[sherck]

So, the Colts offensive line, as of now, looks like:

Projected Starters:

LOT = Anthony Castonzo, 2011 1st round draft choice, 89 games / 89 games started
LOG = Jack Mewhort, 2014 2nd round draft choice, 40 games / 40 games started
OC = Ryan Kelley, 2016 1st round draft choice, 16 games / 16 games started
ROG = Joe Haeg, 2016 5th round draft choice, 15 games / 14 games started
ROT = Le'Raven Clark, 2016 3rd round draft choice, 8 games / 3 games started

Depth:

Brian Schwenke, 2013 4th round draft choice, 41 games / 28 games started
Denzelle Good, 2015 7th round draft choice, 18 games / 14 games started
Austin Blythe, 2016 7th round draft choice, 8 games / 1 game started
Fahn Cooper, 2016 5th round draft choice, 0 games / 0 games started

3rd OT = Haeg
3rd OG = Good or Schwenke
2nd OC = Blythe or Schwenke
4th OT = ???
4th OG = Good or Schwenke

Who? UDFA Camp Bodies:

Jeremy Vujnovich, 2013 UDFA, 2 games / 0 games started
Adam Redmond, 2016 UDFA, 0 games / 0 games started
Isiah Cage, 2016 UDFA, 0 games / 0 games started



Considering 7 of our 12 offensive linemen came from the 2016 draft class year, it was only natural that management wanted to add some veteran experience as depth this year.

Schwenke is not a world beater but he comes in as our 3rd most experienced offensive linemen (after only 'Stanzo and Mewhort) as a 4 season veteran.

This is perfect "push" to make sure that Haeg, Clark and Good keep progressing. Schwenke is probably "NFL average" which means you don't really want him starting but if he is your best option, at least he is not going to kill you. I don't think he is nearly as bad as McSuck and Sucktelle were.

Bottom line is that this is the type of move that gives you the freedom to not draft Offensive Line early in the draft if the value is not there but it is not so big of a move that if there is an O-Lineman there that has the value you are looking for in the 1st/2nd/3rd round that you feel like you are getting redundant. A very good, safe move.

He is depth and insurance, not a starter.

Cheers,