The Colts fell flat on their season opener for the 8th consecutive year, currently the NFL’s longest streak for starting the year 0-1. One thing General Manager Chris Ballard has built up over his tenure in Indy is a tough Offensive Line.
Even though Left Tackle Erik Fisher remains sidelined and Ryan Kelly and Quenton Nelson fought through injuries in the preseason, Colts fans expected a strong effort in Week 1 against a Seahawks defense not know for their ability to rush the passer. Unfortunately, the OL came up short. The Seahawks sacked Carson Wentz a total of 3 times with 10 QB hits while the RB rotation of Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines averaged only 3.8 yards per carry.
JMV focused on the Offensive Line in his opening segment today and questioned whether or not they would be able to turn things around before Week 2 vs the Los Angeles Rams.
“This really makes you question whether they’re really going to be able to do it. It’s all about building on the offensive and defensive lines. What if it doesn’t work? Man I don’t even know that if Erik Fisher potentially coming back in week 2, it might make everyone feel good but I don’t know what it will do for that offensive line. They were a catastrophe.”
JMV went on to talk about the effect it could have on Carson Wentz and the Colts’ passing game going forward if it isn’t fixed soon:
“Carson Wentz comes here and all we do in the offseason is talk about how woeful it was a year ago for him, how bad that he was and lobbing excuses out about the offensive line there, the lack of players there. We went over it all. That Colts offensive line didn’t treat him any better than the offensive line in Philly a year ago. Ultimately, it is going to be one of or the highest paid offensive lines in the NFL. I’m sorry, you can say all you want about ‘oh it’s the first game and they haven’t played together, surely the cohesion wasn’t there’ but they are getting paid to play together and not look like that.”
If the Colts want to avoid starting the season 0-2 they will quickly need to figure out how to game plan against the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year DT Aaron Donald and the rest of the Rams defensive line.
