INDIANAPOLIS — With the Indianapolis Colts set to begin training camp soon at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Ind., Colts.com previews the team's defensive linemen:
NOTABLE RETURNERS:
— Tarell Basham
— Margus Hunt
— Hassan Ridgeway
— Jabaal Sheard
— John Simon
— Grover Stewart
— Al Woods
NOTABLE ADDITIONS:
— Denico Autry
— Kemoko Turay
— Tyquan Lewis
NOTABLE CAMP BATTLES:
— Anthony Johnson
— Tomasi Laulile
— Chris McCain
— Caraun Reid
— Rakeem Nunez-Roches
NOTABLE LOSSES:
— Henry Anderson
— Johnathan Hankins
— Barkevious Mingo
THE SKINNY:
The shift this offseason from a 3-4 to a 4-3 base defense under new coordinator Matt Eberflus has created a change in not only the approach on that side of the ball — it changed some players' positions.
Most of the returning 3-4 outside linebackers are now pass rush specialists as 4-3 defensive ends, led by Jabaal Sheard and John Simon, while Tarell Basham looks to take a big leap forward in his second year and second-round pick Kemoko Turay brings raw, explosive pass rush potential to the group.
Moving towards the middle, the team used its first free agency signing of the offseason on a versatile defensive end/defensive tackle in fifth-year veteran Denico Autry, while the Colts also used another second-round pick on another versatile piece in Tyquan Lewis.
Returning at defensive tackle are the likes of Al Woods, Margus Hunt, Hassan Ridgeway and Grover Stewart, each of whom will take a new "see ball, get ball" approach in this new 4-3 scheme.
