INDIANAPOLIS – Why now?
Why, in his mid 30s and after more than 10 seasons in the NFL, is Mike Adams the top defensive playmaker in the league?
Even the talkative Adams isn't 100 percent sure of the answer.
Adams continues to have a great grasp of the defensive system he's playing in, an attribute that he's carried with him through his 12 years in the NFL.
Since joining the Colts in 2014, Adams has nine interceptions, the most picks of any player in the NFL during that span.
"I'm able to go out there and just read the quarterback and make plays," Adams says trying to explain his ball-hawking nature in Indianapolis.
"Nothing unusual, (but) I'm comfortable here. I'm comfortable with my cornerbacks, my linebackers and it's helping me play fast."
It's been warp speed for Adams, always seeming to be in the right spot at the right time before making the play.
One of the mantras of the Colts secondary is simply "make the plays that come your way."
Adams does that, and has gone beyond his duties to make some spectacular individual efforts in interceptions against the Jets and Patriots this season.
For Adams, his journey as an NFL undrafted free agent took him to Cleveland from 2007-2011.
There, he was a teammate of D'Qwell Jackson.
With the two back together in Indianapolis, Jackson is adamant that Adams has always deserved the opportunity he's getting here.
"In Cleveland, (Adams) was looked over and finally these last few years, he's getting an opportunity to be the guy and he's taking full advantage of it," Jackson says.
"I think now everyone is starting to see how well he can play when given the opportunity."
When Adams arrived in Indianapolis during June of 2014, it was anyone's guess who the Colts would start at safety that season.
Adams eventually would be the guy, finding his way into the starting lineup well into Training Camp.
Since 2014, no Colts defender has logged more snaps than Adams.
The reliability has come with plenty of playmaking.
It's even more remarkable considering Adams came into 2014 with just nine interceptions in his previous eight seasons.
He's equaled that number in 22 games with the Colts.
"It's knowing your assignment, pursuing the football, awareness, instincts," fellow starting safety Dwight Lowery says.
"There's a lot of tips and overthrows and there's nobody around the ball. Part of it is being in the right place at the right time. Part of it is pursuing the football. Right now he's finding the ball and the ball is finding him and it's a great thing."
