About the Project » Colts have roster conundrum right around the corner

As the Indianapolis Colts are all set for their second preseason game of the 2018 season Womens Anthony Walker Jersey , just around the corner are roster cuts to get down to the league-mandated 53-man roster. Most consider this waiver period to be an active 48 hours for Chris Ballard and the front office staff. There are a few positions that are in need of significant improvement, and while the second-year GM can’t get an upgrade at every position, it’s fair to expect at least three claims as September rolls around. For now, though, the Colts still have some tough cuts to make when the roster is initially set.Granted, injuries have already had an impact on how the roster is shaped for the Colts this season. Additionally, there will need to be a concession at a position where the Colts are already undermanned in order to keep the best talent currently available to them.Let’s take a look at some positions that will be very interesting to watch as the Colts finish up their preseason schedule.First, let’s just get some ‘givens’ — at least in my eyes — out of the way. The Colts will keep two quarterbacks, four running backs, four tight ends, four safeties, and six linebackers. That already is 20 roster spots, and while the possibility remains that those could move in one way for some, and the opposite way for others, it leaves several other positions that are drawing the most interest for me right now.The offensive and defensive line, cornerbacks and receivers are where the considerations will be most heavily weighed for my money. The corners and receivers get the most back and forth in the conversation mainly due to special teams consideration. Who are the most capable gunners, return men, etc. Do they need six at each of those positions or can they live with just five?The Colts do have Chester Rogers with some return experience and Nyheim Hines has been heavily used in training camp and was back there in Seattle as well. Marlon Mack has also been thrown in there in the past — of course he needs to be healthy first — and Ryan Grant has also been fielding kickoffs and punts this summer as well. Maybe Zach Pascal is added to the mix if the Colts think he’s borderline too.Those, alone, give the Colts a bit of leeway when it comes to forcing an extra body at receiver and corner which helps quite a bit as it currently stands. Could they get by with just five at each position? Possibly Authentic Darius Leonard Jersey , but I think they carry six at one or the other when it comes down to it, and health could play a large role in that as well.Now, for all intents and purposes, we get into the most important two areas in Ballard’s eyes. Frank Reich and Ballard have both stated that they want eight starters along the defensive line, and 10 along the offensive line.Herein lies the problem with all of that, though.Right now, I don’t know if the Colts have 10 quality offensive linemen, and they’ve got 11 legitimately in the fight for the D-line. It sounds like a simple fix, right? Just keep nine on the O-line and 11 on the D-line. Well, if they do, they run into forcing themselves into limiting talent elsewhere. As I sit and look at the roster, this is what I have:RB — 4 | WR — 5 | TE — 4 | QB — 2 | LB — 6 | CB — 6 | S — 4 | ST — 3Without either line being represented, we have a total of 34 players. If they keep 20 between the two trench units... well, you can do that math, and it doesn’t equal 53.So, the Colts have to keep 19 to keep it to 53. Or, as stated earlier, less depending on maybe one fewer CB or TE, but that seems silly considering the talent level on the roster right now. I think the Colts have to carry at least nine offensive linemen. They’ve got nine who are worthy, but a tenth would depend upon a waiver claim in my estimation. OL (9) — Anthony Castonzo | Le’Raven Clark | Quenton Nelson | Ryan Kelly| Matt Slauson | Braden Smith | Joe Haeg | Austin Howard | Denzelle GoodOUT — J’Marcus Webb | Tyreek Burwell | Jeremy Vujnovich | Deyshawn Bond | Mark Glowinski | Nick CallendarRight now Good still isn’t healthy Authentic J'Marcus Webb Jersey , while it feels like the team is almost forcing itself to hang on to Clark and Howard at this point. But, are you going to keep any of these who I currently have on the outside looking in?Now, for the defensive line.DL (11) — Jabaal Sheard | John Simon | Margus Hunt | Ryan Delaire | Tarell Basham | Kemoko Turay | Denico Autry | Al Woods | Grover Stewart | Hassan Ridgeway | Tyquan LewisOUT — Anthony Johnson | Tomasi Laulile | Chris McCain | Rakeem Nunez-RochesWho are you going to cut from the 11 listed above? Hunt based purely on age? Could you get yourself to cut second-year, third-round pick Basham due to his subpar play in practice resulting in a steep dive down the depth chart? Delaire simply because you can’t get yourself to let go of a third-round pick? Ridgeway just because you didn’t draft him?Someone’s gotta go. Simon has proven time and time again that he’s an asset who just does his job and produces when he’s in, Woods is a need right now on early downs, Autry has been a beast, Turay and Lewis are rookies — so there’s zero chance that’s happening — and I’d be shocked if Stewart were to be let go as well. Who are you dumping?As important as they are to the Colts, I don’t think anyone who’d be made available would draw much on the trade block. Here’s the elephant in the room, though. Basham is the one guy who isn’t living up to his stock, but Hunt — despite currently running with the first team — is likely seen as the most expendable right now. I still have a feeling that Delaire won’t get much of a fair shake in the matter, but he does have a full two weeks to continue getting the coaching staff’s attention. This is really starting to become a real conundrum for Ballard and Reich I’d guess. While the Colts dropped a game against the Jets that they desperately needed to keep their season alive, one area of their offense started show signs of life. In the second half in particular, the Colts were able to get the ball moving on the ground. Their yards per carry average of 5.5 and total yards of 127 both outpaced a Jets backfield that generated 323 yards and 8.5 yards per carry the week before against the Broncos.If the Colts are able to get some consistency on the ground, the offensive struggles could start to disappear. Reich’s scheme requires the threat of the run to keep defenses off balance and open up the play action passing game.What role did Quenton Nelson play in Indy’s running success? Let’s take a look.Nelson (#56) seals Henry Anderson (#96) to the inside and allows a gaping hole to open up for Nyheim Hines (#21). Center Ryan Kelly (#78) pulls to the left and acts as lead blocker. If Mark Glowinski (#64) is able to get a better block at the second level, Hines has another 4-5 yards.Nelson shoves Leonard Williams (#92) out of the hole and sticks with the block as Marlon Mack (#25) runs through the crease he helped create. Williams had no chance on the play. Anthony Castono (#74) and Kelly both won their blocks as well, leaving Mack free for a nice gain. The rest of the defense was cleared out by motion to the right from Zach Pascal (#14) and Eric Ebron (#85).Similar to the previous play, Nelson simply out-muscles Williams one-on-one in the hole and is able to turn him to the outside. This opens up a crease behind him. Kelly’s well-time block at the second level allowed the run to go for extra yards.Again, Nelson is able to win in the hole. This allows Kelly to quickly move to the second level and get a body on a linebacker. Nelson is matched up against nose tackle Steve McClendon (#99) and keeps him from impacting the play. Strangely, Nelson’s legs get caught up in the pile forming behind him and it looks like he is knocked off of his balance after the whistle.Suffice to say, this is something he’ll need to work on. As noted in the comments of our pass blocking breakdown yesterday www.indianapoliscoltsteamonline.com , these balance issues are an indictment of Nelson’s skill set and indicate that he has been unable to live up to his draft billing.Nelson works with Castonzo to seal Jordan Jenkins (#48) and allow Marlon Mack to run through the A-gap without pressure from his left side. The most impressive blocks on the play were delivered by Kelly and Glowinski who both got a nice push and discarded the initial defender to get to the next level. It is even more encouraging that Mack had the vision and patience to work his way through the traffic for a nice gain.Nelson takes a big blow from Jeremy Attaochu (#55) in an attempted bull rush. Needless to say, the attempt was ineffective. Nelson anchors and his feet never move as he forces Attaochu outside and away from the play. If Kelly and Glowinski were able to get a better block on McClendon and Braden Smith (#72) was able to seal Williams, Mack would have had even more running room.Nelson blocks down on this goal line run and hits Mike Pennel (#98). He was teaming with Kelly at the snap but Kelly lost his footing (cut him, am I right?). Nelson drove Pennel back into the end zone and onto his back as he got caught up in the feet of linebacker Darron Lee (#58) (expect Pennel to get cut this week too).While this run doesn’t go very far, Nelson and Castonzo drive Henry Anderson well out of the play. If Mack hadn’t hesitated and bounced the play to the outside, there was a chance for a few yards right up the middle of the field.Nelson hits Anderson, passing him off to Kelly and gets out to the linebacker, Avery Williamson (#54). All three linemen to the left side of the field get strong seal blocks and open up a massing running lane for Mack behind them. If this is a sign of what to expect from a healthy Castonzo, Nelson and Kelly, the Colts should have some success running the ball moving forward.Again, Nelson gets a monster push on the interior, aided by Castonzo. He releases to the second level gets a final push for Hines on an inside run.ANALYSISNelson had a strong performance blocking for Hines and Mack. He won match ups one-on-one against a variety of different defenders, effectively sealed in the trenches, and helped keep running lanes alive by getting to the second level. The combination of Castonzo, Nelson, and Kelly on the left side looked particularly effective on the ground and could signal more consistent running success moving forward.