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The Colts are beginning OTAs today (the first NFL team to do so), and while Colts.com currently doesn't list a depth chart and likely won't for a while, this would be a fitting opportunity to project the current depth chart. Here are a few things to keep in mind, however:
- Tthis will change (likely a lot) as we move forward this offseason and especially into training camp
- In this projection, I tried to stay as close to where the Colts' roster listed players at, taking a few liberties but still staying true to the team's roster most of the time.
- Each player is only listed once - meaning that, in some cases, the number two guy on the depth chart might not necessarily be the most likely to replace the number one if need be (such as at right tackle, where Jack Mewhort might compete if Gosder Cherilus isn't healthy).
- When a position has two spots listed on the depth chart (wide receiver, inside linebacker, outside linebacker, cornerback, and safety), it's important to note that in this roster projection the differences aren't always clear. In other words, I fully expect players at one spot to play at the other spot at the same position (outside linebacker is a good example of this, where Robert Mathis, Trent Cole, and Jonathan Newsome are all listed at the rush linebacker spot but could play on the other side as well, depending on the situation). So don't read too much into this.
With all of that said, if I had to take a shot at projecting the depth chart today, here's what it would look like (italics indicates rookie):
Offense:
QB: 1) Andrew Luck; 2) Matt Hasselbeck; 3) Bryan Bennett
RB: 1) Frank Gore; 2) Daniel "Boom" Herron; 3) Josh Robinson; 4) Vick Ballard; 5) Zurlon Tipton; 6) Tyler Varga; 7) Abou Toure
WR: 1) T.Y. Hilton; 2) Phillip Dorsett; 3) Duron Carter; 4) Quan Bray; 5) Ryan Lankford
WR: 1) Andre Johnson; 2) Donte Moncrief; 3) Griff Whalen; 4) Vincent Brown; 5) Josh Lenz; 6) Ezell Ruffin
TE: 1) Dwayne Allen; 2) Coby Fleener; 3) Jack Doyle; 4) Erik Swoope; 5) Jean Sifrin; 6) Justin Sinz
LT: 1) Anthony Castonzo; 2) Ulrick John; 3) Denzelle Good
LG: 1) Jack Mewhort; 2) Donald Thomas; 3)Ben Heenan
C: 1) Khaled Holmes; 2) Jonotthan Harrison; 3) Brandon Vitabile
RG: 1) Todd Herremans; 2) Hugh Thornton; 3) Lance Louis; 4) David Arkin
RT: 1) Gosder Cherilus; 2) Joe Reitz; 3) Tyler Hoover; 4) Demarco Cox
Defense:
DT: 1) Arthur Jones; 2) Montori Hughes; 3) David Parry; 4) Kelcy Quarles
NT: 1) Josh Chapman; 2) Zach Kerr
DE: 1) Kendall Langford; 2) Henry Anderson; 3) Earl Okine
ILB: 1) Jerrell Freeman; 2) Nate Irving; 3) Shawn Loiseau; 4) Junior Sylvestre
ILB: 1) D'Qwell Jackson; 2) Amarlo Herrera; 3) Henoc Muamba
OLB: 1) Robert Mathis; 2) Trent Cole; 3) Jonathan Newsome; 4) Zack Hodges; 5) Carlos Fields
OLB: 1) Erik Walden; 2) Bjoern Werner; 3) Cam Johnson; 4) Daniel Adongo; 5) Cody Galea
CB: 1) Vontae Davis; 2) Darius Butler; 3) Jalil Brown; 4) Deveron Carr; 5) Al-Hajj Shabazz
CB: 1) Greg Toler; 2) D'Joun Smith; 3) Donald Celiscar; 4) Sheldon Price; 5) Josh Mitchell
S: 1) Mike Adams; 2) Colt Anderson; 3) Dewey McDonald; 4) Robert Smith
S: 1) Dwight Lowery; 2) Clayton Geathers; 3) Winston Guy
Special Teams:
K: 1) Adam Vinatieri
P: 1) Pat McAfee
LS: 1) Matt Overton
There's my first projection at the Colts' depth chart as they begin OTAs. What are your thoughts on the depth chart?