Colts sign Dennis Kelly

[TaylorTheStudMuffin]

I guess they don’t trust the guy they drafted to be the backup tackle yet.

 

 

[Jared Cisneros]

4 minutes ago, TaylorTheStudMuffin said:

I guess they don’t trust the guy they drafted to be the backup tackle yet.

 

 

We were looking at him before the draft. He'll back up Braden Smith IMO.

[TaylorTheStudMuffin]

The colts oline depth is no longer a concern. That gives us 8.  

[Orioles22]

14 minutes ago, TaylorTheStudMuffin said:

I guess they don’t trust the guy they drafted to be the backup tackle yet.

 

 

You're allowed to have more than one.

People complain about the lack of depth, and then there are complaints when they try to remedy that.

[Jared Cisneros]

Just now, TaylorTheStudMuffin said:

The colts oline depth is no longer a concern. That gives us 8.  

IMO, we still have some concerns in the backup interior depth, but we can sign someone still, and we have a few UDFA's to fill it up with. So we'll see what happens. I'm not fully confident in the interior O-Line depth yet, but we'll see how it works out. Love the tackle depth though.

[Hoose]

Seems they might still want a backup for C/G. Wouldn’t shock me to see another signing.

[Myles]

Good signing in my opinion.

[Hark]

Great signing to add some quality depth.

[Orioles22]

9 minutes ago, TaylorTheStudMuffin said:

The colts oline depth is no longer a concern. That gives us 8.  

Good to know we aren't going to have any injuries up there all season long.

 

[1959Colts]

The more... The Merrier!

[Smonroe]

7 minutes ago, Hoose said:

Seems they might still want a backup for C/G. Wouldn’t shock me to see another signing.

 

Yeah.  I haven't counted the roster but I don't think they have 90 yet.

 

Room for Bradberry too!

[stitches]

Good depth/rotation/insurance signing. 

 

IMO next is probably DE depth... 

[Bolt Colt]

Former Titans OL Dennis Kelly signing with Colts Indianapolis Colts

 

Former Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Dennis Kelly is signing with the enemy.

According to Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan (yes, you read that right), who is good friends with Kelly, the veteran is inking a contract with the Indianapolis Colts. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A former fifth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012, Kelly was traded to the Titans in 2016 for wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham.

Kelly started off his time in Tennessee as a reliable, versatile backup who can play both tackle spots, and guard if needed in a pinch. The veteran was then inked to a three-year deal in 2020 to be the starter at right tackle.

However, after just one season in that role, Kelly was cut. He then latched on with the Green Bay Packers, appearing in 10 games (four starts) in 2021.

Kelly was someone we had our eye on as a possibility for the Titans thanks to their uncertainties in two starting spots. He could have pushed Dillon Radunz at right tackle and been a very good backup option, but he’s going to Indy instead, where he’ll have a good shot at making the roster.

[TomDiggs]

Kelly is a really, really solid vet. People probably don't realize how great a depth signing this is.

 

He has basically been a top-35 OT (if you give any credence to PFF, which is really the best numerical data available other than eye test) 3 of the last 4 years.

 

He is good enough to be a starter, so getting him to play the role of swing tackle is insanely good. 

 

This already means our Tackle depth this year is better than last year. 

 

So while we may be slightly less deep at interior OL currently, our OT depth is very solid.

 

IMHO the best possible scenario for us is Pryor playing well, but Raimann taking over sooner rather than later.

 

If Raimann starts by mid season and Pryor and Kelly and Fries are adding depth across the O-line then we are very, very solid. 

[Smonroe]

25 minutes ago, stitches said:

Good depth/rotation/insurance signing. 

 

IMO next is probably DE depth... 

 

We have 6 listed.  Lewis and Dayo are really hybrids.  This is Banogu's big chance.

 

Brooks and Johnson probably make the roster to back up Stewart and Buck.

 

Always room for upgrades, but that D Line room seems pretty full to me.

[Jared Cisneros]

I'm thinking Ryan Van Demark makes the team as well and we keep 5 tackles because of his guaranteed money. That's obviously just a guess right now, but since Pryor has G versatility, and Raimann can play a bit of G as well, it wouldn't be the weirdest thing in the world if he made the 53, even with Dennis Kelly being signed today.

[indyagent17]

Depth is so important when you consider EVERY year we lose players to injury

 

[Smonroe]

4 minutes ago, Jared Cisneros said:

I'm thinking Ryan Van Demark makes the team as well and we keep 5 tackles because of his guaranteed money. That's obviously just a guess right now, but since Pryor has G versatility, and Raimann can play a bit of G as well, it wouldn't be the weirdest thing in the world if he made the 53, even with Dennis Kelly being signed today.

 

Is there a reason that the UDFA's aren't listed on the roster?  Like you said, we know they paid Van Demark as well as signed many others.  Are they not "officially" signed yet?

 

 

[Jared Cisneros]

2 minutes ago, Smonroe said:

 

Is there a reason that the UDFA's aren't listed on the roster?  Like you said, we know they paid Van Demark as well as signed many others.  Are they not "officially" signed yet?

 

 

I looked a couple days ago and didn't see them. Not sure why. They should be on the roster honestly as they are part of the 90 man right now. Can't tell you why it isn't updated, as I have heard they are "officially" signed.

[stitches]

3 minutes ago, Jared Cisneros said:

I looked a couple days ago and didn't see them. Not sure why. They should be on the roster honestly as they are part of the 90 man right now. Can't tell you why it isn't updated, as I have heard they are "officially" signed.

IMO they will probably start signing their contracts when they come for rookie minicamp. Most of them still have not arrived in Indy and there really is no rush to sign those contracts. To a huge degree they are boilerplate contracts with not much wiggle room in them. 

[richard pallo]

Great signing.  I feel much better about our OL this year.  A couple of outstanding prospects on board and better depth than last year.  Looking good.  The Athletic considers our CB room the weakest group on the team.  No real depth.  Adding Blackberry would fix that immediately.  Here’s hoping Ballard can find a way to make that happen.  He would elevate the defense even further.

[stitches]

43 minutes ago, Smonroe said:

 

We have 6 listed.  Lewis and Dayo are really hybrids.  This is Banogu's big chance.

 

Brooks and Johnson probably make the roster to back up Stewart and Buck.

 

Always room for upgrades, but that D Line room seems pretty full to me.

We have Kwity, Lewis, Ngakoue, Dayo... I don't think we can rely on Banagu. In fact, if he doesn't show much in training camp I absolutely expect him to get cut. In essence we have 4 reliable DEs in a group that's heavily reliant on rotations. That's why I think we are probably one short there. 

[Smonroe]

12 minutes ago, stitches said:

IMO they will probably start signing their contracts when they come for rookie minicamp. Most of them still have not arrived in Indy and there really is no rush to sign those contracts. To a huge degree they are boilerplate contracts with not much wiggle room in them. 

 

I get that for the draft picks, but not for the UDFA's.  Unless they just sign some kind of letters of intent but not contracts.

 

But we know they pay some of the UDFA's more than others.  Still not sure why they're not on the roster.

[Smonroe]

4 minutes ago, stitches said:

We have Kwity, Lewis, Ngakoue, Dayo... I don't think we can rely on Banagu. In fact, if he doesn't show much in training camp I absolutely expect him to get cut. In essence we have 4 reliable DEs in a group that's heavily reliant on rotations. That's why I think we are probably one short there. 

 

I don't know what to think about BB, a lot of us thought he'd was going to be cut last year.  He's still relatively cheap.

 

Kwity and Yannick are really the only true edge guys besides BB.  IMO, if they bring in another edge type, he has to beat out BB.

[TaylorTheStudMuffin]

Sometimes the UDFA are 

4 minutes ago, stitches said:

We have Kwity, Lewis, Ngakoue, Dayo... I don't think we can rely on Banagu. In fact, if he doesn't show much in training camp I absolutely expect him to get cut. In essence we have 4 reliable DEs in a group that's heavily reliant on rotations. That's why I think we are probably one short there. 

There was A lot of stuff with Ben and Eberflus. When Ballard drafted him he envisioned him in that LEO role Bradley uses. Eberflus Did not know how to use him or how to create a good pass rush. That should change with Bradley.

[Smonroe]

14 minutes ago, TaylorTheStudMuffin said:

Sometimes the UDFA are 

There was A lot of stuff with Ben and Eberflus. When Ballard drafted him he envisioned him in that LEO role Bradley uses. Eberflus Did not know how to use him or how to create a good pass rush. That should change with Bradley.

 

I know Yannick played the LEO in Bradley's D in the past, have to assume he'll continue that role.  Hopefully Banogu could fit that position, I want to see the guy succeed.

 

Flus' defense was so frustrating, but he most likely ran it because of the way he perceived his talent, especially on the back end.  It worked pretty well when we played average QBs (except when they played for the Jags, lol).  Good QBs eventually tore them up.  Not having a pass rush didn't help.

[Valpo2004]

Looks like a good signing.  

 

He's played in a lot of games and before he spent only a year at Green Bay he spent like 4 years with the Eagles and 5 years with the Titans.  So he was no roster bubble player.  

[NewColtsFan]

Kelly is also a very good signing because he can back up BOTH tackle spots.  Not every tackle can do that.   Potentially saves a spot.   Roster flexibility has value. 

[TaylorTheStudMuffin]

18 minutes ago, Smonroe said:

 

I know Yannick played the LEO in Bradley's D in the past, have to assume he'll continue that role.  Hopefully Banogu could fit that position, I want to see the guy succeed.

 

Flus' defense was so frustrating, but he most likely ran it because of the way he perceived his talent, especially on the back end.  It worked pretty well when we played average QBs (except when they played for the Jags, lol).  Good QBs eventually tore them up.  Not having a pass rush didn't help.

I think it’s clear Eberflus didn’t know how to create a pass rush. He was way to passive. The difference when we hear Bradley talk about being aggressive is night and day.

[AwesomeAustin]

We can never have enough lineman. Great signing. 

[Scott Pennock]

The full transaction tells more than just simply signing Dennis Kelly!

 

Dennis Kelly can play more than just Tackle for one.....so he could be a backup at G and T.

 

They cut Shon Coleman which opens up more PT for Raimann, Van Demark, Kemp and Murray to battle for spots as well.

 

They also cut Malik Jefferson, which means that Jo Jo Domann and Sterling Weatherford have one less competitor for backup roles and special teams!

 

They also cut Green and Wolf from the TE Room which means that only the Canadian FB/TE Kalinic and the bball convert Jacobson are the only two standing in the way of Woods and Ogletree from making the roster as the 3rd and 4th TE's......

 

In my opinion these are very telling cuts and the roster should be sitting at 91 on the button going into this weekends Rookie Mini Camp. I would expect a few more cuts probably in the CB Room and WR Room to make way for a couple of the tryouts.

 

My guess is Chris Glaser (Guard from Virginia) is signed from the tryout and maybe the RB from the HBCU and possibly Grant Dixon (LB from Youngstown State).

[CR91]

1 hour ago, Smonroe said:

 

Is there a reason that the UDFA's aren't listed on the roster?  Like you said, we know they paid Van Demark as well as signed many others.  Are they not "officially" signed yet?

 

 

 

Probably waiting until rookie mini camp

[OregonapolisColtsFan]

1 hour ago, richard pallo said:

Great signing.  I feel much better about our OL this year.  A couple of outstanding prospects on board and better depth than last year.  Looking good.  The Athletic considers our CB room the weakest group on the team.  No real depth.  Adding Blackberry would fix that immediately.  Here’s hoping Ballard can find a way to make that happen.  He would elevate the defense even further.

I totally know what you meant by blackberry, but that’s a hilarious autocorrect!

[BProland85]

Coming from a Colts fan living in enemy territory in Nashville, Kelly did well for the Titans when he had to start at RT and even LT at times. If nothing else I’m glad we got him so that the Titans couldn’t. They literally have no one good enough to start for them at RT. 

[BProland85]

44 minutes ago, CR91 said:

 

Probably waiting until rookie mini camp

When is rookie minicamp and when do the vets arrive and all?

[chad72]

1 hour ago, TaylorTheStudMuffin said:

I think it’s clear Eberflus didn’t know how to create a pass rush. He was way to passive. The difference when we hear Bradley talk about being aggressive is night and day.

 

Talk is cheap. Armchair DC seats never get hot.  

[Jared Cisneros]

1 hour ago, Scott Pennock said:

The full transaction tells more than just simply signing Dennis Kelly!

 

Dennis Kelly can play more than just Tackle for one.....so he could be a backup at G and T.

 

They cut Shon Coleman which opens up more PT for Raimann, Van Demark, Kemp and Murray to battle for spots as well.

 

They also cut Malik Jefferson, which means that Jo Jo Domann and Sterling Weatherford have one less competitor for backup roles and special teams!

 

They also cut Green and Wolf from the TE Room which means that only the Canadian FB/TE Kalinic and the bball convert Jacobson are the only two standing in the way of Woods and Ogletree from making the roster as the 3rd and 4th TE's......

 

In my opinion these are very telling cuts and the roster should be sitting at 91 on the button going into this weekends Rookie Mini Camp. I would expect a few more cuts probably in the CB Room and WR Room to make way for a couple of the tryouts.

 

My guess is Chris Glaser (Guard from Virginia) is signed from the tryout and maybe the RB from the HBCU and possibly Grant Dixon (LB from Youngstown State).

Appreciate the info! Thanks for telling us this!  

[GoColts8818]

4 hours ago, TaylorTheStudMuffin said:

I guess they don’t trust the guy they drafted to be the backup tackle yet.

 

 

You need about four tackles on the roster, especially if Pryor ends up inside.  Yes they signed a couple of others but those look more like camp bodies.  

[TaylorTheStudMuffin]

 

[Patrick Miller]

Excellent  pick up imo! Much needed depth!