Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich will have his hands full this season trying to rebuild the confidence of quarterback Carson Wentz. However, with the recent signing of former Kansas City Chiefs tackle Eric Fisher, the task may have gotten a little bit easier.
Wentz would have won the MVP under Reich during the 2017 season had he not gone down with a knee injury late in the year. And Colts fans are hoping Reich can revive that version of Wentz (minus the ACL tear).
It will certainly help if the offensive line can keep the pressure to a minimum for Wentz.
As well as the Colts’ offensive line has played in recent years, that was not seen as a potential issue, but then Anthony Castonzo retired, leaving the Colts with some big shoes to fill up front. With the Colts not drafting a tackle until late in the seventh round, fans were concerned.
Colts GM Chris Ballard recognized the need but also did not seem to think there was anyone worth taking in the early rounds of the draft (ESPN):
“Anytime you have a player like Anthony Castonzo retire, it’s a need. … But if you’re going to draft a guy that high and you’re drafting him to play left tackle, you’d like to know that he’s going to be able to do it for his whole career.”
But then the Colts picked up Eric Fisher, a guy who could very well be an upgrade.
Castanzo had been an excellent tackle. Since grading out with a 68.9 during his rookie season, he had been consistently in the upper-70s/the lower 80s every year. That is, every year but 2015 (74.7) and last year (73.4).
Was he slipping? As he was closing in on 33 years old, had the decline begun? Since he retired, we will never know. But his departure opened the door for Fisher.
Fisher is a couple of years younger and has graded out closer to the high-60s and low-70s (via PFF) for most of his career. But then last year, he emerged as one of the better tackles in the league (80.1; good for 16th best in the league).
If he can maintain the level of play that earned him that grade (and bounce back from an Achilles injury), theoretically, the Colts should have a better offensive line this year than last when they ranked seventh in the league.
Does having a good offensive line mean Wentz will succeed in Indy? No, of course not. But with a good offensive line, a great running backs group, decent receivers, and a coach that knows how to get the most out of him, his chances are looking up.
If Wentz’s chances are looking up, so are the chances the Colts win the AFC South.
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