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I got some very interesting information sent my way via WFNI's Jon Michael "JMV" Vincent regarding 2011 second round pick Ben Ijalana. However, before we get to that info, there is something else regarding Ijalana that got tweeted out earlier today by George Bremer of the Herald Bulletin:
@planetscotty They're going with Castonzo, Linkenbach, Satele, McGlynn and Justice right now. Pagano has said Reitz also in mix.
— George Bremer (@gmbremer) July 30, 2012
So, right now at Colts training camp, the starting offensive line is Anthony Castonzo at LT, Jeff Linkenbach at LG, Samson Satele at C, Mike McGlynn at RG, and Winston Justice at RT.
Keep in mind, this is the first week of camp, and lots of roster spots are up for grabs. Just because certain people are penciled in now doesn't mean they will be there Week One.
Still, even with that in mind, one cannot help but wonder why Ben Ijalana is not in there as a guard or tackle. He is not on any injury list, and was cleared to practice prior to the start of training camp.
Ijalana was a high second round pick in 2011 who the Colts traded up to get. However, the person who presided over that draft, former G.M. Chris Polian, is now gone. Current G.M. Ryan Grigson has absolutely no attachment to Ijalana, nor does the current coaching staff. Thus, if Ijalana isn't cutting it, he won't get any special favors.
This brings us to the information JMV sent me and fellow Stampede Blue writer Andrew Mishler not long after Bremer tweeted out his updates regarding the o-line...
@andrewmishler @gmbremer @StampedeBlue I think Ijalana is dinged already, but he's got to show a lot not to get cut from what I'm told.
— JMV1070 (@JMV1070) July 30, 2012
Doesn't matter if you like or dislike JMV's radio show. His sources are usually pretty solid, which means Ben Ijalana is in serious danger of being cut.
If Ijalana is released, that will be yet another "bust" from the Bill Polian-Chris Polian era. It's important to note that Chris Polian was the one who set-up the trade which led to the Colts drafting Tony Ugoh in 2007. I sincerely hope (nay, PRAY!) Ijalana is not another Ugoh, but if he is, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.