Tarik Glenn Retires: What does it mean to the Colts offense?
In shocking news on Friday, Colts star left tackle Tarik Glenn has decided to retire at only 31-years of age. While it remains to be seen if this is a contract-related ploy or not, should he keep his word this is potentially huge news for the defending Super Bowl champions. Much like Ricky Williams with the Dolphins a few seasons ago, a player retiring on the eve of training camp can have a negative impact on a team and this could prove to be no exception.
Glenn has been an All-Pro in each of the past few seasons and he has protected Peyton Manning’s back since Manning came into the NFL. He has been dependable, durable and one of the reasons for the offensive success over the past eight seasons.
What does his departure mean for the Colts offense?
Well don’t go crazy and drop Manning down with the Rex Grossman’s of the NFL but there could be an impact in regards to the Colts offensive unit this season.
First of all, the Colts will likely be forced into starting either 2nd round pick last year Charlie Johnson or rookie Tony Ugoh at tackle and both are still very green. Having to train a new starting tackle on the fly won’t be easy and there will likely be some breakdowns on game day. Now on the plus side, Manning is among the most cerebral quarterbacks to ever step in under center but even still, he cannot make the blocks for his players and there will be an adjustment to start the season.
The player I would certainly look at downgrading a notch or two is RB Joseph Addai. He is a good player in a great system and he may find less room to run without the veteran star tackle opening holes for him. I wouldn’t send Addai plummeting down the rankings but a tweaking may certainly be in order.
We will get a true look at Manning’s greatness to start this season. If he steps in and doesn’t miss a beat with a new left tackle that will be a truly special feat. If anybody can do it, he will be able to thanks to his mental preparation each week.
Just another reason why it is never easy to repeat as Super Bowl Champions in this era. It seems like huge roadblocks frequently come up.
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[…] it got enough. Our Chris Smith, who handles a lot of the offensive line analysis for Footballguys, posted his thoughts on the implications on the day of the announcement. He points out that this will be a real test […]
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