NFL Notes: Colts Outlook If Glenn Retires

I always have had respect for Colts’ offensive line coach Howard Mudd.  They’ve never the most talented collection of lineman, but Mudd knows how to mold them into an effective unit as a whole.  Stability has been a strong point for the offensive line over the last several years, but the probable retirement of Tarik Glenn definitely brings about a lot of uncertainty for the Colts. 

Glenn was clearly the most talented of the Colts’ lineman on the offensive side of the ball.  Tom Moore utilizes a fast paced offense and they have a quarterback in Peyton Manning who gets rid of the ball quickly.  That means the lineman don’t have to hold blocks long.  But we are talking about protecting Manning’s blindside against an opponent’s top speed rusher.  That leaves a few question marks heading into training camp. 

Rookie Tony Ugoh is now in the spotlight if Glenn follows through on his retirement talk.  Ugoh was drafted with the idea of being groomed as a potential successor to Glenn in 2008.  He’s very athletic, but needs a lot of work on technique and recognition.  Many scouts questioned whether Ugoh was a football player or just an athlete this past spring during the final draft evaluation period. 

Charlie Johnson might be better prepared as a second-year player.  Johnson did an adequate job spelling Ryan Diem at right tackle as a rookie.  Johnson has good tools and picked up the mental side of the game well for a rookie, but still needs a lot of polish. 

Bentley ready to play: If LeCharles Bentley is really ready to play again, the offensive line will be a unit to watch this season for the Cleveland Browns.  Bentley might never be as effective in space as before the serious knee injury last summer, but he could be a solid run blocker in the middle of what could become a strong unit upfront for the Browns following the additions of Joe Thomas and Eric Steinbach.  With Jamal Lewis at running back, the Browns have a foundation on the ground to build around this season. 

Coughlin’s Leadership Council: Let’s hope it’s not a little too late, but forming a Leadership Council is a positive step for Tom Coughlin in New York to foster better communication between Coughlin and the players.  To make it work, players must stop creating soap operas through the media.  That’s been the biggest problem for the Giants, dating back to Jim Fassel’s years as head coach.  The Giants have a talented group of athletes, but self-inflicted distractions have been a problem for several years that take away the focus on the field.  When you have your best players like Tiki Barber (retired), Michael Strahan, and Jeremy Shockey constantly creating negative distractions, it leaves a major void of leadership in the Giants’ locker room. 

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