ANDERSON, Ind. -- Samson Satele. Mike McGlynn. Khaled Holmes. A.Q. Shipley. Jonotthan Harrison.
You might be wondering who those players are.
Those are all the players the Indianapolis Colts have started at center since selecting quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick.
Why so many different centers?
Some players were injured, some were released and some were demoted for poor play. But it’s not supposed to be that way, not when you have a franchise player like Luck.
It’s supposed to be one player snapping the ball to Luck, the same way the Colts had it with for so many years with center Jeff Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning.
But it hasn't worked out that way.
“I think that just brings a level of confidence at quarterback,” Saturday said. “It’s one that once you get there, once you have your conversations, you walk out on the field and you know. You know what you’re going to do and the direction your team is headed and there’s no doubt. I think that’s the part that you need for that center-quarterback connection.”
The Colts may be on their way to having their center-quarterback combination finally. Coach Chuck Pagano hasn’t officially named a starter yet, but Holmes currently has the clear edge over Harrison after he started the final five games, which included the three playoff games, last season.
Center-quarterback continuity isn’t developed easily. Luck said he has to take a lot of snaps to get comfortable with his centers. What’s been impressive about Holmes so far in training camp is that he doesn’t make mistakes and he’s taking more control of the offensive line.
“He’s physical, he’s tough, he’s smart, he understands football,” Luck said. “I think you can tell he gets more confident with his calls, the more you go on. He sniffs stuff out that I won’t see and the other guys won’t see. It will be a great call and a positive play because of him. I think he’s doing a great job.”
There wouldn’t be a starting center “competition” if Holmes could stay healthy. The Colts named him their starter after the draft in 2014, but that ended on the first drive of the preseason opener against the New York Jets. Holmes didn’t get the starting job back until Week 16 after he fell behind Shipley and Harrison on the depth chart.
“For me it seemed like a very long road with some obstacles and hurdles that got in my way that were out of my control,” Holmes said. “It was a great opportunity to get that experience (in the final five games), which is so valuable and you can’t really re-create it any other way besides actually getting out there, especially in playoff atmosphere.”
Does Holmes think he can be Luck’s Jeff Saturday?
“That’s something in my back of my head,” Holmes said. “At the same time that’s really not my main focus, main goal for myself, especially the tumultuous first couple of years I had. I’m focusing on competing and earning a spot and establishing myself as a quality player in this league and earning respect and then we can go from there.”