Quenton Nelson has changed the Colts’ offensive line

The big Q was drafted last year with the 6th overall pick. Since coming in, he has changed the culture of the entire offensive line, and the Colts have responded with wins.

Quenton Nelson is a guard, yet he was drafted with the 6th overall pick in the draft last year. Guards don’t get taken in the top 10 of drafts. Interior lineman aren’t as valuable as tackles. Don’t tell that to Nelson, or the Colts who have seen great returns already since drafting him.

Nelson came in and immediately changed the culture of the offensive line. He brought a mean streak to the line that wasn’t there before. He helped carve out holes in the middle for Marlon Mack to run through, and had great pass protection for two different quarterbacks.

Nelson was so good as a rookie that he was selected to the Pro Bowl and was a First Team All-Pro selection as well. Again, he’s a guard. This season, he has been just as good if not better. He still has that mean streak and is still killing people while blocking downhill.

While Nelson’s place has been great, his influence on the rest of the offensive line has been just as important. The rest of the offensive line has raised their level of play around him, and the Colts’ offense has played better as a whole as a result.

Nelson will only continue to get better as his time in the league increases. He will get stronger and his technique will improve. That’s a scary thought for defensive linemen and linebackers all across the league.