WESTFIELD – Finally, after four straight days of practice to open training camp, an off day arrived for the Indianapolis Colts on Monday. A chance to rest, to recover, to relax. So most did. A few went to the movies.
Andrew Luck didn’t go to the movies, and he didn’t get away from football. He didn’t want to. He was back early, asking his head coach, Frank Reich, to pull up the film of every throw he’s made during camp so far – all 60 of them. He wanted to dissect every last one.
So the two of them did.
“That’s the way you need to spend your day off,” Reich beamed.
A day later, Tuesday morning, Luck ramped up his throwing load for the fourth consecutive practice, throwing 11 more passes than he has during any single workout this year. He finished 24-for-33 with an interception and a few touchdowns during red zone work, but most telling was the zip on his deep balls, and the touch he seems to improve on with every passing practice.
Late in the workout, Luck was dropping in 30-yarders with ease to T.Y. Hilton, Eric Ebron and Deon Cain. (All told, Luck is 69-for-93 during training camp.)
The more high-quality days Luck continues to stack on top of each other, and the longer he goes without any sort of setback in that surgically repaired shoulder of his, the more it appears that he’s fully healed, the nightmare of 2017 is firmly behind him, and he’ll be ready to go come Sept. 9 when the Colts open the regular season against Cincinnati.
A week in, what has stood out to Reich?
“The determination to be there for his teammates,” the coach said. “He’s truly a team-first guy. I just think the excitement he has about being back for the team, the city, the organization, and the determination just to be counted on, to be dependable, to get himself right. To get himself bulletproof, or as bulletproof as you can in this profession ... he has not wavered in that commitment.”
Luck’s mere presence at this year’s camp has noticeably elevated the day-to-day enthusiasm; players have mentioned it repeatedly, and team executives agree. With No. 12 on the field, so much more seems possible. “Life is normal again,” one Colt said after Tuesday’s practice.
“You can feel the juice and enthusiasm,” Reich said.
Tight end heaven
Reich has made no secret about his affinity for the tight end position, and a week into training camp, we’re starting to see slivers of how much the new head coach envisions using the likes of Jack Doyle, Eric Ebron, Erik Swoope and Ross Travis in the coming weeks and months.
For starters: a lot.
Doyle and Ebron might’ve been the two most active pass-catchers in Tuesday’s workout, and expect Ebron – the free agent signing from Detroit – to work all over the field. He has lined up on the end of the line, in the slot, out wide and has even joked about begging Reich for handoffs out of the backfield. Ebron is athletic enough to look like a wide receiver; don’t be surprised if Reich uses him like one come the regular season.
An advantage Reich sees: Doyle and Ebron are two very different tight ends who can attack defenses in two very different ways. Expect a heavy dose of Doyle over the middle, with Ebron in the slot and out wide, a la Dallas Clark back in the day. That’s where they’ve done most of their damage during camp.
Travis, the holdover from last year’s roster who flashed late in the season, is pushing Swoope for the third tight end position, though it’s no certainty the Colts stick with three tight ends at the close of the preseason. As much as he values the position, Reich very well could go with four.
Jeff Saturday, Ryan Diem return
Two old friends from the glory years, and two former offensive line stalwarts, were back at Colts’ practice Tuesday, albeit in jeans instead of shoulder pads. Ring of Honor member Jeff Saturday, the Colts' former Pro Bowl center, and Ryan Diem, the Colts’ right tackle from 2001-11, took in practice as guests of the team.
At Reich’s request, Saturday addressed the team after practice.
“It ain’t about scheme, it ain’t about what plays you got,” Saturday told the players. “It’s about how much you trust each other. And this is the time to build that. When you got through the dogfight, it wasn’t about what play they called, it wasn’t about any of that, it was the guy next to you that you trusted and believed was going to get it done. It’s going to be the same for this team. I’m so fired up to watch you guys this year.”
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Reich then had the two former linemen break down the team.
"From day one, sitting down with (General Manager) Chris (Ballard), there is definitely a commitment to getting our kind of player, Colts players, high-character, tough, tough, tough, tough, team-first, those three things," Reich said.
“I don’t think you can underestimate how important that is. I’ve seen it for 30 years. We just gotta be committed to those kind of players on this roster.”
Howard back, Castonzo closer, Walker out
The good news for the Colts on the injury front Tuesday: Right tackle Austin Howard was activated off the non-football injury list and took part in practice. He’ll fight with Denzelle Good for that starting spot.
On the other side of the offensive line, left tackle Anthony Castonzo is “really close” to returning, according to Reich. Castonzo hasn’t practiced yet during training camp after injuring his hamstring late in the summer.
Linebacker Anthony Walker pulled a groin during Sunday’s night practice and is expected to miss a few weeks, according to Reich. “Wasn’t the most severe thing in the world, but wasn’t the most minor thing in the world,” the coach said. In his stead, undrafted rookie Skai Moore – who’s looked strong early – will get an increase in reps.
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08-01-2018, 05:16 PM
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