INDIANAPOLIS – We are less than three weeks away from the start of the 2020 regular season.
Back in the spring, we projected a depth chart for the Colts.
Let’s look at a new updated starting offense and defense guess for Frank Reich’s bunch:
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks: Philip Rivers, Jacoby Brissett, Chad Kelly, Jacob Eason*
Running Backs: Marlon Mack, Jonathan Taylor*, Nyheim Hines, Jordan Wilkins, Bruce Anderson III
Fullback: Roosevelt Nix
Wide Receivers: T.Y. Hilton, Parris Campbell, Marcus Johnson, Ashton Dulin, DeMichael Harris*, Artavis Scott
Wide Receivers: Zach Pascal, Michael Pittman*, Chad Williams, Reece Fountain, Dezmon Patmon*
Tight Ends: Jack Doyle, Mo Alie-Cox, Ian Bunting, Farrod Green*
Tight Ends: Trey Burton, Xavier Grimble, Andrew Vollert
Left Tackle: Anthony Castonzo, Le’Raven Clark, Brandon Hitner
Left Guard: Quenton Nelson, Jake Eldrenkamp
Center: Ryan Kelly, Jake Eldrenkamp, Danny Pinter*, Javon Patterson, Joey Hunt
Right Guard: Mark Glowinski, Danny Pinter*
Right Tackle: Braden Smith, Le’Raven Clark, Carter O’Donnell*, Chaz Green
DEFENSE
Defensive End: Justin Houston, Ben Banogu, Gerri Green, Kameron Cline*
Defensive Tackle: Grover Stewart, Rob Windsor*, Tyler Stallworth, Sheldon Day
Defensive Tackle: DeForest Buckner, Tyquan Lewis, Chris Williams*
Defensive End: Denico Autry, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Kemoko Turay
WILL Linebacker: Darius Leonard, EJ Speed, Jordan Glasgow*
MIKE Linebacker: Anthony Walker, Zaire Franklin
SAM Linebacker: Bobby Okereke, Matthew Adams
Cornerback: Rock Ya-Sin, Xavier Rhodes, Travis Reed*, Tremon Smith, Jackson Porter
Cornerback: Kenny Moore, T.J. Carrie, Lafayette Pitts, Jackson Porter, Isaiah Rodgers
Free Safety: Malik Hooker, George Odum, Julian Blackmon*
Strong Safety: Khari Willis, Tavon Wilson, Donald Rutledge*
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punt Returner: Nyheim Hines, Parris Campbell, Isaiah Rodgers, DeMichael Harris
Kick Returner: Nyheim Hines, Parris Campbell, Isaiah Rodgers, DeMichael Harris
Kicker: K-Chase McLaughlin, K-Rodrigo Blankenship*
Punter: P-Rigoberto Sanchez
Long Snapper: LS-Luke Rhodes
Some takeaways:
-I put Chad Kelly No. 3 on the depth chart, just based off who has gotten more snaps in camp (something Frank Reich and Nick Sirianni have acknowledged). Now, I don’t think this changes my impression of who would make the 53-man roster. I still view Jacob Eason over Kelly there.
-Again, as the Colts say, it’s more of a ‘1-1 punch’ at running back with Marlon Mack and Jonathan Taylor
-It’s hard to exactly define the wide receiver pecking order behind T.Y. Hilton. I fully expect Zach Pascal, Michael Pittman and Parris Campbell to play a good amount. With how Frank Reich has previously handled wide receiver playing time, he’s going to have around 4 wideouts rotating in and out throughout a game.
-I’d project Le’Raven Clark (tackle) and Jake Eldrenkamp (interior) as the top offensive linemen reserves right now with Danny Pinter also making a little noise.
-The defensive line has had to deal with a few injuries in camp (Kemoko Turay and Sheldon Day have yet to practice; Justin Houston, DeForest Buckner and Dencio Autry have sat multiple days, too). Before camp, the thought was Autry would play more at defensive end and Tyquan Lewis would be more in the interior. That remains the thinking.
-Rock Ya-Sin’s consistency and availability has him above Xavier Rhodes, in my eyes, when the Colts are in their base personnel grouping.
-I still think the experience of Chase McLaughlin kicking in the NFL gives him the nod over Rodrigo Blankenship. They’ve been pretty even though in the few days of kicking we’ve seen this camp.
