*We credit Pro Football Focus, STATS and Football Outsiders in assessment of past performances in the offensive linemen outlined below

Indianapolis Colts

John Madden might say “A great QB is a good deodorant.”

Because this offensive line stinks – and has for three years. Fortunately, Andrew Luck is a quick decision-maker with good mobility who can take a hit. The Colts offensive line has been especially poor in pass protection during the Luck era while it’s been average (at best) blocking the run game.

We’ve questioned many of the decisions Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson has made during his tenure in Indy. Grigson’s inability to construct an offensive line that can protect the franchise’s most-prized asset is at the top of that list – especially as Grigson is an ex-offensive lineman. Andrew Luck pays Grigson’s mortgage. Luck needs to be taken better care of.

In free agency, the Colts acquired longtime Eagles offensive guard Todd Herremans, and lost center AQ Shipley to Bruce Arians in Arizona.

It’s still a real head-scratcher to us that Indy elected to pass on an offensive or defensive lineman for another wide receiver in Round 1 of the 2015 NFL Draft. In fact, the team hardly addressed the issue via the 2015 NFL draft at all. The only offensive lineman the Colts selected was OT Denzelle Good (6’7″ 320) in Round 7.

2013 and 2014 were a little bit different, as Grigson exercised Rounds 2,3,4 and 7 selections on OT Jack Mewhort, OG Hugh Thornton, C Khaled Holmes and OT John Ulrick- all of whom have yet to make a significant impact.

Projected Starting Lineup

Anthony Castonzo, LT 6’7″ 311 pounds- Has started 60 games for the Colts, elevated his play to nearly top-shelf status in 2014, entering a contract year

Donald Thomas, LG 6’4″ 303 pounds- Missed the last 30 games due to injury just after inking a four-year extension, Colts are hopeful he’ll be available by training camp and return to his 2012 form when he graded as a positive player, on the roster bubble if not

Khaled Holmes, C 6’3″ 309 pounds- It’s time for the 2013 draft pick to finally step up, alarming it’s taken this long for him to get his shot on a unit in desperate need of improvement, started the last 5 games of the season in 2014 and graded poorly across the board

Todd Herremans, RG 6’6″ 321 pounds- Going on 33 years old, signed to one-year FA contract, released by Eagles, tore his bicep midseason 2014, but graded poorly in the 8 games he did start, positional versatility, used to play OT, has historically been a poor pass blocker but a good run blocker

Jack Mewhort, RT 6’6″ 308 pounds- Was an average starter at LG in 2014, started at LT for Ohio State, was considered tough and intelligent coming out by some scouts

Notes-

This is a D-rated group that Andrew Luck miraculously makes a C.

But, the Colts did have one of the best offenses in the league in 2014, and the line may be a smidge better this season. Ahmad Bradshaw was a top-end fantasy option last year, prior to Week 11 season-ending injury. Frank Gore, is a better, more durable version of Bradshaw, and is slated for a big year.

Andrew Luck‘s well being is a legitimate concern. He absorbed big punishment as a rookie, but has been able to reduce his sack total each of the last two seasons with improved pocket awareness and not much help otherwise. The Colts are playing with fire on every snap behind this balky unit. It’s a gamble many fantasy owners will be willing to take in 2015, as Luck projects as an absolute-lock Top 5 fantasy QB with an improved complement of weapons and a stratospheric ceiling. He’ll also continue to create fantasy points on the ground where he’s more similar to Cam Newton than you might think.

T.Y. Hilton is the obvious fantasy option as Luck’s No. 1 deep threat, but it’s Andre Johnson we are smitten with (as long as his ADP doesn’t spiral out of control). He’ll be a highly targeted safety valve and redzone target who may very well threaten for the first double-digit touchdown production of his career. Johnson, surprisingly, could be a real gem in PPR formats. We give the edge to TE Dwayne Allen over Coby Fleener for the same reasons.

Donald Thomas is strictly on the roster bubble, in an attempt to regain pre-injury form- which looks like a long-shot. His competition at guard is Hugh Thornton who graded poorly in 8 gm at RG in 2014, and graded poorly in 15 gm at LG in 2013. If Thomas is cut, this group is dangerously thin, and you’d have to think Indy becomes a player for FA Evan Mathis – who would represent a potentially huge improvement.

*** UPDATE – OT Gosder Cherilus – who should have never signed a big free agent deal with anyone – has been released. Another blemish on GM Ryan Grigson’s record.