ANDERSON – The 2014 Training Camp for the Indianapolis Colts is a third of the way over with the team reporting back to Anderson on Wednesday.
A night practice on Thursday evening will be the highlight of Week Two in Anderson before the team concludes the week by traveling to New York for the preseason opener against the Jets.
What are the storylines to watch in Week Two of Colts Training Camp?How Will The Running Back Position Look The Rest Of Camp?
We knew this position group would receive a ton of attention but that has only grown after Week One.
The Vick Ballard loss is significant and now the backfield is searching for a third back that hasn't yet proven themselves on the NFL level.
With Trent Richardson sidelined for the majority of camp so far, Ahmad Bradshaw has showed no ill effects from his injury issues (of course a neck injury won't truly be tested until live tackling takes place).
Getting Richardson back allows the Colts to have their full pantry of skill players practicing.
One thing to watch going forward is what the Colts do with the running back position behind guys like Richardson and Ballard.
Is Boom Herron the definite No. 3 back? Or will the Colts, who signed three-year vet Phillip Tanner on Tuesday afternoon, continue to look elsewhere in trying to create more depth at the position (maybe wait until the first round of cuts in late August)?
When Will We See Vontae Davis And LaRon Landry In The Secondary?
Chuck Pagano did not budge when setting a timetable for the returns of Davis and Landry.
"We have a plan and our trainers and our strength staff are working together. They're getting a ton of work," Pagano said on Monday.
"When (the trainers) give us the green light and we're on the same page and we feel like, 'Hey, it's time to get them back in the fold,' then we'll do that. Again, like I said, we're hoping sooner than later, but we're not going to push the envelope."
Those two players enter practice each day and head beyond the practice field to take part in rehab work.
Both guys are taking part in the team's morning walk-throughs so neither injury appears to be very serious.
While their absences have opened the door to create some depth in the secondary, getting Davis and Landry back on the field soon is vital considering the start to the season begins with the two top passing offenses in the NFL.What Will The Starting Offensive Look Like On August 7?
After one week of Training Camp the offensive line remains a bit of a puzzle with a few pieces having entrenched themselves in place.
We know the starting tackles are Anthony Castonzo and Gosder Cherilus, with versatile backups Joe Reitz and Xavier Nixon behind them.
Hugh Thornton has taken virtually all of the first team reps at right guard.
At center Khaled Holmes has been the starting center with guys like Donald Thomas and Jack Mewhort taking the occasional snaps at center.
Thomas has been the starter at left guard, with Mewhort spelling him. Another guy that has been in the mix at guard is Lance Louis.
Once the live bullets start flying on August 7, things will become more concrete up front but Mewhort appears to be the guy most ready to challenge the initial five for a starting spot.
Can Bjoern Werner Put Together Another Strong Week?
This is a very important camp for Werner, and the other outside linebackers.
The Colts know what's at stake during the first month of the season and that's why we've seen Robert Mathis run mostly with the second unit while Werner and Erik Walden work with the starters.
Early on in camp, Werner showed great instincts with several pass deflections, something he excelled in during his college career at Florida State.
With the pads now on, we've seen Werner get after the quarterback routinely and win many one-on-one reps in individual drills.
A presence from Werner off the edge is needed with opposing offensive coordinators exhaling a bit during September knowing that Mathis will be sidelined.Is There A Breakout Member Of The Colts Rookie Class?
The Colts 2014 draft class is just five members deep so options are limited when looking for rookies trying to make an impact on a playoff roster.
We've touched on Mewhort and he's certainly in the thick of things along the Colts offensive line.
Third-round pick Donte Moncrief has gotten some valuable first team reps and he could factor into the return game, too.
Another rookie who has really flashed, especially once the pads were put on, is outside linebacker/defensive end Jonathan Newsome.
Ryan Grigson was surprised when Newsome was available late in the fifth round back in May.
Newsome was dominant in one-on-one drills earlier this week and there are opportunities for another pass rusher to emerge early this season.
Some undrafted guys that have already made impressions include wide receiver Tony Washington, center Jonotthan Harrison and cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy.
