INDIANAPOLIS – When Sergio Brown re-signed with the Colts back in March, he wanted fans to know him under an additional label.
"Special teams ace" was fine and well, and something Brown took pride in, but with an open safety competition that offseason, he wanted Colts Nation to know him as a defensive starter.
"Ultimately, I want to contribute and show the Indianapolis Colts I have what it takes to be a starting safety in this league," Brown said back in March. "I want to go out there and compete and be a difference maker just like I was on special teams, but now on defense."
As the Colts begin the second quarter of the season on Sunday afternoon, Brown will run out with the starting defense for the first time in his three seasons in Indianapolis.
"It fires me up," Brown said on Wednesday of getting the starting nod while LaRon Landry serves his four-game suspension.
"It definitely could be an opportunity to prove that I can play in this NFL at any position."
Heading into this weekend, Brown has played just 15 defensive snaps in 2014, all coming in mop-up duty against the Jaguars and Titans.
Colts fans know Brown as a tremendous cover man who has displayed his raw athletic ability in being the first player down on kicks so many times over the past three years.
Sunday will mark Brown's fourth NFL start at safety, with the other three times coming back in 2011 with the Patriots.
"Serg is a big, long, athletic guy, got range," Chuck Pagano says describing the new Colts starting safety.
"He's been in the National Football League for a long time and he fully expects, and we fully expect him to go in and play winning football, and that's what he'll do."
One advantage that Brown does have going into Sunday is he got major first team reps all offseason long.
With LaRon Landry not hitting the practice field until midway through Training Camp, and starter Mike Adams still learning the defense really until the end of camp, it was Brown who saw plenty of work with the first unit.
On Sunday, Brown will line up next to a guy in Adams who will be starting his 78th career game in 11 NFL seasons.
Adams has been a calming addition to the backend of the Colts defense and that will once again be a key against the Ravens.
"I just want (Brown) to relax," Adams said on Wednesday. "If I can make the calls, get him lined up right, just let him play fast and let him do what he does. I've seen Serg practice, and even when I first got here, it surprised me he only had a handful of starts. He goes hard. Even on special teams you can see him, he plays so relentless.
"I'm not worried about Serg at all. He's a smart guy. He knows the calls. He knows everything. I've probably got to adjust to him. I've probably got to keep up with him."
