Posts tagged Benjamin Ijalana
The Colts Mold: Free Agent Guard Market
Jul 6th
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Improving the offensive line has been an apparent theme for the Indianapolis Colts off-season. In the first and second rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft the Colts selected Anthony Castonzo and Benjamin Ijalana, respectively, in order to address the need at offensive tackle.
Charlie Johnson is a spectacularly dynamic offensive lineman who is capable of playing four positions on the line, but would be much better inside or at right tackle. Veteran right tackle Ryan Diem’s production has noticeably declined over the last two seasons and he is commanding a $5.4 million contract in 2011. This leaves players like Ijalana, Johnson, and second-year player Jeff Linkenbach as front-runners for right tackle.
If Ijalana or Johnson move to right tackle, the guard spots will still be filled by a combination of Mike Pollak, Kyle DeVan, or first year starters Jacques McClendon and/or Jaimie Thomas. Linkenbach showed in 2010 that he is not ready to play inside in the NFL. McClendon and Thomas would be unknowns. Pollak has been inconsistent and has lost his starting job numerous times over the last two seasons.
It is for this reason that Chris Polian and the Indy front office could be interested in signing a veteran guard in place of letting Diem’s high contract go. In fact, if Indianapolis signed one of the following three veteran guards the offensive line could be one of the strongest units on the team when January rolls around — assuming the rookies develop as projected. More >
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Colts Running Game on Verge of Breakthrough?
Jun 23rd
Paul Kuharsky of ESPN’s AFC South Blog reported on a story by KC Joyner discussing the state of the Indianapolis Colts ground game. Joyner noted that the difference between a respectable running game and the bottom of the league is relatively small.
The separation between the 15th ranked running game and the 29th ranked running game is only a few percentage points of yards per rushing attempt behind good blocking. Joyner believes the additions of rookie tackle Anthony Castonzo and guard Benjamin Ijalana are likely to make up that ground.
If he is right, Indianapolis’s offense should be as potent as ever. Consider how much more dangerous Indy would be with the option to run on short-yardage, save Manning’s arm, and command more balanced defensive attention that allows receivers time to get into their routes. It could be an interesting year.
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Roster Casualties
May 21st
Despite knowing that the lockout will remain in place, fans are left wondering if some of the old rules that governed the ins and outs of the NFL offseason will stand. One thing in particular, the player total on the offseason roster, should stay the same though. At least that’s what we’ll assume for the time being. Based on the previous CBA, teams were allowed 80 players on an offseason roster, and while that number could change, the fact that the NFL isn’t adding any more games, and the NFLPA doesn’t want to split their pie between any more people, it is reasonable to assume that the figure is likely to stay the same. As it stands right now though, the Colts have 83 players on their roster, but due to the lockout no personnel decisions can be made except for adding the 2011 draft picks to the lists. As such, with the lockout technically still in place and no end to it all readily in sight we are simply left with speculation on what is likely to be a tumultuous beginning to the NFL pre-season. More >
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Reaction to Bill Polian Interview with “1070 The Fan”
May 10th
Last week, Colts GM Bill Polian had a phone in conversation with Grady and Big Joe at 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis. I wanted to highlight a few interesting points that have gone largely unmentioned thus far. After the jump we’ll take a look at a few of these quotes and why they stood out. If you’d like to read the full interview, head over to SportsRadioInterview.com to read the transcript. More >
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2011 Roster Projections – OT Anthony Castonzo
May 7th
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The draft is over, and with the lockout back in place the only thing to do is study draft picks. This is one of the few drafts where almost every pick gives the Colts a player who looks like he could see significant time in the coming year — sans injuries. From Anthony Castonzo to Delone Carter, each of the Colts top four selections shows something that either has been missing from the team, or a new wrinkle that could have a significant impact on how the team operates in 2011. First, let’s take a look at the Colts first round selection, offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo out of Boston College. More >
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Colts are Interested: List of Players Entering 2011 NFL Draft
Apr 28th
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Each year leading up to the draft NFL teams have a spree of interviews, workouts, and visits with prospects. While most teams end up drafting players who they never have a reported interest or official contact with at any time, there are usually a handful of players that each team meets with who are either drafted or signed as priority free agents. In the 2010 NFL Draft, the Colts selected Jerry Hughes and Ray Fisher, both who visited with the team prior to the draft. Undrafted rookies Jeff Linkenbach, Vuna Tuihalamaka, and Mike Newton also were confirmed visitors.
With this in mind, after the jump you will find as many players at each position as Coltzilla could confirm having contact with the Colts prior to the start of the 2011 NFL Draft. Expect to see a few of these players at training camp this fall. More >
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Coltzilla’s Ultimate Colts Mock Draft
Apr 28th
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As NFL Draft crazed football fans already know, one of the biggest problems with mock drafts is that they are extremely unlikely to be accurate. Knowing how each team will pick, let alone the teams writers are most familiar with, is a shot in the dark scenario. Accordingly, Coltzilla has put together the “Ultimate Colts Mock Draft” which will list those players who may be available when the Colts make each of their six selections.
The Ultimate Colts Mock Draft will include prospects from nearly all positions in each round, and will attempt to rate the players in order in each round based upon our assessment of the raw best player available standard. Each of the players listed should be in contention for the most valuable player on the draft board specifically for the Colts, so this delineation hopes be useful following the draft to subjectively determine how team needs may affect Indy’s draft room. More >
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Assessing Positional Value for the Colts 2011 NFL Draft: Offensive Tackle
Apr 9th
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No position has been more heavily discussed, debated, and recruited by the Colts organization — or its fan base — during the 2011 off-season. The benefit of adding a legitimate, starting-caliber, left or right tackle early in the 2011 NFL Draft could drastically affect Indy’s offensive effectiveness and production, particularly running the football. To get an idea where the team stands, it is appropriate to look at the tackle depth already on the Colts roster.
First, assuming the new CBA does not make it impossible to keep key free agents, left tackle Charlie Johnson is the best offensive tackle on the current roster. The problem with this statement is that Johnson is much better suited to play guard in the NFL, or at most right tackle. This means that stalwart right tackle Ryan Diem’s value and production has dropped significantly in the last two or three seasons, increasing the need to replace him with younger talent. Diem had by far the worst year of any of the Colts offensive linemen in 2010 and is getting a salary that his play no longer justifies. More >
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2011 Draft Profiles: OT – Lee Ziemba
Mar 10th
Lee Ziemba
Daniel “Lee” Ziemba
College: Auburn
Age: 23 years old
Experience: Senior (4 years)
Starts at LT: 51 games
Starts at RT: 0 games
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Height: 6 feet 6 inches
Weight: 317 lbs.
Arm Length: 34.00 inches
Hand Width: 9.63 inches
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Projection: Offensive Tackle/Guard
Round: 4th – 5th Round
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