Starting Lineup 2012

[RCAChainGang]

There is so many people getting cut and it is going to be a culture change. I just thought we might try to get an image fore who is going to play where and where we will find new players.

Example: (Keep in mind I haven't put much thought into the example its just a blueprint that I hope you guys can expound on.)

QB: Luck
HB: Darren Evans, (late round draft pick)
WR: 3rd Round Draft Pick, Anthony Gonzo, Slot- Austin Collie
TE: Tamme
T: Castonzo
G: Ijialana
C: Saturday/Draft pick

I have no idea who fits where on defense with the new scheme.

[falloutboy14]

QB: Luck
RB: Brown, Carter
FB: Mahaffey
TE: Eldridge
WR: Gonzalez, Collie, White, and another guy (I still sort of hope they'll bring back Garcon
OT: Castonzo, Ijalana (I've heard Ijalana is potentially a better LT prospect, so they might switch sides at some point)
OG: Reitz & some guy (Is Pollak still under contract?)
C: some guy

3-4 personel:
NT: A Johnson is the best NT we got, but a Ravens style 3-4 defense will be horrific without a better NT. Aside from Luck, this is perhaps the biggest need.

DE: Muir, Moala, Nevis. Moala might actually be good in a 3-4, since he's got that wide frame. I'm not entirely sure of the best physical characteristics for 3-4 DEs but this is all we got.

OLB: Mathis and Hughes actually make a good combo, if Hughes can actually do something useful.

ILB: Angerer & Wheeler. We could use a bigger guy inside. No idea what either guys weight is, but I bet both could stand to gain 10 pounds.

CB: Powers/Lacey till we can replace Lacey.

S: Bethea and ... David Caldwell?

So that's a guard, center, and nose-tackle that we need that aren't on the roster. Not to mention we badly need a TE, WR, CB, S, and perhaps an inside lb.

[MaxV]

I wonder if Wheeler could play some as a OLB as well. He is a good blitzer.

[falloutboy14]

Updating this just for the sake of it:

QB: Luck
RB: Brown, Carter
FB: Mahaffey
TE: Fleener, Allen
WR: Wayne, Avery, Collie, Hilton
OT: Castonzo, Ijalana, Justice
OG: Reitz, I'm guessing one of Justice/Ijalana will move inside
C: Satele

3-4 personel:
NT: Chapman/McKinney
DE: Moala & Redding
OLB: Freeney & Mathis
ILB: Angerer & Conner
CB: Powers & Thomas
S: Bethea & Zbikowski

Draft didn't go as expected, but the offense at least looks pretty formidable.

[RCAChainGang]

I hope we can get a guy to contribute on the Oline. I jus don't like Justice. I think we will have trouble up front.

Also, we have a huge need at NT and CB. This draft has upside, but I'm downright disappointed.

[MaxV]

There were so many talented CBs (or even defensive players in general) picked in the first 2 days, it was very disappointing to watch.

Today should be a HEAVY defensive day (with a couple of O-Linemen sprinkled in maybe) imo.

[falloutboy14]

Just remembered that Lacey signed with the Lions. That means we've got Kevin Thomas starting and aside from Rucker, I've got no idea what the depth beyond him is.

[MaxV]

Lacey being gone might be an upgrade.

[Warhawk137]

We also don't have Wheeler anymore, the other ILB will probably be Conner (or Edds, if Conner plays as a non-rushing OLB).

I'd also expect the line to be, from left to right, Castonzo/Reitz/Satele/Ijalana/Justice. And even if you're iffy about Justice, just remember that he's still a lot better than Linkenbach. Ijalana and Justice on the right side have to be better than Diem and Link.

[RCAChainGang]

Took the liberty of trying to fill in a little bit of depth to each position. The offense isn't too bad. I'm really curious to see if the running game provides any relief whatsoever. The defense isn't as bad as I had once thought it would be. We likely won't go even but I can see our team having promising moments. I can't wait to see how it works out.

QB: Luck, Stanton, Harnish
RB: Brown, Evans, Ballard
FB: Mahaffey
TE: Fleener, Allen,
WR: Wayne, Collie, Avery, Brazill, Hilton
LT: Castonzo
LG: Reitz
C: Satele
RG: Ijalana
RT: Justice

DE: Redding, Nevis, Moala,
NT: Chapman, McKinney, Johnson
OLB: Freeney, Mathis, Fugger, Hughes
ILB: Angerer, Conner,
SS: Zbikowski, Lefeged
FS: Bethea, Pellerin
CB: Powers, Thomas, Rucker

[tsjames]

I'm really hoping one of the outside wide receivers can step up (Hilton, Avery) and give us a deep threat in 3 wide sets. I much prefer Collie when he is lined up in the slot

[gpngc]

I forgot about Donnie Avery.

Honestly, if the D plays better (especially the secondary), I would not be surprised to see this team win 9 or 10 games.

[killxswitch]

I think 9+ is a stretch but I am expecting 6-8.

[MaxV]

Yeah, A LOT of things would need to go right for us to be .500.

[gpngc]

Is one of them Andrew Luck being awesome? Because he will be.

Brown wasn't terrible last year. The OL is young with a lot of potential.

And Luck's receiving group is stacked. Avery has always been good when healthy. Wayne's Wayne. Allen and Fleener. And I love Hilton. If Collie is healthy that's a plus.

And adding Moore was a big-time signing.

A guy like Luck will change the culture in no time. All of the sudden you'll see Freeney and Mathis looking like they used to. A little momentum. Pagano gets the guys flying around. Bethea makes plays, bing, bang, boom.

The Texans are overrated right now because they played good D last year. Their passing game isn't that good and their safeties still suck.

Your Colts have the best QB in the division in my estimation.

[killxswitch]

Here's Mike Chappell's wild stab in the dark at a depth chart based on what he's seen at camp so far.

OFFENSE

WR: Reggie Wayne, Donnie Avery
WR: Austin Collie, T.Y. Hilton
TE: Coby Fleener, Andre Smith
TE: Dwayne Allen, Dominique Jones
LT: Anthony Castonzo, George Foster
LG: Jeff Linkenbach, Joe Reitz
C: Samson Satele, A.Q. Shipley
RG: Mike McGlynn, Seth Olsen
RT: Winston Justice, Mike Tepper
QB: Andrew Luck, Drew Stanton
RB: Donald Brown, Delone Carter

DEFENSE

LE: Cory Redding, Ricardo Mathews
NT: Antonio Johnson, Brandon McKinney
RE: Fili Moala, Drake Nevis
SLB: Robert Mathis, Jerry Hughes
ILB: Pat Angerer, Jerrell Freeman
ILB: Kavell Conner, Scott Lutrus
WLB: Dwight Freeney, Justin Hickman
LCB: Justin King, Cassius Vaughn
RCB: Jerraud Powers, D.J. Johnson
SS: Tom Zbikowski, David Caldwell
FS: Antoine Bethea, Joe Lefeged

SPECIALISTS

P: Pat McAfee, Brian Stahovich
PK: Adam Vinatieri, Pat McAfee
LS: Justin Snow, Matt Overton

[gpngc]

Looks like 10-6, first place in the AFC South to me!

[killxswitch]

Originally Posted by gpngc

Looks like 10-6, first place in the AFC South to me!

Are you joking? I'd say 7 wins max, and Houston runs away with the AFCS.

[gpngc]

The NFL. The NFL.

Don't buy into the Houston hype. This is the NFL.

[killxswitch]

If Johnson or Schaub go down I will give the Colts a chance. But with a full offseason to further integrate the defense and the additions of Mercilus, Posey, Crick, Brooks, and Jones in the draft, I think they are the real deal. This isn't the same team that screws up when they're supposed to win anymore.

[gpngc]

Originally Posted by killxswitch

If Johnson or Schaub go down I will give the Colts a chance. But with a full offseason to further integrate the defense and the additions of Mercilus, Posey, Crick, Brooks, and Jones in the draft, I think they are the real deal. This isn't the same team that screws up when they're supposed to win anymore.

Based on what? To me it is the very same team. Matt Schaub still has zero playoff wins and zero playoff appearances.

They have NO No. 2 receiver and some big shoes to fill along the offensive line.

This is such an OBVIOUS public hype job it's sickening to me. And because the Titans and Jags suck, the Colts have a real shot at winning the division. They do have the best QB in the division, so that's a HUGE advantage right there.

The Texans have a good D, but no where NEAR as good as the perception is because of last year's No. 1 ranking. Check out the QBs they faced last year en route to ranking first in total defense:

Kerry Collins
Chad Henne
Gave up 40 to Brees
Big Ben
Gave up 25 to Jason Campbell
Gave up 29 to Flacco
Hasselbeck
Gabbert
McCoy
Freeman
Gabbert
Matt Ryan
Dalton
Gave up 28 to Newton
Orlovsky
Hasselbeck

Not exactly a murderer's row - and with that schedule it's not surprising they ranked first overall. The only truly impressive performances against top-15 QBs were Pittsburgh and Atlanta. Otherwise, they pretty much padded their stats by beating up bad QBs.

This year, it'll be much tougher. And they lose leadership from Ryans and Mario Williams.

Go Luck. Go Colts.

[killxswitch]

I like your attitude but a few things:

- Brees destroyed most people, no shame in losing 40 to them.
- Was it 25 specifically to Campbell, or to the Raiders running game?
- Hasselbeck was surprisingly good the first half of the season
- Newton had an amazing year and made lots of defenses look bad

Of the 13 they faced, I think Brees, Rothleisberger, Hasselback (the first time at least), Ryan, Dalton, and Newton were all solid competition. I don't think it was that soft of a schedule. I remember in 09, the year the Colts went to the SB, they faced maybe 3 or 4 solid or better QBs. Sometimes that's just how it goes.

As I am a Colts fan you should know I don't buy media hype of division rivals. I've seen the defense in action. I'm not so sure they're the #1 D in the NFL, but I have no problem expecting they will be top 5 or 7. And if Schaub and Johnson are healthy they have an offense that can put up points on anybody.

I think the Colts will be way better than most people give them credit for. Many national media types are predicting 1 and 2 win seasons, which is just stupid. But when I look at the Colts' schedule I don't see 10 possible wins.