Indianapolis Colts: Making the case for Cameron Erving

We’re less than three weeks away from the 2015 NFL draft, so it’s time to take a closer look at some of the prospects the Indianapolis Colts might be interested in. With the 29th overall pick, general manager Ryan Grigson could go a lot of ways. The needs are multiple for the Colts, both on offense and defense.

More from Indianapolis Colts

In particular, the Colts’ offensive line needs a lot of help. The left side should be okay with left tackle Anthony Castonzo and sophomore left guard Jack Mewhort. They both performed well in 2014 and they will be the starter at their respective position next year without a doubt.

However, the rest of the offensive line is an issue that needs to be addressed fast. I argued in a recent article that the Colts could find an upgrade for either the right guard spot or the right tackle spot in the second round so now it’s time to focus on the center position.

Last season the Colts gave A.Q. Shipley, Jonotthan Harrison and Khaled Holmes a chance to start at center but nobody played well enough to be considered a good center in the NFL.

At this point there’s no clear-cut favorite to start at center so the Colts might use the draft to find a good player to snap the ball to Andrew Luck. They might even draft one in the first round.

Mar 31, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles lineman Cameron Erving (left) and Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston react during FSU Football Pro Day at the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Is there a better late-first-round candidate that fits what the Colts need than Florida State University center Cameron Erving? He is the perfect candidate, in my opinion.

Erving was recruited to Florida State as a defensive tackle but then made the switch to the offensive side in 2012. As if the change wasn’t enough for Erving to deal with he was placed at left tackle, protecting future first-round pick E.J. Manuel. A 6’5″, 313 specimen, Erving did a great job there in 2013 and 2014 (he started 40 consecutive games and won back-to-back Jacobs Blocking Trophy Awards) but as the 2014 season went on he made another switch, from left tackle to center.

When asked about this shift inside at a FSU press conference Erving said:

“The move has done the team really well. […] We’re able to run the ball now, more efficiently and effectively so that’s definitely a plus. […] Chemistry is coming along a lot better.”

His extreme versatility and athleticism are undeniable and could guarantee him a first-round selection: it’s not easy to find a player with great size and great movement skills like Erving. He’s built like a true left tackle and his long arms (34 1/8 inches) make him a great pass protector. He is also productive as a run-blocker and isn’t afraid to go into the second level and make some blocks there too.

There are some negatives too with Erving: he’s a bit raw and the late switch to center might scare some teams as they look for experienced guys that can make line call without hesitations. As NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein writes, Erving has some work to do but can develop into a reliable starter:

“Has the length and foot quickness to play tackle, but film work shows that he will have a much more successful career at center. Possesses skill set and temperament to show rapid development. Could be a Day 1 starter, but a year of seasoning would help.”

Bleacher Report’s draft expert Matt Miller has Erving as his top center of this draft and compares him to New Orleans Saints’ newest addition Max Unger:

“A tall, lean, athletic center prospect, Erving could be a star if he continues his development. That’s exactly how Max Unger was viewed coming out of Oregon.”

Why should the Colts draft a player like Erving that high? Well, we all know how good Andrew Luck is but can he be better? Of course, and the Colts should help him by giving him more protection that translates into more time in the pocket, a cleaner pocket, more accurate throws, less interceptions and more first downs. By looking at Pro Football Focus‘ signature stats (subscription required) it’s easy to see that Luck did not perform well last year when he was under pressure.

When the protection isn’t good the numbers say that Luck plays like an average quarterback (he ranks 14th on the list, per PFF). He will make some spectacular plays ala Aaron Rodgers to avoid sacks and complete a pass every now and then but over the course of a season his number are just average. On 246 dropvbacks under pressure Luck was sacked 27 times and his completion percentage dropped down to 47.3 percent. He still had a decent TD pass-INT ratio with 11 scores and six picks thanks to his great pocket awareness but it’s clear that he needs to operate in a better pocket to become the NFL’s best signal-caller.

With Cameron Erving on the team the Colts would take a step in the right direction of protecting their star quarterback and putting him in a position to succeed.

Next: Should the Colts target RB Ameer Abdullah?

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Indianapolis Colts