Let me start off by saying I was very impressed by Charlie Johnson's two performances last year, especially against Philly, where he looked dominant. He seems to have the strength to hold up at the point of attack, while possessing the athleticism to reach the second level of defenders. Moreover, I loved the Ugoh pick this past year. The guy is huge, athletic and well suited to play LT at the NFL level. Also, Polian is very high on the team's tackle depth, referencing the potential of Federkyle as a player who could be a terrific backup/spot starter.
All that being said, Peyton Manning has never missed a game in his career, and that amazing stat is heavily attributed to the play of Glenn who has played in 151 of Manning's 157 total career games. Glenn isn't just another "guy", he's a pro bowl type, just behind the elite LT's like Jones, Pace and Ogden. In fact, Glenn's durability and consistency had long ago convinced me that he belongs in the elite LT category. He is a hugely strong player, very athletic in the run game. Despite his false starts, he has some of the quickest LT feet in the NFL, and is a great (repeat: Great) pass blocker.
For all the potential that Johnson and Ugoh have, and all the optimism being spewed by Colts fans here, I am hugely worried about the serious drop in quality at a position that his probably second most important to our offense should Glenn retire. Sure, the young players might play well, but it isn't realistic to expect them to play anywhere near Glenn's level any time soon. Players like Glenn don't grow on trees. Our running game will suffer, Peyton's happy feet will get worse, and worst of all, the probability of an injury to Manning has sizably grown.
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