The practice wrapped up the 2011 training camp in Anderson for the Colts as they head back to Indianapolis for the preseason home opener Friday against the Washington Redskins. It was the 23rd practice session at the site.
"It certainly has been a good camp for us," head coach Jim Caldwell said. "Being in Anderson is a great environment for us. Guys stay focused, and I think obviously we got better. Now, what we have to do is kind of finish it off as a culmination for this particular portion of camp is to play well and play better than we did last week."
Just because training camp is over does not mean the hard work is done for the Colts. The team is still a little more than three weeks away from the regular season opener against the Houston Texans. It will be the second straight year the Colts have opened at Reliant Stadium.
The first goal of the team each season is to focus on the division title. The Colts won the AFC South from 2003-07 and 2009-10. A team that wins its division is guaranteed of making the playoffs. Head Coach Jim Caldwell always has drawn on the expression, 'Take care of the little things and the big things take care of themselves.' He often speaks about whittling matters down to the lowest denominator. Holding to that approach is understanding the importance of winning division games.
Though the off-site portion of camp closed today, the team still has work to do as it targets its opener.
NOTE OF THE DAY
As the Colts broke down the huddle for the final time in Anderson, they had a special guest sending them off. Anderson resident Kerry Detienne, who is scheduled for a bone marrow transplant on September 12, sent the Colts off Thursday morning. Detienne who will be a junior at Hanover College played football in high school and is a lifelong Colts fan.
"To be out there on the field with the guys is surreal," Detienne said. "To be in the hospital yesterday and to come out here it's an amazing thing."
Detienne is staying at the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital and said he was a little nervous sending the team back to Indianapolis.
"It was exciting because I've been there before playing football in high school," Detienne said. "I felt like I was a leader in high school, so it kind of brought me back a little bit."
After breaking down the huddle, Detienne stuck around and talked with many of the Colts players on the field.
PLAYERS WHO DID NOT PARTICPATE IN PRACTICE INCLUDE:
DB-Al Afalava (Groin)
DE-Jamaal Anderson (Quad)
WR-Austin Collie (Knee)
WR-Anthony Gonzalez (Hamstring)
DT-Tommie Harris (Hamstring)
LB-Ernie Sims (Appendectomy)
WR-Reggie Wayne (Personal)
CAMP SCHEDULE
The Colts had a one-hour walk-through Thursday morning as a tune up before their preseason home opener Friday against the Washington Redskins at 7:00 p.m. The practice marked the final one of the 2011 training camp. The team conducted 23 practice sessions in Anderson and drew more than 70,000 fans.
WEATHER REPORT
The Camp wrapped up Thursday with temperatures in the mid to high 70s and some more sunny skies over Macholtz Stadium.
TRIVIA ANSWER
The Wednesday question was: Kelvin Hayden returned a pair of interceptions last year for touchdowns. The last Colt to accomplish this feat did it in 2005. Name the player.
The answer is Cato June. The former Colts linebacker had five interceptions in 2005 and took two of those five back for touchdowns.
