A Rundown of Wednesday's Happenings at Training
Camp
The Indianapolis Colts were only able to practice once Wednesday at Anderson University as an evening thunderstorm cancelled the scheduled night practice. The practice has been rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.
There will now be two practices on Thursday. The first, a special teams only practice, will begin at 9:30 a.m. The night practice in Macholtz Stadium will begin at 7:30 p.m.
MUIR READY TO BUILD ON LAST SEASONTraining camp for a defense is a lot more about the scheme and learning assignments and responsibilities rather than hitting. The defense will not get to fully turn itself loose until the first preseason game against San Francisco on August 15.
But that does not mean the defense is getting to take it easy.
"There is no comfort level," defensive tackle Dan Muir said. "You have to come out here every single day and work extremely hard because guys behind you are hungry too, and they want to get on the field. There is no getting comfortable, ever."
Muir saw an increased role in the defense last season. The former undrafted free agent started 10 games for the Colts and led all defensive linemen on the team with 66 tackles. Entering his fourth year in the league, Muir enters training camp trying to build on last year.
"I want to be able to improve on my quickness and be able to read offenses a little bit better," Muir said. "Just come out here and dominate the run. That's our main goal, me, Antonio Johnson, Eric Foster and Fili Moala are just coming out here to dominate the run, period."
Muir and Johnson, who started 15 games last season and recorded a career-high 57 tackles, know that if they can bottle the run it allows fellow linemates Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis become even more dangerous.
"Antonio and Daniel Muir have done a tremendous job for us and they are a very key part of our defense," Head Coach Jim Caldwell said. "They certainly helped us shore up at the middle last year, and we anticipate they're going to play even better this year. They are an important piece of the puzzle."
NOTE OF THE DAY
The Colts have won 73 of their last 89 (82 percent) regular-season games.
CALDWELL SAYS
"It's been great. It's been outstanding. I know our players certainly appreciate it and it's a great outpouring from the folks in this community and surrounding area, so we've really enjoyed it." – Caldwell on the crowds that have come to Anderson University to watch the Colts practice.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Pete Metzelaars has been great for me. He and (assistant offensive line coach) Ron (Prince) both have worked with me all offseason, gave me a plan and told me exactly what I need to do. I have been working with them extremely hard all offseason on what I need to get better as a player." – Offensive lineman Tony Ugoh on his position coach Pete Metzelaars.
CAMP SCHEDULE
The Colts held one practice at Anderson University on Wednesday, with the 7:30 p.m. practice being cancelled due to inclement weather. The morning practice began at 9:30 a.m. and ended around 10:45 a.m. On Thursday, the team will practice twice, a 9:30 a.m. special teams only practice, with a full-squad practice at 7:30 p.m.
WEATHER REPORT
The weather in Anderson on Wednesday was sunny and hot most of the day giving way to an evening thunderstorm. The high in Anderson on Wednesday was 90 degrees, according to weather.com. Thursday calls for isolated thunderstorms and a high of 85 degrees.
