Colts' Will Fries Emerges as Strong Starting Guard in 2023
The Indianapolis Colts fell just short of the playoffs in 2023, finishing with a 9-8 record and as the third place team in the AFC South. While the end result was disappointing, there is a lot to be optimistic about with this Colts' team.
The Colts took a major step forward from the 4-12-1 disaster of 2022 and rookie Head Coach Shane Steichen showcased his ability as one of the top offensive play-callers in the entire league.
With the Colts making positive strides this year, this series will highlight a few players that stood out in the 2023 season. The next man up in this series will be starting right guard Will Fries, a player that many doubted coming into the year but slowly proved his worth as the season went on.
Stepping Into the Spotlight
Fries was selected by the Colts in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He appeared in three games (just 22 offensive snaps) as a rookie that season and saw a decent uptick in playing time as a sophomore in 2022. Interim Head Coach Jeff Saturday elected to start him at right guard in week nine, and Fries has held down that job ever since.
This past offseason was an eventful one for Fries, as there was a rabid outcry amongst fans and analysts alike for the Colts' to acquire a new starting right guard. This wasn't purely due to a lack of faith in the young guard, but many didn't see the upside in going into the season with the former late day three pick as the locked in starter.
The Colts held firm with their faith in Fries, and he rewarded that faith with an excellent year three campaign. He saw a career-high 1,125 snaps on offense in 2023, which accounts for 98% of the teams' total offensive snaps (highest among all Colts' offensive linemen).
Fries graded out favorably as a pass blocker according to Pro Football Focus, as he finished above average in pass block grade over expected by their metrics:
He also received a heap of praise from Brandon Thorn of Establish The Run, one of the top offensive analysts covering the NFL/the NFL Draft. Thorn called Fries a "gem" in multiple tweets highlighting the young guards' play this season:
Under Tony Sparano Jr.'s style of blocking, Fries was able to take a massive step forward in the pass game. Fries is a physically imposing guard standing in at 6'6" 305 pounds so he is longer and stronger than most starting guards in the league. He was able to use this to his advantage quite a bit in pass protection this season.
Sparano Jr. encouraged a more aggressive style of pass set from his guards in 2023, and this allowed for Fries to initiate more in the pass game. This led to multiple elite reps on film, including this one against Christian Barmore in Germany.
Fries also brought a mean streak to the right guard position that the Colts haven't had since they let Mark Glowinski walk back in 2021. He may not have always brought this power and finishing ability, but when he did, he left his mark on games.
The key next season for Fries is to bring this mentality to each and every game. When he was in a groove and lighting guys up, like in this clip below, he was a truly excellent starting guard for the Colts in 2023. If he can be a tad more consistent in 2024, he could emerge as a potential Pro Bowl level player moving forward.
The Bottom Line
Chris Ballard found himself a gem in Fries back in the 2021 NFL Draft. Fries has grown from late round shot in the draft to legit starting guard in this league. With another offseason of development and improvement, Fries could grow even more into a Pro Bowl caliber player.
The flashes of elite play are there on film for Fries, the next step is just about putting it all together. Regardless, the Colts seemingly have found their right guard of the future in 2023.
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