According to Fox 59’s Mike Chappell, the Indianapolis Colts will be starting rookie David Parry at nose tackle in next weekend’s opener against the Buffalo Bills per head coach Chuck Pagano today:
Pagano: David Parry is starting nose.
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) September 7, 2015
The news comes just days after the team released 4th-year pro Josh Chapman, who started in 15 games for the Colts last season as nose tackle. While Chapman showed flashes at times, he never appeared to be a consistent difference-maker in the middle for the team and had apparently gotten outplayed by other nose tackles this offseason:
Pagano: Cutting Hughes, Chapman. Other guys played better. Had to make tough decisions.
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) September 7, 2015
Such an announcement not only demonstrates the high degree of confidence that the Colts have in their rookie 5th round pick Parry, but also the current vulnerable state of the team’s defensive line overall.
With Arthur Jones placed on season-ending injured reserve this past week and the team surprisingly releasing would-be rotational interior players in Chapman and also Montori Hughes, the defensive line as a whole is currently in flux.
It’s worth noting the team claimed undrafted rookie defensive tackle T.Y. McGill on Sunday, who stood out for the Seahawks this preseason before his surprising cut as part of their 53-man roster releases. The 6’0″, 299 pound McGill doesn’t exactly look the part of a true nose tackle, but apparently is next in-line on the team:
Pagano says David Parry will be the starting nose tackle and new nose tackle T.Y. McGill will be the backup there. Plenty of flexibility.
— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) September 7, 2015
Per the Colts official depth chart, it looks as though 2nd-year pro Zach Kerr will also be part of the mix backing up Parry on the defensive line at nose tackle, as he’s currently listed 2nd there.
Not to make Colts fans nervous or anything, but there’s not a whole lot of experience at nose tackle for the Colts, as Kerr played in limited snaps last season (mostly at defensive end) and both Parry and McGill are just rookies.
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