Connect with us

Indianapolis, IN

Projecting the Colts’ 53-man roster: How will things shape up under Shane Steichen?

Published

on

Projecting the Colts’ 53-man roster: How will things shape up under Shane Steichen?


INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts open the 2023 NFL regular season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 10 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Colts’ roster has undergone some significant changes since last season’s tumultuous 4-12-1 season that resulted in the firing of coach Frank Reich.

This season, under new coach Shane Steichen, Indianapolis will look different at some key spots. The Colts added a quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft (Anthony Richardson); given a new defensive end a $24 million contract (Sam Ebukam) and signed the top place-kicker in free agency (Matt Gay).

Here’s what the Colts’ 2023 53-man roster might look like:

Advertisement

QUARTERBACK (3): Gardner Minshew, Anthony Richardson, Sam Ehlinger

The Colts have undergone their most significant overhaul at this position. Gone are Matt Ryan and Nick Foles, both of whom started games for the Colts in 2022. Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick, figures to be the starter at some point. But will Minshew, who is skilled in running Steichen’s offense, hold him off for the time being? Ehlinger remains but now is entrenched at the No. 3 spot.


RUNNING BACK (4): Jonathan Taylor, Zack Moss, Deon Jackson, Evan Hull

Taylor is looking to return to form this season after a recurring ankle injury limited him to his worst year in 2022. The depth is adequate, with the veteran Moss returning for his first full season in Indy after being traded from Buffalo last year and Jackson back for his third season. Hull, a rookie from Northwestern and an accomplished pass catcher, looks to challenge Jackson for the third-down role.


WIDE RECEIVER (6): Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, Isaiah McKenzie, Breshad Perriman

Pittman enters a contract year looking for a big season, but can he do that with a rookie expected to be the quarterback? Pierce flashed his deep-ball abilities last season and should have more opportunities with the strong-armed Richardson. Downs and McKenzie will duel for the slot-receiver spot, while Perriman looks to re-establish himself after catching just 20 passes combined over the past two seasons.

Advertisement

TIGHT END (5): Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, Jelani Woods, Will Mallory, Drew Ogletree

Keeping this many tight ends is a tough sell. But it’s a strength of the team and going with a shorter lineup might mean parting ways with a productive player. Alie-Cox and Granson are established, but the key is taking the next step. Woods emerged as a rookie last season and could thrive in Steichen’s scheme. Rookie Mallory and Ogletree also have significant potential.


OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Braden Smith, Bernhard Raimann, Will Fries, Danny Pinter, Blake Freeland, Emil Ekiyor

This remains an area to watch for Indianapolis. The pedigree is there, but the performance most certainly was not last season. Depth was also an issue and remains so. The Colts are banking on two things: That the likes of Nelson and Kelly returning to form and that players like Fries (at right guard) can step up. This feels like a unit where the Colts should be watching the waiver wire to bolster the depth, though fourth-round pick Freeland looks like a nice swing-tackle backup option.


DEFENSIVE LINE (9): DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam, Tyquan Lewis, Dayo Odeyingbo, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Taven Bryan, Eric Johnson II

This group, led by All-Pro Buckner, has the potential to be an above-average unit if everyone stays healthy — which has not been the case of late. Ebukam comes over as a free agent from the San Francisco 49ers and the Colts see him as a more well-rounded option at end than Yannick Ngakoue, who departs after one season. The inside-outside contributions of backups Lewis, Odeyingbo and Adebawore could loom large.


LINEBACKER (5): Zaire Franklin, Shaquille Leonard, E.J. Speed, JoJo Domann, Grant Stuard

This group might need another body depending on the status of All-Pro Leonard, who is still working his way back from a second back surgery. Outside of Leonard, Franklin was a revelation last season, when he finished fourth in the NFL in tackles. The Colts will be leaning more heavily on Speed, who steps into an expanded role after the departure of Bobby Okereke to the New York Giants.


CORNERBACK (6): Kenny Moore II, Julius Brents, Darius Rush, Tony Brown, Dallis Flowers, Jaylon Jones

Advertisement

This unit will be shockingly young in 2023. Moore is an established veteran and one-time Pro Bowl selection, but the Colts will be asking more of second-round pick Brents following the recent league suspension and release of veteran Isaiah Rodgers. The depth at the position is composed mostly of raw players, including fifth-rounder Rush, 2022 undrafted free agent Flowers and seventh-round pick Jones.


SAFETY (4): Julian Blackmon, Rodney Thomas II, Nick Cross, Henry Black

Blackmon moves to strong safety on a full-time basis this season, with the Colts looking to get him more involved than he was while serving as the single-high free safety. Thomas was a nice find in the seventh round last year and should continue his development. The depth will be determined by how well Cross comes along after a slow start in his rookie season in 2022.


SPECIALISTS (3): Matt Gay (K), Luke Rhodes (LS), Rigoberto Sanchez (P)

Gay represents a huge upgrade at kicker, converting 93.3% of his field-goal attempts with the Los Angeles Rams last season. The Colts figure to have an offense that will be challenged to score points, so solidifying the kicker position was critical. The only question in this unit is whether Sanchez returns to form after sustaining a ruptured Achilles in training camp last season. He was one of the league’s top punters before the injury.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Indianapolis, IN

Indiana Grown: 8th Day Distillery

Published

on

Indiana Grown: 8th Day Distillery


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Each and every Saturday, WISH-TV highlights a local company together with our partners at Indiana Grown.

This week, Jaime and Matt Lamping with 8th Day Distillery in Indianapolis joined News 8 at Daybreak.

The Lampings share with News 8 what started their passion for the distillery, and elaborate on how Indiana’s state laws at the time impacted their plans.

They also share more about their Bottle Shop & Cocktail Bar, which recently celebrated its sixth anniversary. They discuss their various workshops and show off new releases ready to hit your shelves this year.

Advertisement

Watch the full interview above to learn more.



Source link

Continue Reading

Indianapolis, IN

Report: Pirates Promote Top Pitching Prospect to Indianapolis

Published

on

Report: Pirates Promote Top Pitching Prospect to Indianapolis


PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly promoting one of their top pitching prospects in their minor league system, getting him closer to the MLB.

Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reported that the Pirates will promote right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler from Double-A Altoona Curve to Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.

Chandler played for North Oconee High School in Bogart, Ga., 60 miles east of Atlanta. He starred in multiple sports, including basketball, golf, football and baseball. He originally committed to Georgia to play baseball, but then decommitted and committed to Clemson to play both football and baseball.

He had a fantastic senior season for North Oconee, going 8-1 with just a 1.25 ERA, plus 96 strikeouts in 44.2 innings pitched, while hitting .411 with eight home runs, 12 doubles and 35 RBI.

The Pirates would select Chandler with the No, 72 overall pick in the Third Round of the 2021 MLB Draft and signed him for $3 millon signing bonus, an over slot signing.

He pitched and also played shortstop for the Rookie-Level Florida Complex Pirates in 2021 and 2022 and then earned promotion to the Bradenton Marauders in the Single-A Florida State League.

Advertisement

Chandler chose to focus on pitching heading into the 2023 season, which would show his best talents. He started 24 games for the Greensboro Grasshoppers in High-A, with a 9-4 record, 4.75 ERA in 106.0 innings pitched, making 120 strikeouts to 51 walks and holding hitters to a .265 batting average.

He made it up to Altoona for just one game in 2023, allowing just one hit in five innings of work and getting the win.

Chandler has played all of 2024 in Double-A, starting 16 of 19 games, a 6-7 record, one save, one shutout. He also had a 3.70 ERA in 80.1 innings pitched, allowing 55 hits, 33 earned runs and 26 walks, while making 94 strikeouts and holding hitters to a .192 batting average, along with having a 1.01 WHIP.

His last start came Friday night against the Richmond Flying Squirrels, allowing just two hits and one run in 6.0 innings pitched, while making six strikeouts on 80 pitches.

Chandler has also pitched great since the start of June, with a 2.61 ERA and 10.6 K/9.

Advertisement

MLB Pipeline ranks Chandler as the No. 49 prospect in their top 100 across baseball, the No. 9 right-handed pitcher and No. 12 pitcher. They also rate him as the highest Pirates prospect.

Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates.





Source link

Continue Reading

Indianapolis, IN

National discount retailer to make it's way to downtown Indianapolis

Published

on

National discount retailer to make it's way to downtown Indianapolis


INDIANAPOLIS — The downtown Indy building Claypool Court is getting a new retailer.

Officials hope major names like Burlington will bring more Hoosiers and visitors to Mile Square.

WRTV

“There’s definitely a lot of higher-end restaurants right around this area, so I think bringing in some retail stores isn’t a bad idea,” Wesley Slaughter, who lives downtown, said.

Advertisement

The store will sit at Washington and Illinois Streets, an area Slaughter says will be a good fit because it’s a heavily trafficked intersection.

bcf.jpg

WRTV

“I could see it being beneficial to get more people in the area because otherwise you have to drive outside of 465 just to hit one of those stores,” Slaughter said.

TJ Maxx has been a big part of the downtown retail scene for many years, but now there is some competition with the Burlington that’s going to be a couple of doors down.

WATCH RELATED COVERAGE | Downtown Indy’s Future Plans announced

Advertisement

Downtown Indy’s future plans announced

“We’re excited anytime that there’s a new addition to the retail landscape here in downtown Indianapolis,” Taylor Schaffer, with Downtown Indy Inc., said.

Schaffer says this is just part of a pipeline of new projects and development coming to the area.

Advertisement
IMG_7165.jpg

WRTV

The space Burlington will take over is the lower level of Claypool Court. It used to be home to the Rhythm! Discovery Center.

The store is set to open this fall.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending