preseason Cutdowns are coming fast as the regular season bears down on us. The Colts will have a lot of decisions to make regarding who stays and who goes Skai Moore Jersey , and there will undoubtedly be a flurry of waiver claims made to bring in fresh faces and new talent that will keep the roster fluid for a long while. However, it makes sense to take one last look at the roster and make some final predictions about how this thing all shakes out as we head into week four of the preseason, which will be the last chance for some players to make an impression and earn their spot on the team. Offense - 24Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty ImagesQuarterback – 2The Colts have the best quarterback situation in the NFL. Andrew Luck at his best is a top 5 quarterback, and Jacoby Brissett is a league average or just slightly less than average starter. Both quarterbacks have looked sharp in the preseason. Andrew LuckJacoby BrissettMissed the cut: Phillip Walker, Brad KaayaRunning Back – 4Before getting hurt in week one of the preseason, Marlon Mack looked greatly improved. His explosiveness, ability to make plays in space, and speed to the outside have always been strengths, but he seemed like a guy willing to follow his blockers and go up the middle when called on to do it. Frank Reich’s scheme seems like a perfect fit for what Mack does well. I also think Jordan Wilkins will have fully supplanted Robert Turbin by the time Turbin is off of his suspension. Assuming he stays healthy, I think we see a lot of these two. Hines will get use out of the backfield as a receiver and when he provides a favorable matchup, but he has a lot of growing to do. Marlon MackJordan WilkinsNyheim Hines*Robert Turbin *Won’t count against the 53-man roster until his 4-week suspension is completed.Missed the cut: Branden Oliver, Christine MichaelTight End – 5This is an encouraging group. With a receiving corps that seems a bit underpowered, they’ll need to rely on these guys for big production, and I think they can get it. Keeping 5 tight ends is unconventional, but given Reich’s proclivity for using tight ends and the lack of overwhelming talent at wide receiver, it might make sense to keep one more of your talented group on the roster.I expect Eric Ebron will be a hit for this team now that he has shed that pressure on him from Detroit. He has the potential to be a big-time playmaker and showed chemistry with Luck early on in training camp. Swoope, Travis, and Daniels all rate about the same but could all contribute to the offense in Reich’s system. As far as Jack Doyle, what more can you say? Doyle rules.Jack DoyleEric EbronRoss Travis Erik SwoopeDarrell DanielsMissed the cut: Mo Alie-CoxWide Receiver – 5This one could provide our first shocker. I’m just not sure that Reece Fountain makes this roster. Apart from the fact that they spent a 5th round pick on him, what does he have going for him? Ballard doesn’t seem like a guy who gets too hung up on sunk cost (See Zach Banner), and while I hoped Fountain could develop, missing on a 5th rounder is only compounded by clinging to that mistake. He is likely a guy who makes it through waivers and can spend time improving on the Colts’ practice squad.The starters are pretty straight forward. Hilton is the obvious top guy, Chester Rogers appears likely Luck’s second favorite target of the receivers. I am out on Ryan Grant almost entirely, but it seems like the Colts like him. I’m not sure Ishmael and Pascal have a huge role on the offense, but could be valuable special teamers. Note: I did not account for Robert Turbin’s suspension when writing this. That suspension likely keeps Reece Fountain around for at least four weeks, putting the receiver group at 6.T.Y. HiltonChester RogersRyan GrantSteve IshmaelZach PascalMissed the cut: K.J. Brent, Kasen Williams, James Wright, Dres Anderson, Krishawn Hogan, Seantavius Jones, Reece Fountain, Cobi HamiltonOffensive Line – 8The offensive line hasn’t looked very impressive so far in the preseason. Injuries have kept it a revolving door, and the absence of Castonzo has been notable. In our Stampede Blue chat client, we were discussing recently that the line’s run blocking suffered from a defensive approach in the preseason that simply isn’t sustainable in the regular season. Selling out to stop the run with Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton, and Eric Ebron on the team is a good way to see the Colts put up big points on you quickly. This line needs to get healthy and figure out the right tackle position, but when Castonzo is back, this is the best line Andrew Luck has been behind by far. Anthony CastonzoQuenton NelsonRyan KellyMatt SlausonBraden SmithJoe HaegDenzelle GoodLe’Raven ClarkMissed the cut: Austin Howard Authentic Anthony Walker Jersey , Nick Callender, Tyreek Burwell, J’Marcus Webb, Mark Glowinski, Jeremy VujnovichDefense - 26Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY SportsDefensive Tackle – 5There isn’t anything too groundbreaking about this group, and nothing that will really surprise anyone come cuts. Denico Autry has been a very pleasant surprise as far as the free agent class goes, and he and Al Woods seem like the obvious starters. Hassan Ridgeway has played himself into what I would consider as a lock for a roster spot by absolutely maximizing his preseason snaps. Grover Stewart has shown some promise and offers good depth with the opportunity to continue to grow, especially given the new system. Tyquan Lewis is a bit of a mystery. His injury, and the news that he is not that close to a return leaves the Colts without really knowing what they’ve got. He could come back healthy and be a huge impact player, or they could place him on IR designated to return and keep someone else. Denico AutryAl WoodsHassan RidgewayGrover StewartTyquan LewisMissed the cut: Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Tomasi Laulile, Brandon BanksDefensive End – 5The defensive ends group is a pretty interesting one. Jabaal Sheard will likely do well in this new scheme and remains the team’s most talented edge rusher. John Simon has more than proved he belongs, but he’ll need to continue to do so once the games count. Ryan Delaire has come in flashing serious potential. He has been a fun player to watch. If he does so again on Thursday, I think he is a lock for the 53-man roster. Kemoko Turay and Tarell Basham will round out the group. Turay is a virtual unknown but a guy that Chris Ballard believes can develop and be a real force on the outside. Basham is probably on his last shot. They may let him stick around for a little bit to see if he can grow, but if he can’t show them something, he likely won’t survive this season on the Colts’ roster.Jabaal SheardJohn SimonRyan DelaireKemoko TurayTarell BashamMissed the cut: Chris McCain, Margus Hunt, Anthony JohnsonLinebacker – 6The linebacker position is one of the most intriguing on the team. There is a very real chance that come week one, this unit will be manned by two rookies and a career backup. That is more than a little terrifying, but also, if you’ve watched Darius Leonard and Skai Moore, encouraging. 4 of these 6 linebackers in this group are rookies, which means that the likelihood they’ll make big mistakes is high. It also means that there are a ton of unknowns. However, that cuts both ways, because there is always the possibility that an unknown player blows everyone away and breaks out.Leonard was a relative unknown for many when drafted, but has looked like he has the potential to be one of the most exciting linebackers the Colts have had on the roster in a very long time. This unit might make some mistakes, but they’ll also likely make some incredible plays, like we have already seen from this so far in the preseason.Darius LeonardNajee GoodeSkai MooreAnthony WalkerMatthew AdamsZaire FranklinMissed the cut: Tyrell Adams, Jeremiah GeorgeCornerback – 6So many questions remain at the cornerback position. Quincy Wilson is not a consistent player and has moments where he looks very good and others where he looks poor. Pierre Desir has been reliable but unspectacular as he was last season. Kenny Moore has been a surprise at the nickel position, showing significant growth from last season. Hairston may be the odd man out here, with Moore seeming like the natural fit for the nickel. However, if he plays well as he did last season, he may end up getting in the rotation somewhere. Milton makes a valuable special teamer, and Pipkins makes the roster because the Colts clearly thought enough of him to trade for him, even if it was with an asset they were likely going to cut anyway. Quincy WilsonPierre DesirKenny MooreNate HairstonChris MiltonLenzy PipkinsMissed the cut: D.J. White, Henre Toliver, Robert Jackson, Lashard Durr, Juante BaldwinSafety – 4The safety group is a strong one as far as the top three go. Malik Hooker is a freak Youth Kenny Moore Jersey , recovering from his ACL tear in great time. Geathers has looked like a game changer since returning to action. Matthias Farley is an admirable and balanced substitute for either of these guys and has proven that he is a more than capable starter when called upon. Ronald Martin might be able to give T.J. Green a run for his money, but I don’t think he has the upside that Green does, and Ballard likely goes with Green for the final roster. I’m not sure he ever really develops, but perhaps with a new coaching staff they can get him going in the right direction. Malik HookerClayton GeathersMatthias FarleyT.J. GreenMissed the cut: Ronald Martin, George Odum, Chris Cooper, Robenson TherezieSpecial Teams - 3Kicker – 1Adam VinatieriMissed the cut: Kicker Michael BadgleyPunter – 1Rigoberto SanchezLong Snapper – 1Luke Rhodes Frank Reich thought he could exploit the Indianapolis Colts' tight end advantage.Defenses still haven't solved it.Less than a year after helping the Philadelphia Eagles win their first Super Bowl, Reich brought the philosophy to his first head coaching job and is getting similar results."I did expect we were going to spread it around, that's just kind of how we roll," Reich said Monday, a day after beating Oakland. "Now it's probably exceeded expectations, but the expectations were pretty high to start."There's been little to quibble with through the first half of the season.Only three tight ends in the league have more receptions than Eric Ebron (36), a free-agent signee who finally appears to be meeting the hype of a first-round draft pick. Only Antonio Brown (eight) has more touchdown catches than Ebron (seven).Pro Bowler Jack Doyle has 15 receptions in three games and caught his first scoring pass Sunday, giving Indy a league-high 12 TD catches among four tight ends.The group played so well Sunday, they pulled off a rarer feat than Adam Vinatieri becoming the NFL's career scoring leader, Marlon Mack becoming the first Colts' runner with back-to-back 100-yard games since 2007 and Andrew Luck avoiding a sack in a third straight game for the first time in his pro career.Ebron, Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox became the first tight end trio to each catch a TD pass in the same game since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.And they did it in style.Cox's first career score came on an acrobatic, one-handed grab that Reich quickly dubbed one of the best catches he's ever seen. It's the first time fans really witnessed what the former college basketball star and undrafted free agent really could do on the football field.Ebron's score came as he tap-danced along the sideline for the tying score in the third quarter.Doyle gave Indy the final lead change of the game with a 10-yard catch-and-run that ended with Doyle diving just inside the pylon."What an awesome job our tight end group does to complement this offense, to complement the wide outs, to complement each other in the way we play," Luck said."I think there's a lot of different personnel groups that run out on that field. It basically allows us to be successful in all those personnel groups, and I think that puts a lot of pressure on a defense."It's all by design.Reich saw how effective the tight ends could be during previous stints with the Colts, Chargers and the past two seasons in Philadelphia.So when he returned to Indy and found the reliable Doyle and Erik Swoope, another college basketball convert, on the roster, Reich figured why not start building around tight ends. The Colts lured Ebron from Detroit, where he fell out of favor because of his reputation for drops, and they signed Ryan Hewitt in early September after he was cut by Cincinnati.Alie-Cox has proved a pleasant surprise after spending last season on the Colts' practice squad, reacquainting himself with a sport he hadn't played since transferring to a non-football playing high school in Virginia."I bet in the last month there's probably been three, four, maybe even five wow moments on the practice field involving Mo, although the one in the game might have been better than all those we saw on the practice field," Reich said. "I remember when we got here and Chris is telling me about Mo and saying he really thought Mo had something to him."Now it's translating to success on the field.Indy (3-5) heads into its bye week on a two-game winning streak, in large part because its tight ends have been able to stretch the field and continue to play their part in protecting Luck and creating holes for Mack.If they keep it up, the Colts could play their way back into the AFC South race. They're just two games out of the division lead with home games looming against Jacksonville (3-5), Tennessee (3-4) and Miami (4-4) following the bye and the second-easiest schedule remaining."As we've said all offseason, the tight ends are a point of strength for this team and this offensive roster," Reich said. "They showed up big (Sunday)."Note: Indy signed offensive tackle Antonio Garcia to the practice squad Monday.