THIRD-YEAR HEAD COACH READY FOR CAMP
INDIANAPOLIS – The 2011 off-season was anything but usual. Other than the draft, all other off-season plans did not occur.
With the league and its players now in labor accord, training camp will go off without a timing hitch.
While that much is a given, the schedule for how the team would have worked was anything but clear during the past few weeks. Caldwell and his staff followed the proceedings with pencils in hand trying to plot a course of preparation. It took constant review, re-writes and adjustment until camp became all-systems-go this week.
"One of the things that was constant was that we had to come up with different scenarios because we weren't quite certain when the lockout was going to end," said Caldwell. "We had to be ready to go if they came back June 1, or they came back June 15, or sometime in between, or right after July 4. Every one of those situations, we spent a lot of time drawing up different scenarios how we'd practice, what we'd try to get accomplished during that time and how we'd adjust in case they gave us OTAs (organized team activities) later on in the summer. We walked through those things constantly. The great majority of my summer, I was planning and re-adjusting."
Now, the dust has settled and camp opens Sunday. The team will conduct 23 practices at Anderson University through August 18. In calendar sense, normalcy has returned. With the players having only unsupervised practices the last few weeks, including rookies, the coming three weeks will have a little bit of a different feel. Players have visited the facility this week for physical assessments and voluntary conditioning work. Come Monday, Caldwell and his staff will begin constant monitoring again.
"One of the things why we had the physical assessments is we had to make a determination on where they (players) were," said Caldwell. "Without seeing them all year long, we had to make certain that we were going to be able to practice at the right speed. It's going to take a little massaging. We plan to practice on a normal clip, but we also understand that one of the things that is a bit different (is that) by now at this point in time our rookies and free agents have heard our system being implemented a minimum of five times. That's a bit different, so we're taking that into consideration. What we're going to try to do, obviously, is try to maximize every moment that we have and make certain we get those young guys in particular taught."
The club's veteran leadership is something Caldwell lauded for the work that has been done.
"Our older guys did a great job during the lockout," he said. "Some of them have come back a bit more familiar with our material. Some of the guys came down and worked out with some of our guys. All of us kind of anticipated that is what our guys would do. I think they did a tremendous job. They've also come back in relatively good shape, so, all-in-all, we're going to be able to be fairly close to what we've been doing, with some adjustments."
No NFL head coach has seen his team this year in practice mode. Conditioning levels will be something all will monitor. Caldwell, however, did not feel this particular off-season would cause him to approach training camp practices all that differently. He typically stays in on-going squad assessments as he monitors players between and during practice sessions.
"This is not unique here, it's something that is on-going," said Caldwell. "In our business that's exactly what you do, that's what I do, on a daily basis. You have to take a look at your squad. You have to be conscious of conditioning levels and really how much they're being worked. Sometimes they can be in great condition, but it might be a heat factor. Sometimes they may be in great condition, but it may be just in terms of the relative distance between the two practices. If you practice at night, the next day you have to watch it fairly closely because of humidity and things of that nature. That's not any different. … That's something we'll have to stay on top of and adjust as we go."
The club provided an injury update (see below) as it heads to training camp. Caldwell specifically was asked about the status of unsigned quarterback Peyton Manning's neck.
"In regard to him, obviously he is not ready right now," said Caldwell. "There's nobody who works any harder, nobody more diligent and more dedicated, and he certainly has great faith in our staff that works with him here. At some point in time, he'll be ready to go. When that is, we'll turn him loose. Whenever he's ready, he's ready."
Tight end Dallas Clark has been cleared for full practice, though he will do so with a splint on his wrist. Wide receiver Austin Collie has been cleared after the concussion issue he had in 2010. Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, defensive back Kelvin Hayden and defensive back Jerraud Powers also have been cleared to practice fully.
COLTS OFFER PRE-CAMP INJURY UPDATE
Full Participation – DB-David Caldwell (shoulder), TE-Dallas Clark (wrist-will wear splint), WR-Austin Collie (concussion), WR-Anthony Gonzalez (knee), DB-Kelvin Hayden (neck), DB-Brandon King (hamstring), RB-Devin Moore (shoulder), DB-Jerraud Powers (foot), OG-Jamey Richard (hip), DB-Kevin Thomas (knee), DB-Chip Vaughn (ankle/shoulder)
Limited Participation – LB-Kavell Conner (foot), LB-Cody Glenn (neck)
To Be Determined – TE-Brody Eldridge (knee)
No participation –*QB-Peyton Manning (neck)
*Unsigned
