Things are shaping up a little on the interior line in mini-camp, but that doesn’t mean things will stay that way when the snaps are for real in September.
Right now, the starters from left to right are: Ryan Lilja, Jeff Saturday and Charlie Johnson. Behind them, respectively, are: Steve Justice, Jamey Richard and Mike Pollak.
There are some complications, though. Starting with right guard, I don’t think the team thinks Johnson is a better bet at the position than Pollak, just that they are unlikely to hand a starting job to a rookie (an unsigned one at that!) in mini-camp. Remember Thomas Houchin? Didn’t think so. But he was the starter at left outside linebacker at the 2005 mini-camp, largely because they didn’t want the team’s unsigned youngsters getting any ideas above their station. Look for Pollak to usurp Johnson before too long, which will force the veteran back into the fight for a reserve tackle gig. It's win or be cut out there.
Justice, who is fairly NFL-ready but doesn’t have the upside of Pollak, is at left guard because starter Lilja will probably miss at least some of mini-camp with a knee injury. With Lilja out, Justice will get lots of reps, and the offense won’t suffer too greatly.
Of the three draft picks, Richard is by far the most raw, so he will sit and watch behind Jeff Saturday, perhaps the best technician at the position in the game. He needs to learn, and he will if he pays attention.
• Speaking of Saturday, he told the media that he’s a little concerned that the Colts drafted three players at his position in his walk year. Well duh. His agent says he’s negotiating with the Colts for a contract extension. Good luck with that.
• Peyton Manning says he’s glad to have Dominic Rhodes back. Take that, Kenton Keith. You’re as good as cut.
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