Tag: Ryan Kelly

Aaron Schatz of ESPN recently picked one final move that each NFL team should make prior to training camp. For the Colts, that move wasn’t adding to the cornerback or safety positions, but instead, Schatz believes they should extend center Ryan Kelly.

Kelly is currently entering the final year of his four-year extension that he signed back in 2020. Next offseason, in his age 32 season, Kelly will be a free agent.

“Although Kelly is 32, he still ranked ninth among starting centers in pass block win rate (94.1%) a season ago,” wrote Schatz. “There’s no clear heir apparent on the roster, so now would be a good time to get Kelly locked up for another couple of seasons.”

The Colts did utilize a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft on Tanor Bortolini, who spent most of his snaps at Wisconsin playing center but is capable of playing all three interior offensive line positions. But, to Schatz’s point, it’s far too early to say with any sort of certainty that he can be the long-term answer at that position.

Kelly continues to play at a high level. On PFF’s recent rankings of the center position, Kelly was No. 4 on their list heading into the 2024 season.

After missing out on the Pro Bowl in 2022, Kelly bounced back last season, allowing just seven pressures and one sack. He had a career-high run-blocking grade from PFF and ranked first among centers in pass-blocking efficiency. Kelly has proven to be fairly durable during his career, playing at least 14 games in each of the last six seasons.

In addition to Kelly’s ability to win as a blocker, he’s a leader, not only among the Colts’ offensive line, but for the team, and provides a valuable presence for Anthony Richardson with his ability pre-snap to identify and communicate blocking protections to the rest of the offense.

“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.”

Given the Colts’ current salary cap situation and what they are projected to have available next offseason, cap space shouldn’t be much of a hurdle in getting any sort of deal done.

“I want to stay here,” Kelly said earlier this offseason via Horseshoe Huddle. “It’s my ninth year here, it’s the last year of my contract, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want another one. So, we’ll see what happens.”

Putting playmakers around Richardson is obviously important, but consistent success for a young quarterback begins with blocking and protecting, as GM Chris Ballard said earlier this offseason, and without a doubt, this offensive line is far better with Kelly than without.

As Pro Football Focus continues on with their position-by-position rankings, they’ve arrived at center and, not surprisingly, have the Colts’ Ryan Kelly high up on the list.

Out of the 32 centers that made PFF’s list ahead of the 2024 season, Kelly came in at No. 4, just behind Creed Humphrey, who was No. 1, Frank Ragnow, and Tyler Linderbaum.

Here is what PFF had to say about Kelly and his place on the list:

“Kelly earned the fourth Pro Bowl nod of his career in 2023 and posted a career-high 77.2 grade in the process. On top of that, he allowed just seven pressures in the regular season, the fewest among starting centers. His 78.3 pass-blocking grade was his best mark since his rookie season.”

As PFF noted, Kelly bounced back to his Pro Bowl form in 2023, missing out during the 2022 season after he made it three consecutive years from 2019 through 2021.

Kelly went from allowing 25 pressures and five sacks in 2022 to just seven pressures and one sack this past season. His run-blocking grade from PFF was the highest of his career, and he ranked first among centers in pass-blocking efficiency while being called for only three penalties.

Beyond Kelly being able to win as a blocker, having a veteran presence of his caliber at center can be a very valuable resource for quarterback Anthony Richardson with Kelly’s ability pre-snap to identify and communicate blocking protections to the rest of the offensive line–not to mention the leadership role he fills on this Colts’ team.

In addition to Kelly rebounding in 2023, the entire Colts offensive line unit did the same, ranking top 10 in pressure rate and yards per rush attempt.

“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.”

Although all eyes will be on Richardson and the Colts’ skill positions, consistent success for any offense begins in the trenches. A strong run game to lean on keeps the offense out of obvious passing situations and opens up the playbook for Shane Steichen while throwing from a clean pocket is a must for any young quarterback.

The Colts are returning all five starters from last year’s group and, once again, should have one of the best units in football. ESPN ranks the Colts’ offensive line as the fourth-best unit heading into the 2024 season, with Kelly leading the way.

“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.”

Indianapolis Colts’ center Ryan Kelly met with reporters on Wednesday on the second day of minicamp practices.

Here are the highlights from that conversation. To see the full interview, click here.

– “I hope not,” said Kelly on the regular season potentially expanding to 18 games. “I just think it’s too many games.”

– Kelly on Bernhard Raimann: “One of the hardest working guys I’ve been around. I think truly that left tackle position I think, above and beyond everybody else, can be a little detailed, micro-oriented. I think for him, what he’s really trusting is his athletic ability, which is a big thing for him. He hasn’t played football since he was a little kid, so it’s been a short time compared to most, but I think he’s done a great job maximizing everything he does when he comes to the field, taking coaching. I know he’s talked to Castonzo for a little while and just working every day to get better. Again, that builds confidence and builds confidence going into the season.”

– Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said that they’ve tried to put the offense in more stressful situations during OTAs, and Kelly was asked how he thinks Anthony Richardson has responded: “I think he’s done a good job of that. I think the whole offense has.” Kelly notes the importance of continuity from 2023 to 2024.

– Kelly on having Pittman back under contract: “It’s huge.” Kelly adds that Pittman is deserving, works extremely hard, and the skill position players look up to him.

– Kelly on the improved play of the offensive line in 2023: “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.” Kelly mentions the relationship-building that Sparano did when he first arrived in Indianapolis. “If you can’t build a relationship in there, how can you build it out there?” From Shane Steichen to Jim Bob Cooter to Sparano, they empowered the offensive line unit to just go and play and trust their technique and that they are great players.