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Colts Mailbag: Will The Colts Look Elsewhere For Offensive Line Help?

Intro: This week, mailbag readers inquire about the impressions from the preseason opener, interior offensive line options and the Colts looking outside their current roster for help.

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ANDERSON – Each week, readers of Colts.com can submit their questions to have a chance of them being answered in our Wednesday mailbag.

Here is this week's collection:Daryl Ingram, (Beamsville, Canada)

Hey Kevin how are you ... by watching the jets game cant help but be very impressed with 3 defensive players and 3 offensive players Donte Moncrief Boom Herron Trent Richardson i think trent busted out for a few 5 yarders and an 8 yarder which is very convincing my 3 defensive players Bjoern Werner looked great almost got acouple sacks i liked what henoc Muamba showed and i know manusky praised him but Andy Studebaker looked awesome as well what are you thoughts on game itself?

Bowen: I don't disagree with any of the names you mentioned above. Offensively, I thought the first unit had a very productive first drive. It was nice to see a couple of third-and-longs converted and to get points out of that initial series. Defensively, that group held the Jets lead running backs to just 19 yards on 11 carries. Again, it was just a dozen or so plays for the starters, but I was pleased with what I saw in the first live action of the season.

Richard Wolford, (Tulsa, OK)

Any chance that Jeff Saturday will be at camp to give some expert advice and encouragement? Thanks

Bowen: Saturday was at camp back on July 27 as an analyst for ESPN. I know he stuck around for a bit and chatted with some familiar faces. I'm sure you saw that Edgerrin James was at practice over the weekend and Chuck Pagano joked that it cost him dinner to get the Colts all-time leading rusher to speak with the team.

Bob B. (from Deltona, FL):

This may be a stretch , but with the Colts trying to improve their offensive line , would they ever consider signing Ritchie Incognito ?

Bowen: You aren't the first person to reach out via the mailbag/social media and mention Incognito's name. While I don't have a feeling one way or another on if the Colts would entertain talks with Incognito, there's clearly something holding teams back from pulling the trigger on signing him. No NFL team has pursued the 2012 Pro Bowler this offseason. If a team were to sign the 31-year old guard, you would think they would do it soon with the regular season less than a month away. The injury to Khaled Holmes is only a couple of weeks, so the Colts should have their expected line (minus Donald Thomas) for the regular season opener. On August 26, every team will be forced to cut 15 players. There's no doubt Ryan Grigson and his staff will be evaluating the waiver wire during the final week of cuts, like they have done the previous two years.

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Highlights from the Colts first preseason game against the Jets.

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Nick U, (Northern California)

it is very unfortunate that key players like Donald Thomas and vick ballard are both out for the season. I don't see any other options on the roster besides starting mewhort and thorton at the guard spots. But I have also heard that the 49ers might be shopping Alex Boone so is it possible that ryan grigson pulls off another huge trade or signs some free agent or will he use someone on the team to replace Thomas?

Bowen: Many questions this week regarding the interior of the offensive line. For now, it looks like the Colts are bringing in some familiar faces to add depth along the line with camp moving to Indianapolis. Like I said above, the two dates to circle on your calendar are August 26 and August 30. Those are cut days to 75 players and then 53 following the final preseason game of 2014. That means some quality players will be available and obviously the Colts staff will evaluate those options to improve the backend of their roster.

Isak H., (Mexico City)

First, I want to thank Mr. Kevin Bowen for making my question from last week his first mailbag answer. Now, I have a question regarding the Center position. If Khaled Holmes is missing time and Jonotthan Harrison had such a problem with snapping, which direction would the team like to take, trades, sticking with Harrison's bad snaps or F.N. Lutz III?

Bowen: Not a problem, Isak. The good news is Holmes isn't expected to be miss any regular season action. His preseason is likely over but getting a week of practice in before that Denver game would be crucial. As far as the center position going forward, Jonotthan Harrison seems to be the guy. Chuck Pagano was very pleased with what he saw from Harrison once the undrafted rookie settled down from his errant snaps. Rookie Jack Mewhort is another guy to watch, although it appears he has settled into the left guard spot. The team signed Thomas Austin late last week to give them another interior guy who has experience at center.

Dave H., (Sebring, FL)

THERE A LOT OF GREAT PLAYERS, THAT WILL NOT MAKE IT TO THERE TEAMS ROSTER. WILL GRIGSON AND STAFF BE WATCHING TEAMS AROUND THE LEAGUE AT EVERY PLAYERS THAT'S CUT. AND TO POSSIBLY ADD MORE TALENT TO THE COLTS, TO MAKE THIS TEAM BETTER FOR YEARS TO COME????

Bowen: Without a doubt. Like I've said in previous questions, the dates to watch are August 26 (the cut from 90-75) and then August 30 (the final cut from 75-53). Last year, we saw the Colts pick up a guy like Jack Doyle, who was in the process of signing with the Titans practice squad. Dwayne Allen goes down in Week One and Doyle becomes a key asset to the Colts offense last year. Other guys the Colts plucked throughout the year included Da'Rick Rogers and Xavier Nixon. There's no reason to think the Colts won't try and go down this avenue again if the right fit presents itself.

Gregory Young,

Just a thought here, Kevin. Could you please ask Jim

I. .. how about putting the HORSESHOE ONLY on

the middle of the field and dropping the helmet?

ps.... Just keeping up with the times ...;)

I think we are the only team left the league with

the helmet.

Greg ... Colts fan for over 40 years!

Bowen: Haha, I will pass that along. Love your dedication and longevity in sticking with the Colts. Personally, I'm not sure if a Horseshoe only logo has enough substance to the naked eye.

Gregory Young,

I've noticed the type of Caps worn by the coaches & players are NOT available to buy from the website......

Why aren't they available.........

Bowen: Check out this link to the Colts Pro Shop. I see the caps under the "Hats" tab.

Dave H., (Sebring, FL)

I HAVE NOT HEARD MUCH ON HOLMES AFTER HE LEFT THE GAME. IS HE ALLRIGHT!! WE MUST GET BETTER IN THE RUN GAME. AFTER WATCHING OTHER TEAMS. IN PRESEASON. HOW SEVERAL TEAMS WERE RUNNING THE BALL WITH EASE. AND THERE O-LINE MOVING THE DEFENCE LINE AND CLEARING THE WAY FOR THE RB'S. WILL PAGANO BE ABLE TO GET OUR PLAYERS TO PLAY STRONGER AND BETTER SO THIS TEAM CAN GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Bowen: We wrote about Holmes on Saturday, when Chuck Pagano said the Colts starting center would be missing the next couple of weeks. It was a very small sample size, but I thought the first team line was effective with the starting unit out there last Thursday. It's unfortunate that Holmes will miss some key practice time but getting him back before the regular season opener would be key for this offense to establish a rhythm heading into September.

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