The fourth preseason game for the Indianapolis Colts is about evaluation more than preparation, meaning the team's starters will play sparingly when Indianapolis plays host to Cincinnati Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium. Young players and rookie free agents will play extensively. With that in mind, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser offers five storylines for the Colts entering the game. . .
1. Jerry Hughes. This entry doesn't involve a roster spot, because without question Hughes -- the Colts' first-round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft -- makes the team and he's an integral part of the Colts' future. He's expected to play extensively against the Bengals in the preseason finale, reason being he's still at that stage of rookie development for a pass rusher where he needs extensive repetitions. "Now everybody is just as big, just as strong, just as fast," Hughes told Phil Richards of The Indianapolis Star this week. "You're always looking for that edge to get you by. I need to learn a little bit of everything. It's pass rush moves, learning to read keys, everything." Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said the Colts believe Hughes will develop into a big-time pass rusher, but that the process will take take time. "He has to learn just how to best use his skill set, and I think all those guys that have that pass rush ability have to find out what their niche is, have to find out what their knockout punch is, and then be able to develop a counter," Caldwell said. Hughes led the nation in sacks as a junior at Texas Christian with double-digit sacks each of the last two seasons. Colts President Bill Polian said Hughes has the ability to be a big-time pass rusher, but -- like Caldwell -- said that any rusher needs time to develop. “He has a long way to go in terms of dealing with the sophistication of the pass protection,” Polian said. “Dwight Freeney struggled. Robert Mathis struggled. . . . Pass protection is so good at this level, as opposed to being mediocre at best at the collegiate level. The reason I say mediocre -- I don't want to cause a firestorm here -- is college players have been doing it far less long. Pro left tackles play a long time. They pass protect for a long time against great athletes. College players are just learning the trade. It's much more difficult to do at this level. He will struggle. You can see it. He has to learn counter moves. He has to learn when to exert leverage and when to lose speed. All of that is still to come. That said, he's very smart. He's very meticulous in his work habits. He goes about things in a highly professional and organized manner. I think that he's going to be a very, very good football player for a long time. You will see flashes this year, but I'm guessing only flashes."
2. The return game. Will the returner be Brandon James? Or Devin Moore? Or some combination of the two players? As of now, that's unknown and Caldwell said each will play extensively. Moore looked good and produced big returns two weeks ago against Buffalo, then didn't play this past week against Green Bay. Caldwell said this week that absence won't hurt Moore's chances when it comes to making the roster. James, a free-agent rookie from Florida, has shown an ability to break out on returns as well. He had a muffed punt against Green Bay that the Packers recovered for a touchdown. That won't help him, because the Colts value ball security above all else in the preseason. Ray Fisher also has handled return duties this preseason, and Caldwell said this week the job has yet to be decided.
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