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ANDERSON – A full padded practice on Monday sparked probably the most physical day of the 2015 Colts Camp.
With storms in the area, Chuck Pagano ended practice early leading into the Colts off day on Tuesday.
What were the takeaways from the Colts eighth day on the practice field in Anderson?
PRACTICE TAKEAWAYS
- Monday was all about physicality (and dodging Mother Nature). The Colts had the full pads on for the third time in Anderson. With the full gear on, Colts practice was highlighted by short yardage situations near midfield.
Whether it was a running situation or a short-yardage pass, there was plenty of chatter between the offense and defense. The one defensive lineman who continues to appear in the backfield during these situations is Arthur Jones.
- It's clear that Andrew Luck is the unquestioned vocal leader of the Colts offense. An exhibit of that came early in Monday's practice, with the offense backed up to their own one-yard line.
Boom Herron trudged forward for a solid gain, which left Luck rejoicing in approval from the back of the end zone: "There it is. There it is..." Luck said in reference to the hole opened up by the offensive line. When the second-team offense then came on the field and Luck went to the sidelines, No. 12 didn't stop in his cheering for the offense. As if you needed any reminder, this is Luck's offense.
- From an individual play standpoint, Andre Johnson took home Monday's loudest cheer.
Johnson sprung into the secondary for a deep ball, which is an area he hasn't really been used this camp. The 6-3, 230-pound wide receiver boxed out rookie cornerback D'Joun Smith for the grab. The Colts aren't going to be sending Johnson strictly on go routes in 2015, but this play showed what his size can provide whichever route he runs.
OTHER PRACTICE MUSINGS
- After more than a dozen players sat out Sunday's practice, the Colts had just two starters miss Monday (Vontae Davis and Jerrell Freeman). The Colts have had a pretty healthy camp heading into the final three days of work in Anderson (commence Colts Nation knocking on wood).
- Dwayne Allen had a nice day on Monday, but it was another tight end who continues to catch my eye. Sean McGrath had a productive day in full pads. McGrath, who doesn't wear gloves, could factor into the final roster. The Colts kept just three tight ends last season, but also kept a fullback (Mario Harvey) on their roster. Could we see four tight ends on the 53-man roster this season?
- We saw the same starting offensive line for a eighth straight day: LT-Anthony Castonzo, LG-Lance Louis, C-Khaled Holmes, RG-Todd Herremans and RT-Jack Mewhort. We continue to see plenty of rotation though in the lines with Andrew Luck and Matt Hasselbeck working with different combinations.
- With Davis and Butler sidelined on Monday, Greg Toler continues to be a constant presence at cornerback. Chuck Pagano has mentioned that Toler has had a nice camp. On Monday, Toler had terrific coverage on a deep ball intended for Donte Moncrief.
- No. 5 is starting to become a name people shouldn't have to go to their roster to recognize. Undrafted rookie wide receiver Quan Bray had another solid practice on Monday. The depth at wide receiver is well known but there's a reason Pagano singled out Bray following yesterday's practice.
INJURY REPORT/ROSTER MOVES
The following players did not participate in Monday's practice: Robert Mathis (Achilles) and Donald Thomas (quad). Both players are on the PUP list (can be removed from that list at anytime). Inside linebacker Nate Irving (knee) continues to sit out as he recovers from a 2014 ACL surgery. Running back Vick Ballard (hamstring) sat out Monday's practice and remains day-to-day. Running back Josh Robinson (soreness) and offensive tackle Denzelle Good (shoulder) both returned to practice on Monday.
The following players either missed Monday's practice or left early: cornerback Darius Butler (groin), cornerback Vontae Davis (groin), inside linebacker Junior Sylvestre (hamstring) and inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman.
The Colts today signed free agent guard Kitt O'Brien and waived guard Dionte Savage. O'Brien, 6-5, 310 pounds, re-joins the Colts after originally signing with the team on August 7, 2015. O'Brien is a Ball State product who hails from Indiana.
COACH QUOTEWORTHY
Pep Hamilton on Andrew Luck working with a virtual reality simulator this offseason:
"I think with the technology that is available now there is an opportunity to recreate something that is really impossible to recreate. That has given (Luck) the ability to see things from a quarterback's vantage point, in a pocket, in an on the field environment, with the technology that we have at Stanford. I think it is only going to improve and it is something that a lot of teams, if not all in the National Football League, at some point will consider doing."
PLAYER QUOTE OF THE DAY
Andrew Luck on who the fastest Colt is:
"That's like asking a parent who their favorite kid is. That is trouble right there. I think if you put a race out there between Phillip Dorsett…I mean, he had the fastest time ever at the University of Miami so that's saying something, I think for their pro day. If you put Phil, T.Y. (Hilton), some of those DBs, shoot, (Coby) Fleener, don't count him out. I think people would seriously, again, pay to go watch that."
TWEET OF THE DAY
YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA QUIZ
The Colts have won a remarkable 13 straight games against the AFC South. When was the last time the Colts lost a divisional game?ANSWER: Week 15 of the 2012 season. On December 16, 2012, the Colts lost to the Texans, 29-17, in Houston.
TODAY'S TRIVIA QUIZ
Over the past three seasons the Colts have lost back-to-back games just once. Can you name the lone time the Colts have lost consecutive games since the start of the 2012 season?
SPOTTED IN CAMP
The national media brigade that was in Anderson on Sunday continued on Monday. Don Banks of Sports Illustrated was here for a second straight day. Jason Cole from Bleacher Report and Kevin Clark from the Wall Street Journal were also in attendance.
PRACTICE ATTENDANCE: 1,970 TOTAL FOR CAMP: 31,892
WEATHER REPORT
The Colts once again dodged a questionable forecast. Rain held off on Monday, but the humidity did not, for the Colts to get in their eighth practice day in Anderson. The forecast for the rest of the week in Anderson looks ideal.
CAMP SCHEDULE
Wednesday, August 12
1:55-4:40 p.m. – Practice
12:30 p.m. – Colts City opens
5:00 p.m. – Colts City closes**
**Thursday, August 13
1:55-4:40 p.m. – Practice
12:30 p.m. – Colts City opens
5:00 p.m. – Colts City closes
Friday, August 14
1:55-4:10 p.m. – Practice
12:30 p.m. – Colts City opens
5:00 p.m. – Colts City closes
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