The Indianapolis Colts are well into their summer break catching a little down time before having to report back to the facility at the end of July for the start of training camp.
Even though there was no contract or pads being worn during the offseason workouts, there were still plenty of storylines to keep up with throughout the spring sessions.
Here’s what we learned about the Colts during the offseason workouts:
The culture being built is a strong one
The Colts had a near perfect attendance rate throughout the entirety of the spring. Some players were dealing with injuries and were kept off of the field, but just about everyone showed up. That is a testament to the type of culture the Colts are building in the locker room.
Since Chris Ballard took over as general manager in 2017, finding players and coaches that put the team above everything has been the objective. It’s clear that objective has been achieved as everyone is preaching about the mentality in the locker room.
Not every team that wins has strong chemistry and every team that has an established culture doesn’t always win, but it certainly helps that the Colts have everyone on the same page about where the priorities are.
Depth is legit
Over the past few seasons, the Colts have lacked in depth. They have had talented players on the roster, sure. But they have lacked the necessary depth to carry them deep into the playoffs. That doesn’t appear to be the case now.
While the roster still has improvements to make, it is obvious that the depth is much better entering the 2019 season than it has been in recent years. Most would argue that the depth is the best it has been since Andrew Luck arrived in 2012 as the top overall pick.
It will be interesting to see how all of the roles fall into place during training camp and the preseason, but the depth the Colts are building is extremely legitimate as they head into 2019.
WR competition will be a big one
The Colts have typically had competition at wide receiver simply because the numbers are higher at that position than they are at any other spot during this time of year. However, this year’s group is full of talent all over the depth chart.
From the WR1 in T.Y. Hilton to the guys fighting for the final spot in the room like Zach Pascal and Daurice Fountain, the Colts are likely going to cut some talented players when the time comes at the beginning of September.
Seeing as there wasn’t a ton of headway made during the spring, training camp and the preseason games will be fun to watch when the entire room goes to war for the spots on the depth chart.
Run game will continue to be a priority
Despite a resurgence of production during the second half of the season in 2018, the Colts wound up finishing 20th in rushing yards per game and 21st in yards per carry. The offense was still strong, but the Colts have made it a point to improve the rushing attack.
This is one of the reasons why Chris Strausser and Howard Mudd were hired to take over the offensive line duties following the firing of Dave DeGuglielmo. The Colts have made it clear they want to be a top-five rushing unit for the 2019 season.
Doing so will take a ton of pressure off of Andrew Luck to throw the ball 50–60 times per game while also keeping control of the clock. Whether it will happen remains to be seen, but the Colts have made it clear where their priorities lay.
Defense could be looking to use more man coverage
It was a well-known development that the Colts were going to be a zone-heavy team with the arrival of new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, given his history with the Dallas Cowboys. They did that in 2018, but a change could be in order during his second season running the unit.
With the influx of talent on the defensive side of the ball, there is plenty of talk that the Colts are thinking about implementing more man coverage in the secondary. With a safety like Malik Hooker having immense range to go along with the press ability and arm length of the current cornerback room, some believe we will see shades of the Legion of Boom defense that dominated for years in Seattle.
Eberflus has certainly made it known they are toying with the idea of using more man coverage — if simply to open up the playbook — which is something to watch during the preseason games.
Ben Banogu’s primary position still unknown
The Colts drafted the TCU defender in the second round during April’s big event with the idea that he would compete for the starting SAM linebacker role in the middle of the defense, while also seeing time as a defensive end in pass-rushing situations.
However, it isn’t clear where the primary role for Banogu will be just yet as he’s shown plenty of promise as a speed rusher off the edge during the spring. This has led the Colts to continue the process of trying him out equally at both spots in the front seven hoping to find some clarity.
Having that type of versatility will only help Banogu’s case for playing time, but where he will be lining up primarily is still a mystery heading into training camp.
Mo Alie-Cox in line for a breakout?
Among the many storylines that dominated the spring was the domination of the tight end in Alie-Cox, who ran as the defacto TE1 this spring in the absence of Jack Doyle (hip) and Eric Ebron (groin).
With the starting duo sidelined with their respective injuries, Alie-Cox shined as one of the best pass catchers of the spring. He showed off improved route running in the passing game, which is the biggest indicator he could be ready to take on a bigger role in the offense.
Alie-Cox possesses elite size and athleticism for a tight end, but his game has been extremely raw. He’s making tangible progress and could be in line for a bigger role in 2019 if that trend continues throughout the preseason.
