The Colts brought guard Todd Herremans in as a free agent and they moved Jack Mewhort to right tackle in hopes of improving their offensive line this season.
Of particular interest was improving their pass protection since there’s little chance that the 2014 AFC finalists will improve on that performance should quarterback Andrew Luck find himself on the sideline after being battered by an opposing pass rusher. Based on Saturday night’s performance, there’s work to be done to get that protection where it needs to be.
Mewhort was beaten for a sack by Pernell McPhee on the second play of the game and then gave up another pressure to McPhee on the next snap. Herremans allowed pressure up the middle and Jared Allen hurried Luck after navigating his way around left tackle Anthony Castonzo. Luck wound up sacked once and hit twice, which isn’t what coach Chuck Pagano wants to see.
“We’ve got to be able to protect the quarterback,” Pagano said, via ESPN.com. “Pass [protection] at times was okay and at times has got to be better, got to get it shored up.”
Luck hit T.Y. Hilton for 45 yards to set up his own five-yard touchdown run on the third Colts possession, which was a short display of all the things Luck can do for the Indianapolis offense as long as he’s upright to do them.
