Basically, go and pick just about any offensive line metric from either ESPN or Pro Football Focus, and there’s a high probability that Colts’ offensive lineman Will Fries ranks extremely well.
Let’s start with PFF. By their metrics, in pass protection, Fries surrendered just one pressure in 25 pass-blocking snaps. His run-blocking grade of 91.7 was the highest among all guards during Week 1.
As a result of that, Fries made PFF’s team of the week.
WEEK 1 PFF TEAM OF THE WEEK pic.twitter.com/3A1RKGVqM3
— PFF (@PFF) September 10, 2024
Now, for a look at ESPN. By their pass-block win rate metric, Fries won 100 percent of his 15 pass-blocking snaps–as did Ryan Kelly and Quenton Nelson.
However, where Fries separated himself from those two was that he also ranked fourth among guards in ESPN’s run-block win rate metric, winning 17 of his 19 run-blocking snaps.
Collectively, as an offensive line unit, Anthony Richardson was under pressure on only six of his 24 dropbacks. But where the Colts’ offensive line as a whole were unable to gain traction was in the run game, with Jonathan Taylor totaling just 48 yards on 16 carries.
With offensive line play, it’s very much the sum of the parts is far greater than the individual. So as a group heading into Week 2, the Colts will need to create more push and running lanes for Taylor.
But with that said, if Fries can take a step forward from where he was last year, that level of play coupled with Kelly and Nelson along the interior will form quite the trio.
