2. Matt Pryor has to impress at left tackle
Earlier this week, head coach Frank Reich told the media that Matt Pryor has earned and deserves the starting left tackle position. That effectively ends any battle at the spot and limits the chance of rookie, Bernhard Raimann, starting at left tackle in Week 1.
Unfortunately, although Pryor has been named the starter, he has not been incredibly impressive throughout the preseason. He may currently be the best left tackle on the team, but he hasn’t proved to fans that Indy won’t still struggle at the position this season. On Saturday, Pryor will have the opportunity to deliver a solid performance that can give everyone confidence entering the season.
Going against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, their head coach, Todd Bowles, has already said that all healthy starters will be playing. That means that Pryor will be getting some good work against a talented defensive front. If he can put together a good half with the starters, that’ll be the perfect stepping stone for Pryor entering the season.
However, if Pryor is inconsistent and noticeably struggles, that won’t be a good sign for the Colts. While there’s a chance Pryor could continue to improve throughout the year, many would worry that Indy still hasn’t found a solution for one of the most important positions in football.