A Rundown Of Today's Happenings At Training
Camp
**JERRAUD SHOWS OFF DEFENSIVE POWERS IN SCRIMMAGE
**
TERRE HAUTE – Few would expect a rookie to steal the
show on a veteran-laced team, but Colts defensive back Jerraud
Powers did just that Saturday.
The rookie out of Auburn impressed many in his first week of practice at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, but saved his best performance for Saturday's mock game in front of thousands of fans.
Early in the game, which pitted the team's starting offense against the second-unit defense and vice versa, Powers intercepted a deep pass in the middle of the field that produced the highlight of the day and seven points for his team using the modified scoring system.
"Coming in, you could already see he's a smart player," Colts safety Antoine Bethea said. "From there, all you have to see is if he can transfer it over to the field…he showed a lot of good things today, and hopefully he'll keep improving and keep doing what he's doing."
Powers said he felt confident going into the game after a week of meetings and two-a-day practices under his belt. But the first-year player is aware he still has a long way to go.
"I've still got little wrinkles I need to iron out until I become the player I want to become, especially playbook-wise," Powers said. "I know the playbook pretty well, but there are a few things here and there that I can't make the same mistakes on, but I'm confident I'll get those fixed overall."
In addition to seeing time in the secondary, Powers might also play a part in the Colts' special teams plans. Powers returned punts during the mock game on Saturday, a role that the rookie cherishes.
"That's a big part of the game," Powers said. "You can change a game with a big punt return – or, on the negative side, if you drop a punt and the other team recovers it's a big, big turnover."
As a whole, Powers said he was pleased with the defense's performance on Saturday. But like himself, he knows the unit is still a work in progress.
"I thought we did pretty well, but we still have a long way to go," Powers said. "We are making a few mistakes here and there, and you'll have those in camp, but I think we made some strides today,"
ONE WEEK DOWN, TWO TO GO
Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell smiled after Saturday's mock game, admitting the scoring system might have been just a tad "bit weighted" towards the defense.
The defense prevailed in the scrimmage, 45-31, and while Caldwell knows that some might "say (the system) favors the defense…nevertheless, it added a little emphasis to our mistakes."
Overall, Caldwell said he was pleased with the team's first week of training camp, adding it was a solid week all around.
"We were able to get a lot of things installed and cover a lot of different situations," Caldwell said. "We got a real good work load in."
In the mock game, the Colts had a chance to give some of their new players a sense of how a game will go, how substitutions will work and other little nuances of the game that might not be covered in a regular practice.
Caldwell said he was impressed with the team's defense, which did a good job of controlling the line of scrimmage and stopping the run.
"That's a key focus of ours and that's what we are looking for," Caldwell said.
The Colts will not practice on Sunday but will hold team meetings in the evening.
"We'll give them a little break this weekend and tee it back up again on Monday and kick this thing back into high gear," Caldwell said.
PLAY OF THE DAY
The offense scored two touchdowns on Saturday, but it was the defense that came away with the play of the day.
On a play-action pass, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning stepped back into the pocket and launched a deep pass down field to wide receiver Reggie Wayne. But rookie defensive back Jerraud Powers positioned himself perfectly to make a play on the ball.
Powers leaped into the air off two feet and came down with the interception before being whistled down by an official.
CALDWELL SAYS
"It is a process now. The mock game is just getting a sense of the game but it's not a game in itself. By next Friday, we'll have a little better feel for where we are." – Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell on the anticipation for the team's first exhibition game
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"I know these guys are out here and we are banging it up with them, but after it's all over, it (doesn't count). We want to play someone with a different color on now." – Colts linebacker Clint Session on Saturday's mock scrimmage
CAMP SCHEDULE
The Colts held a mock game at 9:30 a.m. inside Cook Stadium on Saturday. The Colts are off on Sunday and will resume practice at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.
WEATHER REPORT
It was a warm, bright and sunny day in Terre Haute on Saturday. The expected high was 90 degrees, according to weather.com.
