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Colts offensive line coach Joe Philbin attended Western Michigan pro day

Colts offensive line coach Joe Philbin was in attendance at Western Michigan's pro day on Tuesday to get a look at lineman Willie Beavers.

By Josh Wilson
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

As the Indianapolis Colts continue to make the rounds at different pro days, they are looking for players at all positions who could help the team in various ways.  Of course, with that said, one of the biggest needs the team has to address this offseason is their offensive line, meaning they might be paying special attention to some of the linemen in this year's draft.

As they do so, new offensive line coach Joe Philbin will play a key role in that, and he was at Western Michigan's pro day on Tuesday.

Philbin was no doubt in attendance primarily to watch lineman Willie Beavers, who was the most notable prospect on display at Western Michigan's pro day.  A three-year starter at left tackle, Beavers was named first-team All-MAC in 2015.  He's projected as a fifth-round pick by CBS, though that range can vary.  One of the biggest questions about Beavers is where he would play, as despite playing at left tackle in college some think he might be better as a guard in the NFL.  At the Senior Bowl this year, Beavers set out to try to show teams that he is versatile enough to play anywhere along the line - tackle, guard, center - depending on where a team wants him.  That very well could be one of the bigger reasons for Philbin attending Tuesday's pro day, as it would give him a closer view of Beavers' skill set and whether it might translate to other offensive line positions.

According to MLive's Justin Dacey, Beavers spoke with the Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Indianapolis Colts following his pro day on Tuesday, though all 32 teams were represented in some way.  The Colts have a left tackle in place in Anthony Castonzo, but that doesn't mean they don't need help elsewhere along the line.  Their biggest needs are on the interior (specifically center), though adding a guy like Beavers could give them some flexibility on where to play him depending on the need.  The biggest thing is that he will need coaching to get the technique down for other offensive line positions, but he could be a mid-round option for some offensive line-needy teams, including the Colts.

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