The Indianapolis Colts have an incredibly balanced roster, so don’t expect them to make any high-profile cuts by Aug. 31. Having said that, however, there could be a move or two that leave fans stunned beyond belief.
Will seventh-rounder Mike Strachan make the team amid his promising showing at camp and in the preseason? Could there be any surprise cuts along the offensive line, with the anonymous collection of left tackles struggling as much as it has?
Anything’s possible, and that’s what makes all of this so intriguing. Speaking of which, much has been made about who will make the cut on the defensive line, specifically at the edge rusher position.
We’re starting to get a clearer picture of who the starters will be — if healthy, Tyquan Lewis and Kwity Paye are the undisputed frontrunners — but Ben Banogu has absolutely earned a spot on the 53-man roster.
How bullish are we on Banogu in light of his resurgence? Enough to say that the Colts would be making a serious mistake if they cut him at this point.
Could the 2021 Season Be Colts Pass Rusher Ben Banogu’s Breakout Campaign? https://t.co/BVTOX6u4Gq pic.twitter.com/5Ouq1cXqMp
— Stampede Blue (@StampedeBlue) August 24, 2021
The Colts would be making a huge mistake if they cut Ben Banogu.
Widely picked as a big name on the Colts’ roster who could get cut following his lackluster sophomore campaign, Banogu has been one of the Colts’ standout performers throughout camp and the preseason.
Banogu has gotten extremely unlucky this preseason, as he’s just missed coming up with a handful of sacks. However, the fact he’s generating consistent pressure in game action — and not just at practice against Will Holden and Sam Tevi, who’ve been disasters so far — suggests he’s finally turned a corner.
We understand the logic behind not wanting to get burned by Banogu again after he was a healthy scratch for a number of games last season, but he clearly wasn’t in the right headspace. Based on what we’re hearing from reporters, he’s done a complete 180 as far as his energy and overall hunger is concerned.
Frank Reich has certainly taken notice.
Frank Reich on @Colts DE Ben Banogu: "Ben has always shown flashes, but this is the most consistently we’ve seen from Ben. Encouraged by that. He just seems to be in a really good place mentally. A confident, strong mindset. Really playing hard and really playing smart."
— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) August 22, 2021
Banogu most definitely hasn’t forgot what his 2020 looked like (six tackles and zero sacks in nine games), but he’s had no interest discussing it with the media.
The 25-year-old is focused on letting his play communicate that he’s a new player, and the results speak for themselves.
While Banogu has yet to show that he can consistently produce in the NFL, giving up on him when he’s seemingly on the verge of a breakout year — which would be huge for the Colts’ DL — could go down as a massive mistake.
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