Will the Colts start Denzelle Good on the offensive line this year?
By Evan Reller
The Indianapolis Colts have some glaring issues along the offensive line, but a solution might be lurking from within their own clubhouse.
The Colts are in Boca Raton, Fla. for the NFL Owners Meeting this week and with it comes media availabilty with the coaches, general managers, and Jim Irsay himself. Most of the Colts reporters are following the event and there for interviews. The Indy Star’s Stephen Holder was there today for a sit down with Irsay and staff.
About to sit down with Comts owner Jim Irsay. This is a first: an interview aboard a yacht. pic.twitter.com/AId1ncCyZn
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) March 22, 2016
First question, is that Irsay’s yacht? Or did they just rent out a yacht to impress the Indy media?
One of the interesting bits of the meeting that Holder has shared is just how high the team is on offensive tackle Denzelle Good.
Kid you not: Listening to Irsay's interview. Mentions Denzelle Good at least five times. 7th rd OT from Mars Hill last yr. Is well regarded
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) March 22, 2016
Folo up the Denzelle Good quote... Irsay: "We don't see why he can't be a starting RG or RT in this league."
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) March 22, 2016
Does that mean 2016? We'll see
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There wasn’t anything even closely resembling a scouting report on Good before the Colts drafted him last year. All we knew about him was his measurable according to Mars Hill’s website. A year later, do we really know anything else?
For one, it says something about Good that he was able to stick with the roster all season long. The team clearly likes something about his abilities and he’s been well spoken about over the past year.
Good started four games last season at right tackle and totaled just under 300 snaps in his rookie year. Pro Football Focus gave Good an overall grade of 51.0 (out of 100). That rates as “below replacement” level according to their scale, but for a seventh round pick who play in Division II football last year that isn’t terrible.
His grading isn’t overall terrible either. Good is a natural run blocker, earning an 85.8 grade in that category. The issue is that he had a 43.1 when it came to pass blocking, which isn’t even arguably the more important than run blocking. Regardless of what kind of team they want to be or offense the Colts want to run, they have to keep Andrew Luck upright.
It is interesting to note that Irsay mentioned Good possibly switching to guard, which might ultimately be a better fit for him given his skill set. The Colts are also planning on mixing up their blocking scheme, another thing that could help Good and other linemen on the roster flourish.
It certainly sounds like the Colts are planning to use some combination of in-house talent and the draft to shore up the offensive line deficiencies this season. Hopefully the scouting approach has changed, because every attempt to solve their protection woes has failed so far. If the line isn’t stronger, it could be another rough season for Luck.