ANDERSON, Ind. – This wasn't your typical get away day from Training Camp.
Instead of a lighter practice on Thursday morning, the Colts went for two hours in the sticky humidity of a true Indiana summer.
What were the takeaways from the Colts' 11th and final day on the practice field in Anderson?
PRACTICE TAKEAWAYS
- If Andrew Luck had an MVP vote for Training Camp in Anderson, it would go to T.Y. Hilton. Luck pointed to the consistency from Hilton that was evident from practice No. 1 to No. 11 in Anderson.
Luck compared the camp for Hilton to what the quarterback witnessed from Reggie Wayne in 2012. On Thursday morning, Luck also talked about what he's liked from Phillip Dorsett, who can "scare people" people with his speed.
- Chuck Pagano is going to play his starters on Saturday night. That's expected in a team's preseason opener. In years past, the starters have logged one-to-two series during the first preseason game.
Pagano did list the following players as OUT for Saturday night: DE-Kendall Langford, DE-Henry Anderson, DT-Art Jones, CB-Jalil Brown, CB- D'Joun Smith, CB-Tevin Mitchel, S-Clayton Geathers and OG-Hugh Thornton. Those guys will not make the trip to Buffalo.
- On Thursday, Pagano said the Colts have a "great idea" of what the offensive line looks like. That includes Denzelle Good as the team's starting right guard.
Pagano said that Thornton had a setback in trying to return from his ankle injury. Thornton wasn't present at practice on Thursday. He missed the entire final week in Anderson. It goes without saying, but for Thornton to re-enter the starting picture, he's going to have to get on the field quickly, with Good taking a firm grasp on the starting spot.
OTHER PRACTICE MUSINGS
- Practice started Thursday at 8:30 a.m. The clock was barely past 8:00 on Thursday morning when Frank Gore took the field first and began his work. Watching Gore operate before practice, it's clear why he's still running at the age of 33.
- The starting inside linebacker spots is any combination of D'Qwell Jackson/Sio Moore/Nate Irving in a given rep. Those three are clearly the top guys right now. Antonio Morrison is knocking on the door though. The fourth-round pick even took some first-team reps on Thursday.
- It's hard to think back this offseason and view third-round pick Le'Raven Clark in any other spot besides a reserve right tackle. It's clear the Colts want to groom Clark there, while fifth-round pick Joe Haeg has been moved around more.
- The humidity of Thursday morning didn't keep the Colts from finishing things too early in their final day at Anderson University. It was a two-hour practice with the entire team hanging around to sign autographs for fans.
- Attendance for the Colts' 11 open practices in Anderson was 19,509. After Buffalo this weekend, the Colts will return to the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center for the rest of their camp work.
INJURY REPORT
The following players did not participate in Thursday's practice: DE-Kendall Langford (knee), S-Clayton Geathers (foot), CB-D'Joun Smith (undisclosed), S-Winston Guy (personal), OG-Hugh Thornton (ankle), CB-Tevin Mitchel (hamstring), CB-Jalil Brown (foot).
ROSTER MOVE
On Thursday morning, the Colts filled their open roster spots by signing running back Chase Price and free agent linebacker Anthony Sarao.PAGANO QUOTEWORTHY
Chuck Pagano on the Training Camp for Andrew Luck:
"He has been really consistent as far as what he's done here day in and day out. He's taken a bigger leadership role and I think everybody sees that. Fundamentally, he's in a good place. As far as the scheme, from the offseason until now, he's done a great job with that and he is making good decisions. I like where Andrew is at. Again, we have to get him in a game and get him together with the offense and go see how they perform against another team when it's live bullets and things like that. He's done a nice job."
PLAYER QUOTE OF THE DAY
Quarterback Andrew Luck on the playing of T.Y. Hilton in Anderson:
"(He) consistently everyday come out and probably the best player at practice. It feels that way, and that's what an elite player is. I remember being a rookie with T.Y. and watching Reggie Wayne practice every day. He was probably the best player on the field every day, and he practiced like it. From the stories I've heard, that was Marvin (Harrison) every day on the practice field making plays and doing it 100 percent and going all out. So I think T.Y. is carrying on the tradition of great, hard-working, practice wide receivers on this team. He's special. He's fun to play with."TWEET OF THE DAY
YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA QUIZ
With 1,000 rushing yards in 2016, where would Frank Gore climb on the league's all-time rushing rankings?
ANSWER: A 1,000-yard season for Gore would give him 13,040 career rushing yards. That would move him from 15th on the career rushing list to 8th.
PRACTICE ATTENDANCE: 208 TOTAL FOR CAMP: 19,509
