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ANDERSON – Dwayne Allen's season ended in the first week last year, rendering the Indianapolis offense to a different approach than what it practiced in preseason.
Pep Hamilton envisioned a multiple tight end look that took a direct hit when Allen suffered a season-ending hip injury.
Now, Allen is back to help create issues Hamilton set out to do a year ago.
"I believe we got to a one-dimensional, one tight end passing game last year, a one tight end run game because of personnel," said Allen. "I'm looking forward to things getting that way (multiple formations with two tight ends) this year."
Hamilton is all about creating mismatches and stressing defenses, something he did well enough at Stanford that four of his tight ends – Zach Ertz, Levine Toilolo, Coby Fleener, Konrad Reuland – are in the NFL.
In Hamilton's final two seasons at Stanford, tight ends caught almost as many passes as wide receivers, while exceeding the touchdown total of other positions combined.
|
2011-12 Stanford Reception Distribution under Pep Hamilton (Rec-Yds-TD) | |||||
|
Year |
WRs |
TEs |
RBs |
FBs |
QBs |
|
2011 |
127-1616-9 |
86-1356-20 |
47-349-4 |
36-289-5 |
1-13-0 |
|
2012 |
79-969-6 |
93-1291-10 |
51-395-2 |
17-147-1 |
0-0-0 |
|
Total |
206-2585-15 |
179-2647-30 |
98-744-6 |
53-436-6 |
1-13-0 |
Prior to Stanford, Hamilton had stops with Chicago, San Francisco and the New York Jets where he saw tight ends drafted high and who flourished.
Allen and Fleener preceded Hamilton to Indianapolis, and they factor into this year's approach nicely.
"We like tight ends around here, more importantly, versatile tight ends. We want to try to find ways to create paranoia and matchup problems for our opponents," said Hamilton. "A guy like Dwayne and Coby can do that.
"When you scheme up red zones, third downs, you're looking for matchups. Dwayne is going to create matchup problems for linebackers and safety types. You look at my history with tight ends, we'll find a way to take advantage of their talents."
Hamilton got used to finding tight ends while quarterbacking at Howard.
"A guy like me who is not as big as other quarterbacks, it was a lot easier to see that big target in the middle of the field, as opposed to those smurfs who get lost in passing lanes," said Hamilton. "You look at the matchup issues defenses have when you have that big body. A guy that's working the middle and can stretch the field vertically gives us a weapon that's hard to defend.
"Tight ends are quarterback-friendly. They're big, fast, you have a lot more margin for error. They have a larger catch radius. They can position a body up. When you're stepping up in the pocket and have 6-6, 250 pounds spotted up – or Dwayne, who's like Robocop, a big ball of muscle working the hashes – there is some comfort there."
Allen led rookie tight ends with 45 receptions. His lone snare last year was a 20-yard TD against Oakland.
It was his only game under Hamilton, but Allen is raring to go.
"(I) was familiar with the Stanford offense and was told he was behind it a couple of years," said Allen. "I had some familiarity with the offense and his style of play.
"You want create mismatches and utilize players to the best of their abilities. We have more players and we're doing different things. We have a lot of play-makers. Pep has a great imagination to get us all the ball."
PLAY OF THE DAY
Andrew Luck in red zone action nailed Reggie Wayne on the end line with Wayne working in a multi-receiver spread. Luck's laser throw was between defenders D'Qwell Jackson and Delano Howell.
PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS
Luck was 23-of-31, hitting 13 straight at one point. He was perfect on seven red zone throws, hitting Wayne twice on those drills for scores and later combining with T.Y. Hilton for two more TDs.
Darius Butler swiped one Luck pass, and he later had a pass defensed in the end zone against Luck.
Matt Hasselbeck threw six TD passes, hitting five different receivers. Rookie Donte Moncrief had two of Hasselbeck's scoring throws, including a leaping grab on the end line.
Henoc Muamba had a red zone pass defensed, while recovering a fumble down deep forced by Josh Gordy off Josh Lenz. Lenz quickly atoned with spectacular footwork on a TD snare.
NEWS/NOTES OF THE DAY
RB-Davin Meggett (5-8, 219) signed Sunday. He was on the club's practice squad in 2012. LB-Aaron Morgan was placed on injured reserve. The club also waived tackle Jack Breckner and signed FA tackle Matt Hall. Hall (6-9, 326) played at Belhaven and had a brief FA stay with Minnesota.
QUOTE-UNQUOTE (Pep Hamilton on if Colts will be up-tempo)
"It's starting to become a trend. We were able to change up our tempos last season. By the end of the year, we felt like the up-tempo offense gave us a heck of an opportunity to feature our play-makers, as well as wear the opponent down. When we start game-planning our opponents, we'll find ways to put our guys in a position to make plays. We're not certain it will be one specific tempo at this point."
YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA QUIZ
Name the only division that has not had a repeat champion since 2002, along with every NFL franchise that has not won at least one division title since realignment.
ANSWER: The NFC South has not had a repeat winner since 2002. The only franchises not to win a division crown since realignment are Buffalo (AFC East), Cleveland (AFC North), Jacksonville (AFC South) and Detroit (NFC North).
TODAY'S TRIVIA QUIZ
In 30 seasons while playing in Indianapolis, only two non-linebackers have led the team in tackles over the span of a season. Name those two players. See the next Colts Camp Notebook for the answer.
AFTERNOON ATTENDANCE: 1,814. TOTAL FOR CAMP: 9,541.
WEATHER REPORT
The morning walk-through was moved indoors and was closed to viewing. Rain threatened early in the afternoon practice, but gave way to sunny skies and 80-degree temperatures.
CAMP SCHEDULE
Monday's schedule is a change from the routine. The team practices from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 Noon.
