First look: Colts 2012 offense

Aside from Reggie Wayne, the Colts’ current offense represents a tear-down/rebuild from the one we watched smash records under Peyton Manning. It’s not just Manning who’s gone, but also other notables like Jeff Saturday, Dallas Clark, Joseph Addai, Pierre Garçon, Jacob Tamme, Ryan Diem and others. Replacing them will be a young, less heralded group who may take a few years to jell. ColtPlay takes a look (Note: so I don’t sound like some rabbi saying “God forbid” and “God willing” before every statement, just assume the opinions expressed are barring injury, suspension or other mitigating factor):

Quarterback: Andrew Luck, Drew Stanton, Chandler Harnish, Trevor Vittatoe

The Colts handed Luck the job when they cut Manning, and perhaps before that. He will start. Stanton’s a middling veteran journeyman who is around in case of emergency. Certainly an upgrade of Curtis Painter, but perhaps not over Dan Orlovsky. Harnish is an intriguing talent, but does not have the accuracy or experience to be an NFL backup yet. I doubt he’d survive the cut necessary to put him on the practice squad, so expect to see him make the team and perhaps even have some trick-play packages made for him. Vittatoe would appear to be a camp arm.

Fullback: Ryan Mahaffey, Chris Gronkowski

Coach Chuck Pagano told the media the Colts planned to use a fullback more extensively, but did not add one through the draft or free agency (actually they lost Jerome Felton, the guy who played most often at the spot last season), so they must be happy with the ones they have. Based on their 2012 performances, it’s hard to tell who’ll win the job, so I’ll give the edge to Mahaffey, who appears to be a slightly better blocker.

Halfback: Donald Brown, Delone Carter, Vic Ballard, Deji Karim, Darren Evans

Brown seems to have turned the corner from the bust he appeared to be earlier in his career, but still wouldn’t not considered an elite back by anyone but his mom. Complementing him, the trio of Carter, Ballard and Evans are all big, strong between-the-tackles runners, with limited speed and elusiveness. None of them are likely to push Brown out of the starting lineup, though Carter will get carries if he can improve his ball security and Ballard could be the solution to the team’s chronic short-yardage problems. Karim is the only speed back on the roster, and he’s had some ups and downs in his two years in the NFL. His ability to contribute on offense will probably be tied to his ability to win the kick return job.

Receivers: Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, Donnie Avery, Quan Cosby, Jarred Fayson, Jeremy Ross, TY Hilton, LaVon Brazill, Jabin Sambrano, Griff Whalen

It appears that two-thirds of the positions are set. Wayne will continue to start at split end, and Collie — if he has recovered from his concussions — will play the slot, and back Wayne up. But the split end position, which requires a greater amount of speed than either Wayne or Collie can bring to the table, is up for grabs between veteran Avery and rookies Hilton and Brazill. All bring speed, but have size, strength and durability issues. Since Avery had 100 catches in his first two seasons in the NFL before a grisly ACL tear, he’ll probably start, unless one of the others totally wows coaches. Still, I think Hilton is the future at the position if he can hold up. Of those others, Cosby, Ross and Sambrano figure in the kick return competition with Karim, Hilton and Brazill, while Whalen will hope to stick as a slot backup, but Brazill could figure there too.

Tight ends: Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen, Brody Eldridge, Kyle Miller, Dominique Jones

Although they are rookies, Fleener and Allen will be 1-2 or 2-1. They’re different players with different strengths, and both will be used accordingly and frequently. Fleener has the advantage of having been Luck’s teammate, but Allen’s soft hands and uncanny ability to find open spots in coverage will be a boon for a rookie quarterback who will find himself in trouble from time to time. Eldridge will block and run the occasional, mostly fruitless, route. While Miller is primarily in camp as a long-snapping prospect, he did catch 62-872-7 as a senior at Mount Union, so you never know. Jones is an absolute wild card after having been kicking around low-level professional football since graduating from tiny Shepherd College. Still, no matter where he’s gone, he has caught the ball consistently.

Tackles: Anthony Castonzo, Winston Justice, Jeff Linkenbach, Mike Tepper, Justin Anderson, Steven Baker

The starters will be former top draft pick Castonzo on the left and mercurial veteran Justice on the right. Former starter Linkenbach could be on the bubble after giving up nine sacks last season, but will fight for a swing backup job. Similarly, Tepper played at both guard positions as well as right tackle last season, and was better (to my eye) at tackle. You wouldn’t want to see him spend any length of time at left tackle, though. Rookies Anderson and Baker are both developmental types with high upside, who — aside from perhaps a few short-yardage snaps — would only play as rookies in a case of dire emergency.

Guards: Ben Ijalana, Mike McGlynn, Joe Reitz, Seth Olsen, Hayworth Hicks, Jason Foster

Ijalana, last year’s second-round pick who missed most of his rookie season to injury, is pencilled in as the starter at right guard. If he’s healthy, he should be solid. At left guard, the Colts have the opposite of what they have most other places — more experience than talent. Former Bengal and Eagle McGlynn was brought in to win the left guard job, and he probably will, but he does not appear to have the skills of a long-term starter. Reitz started 10 games last season, and will fight McGlynn for a starting spot. If Ijalana isn’t ready, they could both find themselves starting. Both Linkenbach and Tepper have played guard for the Colts and could help save a roster spot if either backs up both positions. Olsen has a shot to stick, but probably shouldn’t have been given one after his horrible performance last year. Hicks and Foster are long shots, with Foster more NFL-ready and Hicks having a higher upside.

Center: Samson Satele, A.Q. Shipley, Jake Kirkpatrick

I was never a Satele fan when he was with Miami, but he played very well last season for Oakland, showing strength and ability I had not seen out of him before. He should be a solid, if unspectacular, short-term starter. Both Shipley and Kirkpatrick are decent prospects, and their fight for the No. 2 spot should be vicious. Shipley is stronger, but Kirkpatrick is a better athlete. McGlynn can also play center, so their battle might be for naught if he doesn’t start at guard.