Brackett, the team's defensive captain since 2006, said Session improved drastically last season, and that Wheeler – after moving into the position following a season-ending biceps injury to veteran Tyjuan Hagler – “played some quality reps for us.”
Wheeler during the Colts' organized team activities spoke of the benefit of experience, and said he expected to make a significant jump next season. He is the most prototypical of the Colts' linebackers in terms of size, and if he can continue to improve, he significantly solidifies the group.
Session, a 2007 fourth-round selection, moved to the weakside last season after starting on the strong side in 2008. He flourished in the role, developing a reputation as one of the hardest-hitting young linebacker in the NFL. Always a player capable of disrupting opposing offenses with big, momentum turning plays, Session entered last season needing to be more consistent. Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said while Session could still improve in that area, he made strides and developed into a major reason for not only the team's improved run defense, but for the improved defense overall.
Brackett, perhaps the least prototypical of the Colts' linebackers, remained perhaps the most important player in the group. What he lacks in size and speed, he more than makes up for with his ability to be in the right position, his leadership on the field and his ability lead and run the defense on it.
“He's not as tall as you'd like to see at middle linebacker, and maybe he doesn't weigh as much as some others,” Caldwell said, “but in terms of effectiveness, in terms of punch, in terms of the savvy the knowhow to get his job done – and not only that, to make all the necessary checks – he does all those extremely well.
“He's tenacious. He's quick. He's determined. He's smart. He's a great leader.”
Brackett's return gives a veteran presence to a unit Caldwell said should benefit from half a regular season and full post-season playing with one another.
“There's an old phrase that a defensive player's value to his football team is inversely proportionate to his distance from the ball,” Caldwell said. “A short version of that is that they (linebackers) move on a string. They get accustomed now to knowing where and how they're going to fit on a particular play. The more they play together, they become more familiar with one another.
“They know what to expect and know what to expect from one another. Philip Wheeler, Gary, Clint Session have been around one another for a number of years.
Said Session, “I think we're going to be better than last year .We have more experience, and we've kind of gelled together. Now, we know what to expect from each other.”
That experience and gelling won't automatically make the Colts' linebackers better. Session must continue to mature and become more consistent, and Wheeler must continue to improve to fulfill the potential that made him a third-round selection two years ago. But the group played well together at the end of last season, and considering Brackett's status as one of the NFL's best at his position, and Session's ascension toward that status, another season of development could make this a special group – and one as good as any the Colts have had at the position in nearly a decade.
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