ANDERSON, Ind. – Entering Training Camp, it was thought Ryan Kelly would be the lone rookie starter this season.
Kelly might have some company in safety T.J. Green come Week One against Detroit.
On Wednesday, we heard from coordinators Rob Chudzinski and Ted Monachino speaking about their respective top picks. Also, Monachino touched on how Arthur Jones has looked this camp.
Rob Chudzinski on not feeling nervous with a rookie center starting in Ryan Kelly:
"In a situation like Ryan Kelly, you can set things up with installs to help him along.
"The comfort level is really with the person and with Ryan, what he's shown and done so far, I have no nervousness about that at all."
Bowen's Analysis:* *On Tuesday, we saw Kelly return to practice on a limited basis. If he can ramp up the team drills Wednesday, then maybe he gets on the field Saturday for the team's preseason opener.
Kelly was one of four rookie linemen the Colts drafted earlier this year. It's fifth-round pick Joe Haeg that has emerged as the most likely rookie lineman (not named Kelly) to receive playing time in 2016. Haeg has seen starting action at both guard and tackle this offseason. Expect Haeg to play a key reserve role in his rookie campaign.
T.J. Green on getting first-team reps this camp:
"I get more and more comfortable with the defense the more I continue to learn and continue to grow as a player."
Bowen's Analysis: This camp has provided the opportunity for ample first-team work for second-round pick T.J. Green. If Clayton Geathers isn't back for Week One, Green is your safety starter next to Mike Adams.
Speaking of Adams, he spoke on Wednesday how Green has made a large jump in the ability to read quarterbacks. The Colts have little worry on the athletic ability of Green. It's the mental aspect for Green that he knows must be there to earn playing time.
Ted Monachino on the progress of Arthur Jones:
"Arthur is not all the way back yet. We're managing him in a way that he needs to be managed right now. As we move closer and closer I think that his reps will ramp up and he'll start to get his legs underneath him a little bit.
"He's getting stronger everyday. He's getting in better shape from a cardiovascular standpoint. You see Arthur moving the way you would expect Arthur to move more often."
Bowen's Analysis: Ted Monachino, who coached Jones in Baltimore, has been very pleased with how Jones has handled things this camp. The Colts are going to have high expectations for Jones when he returns from his suspension come Week Five.
Other defensive items from Monachino on Wednesday, includes keeping Darius Butler as a cross-training guy still at safety and cornerback. With Clayton Geathers, it's an injury timetable that is going to go right down to the wire for his availability for the regular season opener.
