INDIANAPOLIS -- The bad news for the Indianapolis Colts is that musical chairs on the offensive line, a group that had 11 different starting lineups last season, has already started before a single snap of the 2015 season has been played.
The release of right tackle Gosder Cherilus on Sunday means Jack Mewhort, who started 13 games at left guard last season, will get the first shot at starting at that position. Mewhort worked exclusively with the first unit at that position during offseason workouts because Cherilus wasn't healthy enough to participate.
"I like the fact that he's played the position, both sides [in] college," Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said back in June. "Like the fact that Jack in a similar way as [starting left tackle] Anthony Castonzo, I feel like he has a certain determination about him and a certain intelligence, toughness and that he cares so much, he's going to get the job done. I think athleticism is there at right tackle. If he has to play that position he's going to do a very good job because he won't accept otherwise."
Mewhort started 26 games at left tackle during his junior and senior seasons at Ohio State and started at right tackle in Week 17 last season.
"Here we're dropping back," Mewhort said last month. "We have the guy to do it. College it was more of a zone-read type deal. Here, tackle is a different game. You're dropping back a lot when you have a great quarterback and you're going against good pass rushers. It's just about honing your skills, going out there every day and picking one thing and getting better at it. That's what I'm trying to do."
You can expect a healthy competition to see who starts at left guard for the Colts.
Hugh Thornton and Lance Louis got the majority of the snaps with the first unit during offseason workouts. Joe Reitz can also play the position, Donald Thomas could be in the mix if he's healthy after missing all but two games the past two seasons and the Colts signed former Canadian Football League guard Ben Heenan earlier this year.
The Colts have the right quarterback -- Andrew Luck -- and skill-position players surrounding Luck to have the best offense in the NFL this season. But none of that will matter if the offensive line can’t protect their franchise quarterback.
So figuring out the offensive line is near the top of the list for the Colts when they report to training camp at Anderson University on Aug. 1.
