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Ryan Lilja gone
Written by Nate Dunlevy   
Monday, 08 March 2010 18:41

Ryan Lilja has been released.

I confess, this news makes little sense.  One thing is for sure, the move isn't strictly about money.  If it was, the Colts would not have paid Lilja the roster bonus he was due.  In fact, paying Lilja was a classy move.  He took a deep pay cut in order to stay with the team last year, and the Colts honored that by giving him money they didn't have to.  This was a brilliant move because had they stiffed Lilja, they never could have convinced anyone else to do a similar restructuring.  Why would the team cut one of the only two linemen on the club who seemed to have a decent year?

Here are my theories:

  1. Indy is looking for a new left tackle and wants to move Charlie Johnson back inside.  This is a move you only make if you already have a bead on someone.  CJ plays at 305 lbs to Lilja's 290.  The Colts clearly think that $3 million is too much to pay for a back up guard.  It's hard to argue with that.  Lilja would have been one of the top 15 highest paid Colts, and you can't lay out that kind of money for a guy who isn't starting and doesn't play an impact position.
  2. The Colts inability to pick up short yardage in key situations the past two seasons is something that won't be tolerated again.  Clearly, the Colts think that Caldwell made the right call to run at the end of the first half, but the line failed.  Frankly, I think that's insane logic, but the club is clearly trying to upgrade the run blocking.  If the line had done their job, Caldwell would still have been wrong, but I wouldn't be able to complain about it as much.
  3. If Indy can survive a full season with CJ at left tackle, the pass pro will be fine no matter who plays up front.  We've noted recently that sacks have more to do with the quarterback than the line.  Therefore, the best measure of an offensive line is the run game.  Indy's sucks.  They might as well try to go bigger and move bodies off the line because Manning isn't going to get hit no matter who is out there.  That's an exaggeration, but there is something to it.

The comings and going of individual players doesn't interest me that much, to be honest.  A wholesale philosophical shift in the way the Colts construct the offensive line does.  Lilja was a productive player, and a valued member of the team.  He's not getting cut because someone could do what he did better; he's been released because he can't do what the Colts want to do next year.

What that is exactly remains to be seen.  There's another shoe to drop here, and it is going to play left tackle.

Comments (19)Add Comment
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written by mississinewa, March 08, 2010
diem?
Correction?
written by Noroomforthomas, March 08, 2010
I'm assuming that by "Diem" at the end, you meant Lilja. For a second I was confused and thought that both had been cut.
...
written by DZ, March 08, 2010
Fixed. Sorry.
Makes sense
written by project GEO, March 08, 2010
With Lilja not missing a game last season and thus triggering the escalators to restore his contract to its pre-2008 knee injury/surgeries form ...

The Colts, in their self-analysis and evaluation, must not have thought it was worth it to have to pay that much, when they are in the beginning stages of overhauling what has undoubtedly been a pathetic run-blocking offensive line.

Especially when you consider that the Colts have both Mike Pollak and Kyle DeVan in the wings, two guys who can probably do what Lilja does but at a fraction of the cost. Pollak and DeVan are probably both suited to play left guard than right guard, although that's conjecture at this point.

A bit sad to see Lilja gone, sure, I personally thought he and Saturday were the two best lineman on the Colts.

But in thinking about it, I can see the reason in it.
Please be theory #1.
written by Cass, March 08, 2010
Please be theory #1...Please be theory #1....Please be theory #1.........
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written by MR, March 08, 2010
If Ugoh is still on the team, I have to think he's starting somewhere next year. I don't know if that's at left tackle but I don't understand theory number one.

You can't trust a rookie to play left tackle, especially where the Colts are drafting.

Polian is not moving up to again to take one again.

We don't get a decent crack at any free agents.


The only way I see that being the case is if they are going to trade for one, which would be a change in philosophy.
...
written by MR, March 08, 2010
From Indy Star:


Lilja's agent, Craig Domann, gave Chappell this explanation, which is a flashing signal indicating the team's biggest pending change:

"They said they want to go bigger and apparently are going to get people who fit that philosophy."
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written by DZ, March 08, 2010
Right, which is why I think there is another big change coming. The Colts were a mess at LT, but CJ could be a factor a guard. They did tender him after all...
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written by unclebengi, March 08, 2010
I like theory 1 too. I don't want Pollack or Ugoh anywhere near the starting lineup. I don't know what offensive lineman are slated to go in the first round, but you'd have to think we'll use our top pick on a HOG.
slightly off-topic
written by andyrayj, March 08, 2010
You mentioned Caldwell choosing to run in the Super Bowl, and I've heard several people talk about it that way...but doesn't Peyton always have the authority to check to a pass? Are people assuming Caldwell issued a no-pass fiat at the end of the half based on the 3 runs, or is there some other way to know who made the call?
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written by DZ, March 08, 2010
No, in certain rare situations, the call comes from the sideline. Manning said after the game that was a coaches call.

Just another reason it was stupid.
I think alot of the Super Bowl call
written by dmstorm22, March 08, 2010
came from the 3rd and 1 against SD the previous year, when Manning called the pass, was sacked and if they ran they had a high percentage of picking up the yard and winning the game. They didn't want to be burned again. Personally, with the Indy run game below average, I don't agree with it, but that wasn't the worst call in the SUper Bowl.

This move doesn't make much sense unless they get someone that can play LT. Are there any good LT RFA's. I know that's not usually where they go, but since they cannot sign a UFA, and I don't remember offhand any tackles that are worth a damn being released, its either that, Ugoh, CJ or some rookie, and I like an RFA the best, even if it means sacrificing a second round pick.
I'm beginning to relate to you more and more, DZ
written by LovinBlue, March 08, 2010
I said earlier today that it was a classy move to pay out his roster bonus, and that it was likely paid because it wasn't a matter of underperforming what they asked him to do.

dmstorm22 - not sure if you're being obtuse, but an LT RFA whose name has been raised a lot is Jared Gaither, obtainable for a mere 1st rounder plus juicy contract
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written by matuag, March 08, 2010
Marcus McNeill, is he tendered for a 1st rounder or a 1st rounder + 3rd rounder ?
I wouldn't want to give up a 1st, but Gaither is quite good.
written by dmstorm22, March 09, 2010
I'm guessing Polian will draft someone. I hope he does, because whether it be Ugoh or CJ, there will be "problems with protection" at LT, to borrow a nice Peyton-ism.
No more JV team...
written by Doug England, March 09, 2010
I believe it was Saturday who said the Colts would often look across the field at the other team, and say it was like the JV team playing against the varsity, because of the size differential.

I don't know what the Colts have up their sleeves, but boy would it be great if the play action fake actually became a viable play again.
...
written by MattW, March 09, 2010
If we could get a young top LT for a 1st rounder that would be worth it because we pick at 31. I thought Gaither was 29 though? That is starting to get a little old to use a draft pick on. However if Polian is really terrible at drafting linemen then spending draft picks on established NFL linemen makes sense.
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written by MattW, March 09, 2010
I just checked and Gaither is 24. I would be tempted to through a lot of money at him if all it will cost is a 1st rounder. It sounds like there will not be a player like that available at 31. Of course the Ravens could match the offer.
Ugoh
written by BDiddy, March 09, 2010
Might not be great at RT, but I would love to see him get some time at LG or RG during camp. He's a hell of a road-grader once he gets going, he just gets burnt too often out on the LT island.

I'm kind of shocked by the move. It'll be interesting to see what happens here. We might see A LOT of OL in the draft.

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