Rebuilding of offensive line should help Colts

When Bill Polian selected three offensive lineman - Mike Pollack, Steve Justice and Jamey Richard - in the 2008 NFL Draft, he confirmed that he knows as well as anybody that protecting Peyton Manning is the number one priority in Indianapolis.

Those three Indianapolis offensive linemen and the rest of the gang are well-coached by 67-year-old Howard Mudd. Mudd deserves praise for his ability to teach and develop young players. Reportedly, Jim Caldwell had to talk Mudd, as well as offensive coordinator Tom Moore, out of retirement. Continuity means so much. Manning has known no other offensive coordinator or offensive line coach throughout his career, and both quietly play a critical role in his success.

The Colts' offensive line has undergone a rebuilding phase over the last two years. Manning's longtime blindside blocker, Tarik Glenn, retired before the 2007 training camp. Luckily, the Colts traded their 2008 first-round selection for a spot in the early portion of the second round of the 2007 Draft. Enter Tony Ugoh. 

When Ugoh is on the field, he is a top-notch player whose best football is ahead of him. Ugoh uses his feet well for a man his size. Loaded with athleticism, he is very steady in protecting Manning's blind side. Ugoh's strength is run blocking. He is an excellent run blocker and gets out in front on stretch plays. Some scouts question Ugoh's toughness. When Ugoh is not on the field, the Colts' offense sinks. Ugoh returned for the Oct. 27 game against Tennessee and started the rest of the way. He played a huge role in the eight-game winning streak.

The Colts played musical chairs at offensive guard throughout 2008 after Jake Scott left for division-rival Tennessee. Ryan Lilja, the original starter in 2007, battled injuries and was outplayed by Pollack and Richard. After having a strong rookie season, Pollack was missed in the playoff loss to the Chargers.

Center Jeff Saturday was signed to a long-term deal. Smart and savvy, Saturday makes all of the offensive line calls before the snap. He is also the only player on the team that isn't afraid of getting in Manning's grill when situations aren't going right. And Manning needs that. When Saturday battled injuries through 2008, 7th-round steal Jamey Richard filled in nicely. Richard had a rough start, but he finally dug in and proved to be a promising player for the future. 

Right tackle Ryan Diem has been nicked with injuries over the last three years. When healthy, Diem is very solid but isn't a long-term fixture at the position. 

Overall, the group lacks quality depth at tackle that needs to be addressed. The interior line is well-stocked for the future. Assuming the ‘08 rookies progress, guard and center are not areas of concern. While he didn't see the field very much in 2008, Justice, ranked as the highest center prior to the 2008 Draft, has untapped potential. But the outside is short on depth, and Diem is short on years. Tackle Charlie Johnson, a starter in Super Bowl XLI, is nothing more than serviceable. Seven offensive tackles were taken in the first round of 2008. Don't be surprised if the Colts become one in 2009.
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Bryan Ault is a student at Franklin College, and he writes columns for The Tribune. He may be reached online via his blog at bryanaultfootball.blogspot.com