ANDERSON, Ind. – Training Camp routine has begun for the Colts, with the team now getting into the repetition of consecutive practices.
The on-the-field work will come this afternoon but around lunchtime each day, Colts.com will take a look at three interesting quotes from that morning's media sessions.
In today's media scrums, Chuck Pagano updates a few injuries suffered on Day One and D'Qwell Jackson shared his thoughts on Robert Mathis.
Chuck Pagano on having to move cornerback Darius Butler to safety at Wednesday's practice:
"You have to plan for that.
"You only get to dress 46 (guys) on game day."
Bowen's Analysis:* *It's not often on the first day of Training Camp, your starting nickel cornerback is taking multiple reps as a first-team safety. But with Clayton Geathers (foot) out, and T.J. Green (calf strain) and Winston Guy (cramps) leaving practice early, there was Darius Butler playing safety. Pagano credits Butler's football IQ for why the Colts feel comfortable moving him there in a pinch, something they've had to do in games before.
The injury update on Green is a mild calf strain, not cramps, which was previously thought to be the case on Wednesday. Green, who was expected to slide into the first team defense with Geathers out, is likely to miss a couple of days. Sio Moore was doubtful for Thursday's practice, due to a toe injury. Moore is competing with Nate Irving for the open starting spot at inside linebacker.
Chuck Pagano on what he's seen from tight end Dwayne Allen so far:
"Dwayne is in great shape. It's the best I've seen him look in five Training Camps."
Bowen's Analysis: A product of the new Colts' strength staff, Allen is one of a number of players Pagano is pleased with from a conditioning standpoint. Pagano says this is the best shape his overall team has been in since he took over in 2012.
It goes without saying how important the health is for Allen. With Coby Fleener gone, the Colts desperately need a healthy campaign from a tight end that lets you do a multitude of things. Allen could be a major beneficiary of the attention that will inevitably be sent towards the likes of T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief and Jacoby Brissett.
D'Qwell Jackson on Robert Mathis entering a 14th NFL season:
"In my opinion, he is a future Hall of Famer. With the amount of sacks he's generated, from where he started from a small school to where he is now, it is remarkable that he still carries a chip on his shoulder.
"Even last year, with limited time, he still had seven sacks and led this team in sacks. With a healthy Robert Mathis, he is still hitting a ceiling that most of us don't have."
Bowen's Analysis: "The older you get, the more older guys that get kicked out." No, that's not a quote from a bouncer at a club. That is how Robert Mathis answered a question on Thursday about him still playing the game of football at the age of 35.
This camp, Mathis is no longer heading to the "dungeon field" for rehab work, like he was in 2015. Mathis compared how he feels to the 2013 season, his last healthy year, and one in which he led the NFL with 19.5 sacks. Mathis approaching anywhere close to his 2013 form would do wonders for the pass rush in Indianapolis.
