The Indianapolis Colts made several big additions to their roster this offseason, but they lost some key free agents as well. So, which offseason departure was the biggest for the Colts?
Jared Dubin of CBS Sports recently answered this question for each NFL team, and when it came to the Colts, it was a tie. Dubin selected both center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries.
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“The Colts, similarly, are losing two-thirds of their interior offensive line, and a longtime stalwart at center in Kelly,” Dubin wrote. “Fries was hurt last season but is still a very good player, and Indy is now replacing two starters on the inside in front of what is likely to be a very questionable starter under center, whether it’s Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones.”
The presumed starters at center and right guard are Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves, although, as offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. has mentioned, there will be competition at both of those positions for playing time.
Bortolini very much held his own last season when called upon, but he is still relatively inexperienced at a position where a lot is asked of that player–both pre-snap and particularly in the run game in Shane Steichen’s offense.
Goncalves, meanwhile, is making a position change. While Sparano noted that he played right guard in practice throughout last season and improved as the year went on, Goncalves’ in-game reps at guard in his career consist of 44 total plays while at Pittsburgh and one play last season as a rookie.
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“I look at his skill set and the skill set that he has,” Sparano said. “He’s a big man. He’s got power. He’s got length and he’s really, deceptively very light on his feet. He’s quick. He can get out in space, you saw some of the stuff he did in the run game out in space last year was very good. That about his skill set excited me, plus he’s a really tough physical player. For our guards, that is non-negotiable, they gotta be that way and he is that way.”
Any time there is inexperience or a position change taking place, there is always going to be some level of unknown until proven otherwise.
Naturally, all eyes will be on the Colts’ quarterback competition and the play from under center this season. But consistent success on offense is going to begin with steady play from the offensive line by providing a run game to lean on and time in the pocket for the quarterback.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Ryan Kelly, Will Fries named Colts biggest offseason losses