With all eyes on the quarterbacks, don’t forget about this key training camp competition for the Colts.
Tanor Bortolini is the presumed favorite to be the Indianapolis Colts’ starting center this season. However, before we get to that point, it’s a job he will first have to earn.
As GM Chris Ballard mentioned on Tuesday, prior to the first training camp practice, Bortolini will be competing with Danny Pinter for that starting center job.
Jake Arthur of Horseshoe Huddle would write that Bortolini and Pinter have been “alternating first-team reps each day” early on in training camp.
When Bortolini was called upon during his rookie season, he very much held his own. According to PFF’s metrics, Bortolini ranked 15th in pass-blocking efficiency, and he was 22nd out of 40 centers in run-blocking grade.
However, he is still a relatively inexperienced player with 351 career snaps. Bortolini is also at a position where a lot is put on that player’s plate, from the pre-snap calls and adjustments to what’s asked of the center position in Shane Steichen’s offense, specifically in the run game.
Pinter is entering his sixth NFL season. Last season, he would make two starts, no sacks and three pressures, and he was particularly good as a run-blocker by PFF’s metrics.
“I thought (Pinter) did a nice job for us and played at a high level,” offensive line coach Tony Sparano said earlier this offseason. “And to me, competition, we’ve talked about a lot around here, makes everybody better.”
Whoever ends up starting at center for the Colts will have big shoes to fill following the departure of Ryan Kelly in free agency. But with Ballard wanting to prioritize competition this offseason, this is a role–and an important one–that won’t be handed to either player.