INDIANAPOLIS – The largest media contingent of the season descended upon the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on Wednesday with the Colts starting practice.
With the garage doors open inside the Colts indoor facility, it was a chilly two-hour session of practice.
Here are a few sound bites from Chuck Pagano and Andrew Luck on Wednesday:
Chuck Pagano on the numbers New England has put up in the run game against Indianapolis:
"The numbers speak for themselves, and if we don't get that fixed and they're able to run the ball the way that they've run it the last couple meetings, then we're going to have a long, hard day."
Bowen's Analysis:* *In the Colts last two meetings with the Patriots, New England has chewed up 480 rushing yards. Then last week against the Ravens, the Patriots had just 14 rushing yards on 13 attempts with a Tom Brady quarterback sneak the lone rush in the second half.
The common theme in listening to Pagano, Colts players and even Bill Belichick talk on Wednesday is how much the Indy run defense has improved since the return of Arthur Jones. Starting the week after the November 16 meeting with New England, Jones has been back in the lineup. That stretch includes the Colts holding backs like Arian Foster, DeMarco Murray and Jeremy Hill well below their normal averages. Redding says Jones frequently commands double teams and understands his interior role inside the Colts three-man defensive front.
Chuck Pagano on the trade for Vontae Davis back in 2012:
"It's hard to find cover guys like Vontae, guys with length, athleticism.
"To do what you would like to do defensively, you've got to have guys like Vontae."
Bowen's Analysis: When the Colts traded a second-round pick for Davis just prior to the start of the 2012 season, the move garnered quite the reaction around the NFL. Davis was an intriguing talent when he was drafted at the age of 21, but after three seasons in Miami he hadn't fulfilled that hype.
Pagano knew for his defense to reach to the level they were striving, a player with Davis' skill at the cornerback position was needed. Davis has grown into arguably the game's top cornerback in Indianapolis, not allowing a touchdown in over 1,200 defensive snaps (Week 13 last season). It's hard to imagine where this Colts defense would be in 2014 if Davis had not re-signed with Indianapolis this offseason.Andrew Luck on watching the Patriots on Saturday and wanting to play the best:
"I think there's a competitive spirit in everybody.
"Maybe there is a little extra excitement because of that."
Bowen's Analysis: When Luck took the podium immediately following the Colts Divisional Round win, he was his typical stoic self. Some extra emotion was seen though whenever he talked about what the win over the Broncos meant---a trip to the AFC Championship.
An AFC Championship against the Patriots was waiting for Luck and that is what drives the third-year quarterback. While Luck always deflects attention elsewhere (unless it's in a negative way, then he takes full responsibility), he clearly understands the magnitude of Sunday's matchup. When asked what has changed from the first meeting with the Patriots, Luck feels the Colts are more prepared to handle the unknown, a staple of Bill Belichick's teams.
INJURY NOTES
Here is the injury report for Wednesday:
-DNP- Vontae Davis (knee), D'Qwell Jackson (rest) and Greg Toler (groin).
-The Colts were without their starting corners at Wednesday's practice. Pagano hopes to have both back on the field for Thursday's session.
-LIMITED- Erik Walden (knee).
-Walden has been on the injury report virtually all season, rarely practicing full on Wednesday's.
