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INDIANAPOLIS – As the NFL continues to evolve, forcing teams to adapt, Clayton Geathers is in the middle of that process.
For himself, and for the Colts.
The rookie from Central Florida stands out amongst the Colts safeties, thanks to his 6-2, 208-pound physique.
He's forcing himself into a veteran Colts secondary with a makeup that is necessary in "NFL 2015".
"He's going to be one of those guys that in today's football you can play inside as a dime backer (to) get more speed on the field, and matchup with the tight ends that we've got to cover now, the backs out of the backfield and things like that," Chuck Pagano says of the Colts fourth-round pick.
"He's doing really well. He's going to contribute, not only on defense, but he should be an outstanding special teamer as well."
When the Colts took Geathers to kick off the final day of the 2015 NFL Draft, the UCF product labeled himself as a "tone setter" who piled up 383 tackles in his collegiate career.
The size of Geathers is apparent at first glance, but Pagano has been pleased with what the young safety has shown him between the ears.
"Very intelligent guy, he's got good (football intelligence). He learns extremely, extremely well," Pagano says of Geathers.
"We're playing him at safety. We're playing him down in the box, in sub-packages, as a dime backer. So he's learning the backend plus he's learning the sub stuff. He's been really impressive as far as picking things up."
Following the Colts selection of Geathers early in the fourth round, Pagano believed this was a player who was still a ways away from reaching his ceiling.
With veterans Mike Adams (11 NFL seasons) and Dwight Lowery (7 NFL seasons) leading the safeties, Geathers is doing everything he can to carve out a role in the Colts secondary.
Pagano knows the jump from a college secondary to an NFL one can be immense, but Geathers is handling it well.
"He was very impactful in the game," Pagano said of the college player in Geathers. "Like most young players in the backend, especially safeties, playing deep, going backwards is usually where it takes a little bit of time. But he's doing well with that.
"He's kind of exceeded our expectations to this point, and I think mostly because of how we're using him in our dime package."
The second and final day of the Colts rookie mini camp.
