ANDERSON, Ind. – Thursday saw the Colts once again in shorts and helmets, before the real fun begins on Friday in the debut of full pads.
It was another day in Anderson of clear skies, with showers dodging Colts Training Camp.
What were the takeaways from the Colts' second day on the practice field in Anderson?
PRACTICE TAKEAWAYS
- After a slower opening day for the Colts' passing game, the flashes were there on Thursday. Deep crossing routes to T.Y. Hilton. Leaping grabs by Donte Moncrief. And Jacoby Brissett touching the ball in a variety of ways.
Thursday was a sketch of the sort of offensive picture many envision for the Colts this season. These three receivers bring dynamic skillsets and Andrew Luck incorporated them throughout the second practice of camp.
- Luck's lone mistake to the defense on Thursday brought a rare sight to a football field: a 300-pound man, ball in hand, rumbling towards the end zone.
On an attempted screen pass, second-year defensive tackle T.Y. McGill took the ball right out of mid-air and ran the final 30 yards or so into the end zone. A 310-pound dancing McGill gave his defensive teammates plenty to rejoice about. In all seriousness, McGill just always seems to make plays. His depth will likely be vital early in 2016.
- The right guard door is still revolving. With Hugh Thornton being eased back to work, Denzelle Good is seeing more and more first-team reps. This comes a day after Jonotthan Harrison also received plenty of starting action.
This is the battle to watch on offense. The full pads are coming on Friday and it will be interesting to see if the Colts start to settle on a specific guy at right guard early next week, with the first preseason game just 10 days away.
OTHER PRACTICE MUSINGS
- Watching Thursday's practice was another reminder on just how grateful Colts' fans should be for Mike Adams. With injuries forcing Darius Butler back to the starting safety spot on Thursday, the 35-year-old Adams is just Mr. Steady.
- Butler's work at safety again on Thursday reminds you how much different the professional game is from college. You only dress 46 guys on game days in the NFL. In college, you have 85 scholarship players. On Sunday's, Butler would be just two injuries away from taking safety reps in an actual game.
- In back-to-back plays with the starters on Thursday, we saw the running backs go from Robert Turbin to Josh Ferguson. That's a little thunder and lighting coming out of the backfield. With Frank Gore's reps always monitored, the Colts have rotated several backs with the first unit.
- Friday means full pads are coming out of the equipment room. Answers in the trenches are still needed at the starting right guard position and the overall depth on the defensive line. A better evaluation of those questions will come in Friday's setting.
- The Colts will have an off day on Saturday before picking up practice again Sunday-Tuesday (Tuesday is the team's lone night practice of camp).
INJURY REPORT
The following players did not participate in Thursday's practice: T.J. Green (calf) and Sio Moore (toe). Both players were wearing boots on the lower part of their left legs on Thursday. Neither injury is expected to keep the defenders out for very long.
Pat McAfee (illness) also missed Thursday's practice. Outside linebacker Curt Maggitt (undisclosed) left practice early. We continue to see the Colts ease the likes of Arthur Jones (ankle), D'Joun Smith (knee) and Hugh Thornton (ankle) into practice.
PAGANO QUOTEWORTHY
Chuck Pagano on how Dwayne Allen looks like coming into 2016:
"Dwayne is in great shape and I just told him this morning, it's funny you asked, I just told him this is the best I've seen him look in five training camps coming into camp and it's a byproduct. If you do the right thing and you're a pro and you train mentally and physically and you put the time in and you then continue to do that. Vacation starts, those kind of things then this is how you're going to show up at camp. That's the difference between some of the young guys not being able to get through a day like yesterday and a guy like Dwayne, he's been there and he understands it. He understands what you have to do from a preparation standpoint so he got himself ready to go and he looks really good right now."
PLAYER QUOTE OF THE DAY
Robert Mathis on comparing his body from the start of this year's camp, to last year's time in Anderson:
"A whole lot better. A whole lot better. 2013-ish if you feel what I'm saying."
TWEET OF THE DAY
YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA QUIZ
On Tuesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame officially announced the presenters for the 2016 inductees. Who will be presenting Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison on Saturday, Aug. 6?
ANSWER: Donnie Shell, a former teammate of Dungy's, will be presenting the Colts' Super Bowl winning head coach. Owner/CEO Jim Irsay will be presenting Marvin Harrison a week from Saturday in Canton.
TODAY'S TRIVIA QUIZ
Last year the Colts tied a franchise record for defensive touchdowns in a single season. Can you name the five defensive touchdowns the Colts had in 2015?
SPOTTED IN CAMP
On Thursday, Monday Morning Quarterback and Peter King were present. Also in Anderson was the NFL UK, preparing for the Colts' trip to London this October.
PRACTICE ATTENDANCE: 1,484 TOTAL FOR CAMP: 2,959
WEATHER REPORT
The Colts dodged some scattered storms on Thursday afternoon to get their practice in. Some pop up showers, with temperatures still in the 80s, are in the forecast for Friday's afternoon practice.
CAMP SCHEDULE
Friday, July 29 – Armed Forces Day presented by BOSE
1:55-4:40 p.m. – Practice
12:30 p.m. – Colts City opens
5:00 p.m. – Colts City closes
Saturday, July 30
Players' Day Off
* *
Sunday, July 31 – Kids Day presented by Riley Children's Health
1:55-4:40 p.m. – Practice
12:30 p.m. – Colts City opens
5:00 p.m. – Colts City closes
Monday, August 1- Community Take Back Day presented by the Attorney General's Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force
* *
1:55-4:40 p.m. – Practice
12:30 p.m. – Colts City opens
5:00 p.m. – Colts City closes
Tuesday, August 2 – BBQ Bash Night Practice
6:25-9:10 p.m. – Practice
5:00 p.m. – Colts City opens
9:30 p.m. – Colts City closes
* *
Wednesday, August 3
Players' Day Off
* *
Thursday, August 4
1:55-4:40 p.m. – Practice
12:30 p.m. – Colts City opens
5:00 p.m. – Colts City closes
Friday, August 5
* *
1:55-4:40 p.m. – Practice
12:30 p.m. – Colts City opens
5:00 p.m. – Colts City closes
* *
Sunday, August 7
NFL/Hall of Fame Game – Canton, Ohio – Indianapolis vs. Green Bay
Tuesday, August 9
1:55-4:40 p.m. – Practice
12:30 p.m. – Colts City opens
5:00 p.m. – Colts City closes
Wednesday, August 10
1:55-4:10 p.m. – Practice
12:30 p.m. – Colts City opens
5:00 p.m. – Colts City closes
Thursday, August 11 – BREAK CAMP
8:05-10:30 a.m. – Practice
Colts City Closed
