WESTFIELD, Ind. – Head coach Shane Steichen's eyes went right to where quarterback Anthony Richardson was looking as the Colts quarterback delivered an intermediate throw over the middle.
"Heck yeah, we got one," Steichen thought during an 11-on-11 period of Sunday's training camp practice at Grand Park.
Then safety Julian Blackmon appeared almost out of nowhere, and with a full-extension leaping dive, picked off Richardson.
Steichen's next thought: "Holy crap, that's a hell of a play."
"The one interception he had, I threw it right there too," Steichen said. "And when he made the play, I ran over to him and dapped him up because it was an incredible play."
The Colts re-signed Blackmon this offseason in part for his ability to make instinctive, athletic ballhawking plays like the one he made Sunday in Westfield. Blackmon had a career high four interceptions in 2023, his first playing strong safety in defensive coordinator Gus Bradley's defense, and also set career highs in tackles (88), tackles for a loss (five) and passes defensed (eight).
Now entering his second year as a strong safety, third year in Bradley's defense and fifth year with the Colts, Blackmon feels comfortable knowing when and how to be aggressive in trying to take the ball away – as he was when he slyly dropped right into where Richardson (and Steichen) thought that pass should go.
"I feel like I just understand my role going into Year 3 with the same coaches," Blackmon said. "I feel like I'm getting a lot more comfortable and when I can and cannot take risks. It also allows me to make plays."
Blackmon later in practice had an impressive pass break-up on a deep ball to wide receiver Josh Downs.
As the Colts develop a largely-young secondary – cornerbacks Dallis Flowers, Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents, and safeties Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas II all debuted in the NFL either in 2022 or 2023 – Blackmon and cornerback Kenny Moore II can be stabilizing presences on the back end. But both players are more than solid, reliable veterans – they're playmakers, too.
And what Blackmon did on Sunday, even in a non-padded training camp practice, served as a reminder of what he can do – and what the Colts expect of him in 2024.
"I think he's going to have a huge year for us," Steichen said. "Just his mindset, the way he sees the game, and when you talk football to him he's like talking to another coach. And he made a ton of plays today."
News & notes
- Defensive ends Dayo Odeyingbo and Samson Ebukam are dealing with calf injuries, Steichen said. Odeyingbo did not participate on Sunday, while Ebukam exited during practice.
- Quarterback Joe Flacco returned to practice after not participating Saturday while at former Baltimore Ravens teammate Jacoby Jones' funeral.
- On a skirmish between wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and cornerback Jaylon Jones, Steichen said: "That's training camp, right. They have scuffles out there. They'll put it to bed, though."
- The Colts did one-on-one drills for the first time in training camp, and rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell came away with the play of the day, making an impressive catch while losing his helmet on a deep ball.
- Another impressive play: Wide receiver Ashton Dulin came down with a physical, contested 50/50 ball during 11-on-11.
- Cornerback Dallis Flowers forced an incompletion during an early 11-on-11 period, while linebacker Zaire Franklin broke up a pass later in full-team work.
- Defensive end Laiatu Latu consistently pressured the pocket ahead of his first padded practice in the NFL on Tuesday.
- Wide receiver Josh Downs zipped past a defender for an explosive catch-and-run in 11-on-11.
- Tight end Jelani Woods flashed his catch radius with a leaping grab over the middle in 11-on-11.
- Wide receiver Alec Pierce came down with an impressive diving catch in 11-on-11.
- Tight end Will Mallory showed strong hands to snag a pass thrown behind him in seven-on-seven.
- Mitchell flashed for a down-the-sideline catch from Flacco with a well-set-up outside release toward the end of 11-on-11 work.
