Let’s take a closer look at this Indianapolis Colts team as we go player-by-player through the roster. Up next is OL Matt Goncalves.
With offseason programs now behind us, we will be getting a jump start on our training camp preview by going player-by-player through the Indianapolis Colts’ 91-man roster.
Going alphabetically, up next is offensive lineman Matt Goncalves.
Matt Goncalves’ profileHeight: 6-6Weight: 317Age: 24NFL experience: 1 seasonCollege: PittsburghNo. 712024 Snap count totalsOffense: 566Special teams: 712024 PFF gradesOffense: 65.9Special teams: 63.82024 Season Review
Coming off the bench as a rookie, Goncalves would appear in 10 games on offense, which included making eight starts. He played both left and right tackle spots, filling in for Bernhard Raimann and Braden Smith as needed.
When it was all said and done, Goncalves surrendered three sacks and 22 pressures over 305 pass blocking snaps. By PFF’s metrics, he ranked 65th out of 83 tackles in pass-blocking efficiency and was 36th in run-blocking grade.
As one would hope to see from a young player, as Goncalves gained more experience, his play improved.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season
Goncalves is making a full position change this season, moving from tackle to right guard. In part, what gives the Colts confidence that Goncalves can make this transition is that he practiced at guard last season and steadily improved as the year went on.
However, when it comes to actual in-game reps, this is going to be a pretty new role for him. During Goncalves’ time at Pittsburgh, he played just 44 snaps at guard. Last season, as a rookie, only one in-game snap came at guard.
Offensive line coach Tony Sparano has said that Goncalves is competing for the starting job spot. However, he seems to be the presumed starter at this point.
“I look at his skill set and the skill set that he has,” Sparano said, via James Boyd of The Athletic. “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.”
Sparano continued: “I just know the person. I know the worker. I know exactly how he’s going to apply himself to do that,” Sparano added. “I couldn’t have more belief and confidence in that dude than I do.”
While all eyes will be on the quarterback competition, consistent success for the Colts offense starts up front with providing whoever is under center with a run game to lean on and time to throw.