Most essential Colts No. 8: Can Bernhard Raimann become a franchise left tackle?

[JAFF]

https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...s/70348386007/

In a salary-cap league like the NFL, finding building blocks is essential. As teams churn and burn the roster through the draft and bargain signings in free agency, it helps to find the players who are either a cut above the rest or can perform a task few others can. They relieve the pressure on everyone.

Over the next two weeks, we'll be ranking the 10 most essential players to the Colts' success in 2023. It's a subjective process, weighing factors such as ability, positional value within a scheme, age, leadership and durability.

To make it simpler, we're asking the following two questions about these players:


1. How difficult would he be to replace for more than a month?

2. What does the Colts' 2023 ceiling become if this player hits his?

The elephant in the room for 2023, of course, is the presence of a rookie quarterback. The growth of Anthony Richardson will matter more than the win-loss record, so this year's list will focus more on future value than it has in other years.

Today, we continue with No. 8, Bernhard Raimann.

Bernhard Raimann started 11 games as a third-round rookie left tackle for the Indianapolis Colts last season.
Here's the list so far:

No. 10: JuJu Brents, cornerback

No. 9: Jelani Woods, tight end

No. 8: Bernhard Raimann, left tackle

Position: Left tackle

Age: 25

Experience: 2nd NFL season, 2nd with Colts

Accolades: Started 11 of 16 games for the Colts in 2022


2022 stats: Started 11 of 16 games, allowing nine sacks on 405 pass snaps

Last year's rank: N/A

Why he's here: One of the underrated factors in the Colts' quarterback drought since Andrew Luck retired has been the revolving door at left tackle since Anthony Castanzo decided to hang it up the next season. Those two positions sunk in on themselves last year, when an aging Matt Ryan couldn't hold up behind an out-of-position Matt Pryor and a raw rookie in Bernhard Raimann.


But as difficult as the game was at times on Raimann, it created experience and adversity that sets this up as a critical second year.

The third round is not traditionally where teams find starting left tackles, but Raimann's case was always unique, given that he grew up in Austria and only spent two years as an offensive lineman at Central Michigan. Last year was supposed to be more of a redshirt year than an 11-start season.



Raimann was thrown in as a starter on a short week at Denver in Week 6. The constant pressure of new and different pass rushers with more developed bodies and attack plans than he could offer led to some rookie moments, like nine sacks allowed and a few untimely penalties. Add in the quarterback and coaching instability, and Raimann was set up to fail as a rookie.

But once things settled down a little on the line, Raimann started to show the upside that has the Colts intrigued. He found some confidence once Jeff Saturday kept the starting line combination the same, and he built some chemistry on combination blocks with Quenton Nelson that let a Zach Moss-led running game start to get off the ground. He became more reliable in pass protection, though his lack of experience and anchor strength could still be an issue on obvious passing downs.

But spin it forward to this year, and Raimann has the opportunity to take a big leap. He's added 15 pounds, creating more strength against bull rushes and to finish in the run game. He's making technical strides with new offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. He'll get to enjoy some continuity with Nelson and Ryan Kelly back at the two inside spots. And a more run-heavy scheme with a mobile quarterback should lessen the number of pass snaps where opposing rushers know what to do to register a sack.


It's still one of the toughest jobs in football, protecting a rookie's blindside. Likeright tackle Braden Smith, Raimann is working through less than ideal arm length, which could limit his upside.

If he can't cut it early on, the Colts could make a switch to fourth-round BYU rookie Blake Freeland. That looming possibility keeps Raimann from moving too much up this list just yet.

But few players can have the positive effect on the growth of the rookie quarterback than Raimann can. And if he can finally solve this position, it'll save the Colts valuable resources to spend on the other spots they'll need to get Richardson where they want him to go.