Veterans and rookies for the Indianapolis Colts will report for training camp on July 24th, with the first practice taking place on July 25th.
Between now and then I will be previewing the Colts’ 91-man roster with a look back at each player’s 2023 season, along with what’s ahead for 2024.
I’ll be going through the Colts’ roster alphabetically, so up next is center Ryan Kelly. To stay up to date with our other previews, be sure to head over to Colts Wire.
2023 Season Review
After missing out on the Pro Bowl in 2022, Kelly was able to bounce back in 2023. He went from allowing 25 pressures and five sacks in 2022, to just seven pressures and one sack this past season.
Among all centers, Kelly would rank first in PFF’s run-blocking grade metric and he posted the highest run-blocking grade of his career last season as well. On PFF’s positional rankings heading into the 2024 season, Kelly was listed as the fourth best center.
In addition to Kelly rebounding in 2023, the entire Colts’ offensive line unit did as well, finishing last season ranked in the top 10 in both yards per carry in the run game and with the ninth-lowest quarterback pressure rate allowed.
“I think after the ’22 season, Tony (Sparano) came in, saw that room for what it was, and it was still a lot of great players but not a lot of confidence,” said Kelly during minicamp, “and I think there’s a lot of multitude of reasons for that. So when he came in, the first day that we came in last year around this time, it was not even about football Xs and Os, it was about real personal stuff.
“Guys get into that because if you can’t build a relationship in there, then how can you build it out there? And I think that was a good part for us to trust Tony to trust us. And also, he just empowered us to go play. I think that starts with Shane, starts with Tony, starts with Jim Bob. Is to just go out there and play, and just trust our technique, trust that we’re great players and play together.”
2024 Season Preview
Kelly will, of course, be the Colts starting center this season and from that position can be a valuable resource for Anthony Richardson, who is still an inexperienced player with just 98 career dropbacks.
For one, there is the leadership Kelly provides to this Colts team both on and off the field, but he is a force multiplier as well, making those around him better. There is also his ability to pre-snap to identify and communicate needed protection changes to the blockers, helping to put Richardson in a position to succeed.
“Ryan’s my brother,” said Quenton Nelson. “He gives everything he can for this organization, and especially his guys on the offensive line. He’s been a leader since I got here. A guy I looked up to when I got here, and he’s so important to our O-line room, especailly, and then this team as well.
“He played great last year, and just really happy for him to do that last year after what he’s gone through. It shows what a tough person he is and how much he loves this team.”
The uncertainty for Kelly lies beyond this season when he is set to be a free agent. Recently, ESPN selected one remaining move that each NFL team should make, and for the Colts, they selected extending Kelly. The Colts used their fourth-round pick this past draft on Tanor Bortolini, who could be a long-term option at the center position.
Although there was plenty of attention on adding playmaking around Richardson this offseason, success for any young quarterback begins with the play of the offensive line.
“One, when you’ve got a young quarterback, you’ve got to protect him,” said GM Chris Ballard earlier this offseason. “That’s one which I think we did a pretty good job last year, and we’ll continue to do well. Tony (Sparano Jr.) has done well with that group. We’ve got a talented group of O-linemen.”