With only three months until kickoff, one topic continues to dominate conversations about the Colts: the status of Andrew Luck’s shoulder, and if he will be able to return to All-Pro form.
There is no questioning Andrew Luck’s importance to this Colts team as he is by far the most valuable player in Frank Reich’s locker room.
Without a healthy Luck under center, I have a hard time seeing this team make a postseason run. Luckily for Colts fans, Chris Ballard realized this too and he’s doing everything in his power to ensure his franchise quarterback is coming into a good situation next season.
Unlike his predecessor Ryan Grigson, Ballard chose to use his draft picks and cap space to invest in protection for his franchise quarterback. These are the steps Ballard has taken to ensure that Andrew Luck will have a clean season:
Build a Solid Offensive Line
Perhaps the biggest move the Colts made this offseason was selecting guard Quentin Nelson of Notre Dame with the sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Ballard has started the Colts’ rebuild in the trenches, using four of his first five draft picks on offensive or defensive lineman this offseason. Two of those picks were spent on players who will be tasked with keeping opposing teams off the back of Andrew Luck.
Nelson and second round pick Braden Smith (37th overall) are both expected to make sizable contributions to the offensive unit in their rookie campaigns. Nelson will likely be plugged in to the starting rotation right off the bat, while most experts have Smith backing up Jack Mewhort to start the year.
The Colts also spent a decent amount of coin on depth up front.
Veteran center/guard Matt Slauson signed as a free agent from the Chargers, and Mewhort signed a contract extension through 2019.
Slauson is not expected to be in the starting unit, but with the injury history of Mewhort and starting center Ryan Kelly, Slauson should play a decent amount of time in Indianapolis.
When you consider that the Colts will be welcoming back there two starting tackles, Anthony Castanzo and Joe Haeg, it seems that the Colts’ line has the potential to bounce back from an off year.
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If the front five is able to remain healthy enough to build chemistry (18 different combinations used in 2017), they have a potential to be an above-average group in 2018.
Add Depth at Tight End
The Colts’ tight end group has undergone a serious makeover in the past few seasons.
After losing Colby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, Indianapolis native Jack Doyle stepped up and became a fan favorite for the Blue and White.
This offseason Ballard made a few more moves at this position to not only give Luck more weapons, but to also give him a little extra protection on the outside.
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Eric Ebron should thrive in Reich’s new “quick-strike” offense, especially since the Colts are seriously thin and inexperienced at wide receiver. A proven veteran like Ebron should earn Luck’s trust quickly.
With weapons like Ebron, Doyle and former basketball player Erik Swoope on the ends, Luck will be able to drop back and get the ball out quickly to these big targets.
Form a new Running Back Committee in Indy
One of the most impactful moves Ballard has made this offseason was focused on the running back position.
Ballard seems to have created a committee of running backs that all serve a certain purpose behind Andrew Luck.
While Marlon Mack will likely be the leader in carries for the Colts, Robert Turbin, who is considered more of a power back, will also share the load for Reich. Ballard also drafted Nyheim Hines out of NC State in the fourth round, and Jordan Wilkins of Ole Miss in the fifth round of this year’s draft.
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Hines’ role has yet to be determined, but based on his background as a wide receiver at NC State, it seems as if he could be a third down pass catching threat out of the backfield. Wilkins provides another pair of young legs in the Colts’ backfield.
These running backs give Luck even more options that he didn’t have two years ago. Having running backs that can serve different purposes will help the Colts confuse opposing defenses, but it will also provide Luck more weapons around him to get the ball out of his hands quickly.
Conclusion
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With all the moves Ballard has made this offseason, his goal to me is clear: the Colts have to protect Andrew Luck in order to be successful.
Without Andrew Luck in the lineup it would be hard for the Colts to succeed in a competitive AFC South.
With an upgrade along the offensive line, and a number of new weapons on the outside and in the backfield, Luck has a chance to return to his former self.
Chris Ballard is taking the appropriate steps to make sure what happened in 2016 (when Luck was sacked 41 times) does not happen again.
Next: Frank Reich and Chris Ballard Discuss Free Agent Additions