| Advertisement |
INDIANAPOLIS -- Head coach Chuck Pagano is looking for some defensive leaders to step forward during the Indianapolis Colts training camp, which began Sunday. In fact, Pagano is looking for a few good men to take over a leadership perspective on each side of the football.
Advertisement
Indianapolis parted ways with several veteran defensive players in the offseason, opting to bring in veteran free agents to supplement the rest of the roster.
"You've got to develop them, " Pagano said. "That's on me and that's on our coaching staff. You've got to develop them. They can't be afraid, the new guys that came in. They can't be afraid because they're new to step in," the Colts coach stressed.
Pagano specifically mentioned former free-agent linebackers Jabaal Sherard (New England) and John Simon (Houston) as players that he would like to see move into leadership roles.
"If they don't see something that looks and smells and tastes like professional football, then we've got to hold each other accountable. And you've got to say something," he said.
"They can't be afraid. Not in a demeaning way, but we've got to challenge each other and we've got to hold each other to the standard."
With quarterback Andrew Luck continuing to rehab from offseason shoulder surgery, it's up to veterans like running back Frank Gore to point the way to the team's younger offensive players.
"You can't have enough of it. Those guys tell the young guys, 'Hey, get in this guy's hop pocket.' Obviously, (Gore has) figured it out. He figured it out early in his career and he knows the routine," Pagano said.
"He knows about the process. How to meet, how to take care of your body, how to practice, proper sleep, nutrition and all that stuff. Gravitate towards those guys. The more the merrier, obviously."
As for training camp itself, all is well thus far. It is the first time since the Colts made the move from Baltimore that the team hosted its own training camp.
Previous camps were held at Anderson University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, a pair of Division III schools in the state.
Keeping camp at home is one-year plan. General manager Chris Ballard and Pagano talked about the differences between going on the road and staying in Indianapolis.
"I love camp. I love going away (for camp)," the Colts coach said. "To move the whole operation (however), it's a huge undertaking. If you were going for six weeks like the old days, it'd be great. You'd pack up and go. But for 15, 16 days, what it is now, I mean these guys got it pretty good.
"(I) don't know what's going to happen down the road. But they've got it pretty good. It's camp cupcake."
--The Colts went full pads on Tuesday, the team's third practice of training camp. Indianapolis has yet to suffer any significant in-camp injuries thus far.
--Injuries in the secondary are forcing the coaching staff to take a long look at several young backups through the first three days of training camp.
"We've got a good blend of just enough veteran guys and we've got young guys," Pagano said. "We've got length, we've got speed and we've got guys that understand football," Pagano said. "There are some young guys flashing, the (safety Lee) Hightowers of the world that nobody knows about. That's an exciting group. And it's a group that demands a lot from itself and expects a lot from itself."
--Running back Frank Gore is in a contract year, but he isn't letting that interfere in preparations for the 2017 season.
"I've got to take it one day at a time, one year at a time. If I am successful this year and I want to play next year someone will pick me up. If it's not here, somewhere else," Gore said. "As long as I just go out there and play and try to be me. I'm not thinking about no contract yet."
--Rookie Safety Malik Hooker continues to be on a play count through the first three days of training camp. Hooker got his first bit of work Sunday and then missed Monday's practice due to a family issue. He returned for Tuesday's workout and saw limited work with the first defensive unit.
--Quarterback Stephen Morris continues to get a long look as he battles Scott Tolzien for the team's No. 2 quarterback role. With Andrew Luck still rehabbing his surgically-repaired right shoulder, Morris is getting a chance to show the Colts' coaching staff that he can handle extended practice time.
--Cornerback Quincy Wilson displayed some moxie when the rookie went against the Colts' veteran receivers through the first three days of training camp. Wilson hasn't backed down from being challenged on deep routes and has shown some good recovery speed. He is battling veteran cornerback Rashaan Melvin for a starting job opposite Vontae Davis.
--Quarterback Phillip Walker, an undrafted rookie, looked good picking up the Indianapolis offense since being added to the roster. Walker is not big (5-foot-11, 216) but has shown a compact throwing motion and an ability to make all the needed throws. Depending on what happens during the Stephen Morris-Scott Tolzien battle for the No. 2 job, the former Temple signal-caller has a chance to end up on the team's practice squad by the end of training camp.
