[Garafolo] Colts are signing OT Austin Howard | Edit: Official now!

[stitches]

 

Ballard strikes again! Great signing. He was quite possibly the best available FA left on the market. Very solid tackle to secure the right side of the line. 

 

He started all 16 games for the Ravens last year. He was ranked as an average tackle( 71.6 grade by PFF) last year and average is a huge improvement over anything we've had at RT over the last ... I don't even know how many years. 

 

Edit: now it's official:

 

 

[PrincetonTiger]

Good signing 

 

  

[Boiler_Colt]

The left side solidified and really good competition for the right side. I like it a lot.

[shasta519]

Called it. Had a feeling he would grab Howard. Nice vet presence....and Ballard loves him some FCS players. 

[DaColts85]

Love it!!

[superrep1967]

2 minutes ago, Boiler_Colt said:

The left side solidified and really good competition for the right side. I like it a lot.

Yes, the online has a chance to be really good.

[Lef]

6'7" 330 lbs. The man has some size. Hope he can block. 

[pgt_rob]

This makes me happy. I was hoping Ballard would just bring in as many O-Linemen as possible. We're going to need them anyway.

[stitches]

BTW Ballard waited until the deadline passed and this signing will not affect our compensatory picks next year. As it stands right now we are very likely to receive a 4th round compensatory pick(for Moncrief) and a 7th round compensatory pick(for Gore). 

 

https://overthecap.com/compensatory-draft-picks-cancellation-chart/

 

edit: @Cynjin rightfully pointed out that we might not be getting the 7th round compensatory pick

[richard pallo]

Great signing.  He and Good should really battle it out.   Don't we have to open up a roster spot for him?  Clark could be in real jeopardy now. 

[Cynjin]

7 minutes ago, stitches said:

BTW Ballard waited until the deadline passed and this signing will not affect our compensatory picks next year. As it stands right now we are very likely to receive a 4th round compensatory pick(for Moncrief) and a 7th round compensatory pick(for Gore). 

 

https://overthecap.com/compensatory-draft-picks-cancellation-chart/

 

 

 

I believe as of now they will not get the 7th for Gore.

 

https://overthecap.com/draft/

[Shadow_Creek]

gosh i'm so excited i'm definitely buying madden 19 this year whoooo 

[jameszeigler834]

6 minutes ago, richard pallo said:

Great signing.  He and Good should really battle it out.   Don't we have to open up a roster spot for him?  Clark could be in real jeopardy now. 

Clark is a bust.

[Fluke_33]

6 minutes ago, Shadow_Creek said:

gosh i'm so excited i'm definitely buying madden 19 this year whoooo 

Omg.  I laughed and then thought not a bad idea!  Hahaha

[dw49]

Just now, jameszeigler834 said:

Clark is a bust.

 

Had and maybe still has potential. Problem , IMO , has never changed. He just gets successfully  bull rushed way too often.

[Luck 4 president]

Good signing. Stitches said exactly what I was thinking. Average is a huge improvement to what we are used to.

[HOF19]

This team has improved its offensive line talent from 12 months ago......And hopefully I can later  add on the phrase >>>>>>>" AND THEN SOME " !!!!!!!!!!!!......GO COLTS and keep it up Mr. Ballard !!!!!

[twfish]

9 minutes ago, jameszeigler834 said:

Clark is a bust.

It was stated when he was drafted that it may take 3 years for him to really start picking it up. He was taken as a project due to the scheme he came out if in college. You can't expect a project to play lights out like Nate Hairston did. This is my last year on Clark but he had a very solid rookie campaign in the 3 or 4 games he played. Play calling sucked last year so we will see

[stitches]

Barring injuries(*knocks on wood*) and Luck's health hopefully in good standing, this will be the best offensive line Luck has ever had... and IMO by a WIDE margin. 

[HOF19]

Just now, stitches said:

Barring injuries(*knocks on wood*) and Luck's health hopefully in good standing, this will be the best offensive line Luck has ever had... and IMO by a WIDE margin. 

AGREE !

[richard pallo]

14 minutes ago, twfish said:

It was stated when he was drafted that it may take 3 years for him to really start picking it up. He was taken as a project due to the scheme he came out if in college. You can't expect a project to play lights out like Nate Hairston did. This is my last year on Clark but he had a very solid rookie campaign in the 3 or 4 games he played. Play calling sucked last year so we will see

I think he was Grigson's project not Ballards.  Ballard has seen him for one year and he looked awful.  If you can't stop a bull rush by now I would think you are in real trouble project or no project. 

[Case]

40 minutes ago, Cynjin said:

 

I believe as of now they will not get the 7th for Gore.

 

https://overthecap.com/draft/

I believe if we wait to sign him tomorrow we don’t lose that pick. Could be wrong 

 

[Myles]

15 minutes ago, stitches said:

Barring injuries(*knocks on wood*) and Luck's health hopefully in good standing, this will be the best offensive line Luck has ever had... and IMO by a WIDE margin. 

It is exciting to have a line that should be able to pass block and run block.   4th and 2 is no longer only a passing down! 

Now if we can sign CJ Anderson.

[csmopar]

4 minutes ago, MightyLucks said:

I believe if we wait to sign him tomorrow we don’t lose that pick. Could be wrong 

 

"Worth noting: any unrestricted free agent signed today or later does not count towards the 2019 compensatory draft pick calculation. Could result in some interest for unsigned veterans."

I think you missed this word

[stitches]

2 minutes ago, Myles said:

It is exciting to have a line that should be able to pass block and run block.   4th and 2 is no longer only a passing down! 

Now if we can sign CJ Anderson.

CJ Anderson was signed by the Panthers a couple of days ago I think... 

[PeterBowman]

37 minutes ago, stitches said:

Barring injuries(*knocks on wood*) and Luck's health hopefully in good standing, this will be the best offensive line Luck has ever had... and IMO by a WIDE margin. 

Hell this could be the best o line the TEAM has had in ages.

[Defjamz26]

Nice. Looks like Clark may be a potential camp cut. I think they’ll keep Haeg and Good though.

[Case]

12 minutes ago, csmopar said:

"Worth noting: any unrestricted free agent signed today or later does not count towards the 2019 compensatory draft pick calculation. Could result in some interest for unsigned veterans."

I think you missed this word

No I didn’t. I posted that link about 45 seconds after I posted my original message. I couldn’t remember where I saw it originally and if it was today or tomorrow. Either way it’s the same outcome. Thanks for your post, very helpful. 

[Cynjin]

18 minutes ago, MightyLucks said:

I believe if we wait to sign him tomorrow we don’t lose that pick. Could be wrong 

 

 

I don't think that the Howard signing will affect the compensatory picks.  From what I read the NFL only awards so many comp. picks and Gore no longer qualifies for one.

[chad72]

9 minutes ago, PeterBowman said:

Hell this could be the best o line the TEAM has had in ages.

 

Well, that is what we said after Grigson had his several OL picks in the 2016 draft as well.  Just messing with ya!!!

 

We just have to let things unfold. Hope the play calling and QB make the OL look better too. To me, those are the things that I am looking forward to the most on O, the play calling and the QB level of play.

[Case]

6 minutes ago, Cynjin said:

 

I don't think that the Howard signing will affect the compensatory picks.  From what I read the NFL only awards so many comp. picks and Gore no longer qualifies for one.

Just checked and you are correct.  Only 1 pick for Moncrief. According to stampede blue 

[Four2itus]

B..B..but I thought we didn't sign anyone in FA this season?

 

 

[NewColtsFan]

If the OL stays healthy and is well coached this should be the best OL in franchise history.

 

I'm hoping this OL will be top-8 in the NFL this year...    that's top 25-percent in the league...   for what we've invested this should be an attainable goal...

 

[Scott Pennock]

Any idea who was released to make room for the big guy?

[Myles]

36 minutes ago, stitches said:

CJ Anderson was signed by the Panthers a couple of days ago I think... 

You are right.   I missed that.   Bummer, I was still holding out hope.

[aaron11]

7 minutes ago, NewColtsFan said:

If the OL stays healthy and is well coached this should be the best OL in franchise history.

 

 

 

they have a chance, but the line with jeff saturday and tarik glen in their primes might still be better than this.  they had peyton manning too of course, if this group gets brissett they may not look as good  

 

[krunk]

Clark probably has some sort of shot for a backup role maybe. They will probably release Tyreek Burwell or Glowinski

[Mr. Irrelevant]

2 minutes ago, krunk said:

Clark probably has some sort of shot for a backup role maybe. They will probably release Tyreek Burwell or Glowinski

 

LOL, I didn’t even know we had guys named Burwell and Glowinski on the team! 

 

[TdungyW/12]

1 hour ago, stitches said:

Barring injuries(*knocks on wood*) and Luck's health hopefully in good standing, this will be the best offensive line Luck has ever had... and IMO by a WIDE margin. 

I agree ..... was very skeptical of Luck was healthy to put him out there. But with the draft and now this I am not having doubt like I was b4. Let’s see what luck and our new off scheme can achieve! 

[Myles]

22 minutes ago, aaron11 said:

they have a chance, but the line with jeff saturday and tarik glen in their primes might still be better than this.  they had peyton manning too of course, if this group gets brissett they may not look as good  

 

I think Manning made that line look better than it was.   Not taking anything away from Glenn and Saturday who were great.  I just think this line has the potential to push and give us a pounding run game for the first time in a while.