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Will Trent Cole Be A Pass Rushing Presence For The Colts In 2016?

Intro: On Tuesday, the Colts were out on the practice field missing their three most experienced starting offensive linemen. What did Chuck Pagano have to say with the team departing Wednesday for their preseason finale in Cincinnati on Thursday night?

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INDIANAPOLIS – At Tuesday's practice, the Colts' most experienced starting offensive lineman was last year's seventh-round pick Denzelle Good.

With Anthony Castonzo (triceps strain) sitting out on Tuesday, the Colts practiced for about two hours.

The Colts will have another practice on Wednesday morning, followed by their annual kickoff luncheon in the afternoon. The team will then board buses for Cincinnati, where they will take on the Bengals in Thursday night's preseason finale.

Here is what Chuck Pagano had to say during Tuesday's media availability:

INJURY NEWS

The following players did not appear to be practicing on Tuesday:

TE-Dwayne Allen (hip)

CB-Jalil Brown (foot)

CB-Darius Butler (ankle)

CB-Vontae Davis (ankle)

S-Clayton Geathers (foot)

OT-Joe Haeg (ankle)

DE-Kendall Langford (knee)

OG-Jack Mewhort (knee)

ILB-Sio Moore (hamstring)

NT-David Parry (undisclosed)

OT-Joe Reitz (back)

CB-Patrick Robinson (groin)

S-Dezmen Southward (undisclosed)

OG-Hugh Thornton (ankle)

Also, OT-Anthony Castonzo missed Tuesday's practice with a triceps strain. Castonzo suffered the injury during the individual period of practice on Tuesday. Pagano expects to have Castonzo back for a short practice on Wednesday morning.Chuck Pagano on the preseason finale offering one more chance for guys:

"Guys have flashed. Guys have popped in the years past, in the final game, across the league and made our roster, or other rosters."


Bowen's Analysis:* *No one is expecting the Colts' starters to play on Thursday night. However, that doesn't mean things won't be competitive once the ball is kicked at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday night will be one last opportunity for the team's 75-man roster to put together some quality film, ahead of Saturday's final roster cuts, down to 53 guys. The game in Cincinnati won't be the only one the Colts will be watching on Thursday. Expect plenty of personnel people to be observing what is going on around the league, given the more than 700 NFL players that will hit the waiver wire on Saturday afternoon. Chuck Pagano on how Antonio Cromartie has looked in practice:

"There's a difference between LA Fitness-shape and Training Camp-shape.

"He's getting better and I'm glad we have him."


Bowen's Analysis: Pagano got the media contingent laughing on Thursday with this comment. He's right though. Before last week, Cromartie hadn't been on the field since the 2015 regular season finale in January. Cromartie should have around 10 practices under his belt before Week One gets here.

With Darius Butler (ankle) on the mend, Cromartie's presence has risen even more. It's looking more and more like Cromartie is going to be starting when the Detroit Lions come to Lucas Oil Stadium in Week One. Remember, in the first quarter of the season all four teams the Colts will face finished last season with their passing offenses in the top half of the NFL (three of them ranked in the top nine).

Chuck Pagano when asked about the pass rushing guys behind Robert Mathis:

"I think Trent (Cole) is playing as good as he's played since he's been here."

Bowen's Analysis: Asked about the young pass rushing guys this preseason, Pagano first mentioned what he's seen from 33-year-old Trent Cole. Against the Eagles (also Cole's former team), Cole was only credited with one quarterback hurry. But Chuck Pagano thought Cole had some productive rushes against Eagles' Pro Bowl tackle Jason Peters.

Pagano also dropped the name Curt Maggitt as someone the head coach is looking forward to seeing more out of on Thursday. Maggitt has the prototypical body type for what the Colts want from an edge rusher. We saw Maggitt have three tackles for loss in the preseason opener, but he's been quieter since. The Colts should have room for Maggitt, or another young pass rusher, on their 53-man roster.

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