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Offensive Linemen on the 2017 Roster:
$12.800m cap hit / 29 years old / LT / Anthony Castonzo $02.500m cap hit / 32 years old / OT / Joe Reitz $02.375m cap hit / 24 years old / OC / Ryan Kelly $01.137m cap hit / 26 years old / LG / Jack Mewhort $00.746m cap hit / 24 years old / RT / Le’Raven Clark $00.628m cap hit / 26 years old / OG / Denzell Good $00.600m cap hit / 24 years old / RG / Joe Haeg $00.555m cap hit / 25 years old / OC / Austin Blythe $00.466m cap hit / 24 years old / OT / Isiah Cage $00.465m cap hit / 24 years old / OG / Adam Redmond Jonothan Harrison is a Restricted Free Agent that the Colts have to decide if they wish to throw the RFA tag on or not. Harrison was an undrafted player as a rookie so there would be zero compensation for him if we gave him the lowest tag (compensation at the same round you were drafted in) at about $1.750m and someone else signed him away. The 2nd round tag or 1st round tag would be much more expensive and I would not anticipate the Colts using one on Harrison. Given that, I would sign him to the RFA tag because I think he is a pretty valuable backup to have in 2017. My projected 2017 starting lineup = Castonzo / Mewhort / Kelly / Haeg / Clark Projected 2017 depth O-Linemen. = OT = Reitz, Haeg OG = Good, Harrison, OC = Blythe, Harrison That is only nine names and the Colts typically carry 10 on the active roster so there is room for one more. As a draft class, it appears that Ryan Grigson actually did a nice job in his last season as the Colts GM. Picking proven college starters helped (Kelly started 48 games in college, Clark started 51 games, Haeg started 60 games) as well as picking guys who possessed incredible upside. Let’s be reminded about some of the things that the draft profiles were saying prior to the 2016 draft: Quote:
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I am pretty impressed with what Joe Philbin did as the Offensive Line coach playing 2 rookies pretty extensively (30 combined starts) and having two others (Clark and 7th round Austin Blythe) having a total of 4 starts and 9 games played in added to the mix. The jump in technique of Clark from a disastrous pre-season to what we saw in weeks 15 – 17 playing right OT was nothing short of remarkable. Having Joe Haeg ready to play at any of three different positions as a rookie was also pretty incredible as well. In addition, from StampedeBlue: Quote:
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Anthony Castonzo had an up and down year but I was somewhat surprised to see what PFF had ranked him as 20th overall OT and 8th in run blocking. Considering 64 OTs strap on helmets every weekend, we could do worse. I certainly believe that the Colts need to start preparing to replace Castonzo if needed and I think we might have a kid in Clark that could do that sometime in the future, but Catonzo was not the problem child of the O-Line in 2016 and there is no reason to do something crazy in 2017 about him. Monitor and have a backup plan if required. I really like the direction that the Colts are going with offensive line. I think Philbin was a great hire as coach and he appears to have done a pretty good job with the rookies. I think all three of the rookies who got extensive playing time looked like they belonged on an NFL field and, hopefully, all will grow greatly with a full NFL off-season and the “2nd year” jump many players get (and, apparently, an unchanged offensive system). I think that having a potential O-Line depth of: Reitz, Good, Harrison and Blythe is bloody brilliant because that is a pretty experienced bunch with a total of 82 games started between them which is some pretty great experience. Do I think the Colts could add a quality player to the Offensive Line even with whom we have on the roster? Sure, I will always support making the offensive line stronger! Do we need to do that? No, not in my opinion but if we ended up selecting an offensive linemen during the first four rounds of the draft, I will not argue at all about the pick. Until your offensive line is a top five line, you keep strengthening it when you can do so at good value. If an OT who the Colts have at a 1st round grade slides to their 2nd round pick? I will not be unhappy. Now, if the Colts select O-Line with their first round pick, I will scratch my head because I don’t think many pundits think there are any O-Linemen with early or mid 1st round grades. We are not “desperate” for O-Line help, IMO. We don’t need to reach for help. But if someone falls and is good value at our 2nd, 3rd or 4th round pick (like Clark did in 2016), then, yeah, I would fully support getting them. 2017 OUTLOOK: I am a big fan of where the O-Line is heading. I think we found three winners from our 2016 rookie class and I think all three could be starters for us in 2017. I hope that Mewhort returns to full strength and that Castonzo rebounds to top ten left OT form. Our depth is pretty strong if we retain Harrison and while I would not cry to add a body from the draft, I think we are pretty set already for 2017. If I were Ballard, I would look at our O-Line and then look at our Defensive Front Seven and keep their relative strength in mind when getting ready to sign free agents and the draft. I think the contrast would be pretty stark. Now, if we can only get a better offensive scheme installed… Next up, Special Teams. Cheers,
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============== Thad The future is so bright; I gotta triple up! ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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But, I know the real reason that you don't like him is because he is white. Heck, I am shocked you are not raging against the fact that Haeg displaced Good at RG. I was sure that fact has had you seething for months. Cheers,
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============== Thad The future is so bright; I gotta triple up! ![]() ![]() ![]() |
#4
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Good has to stay healthy. Otherwise you lose your spot. Mewhort plays lg. Probably the easiest spot on the line. He does a good job but his run blocking is underwhelming. He wouldn't be missed that much if he left. For me it has nothing to do with race. But for a lot of people (you included) it sure seems to. Last edited by omahacolt; 02-03-2017 at 04:16 PM. |
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What is the status of Thornton?
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No sense in bringing him back. We've seen what he can do.
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I say bring him back to compete
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Status update..... he still sucks
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#10
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AC is $12.8MM of cap space? Good thing for him we have plenty of cap space or Ballard would more than likely be asking him for a pay cut.
Does any of the money from an RFA contract end up being guaranteed if the player is cut? If so then not sure even offering Harrison the low tier RFA contract is a good idea b/c he can be easily replaced by a low round draft pick, bargain FA, or maybe even an UDFA. If none of it is guaranteed then it can't hurt to give him the low tier offer and allow him to compete in training camp. Agree with Omaha ( ![]() |
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