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INDIANAPOLIS – Jeff Saturday was in the room steering the ship, so you knew the offensive line was going to be a prominent topic.
Back at the Colts Town Hall earlier this offseason, Saturday was serving as the emcee with Andrew Luck on the receiving end of his questions.
Luck always enjoys talking about his offensive line, one that is returning entirely intact after a very successful 2018 campaign.
“It’s easy to give the O-line love, especially when you are sacked the least of anybody in the NFL,” Luck said to Saturday, and the crowd assembled at the Colts Complex.
It took a little more than a month into the 2018 season before the Colts found an offensive line that will not be changing anytime soon.
Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Mark Glowinski and Braden Smith are all under contract through at least the 2020 season.
And it would not be a surprise to anyone if Anthony Castonzo earns a new contract, which would keep him in Indy past the 2019 campaign.
For the first time in Luck’s career he can talk about a certain offensive line starting lineup entering Training Camp.
Talk about a luxury for an oft-hit Luck through his first 7 seasons in the league.
With Saturday posing the O-line question to Luck, here are some candid comments from the Colts QB on the line he played behind to end last season:
- LT-Anthony Castonzo: “We are very close. I’ve bonded with him. He does a heck of a job. I think he’s very underrated in this league. He works his butt off. He’s an incredible football player.”
- LG-Quenton Nelson: “He’s a mean guy with a tender heart, so it’s sort of a weird paradox. He’s mean.”
- C-Ryan Kelly: “Ryan Kelly is doing an incredible job. I don’t think he gets enough credit. As you know, that (quarterback/center) relationship is so important and built on honesty and brutal honesty. And he’ll give it back to me just as quickly as I’ll dish it out to him and I very much appreciate that.”
- RG-Mark Glowinski: “He’s a people mover. He spent several years in Seattle running with some great rushing attacks. The outside zone he does so well, he brought out an element of that that I think really elevated the game for everybody.”
- RT-Braden Smith: “Braden coming in and playing right tackle and doing a heck of a job, I don’t think anybody, even in this building, thought Braden would be playing right tackle, starting games.”
