Excited to see our preseason depth

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

Houston is a better team than the colts on paper.

Stroud was a rookie last year and will only get better. They have dynamic young wide receivers and a decent OLine.

They have probably the best pair of defensive ends in the league with Hunter and Anderson.

They have pro bowlers at cornerback with Stingley and safety with Pitre.

Thats a good team.

Houston is the most dangerous team in the AFC South outside of the Colts, but I would take the Colts roster over the Texans. Position by position breakdown:

QB: No one would take Richardson over Stroud right now, but the upside exists for that to be changed by the end of 2024. I'm optimistic about this barring injury, but for now, this is in favor of the Texans.

RB: Taylor is the best RB in the division, but the Colts depth is questionable here. Mixon/Pierce is a good duo. I'd rate this position about even.

WR: I think Pittman Jr. and Downs and Collins and Dell are about even, so it comes down to the rest of the WR room. Most would favor the Texans here, I don't, and the reason is the same. Stefon Diggs has been a great WR, but has also been a distraction the past few years, and had very little production at the end of last season. He could be more of a negative for the Texans than a positive. On the Colts side, I think Adonai Mitchell is going to be an incredibly productive WR for the Colts and surprise a lot of people. He already runs routes like a veteran, does not drop passes, and is a very good contested catcher. Josh Downs had a great rookie season and set the franchise record for receptions by a rookie, but Mitchell is good enough to make that record only last 1 season. I give a slight edge to the Colts here.

OT: This position easily goes to the Colts both for quality and depth. Bernhard Raimann is on par with Tunsil at this point, and if Braden Smith wasn't leagues better than Tytus Howard, the Texans probably wouldn't have drafted Blake Fisher 59th overall. I'll also take the depth of Freeland, Goncalves, and Witt over Fisher and Charlie Heck. Colts easily here.

OG: Quenton Nelson is by far the best player at this position on either team. I do like the Texans depth a bit more at this position depending on what positions Bortolini and Goncalves will be this season, but I would still give the Colts a slight edge here.

OC: I like Juice Scruggs, thought he was a good prospect. I think the Colts have a center that is better than him (Ryan Kelly) and a center that will be better than him (Tanor Bortolini). Colts easily here.

DE: On the surface, this looks like a position the Texans should win, Will Anderson is a promising young talent and Danielle Hunter is a proven alpha pass rusher. That said, the Colts have incredible depth at this position, including a promising young talent of their own in Laiatu Latu, and 3 other players who had 8+ sacks in 2023. After Anderson and Hunter, the Texans have the corpse of Jerry Hughes and Derek Barnett. I'd rate this position even.

DT: The Colts have arguably the three best DTs on either team. DeForest Buckner is a Top 3-5 DT in the NFL, Grover Stewart is a quality starter, and Raekwon Davis is a quality backup nose that could potentially add some pass rush value. The Texans have Denico Autry listed as one of their starting DTs. This position easily goes to the Colts.

LB: Franklin and Speed are better than Harris and Al-Shaair, and I'll take Harrison Jr. and Carlies over To'o-To'o and Jamal Hill. Colts have a slight edge here.

CB: Slight edge to the Texans for Stingley alone. Their depth chart shows Lassiter starting opposite him, and I think that's a matchup the Colts could exploit. The Colts also have possibly the best nickel in the NFL in Kenny Moore, but Brents and Jones need to prove they can hold up to a full season on the outside.

S: Once again, edge to the Texans here. I'd put Blackmon vs. Pitre about even, the Colts would've won the division had Blackmon not gotten injured Week 17, because he wouldn't have blown the coverage on Collins on the opening play. Jimmie Ward is better than either of the Colts FS options until Nick Cross proves himself, and I don't like the depth the Colts have at the position, not that the Texans is much better.

I thought last year that the Colts had the deeper, more talented roster, while the Texans had star power thanks to Stroud. Nothing that happened this offseason has really changed that, so if the Colts have much improved QB play, even if it's not at the level of the Texans QB play, but is close, they should be the better team. Now, if Anthony Richardson looks like he did in the second half of the Rams game for 17 games this season, we'll be talking about different things entirely than just winning the division.

[apballin]

The Texans snuck up on a lot of teams last year, that will not be the case this season. Now that there’s film and tendencies for defenses to see on Stroud I believe he’ll come back down to earth this season.

We seen flashes with AR, seen flashes of prime unstoppable JT, however nobody seen them on the field together. This is a nightmare of Freddy Krueger level proportions for opposing defenses.

[ukcolt]

Originally Posted by CletusPyle

So does AR see the field much in preseason or do the Colts over protect him and it takes him three games to get up to speed?

Not whole lot, he will see the usual 1 or 2 series in the opening game, then in the 2nd game maybe play until half time, and not at all in the final game. That's how things are for most teams historically for all of the starters.

[Mr. Session]

Originally Posted by ukcolt

Not whole lot, he will see the usual 1 or 2 series in the opening game, then in the 2nd game maybe play until half time, and not at all in the final game. That's how things are for most teams historically for all of the starters.

As much as the join practices have been hyped the last few years, I presume most of the development and conditioning is worked on there. The pre-season games feel pretty useless. Is more than one really necessary?

They should stop fucking around and just pay the kids some more $, allow some more roster depth, put in an extra bye week, add the extra game, and be done with it.

[Indystu2]

Originally Posted by CletusPyle

So does AR see the field much in preseason or do the Colts over protect him and it takes him three games to get up to speed?

I bet as soon as he is sore, he is done for the preseason.