PROJECTED DEPTH CHART
| Indianapolis Colts Depth Chart - 2015 | ||||
| Regular Offense | ||||
| STARTER | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | |
| WR | T.Y. Hilton | D. Rogers | ||
| TE | D. Allen | C. Fleener | ||
| LT | A. Castonzo | C. Hairston | ||
| LG | J. Mewhort | E. Looney (R) | ||
| C | K. Holmes | L. Louis | ||
| RG | D. Thomas | H. Thornton | ||
| RT | B. Fusco | C. Hairston | ||
| WR | R. Wayne | C. Shorts III | D. Moncrief | |
| QB | A. Luck | J. Palmer | ||
| FB | S. Havili | |||
| HB | T. Richardson | V. Ballard | J. Forsett | |
| Base 3-4 Defense | ||||
| STARTER | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | |
| LDE | D. Browning (R) | R. Jean-Francois | Landon Stone (R) | |
| NT | M. Hughes | J. Chapman | ||
| RDE | A. Jones | R. Jean-Francois | R. Duncan (R) | |
| LOLB | B. Werner | E. Walden | ||
| LILB | B. Spikes | A. Dent | ||
| RILB | D. Jackson | K. Sheppard | ||
| ROLB | V. Burfict | E. Walden | ||
| CB | V. Davis | D. Butler | A. Kilgore (R) | |
| SS | W. Moore | B. Daniels (R) | ||
| FS | L. Landry | B. Daniels (R) | ||
| CB | P. Amukamara | G. Toler | D. Odom (R) | |
| Special Teams | ||||
| STARTER | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | |
| K | A. Devito | |||
| P | P. McAfee | |||
| PR | D. Odom | T.Y. Hilton | ||
| KR | D. Odom | T.Y. Hilton | ||
| LS | K. Holmes | D. Thomas | ||
OTA / PRE-SEASON ANSWERS
Quarterback (Again) : After taking home his first MVP award, is there any question that Andrew Luck is the heart of this team? Everyone knows he will be good, and now he has the pieces around him to be even better. There is no excuse for the Colts offense to be anything but the best, and based on the pre-season results they should be the best if not one of the best offenses in football.
Can Luck add a Superbowl ring to his MVP award?
Offensive Line : After looking a little frail going into the 2014 season this could be one of the better units in the NFL thanks to free agency and LeCharles Bentley. Brandon Fusco and Chris Hairston were added to the mix, although Hairston has struggled in his transition to RT and looks like he might be a back-up at best, but Phil Emery stepped in to help develop their players. Emery sent the entire Colts offensive line to train with LeCharles Bentley at his O-Line Performance training center after he was impressed by Khaled Holmes' development, already a client of Bentley's, and it looks like it has paid off. The starting line looks solid, and this should help keep Luck upright and Trent Richardson rolling.
Richardson's Rebirth : Richardson, once a heralded prospect, fell from grace after the 2013 season. The trade for Richardson which cost Indianapolis their 2014 1st round pick looked like a real loser coming into the season, but after rushing for 1391 yards and 12 TD it looks like the Colts have a star HB. Richardson is going to see a lot of the ball in 2015, OC Pep Hamilton continues to be dedicated to the running game and with Ahmad Bradshaw gone it's Richardson's show.
FALL QUESTIONS
Defensive Line : The front office really failed to do much for the defensive line aside from drafting DE Donavon Browning, but even he doesn't look like the next Robert Quinn. The depth isn't great, and most of the starters are aging. It looks like the group is basically just going to get in the way so the linebackers can step up and make tackles, which could be an issue. Vontaze Burfict, who has been nothing short of amazing coming off the edge, could bring some pass rush relief but that will just be papering over the problem.
Spikes is going to have a lot to do if the Colts' defensive line struggles.
Pagano's Future : Coach Chuck Pagano has done well with the Colts over the years, but 2014 was a real misstep on his part. Yes, important players were traded away, but they blew games they should have won and wasted an MVP season from Luck. New GM Phil Emery has loaded this team with free agents and a few choice draft picks, so Pagano will not have any excuses. A return to the playoffs will help him keep his job, but how far will they have to go for Pagano to avoid being replaced? Pagano is well liked by players and management, but another down season might be too much.
Is it Superbowl or bust for Pagano?
Defensive Backs : Outside of Vontae Davis, Prince Amukamara and super-rookie Branch Daniels, this is Indianapolis' weakest area. William Moore has been decent during the pre-season, but he certainly hasn't wowed anyone. LaRon Landry is slated to start at FS, but he spends more time looking over his shoulder at Daniels than he does defending passes. After Davis and Amukamara it gets really thin, so depth and dime/nickel situations will be an issue. They drafted some depth, but they are hardly more than dime coverage options at the moment. It's a good thing the Colts have a high powered offense because teams are going to be passing all over them.
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