, Rucker (6) – *I like the idea of bringing back Hayden if he’s willing. Althought I don’t know that it will happen. Otherwise it’ll be a FA or possibly one of cornelius brown or brandon king

FS – Bethea, ?? – I really don’t think any of Newton/Afalava/Vaughn/Caldwell provide viable options, but is there even a better option out there at FS?
SS – Bullitt, Lefeged

Defense – 24 players

ST: McAfee, Vinatieri, Justin Snow (3)

that’s a total of 52 players.

I think the colts go with just 2 QBs, Tommie Harris doesn’t make the roster. I think the 53rd player is another DB or returner, or potentially a 6th interior defensive linemen, although the Colts could very well roll with just 5.

I don’t think the Colts will sign TJ Housh, mainly because I don’t think TJ has anything left. He turns 34 in september. He had a couple of brutal drops for baltimore in the playoffs if i remember correctly.

More on Hayden: The problem is with his situation and the Colts in general. He refused to renegotiate his contract for the sake of the team, and the team cut him. He doesn’t seem like the kind of character who would be willing to swallow his pride and come back to the Colts with his tail between his legs. I understand that there have been release-and-resign situations in the past, but none quite like Hayden’s. This was a guy who got paid to be the #1 CB, and held that spot. If he comes back, he’s probably what? The 3rd CB? Making 3rd CB money? I just don’t think he would do it. Too much pride on his part.

The linebacking situation is one of the more interesting positions for the Colts. Aside from the obvious Conner, Angerer, Brackett starting 3, there’s a ton of depth at the linebacking spots. Glenn has been a standout in special teams in the past, and has seen spot work in the defense. Sims was signed to push conner for a starting spot, but he’s out right now and we haven’t seem him in game situations. This defense requires GAP discipline, something which Sims apparently struggles with. I think he’ll make the roster, but it’s no sure thing. Wheeler is so inconsistent that we can never really be sure what the FO and coaches are thinking in his case. Meanwhile, several others have shown some decent ability. Moten I think is going to stick on this roster. Conner is a terrible coverage LB and Moten’s coverage skill is is greatest strength. Triplett has also shown flashes of ability, but i think he’s the 8th LB in depth right now and just isn’t going to make the roster (unless the Colts elect to go with Triplett over Glenn).

Regarding Tommie Harris, sidelined by another injury, I just don’t think the team will have enough faith in his ability to remain healthy and productive (which he was not in that first preseason game) to keep a roster spot for him. He’s the most likely of the “big three” signings to go IMO.

Here comes your free agent NT BBS. Tank Johnson.

Or I guess it could be TJ Housh. But I’ll stick with Tank.

http://www.coltzilla.com/preseason/mocking-the-colts-tuesday-morning-practice/

how can u label donald brown a bust? look at that offensive line adrian peterson can’t even run behind that line…and joseph addai he ability o block is becoming way overrated so many running backs can do that (MJD) nd joseph can’t even stay healthy

I think the list is pretty good, BBS. On the O-line, I think the Colts will only carry 9, and I think Pollack will make it. I also think/hope DIem will shfit to RG, which is based upon the optimism that BI progresses so that he can start at RT. I just don’t think anyone else on the Colts roster has the athleticism to provide blocking against a good left end, and this is our best shot of protecting #18.

Beekman and Kirkpatrick probably don’t make the squad without an injury, though they may need to stay by the telephone.

Despite the additions, I remain very concerned regarding the defense. The UT position appears to be better than it has in a long time, and I like the potential improvement to the run defense by the addition of Jamaal Anderson on run downs.

But our NT “group” is far below average for NFL starters, and our secondary appears held together by bandaids and used chewing gum. Yes, I understand we have a few good pieces – Bethea, Lacey, etc. But these guys aren’t loaded with talent or athleticism. These guys all are the type who work very hard (which is great) and try to play within the system (which is great), but they are not playmakers, and our depth is thin.

Of course, the linebackers corp doesn’t include a playmaker either, but at least the position seems deeper.

I know NFL teams aren’t built on the premise of having 11 playmakers on the field at a time. I get that. I also understand the reality of injuries. To have a realistic possibility of extraordinary success, the Colts really need to add quality depth at NT and DB.

I’m in the minority, I suppose, but I would be really happy to see Hayden and Jackson rejoing the secondary. Though Jackson’s been prone to injury (and slowed by injury), I think he would provide good depth at safety.