INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts opened their doors to the media on Tuesday for the first full look at the 2016 version of the Horseshoes.
OTA No. 2 was on Tuesday's schedule, a two-hour session with players in helmets and shorts. Team drills are allowed during this phase of the offseason program.
The Colts will have 10 total OTAs spread over the next three weeks. A three-day mandatory minicamp, from June 7-9, will conclude the offseason program.
Here are some takeaways from OTA No. 2 with Chuck Pagano and Andrew Luck meeting the media:
OTA NOTES
- Players who were held out of OTAs on Tuesday: DE-Henry Anderson, WR-Quan Bray, OT-Denzelle Good, ILB-D'Qwell Jackson, DT-Arthur Jones, OLB-Curt Maggitt, DT-T.Y. McGill, CB-Tevin Mitchel, WR-Donte Moncrief, ILB-Junior Sylvestre, CB-D'Joun Smith, OG-Hugh Thornton and RB-Tyler Varga. Again, with injured players this time of year, any little nick or bruise is taken very serious. No reason to push guys in May.
- Jacoby Brissett left Tuesday's OTA with an apparent hamstring injury, per Chuck Pagano. After a nice OTA session with several catches, Dorsett pulled up lame. Trainers tended to Dorsett before the second-year pro walked off the field under his own power. Pagano believed Dorsett injured it stretching out for a pass.
- Without Dorsett, and with Moncrief sidelined, Josh Boyce received plenty of first-team reps. Boyce was a 2013 fourth-round pick by the Patriots out of TCU. Injuries have limited Boyce to 10 career games (nine receptions for 121 yards). This fieldwork right now is key for many reasons. One is for Luck to get introduced to guys like Boyce and the others competing to round out the wideout group.
- Both tight end Mo Alie-Cox and undrafted tight end Darion Griswold made some nice catches in Tuesday's OTA practice. From a numbers standpoint, the Colts are in search for a No. 3 tight end. These two are in the thick of that competition behind Dwayne Allen and Jack Doyle.
- No. 98 was flying around on Tuesday, something we weren't seeing this time last year. With a healthy offseason, Robert Mathis isn't looking that age of 35, according to his head coach.
- New cornerback Patrick Robinson had a couple of nice plays on Tuesday. It's clear Robinson is the guy opposite Vontae Davis, a position the Colts had to lock down this offseason.
- Pagano expects Arthur Jones to be ready for the start of Training Camp.
Andrew Luck on his work with Ryan Kelly:
"He's smart, he's conscientious, he's tough. He's got a little ornery in him. He's a little bit mean, which is great."
"He's really been impressive in a couple days of team stuff."
Bowen's Analysis: Luck's new locker mate now has two days of on-the-field work in a team setting. On Tuesday, Luck spoke to how important his relationship must be with Ryan Kelly. The six hours of work each day covers football. But the two must also get to know each other away from the gridiron.
As far as Luck himself, there are no limitations to No. 12. He took his normal workload of reps on Tuesday, showing no signs of last year's injuries. Luck talked on Tuesday how he knows he has an "obligation" to this team to stay healthy. That directly impacts how he will play the game going forward, consciously thinking of when to throw a ball away, slide, get down, etc. Luck, who is always a major advocate for time on the practice field, admits to having an even greater appreciation for the daily work this time of year.Chuck Pagano on the competition at inside linebacker with Sio Moore and Nate Irving:
"With those guys being in the program another year…it's a great competition.
"We are cross training guys, so guys are getting work in at both the MIKE and WILL position."
Bowen's Analysis: With D'Qwell Jackson observing on Tuesday, ample first-team work came the way of Nate Irving and Sio Moore. These two are the lead guys in the inside linebacker competition to start next to Jackson come September.
In Irving and Moore you have some contrasting styles. Irving is more known for his ability to stop the run, whereas Moore brings more athleticism and potential pass rush from the inside linebacker spot. Pagano pointed out on Tuesday how Irving looks totally different from the player who wasn't fully recovered from a 2014 ACL injury last season.Chuck Pagano on Jonotthan Harrison getting reps at guard right now:
"He's got position flexibility and he's a smart guy.
"He's doing a good job."
Bowen's Analysis: Harrison is the current right guard with Hugh Thornton and Denzelle Good sidelined. With 19 starts at center in two NFL seasons, Harrison has played just a couple of quarters at guard in the NFL. Harrison was also almost exclusively a center in college. This sort of position flex is key as Harrison battles for a new spot on the line.
When asked about the right side of the offensive line on Tuesday, Pagano spoke with confidence in the job Joe Reitz did at right tackle in 2015. Reitz clearly has the most experience of the bunch. Rookies Le'Raven Clark and Joe Haeg continue to work at tackle.
