Colts July/August Roster Moves/Analysis

Sorry, busy @ work and busy travelling this summer (Orlando, Vegas and Michigan next weekend).

While I was away, the Colts made many roster changes.  One area I've been harping on needing improvements, CB/DB, was the most active position of any, so the Colts management/coaching staff must have agreed.

Since 7/19, here is a rundown on the Colts moves.

• Acquired DB D.J. Johnson from Philadelphia for DT Ollie Ogbu
• Signed OT Ty Nsekhe, OT Ben Ijalana put on IR
• Acquired LBs Moise Fokou and Greg Lloyd from Philadelphia for DB Kevin Thomas
• LB A.J. Edds put on IR
• Signed LB Mike Balogun
• Signed RB Alvestor Alexander
• Acquired DB Josh Gordy from St. Louis for draft picks
• Acquired DB Vontae Davis from Miami for draft picks
• Waived CB Cameron Chism, CB-Antonio Fenelus, CB-Terrence Johnson, CB-Chris Rucker, S-Matt Merletti, S-David Caldwell, LB-Mike Balogun, WR-Quan Cosby, RB-Alvestor Alexander, G-Jason Foster and P-Brian Stahovich

So, the Colts gave up DT Ogbu who seem to have a lot of promise, but was fighting amongst a crowd of DT/DEs to get DB Johnson and draft picks for DB Gordy and DB Davis.  Davis will be a starter IF he can clean up his act.  Maybe the new coaching staff/scenery will get him focused.  If not, a 2nd rounder is a lot to give up.  Amongst all the moves, the Colts also gave up a potential starter in DB Thomas to add depth at linebacker. 

Signings of LB Balogun and RB Alexander seemed like pick ups just for the next pre-season game due to injuries and that proved to be the case as they were both waived in the 1st round of cuts to get the roster to 75.  The problems with DB/CB position became clear with the 1st round of cuts as 6 of the 11 first to get cut were DB/CB/S positions.  Makes it pretty clear why the Colts were very active in trading to acquire DB/CBs and with whom they were not pleased with in camp.  After the two injury signings in Balogun & Alexander and the six DB/CB/Ss, they only left three other players on the cut list.  WR Cosby, who was fighting with a lot of young talent for a position and didn't help his matters by not impressing on special teams, G J Foster, who just wasn't any better than other guards or tackles on the roster and P Stohovich, which was only a matter of time.

Should see a few more today after 4pm today (8/27), the deadline to get the roster down to 75.

I expect we'll see the Colts hot on the waiver wire this week, so wouldn't be surprised to see pickups in the postions of G/T if nothing else for depth, WR especially if it looks like Collie's concussion is lingering since that would leave Wayne & Avery as the only true vets at WR and Avery is banged up, NT/DE/DT since it looks like Brandon McKinney may be going on IR or at the very least miss substantial time, and SS as a quality backup to Zbikowski. 

It'll be interesting to see who the Colts end up cutting and picking up on the waiver wire.

One more preseason game until it's really GAMETIME!!!  BRING IT!!!