Rating place teams for 2022

September 3, 2022

The Indianapolis Colts are roughly every week away from the beginning of the regular-season opener in opposition to the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

Although the roster will proceed to make modifications all through the season, we’ve a reasonably good thought of what the squad will appear to be going into the brand new season.

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All through the offseason and preseason, the Colts made a number of modifications to the roster. They introduced in new items at quarterback, edge rusher and cornerback whereas including some rookies to extensive receiver and security, amongst different positions.

With Week 1 proper across the nook, right here’s a rating of the Colts’ place teams:

AP Photograph/Darron Cummings

The Colts are prone to play in nickel more often than not, which suggests Shaquille Leonard and Bobby Okereke will see probably the most time on the sector. That duo could be nearly as good as any within the NFL if Okereke makes a leap within the closing yr of his rookie contract. The depth is powerful within the room as properly with Zaire Franklin and E.J. Velocity as the following two in line whereas the Colts added particular groups ace Grant Stuard and spectacular undrafted rookie JoJo Domann this yr.

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Having Jonathan Taylor already makes this one of many strongest backfields within the NFL. However the Colts even have Nyheim Hines as an unimaginable complement and change-of-pace again. There are some questions with depth on condition that Deon Jackson is the one different again within the room, however having these two on the high makes this one of many strongest teams on the roster.

AP Photograph/Michael Conroy

The Colts ought to have an improve at beginning quarterback with Matt Ryan, however additionally they upgraded their backup place with the addition of Nick Foles. How lengthy Sam Ehlinger stays on the lively roster isn’t clear,  however the quarterback place is far more steady than it was a yr in the past.

AP Photograph/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Having Quenton Nelson and Ryan Kelly taking part in subsequent to one another offers the Colts a powerful duo on the inside. Danny Pinter shall be new beginning proper guard, and there’s loads of untapped potential inside his sport. The depth is stable as properly with Will Fries giving sturdy performances within the preseason whereas undrafted free agent Wesley French might be a pleasant sleeper to have on the back-end of the roster.

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The beginning duo of Yannick Ngakoue and Kwity Paye has a number of potential, particularly if Paye takes a Yr 2 soar. The depth is powerful as properly with the versatile edge rushers in Dayo Odeyingbo and Tyquan Lewis. In the meantime, Ifeadi Odenigbo and Ben Banogu are each coming off of sturdy performances within the preseason.

AP Photograph/Joshua Bessex

Stephon Gilmore seems to be a rock-solid CB1 on the boundary, giving the Colts an enormous benefit on one half of the sector. Kenny Moore II will reprise his versatile position on each the boundary and the nickel whereas Brandon Facyson will work reverse Gilmore in nickel packages after successful the job over Isaiah Rodgers Sr., who remains to be a powerful candidate to interrupt out. Undrafted rookie Dallis Flowers is an intriguing depth piece and will contribute on particular groups.

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With Matt Pryor and Braden Smith because the beginning offensive tackles, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how lengthy that duo stays. Rookie Bernhard Raimann is working because the backup left deal with whereas the Colts claimed rookie Luke Tenuta from the Buffalo Payments after roster cuts and re-signed veteran Dennis Kelly.

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If this had been a rating of the starters at every place, the duo of DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart could be a lot larger. Nonetheless, the depth behind them is an enormous query mark. Rookie Eric Johnson II ought to work at each inside spots, and he has some upside. In the meantime, the one different depth piece is Byron Cowart, who had an up-and-down preseason.

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We should always count on some rising pains with rookie Nick Cross, however his upside is extremely excessive. When clicking on all cylinders, the duo of Cross and Julian Blackmon might be deadly. Having Rodney McLeod because the third security is powerful depth whereas rookie Rodney Thomas II has intriguing upside. Undrafted rookie Trevor Denbow made the roster however is on the injured reserve listing, and the Colts imagine he could be a sturdy addition to particular groups.

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This rating is fairly low principally due to the unknown. Michael Pittman Jr. is a bonafide stud and will make one other leap in Yr 3. Parris Campbell has to remain wholesome, but when he does, it may imply nice issues for the offense. Rookie Alec Pierce will function the WR3 whereas Ashton Dulin is fourth in line. I’m intrigued to see how this group will look by the tip of the yr as a result of there may be promise right here.

AP Photograph/Michael Conroy

All eyes are on Mo Alie-Cox at this place as he takes over for longtime starter Jack Doyle, who retired this offseason. Second-year Kylen Granson ought to have an honest position because the H-back whereas rookie Jelani Woods is probably going a yr away from actually contributing.

AP Photograph/Zach Bolinger

Lengthy snapper Luke Rhodes is coming off of a Professional Bowl season and will proceed to be one of many high gamers at his place. Whereas Rodrigo Blankenship received the kicking battle for the third consecutive yr, he has lots to show. Matt Haack had a powerful displaying in his solely preseason sport following the season-ending harm to beginning punter Rigoberto Sanchez.

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