Indianapolis Colts preseason primer, vol. 2: Five things to watch from defense against Philadelphia

Indianapolis Colts LB Philip Wheeler makes a tackle (AP Photo)

Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser breaks down the Indianapolis Colts' second 2009 preseason game: at Lucas Oil Stadium Thursday night, against the Philadelphia Eagles.

PART TWO: DEFENSE

The Indianapolis Colts' second 2009 preseason game is Thursday, and while the Colts' starters won't play anything close to a full game, fans should get a more extended look at the first-team units.

Not only will that make Colts QB Peyton Manning -- who wants more playing time for the offensive starters -- happy, it will give the Colts' defensive starters an opportunity, too.

The Colts' first-team defense last week played one series and allowed Minnesota a long, efficient drive for a touchdown. Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said afterward he was a bit disappointed the Vikings controlled the line of scrimmage so well, and the Colts' defensive front will be a watched area throughout the preseason.

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So what, exactly, will be seen Friday? What should fans be looking for when the Colts (0-1 in the preseason) play host to the Philadelphia Eagles (0-1) at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis on Thursday at 8 p.m?

Without further delay, five things to watch Friday when the Colts are on defense:

PART ONE: FIVE THINGS TO WATCH FROM THE OFFENSE . . .

5) The readiness of DE Marcus Howard. With DE Raheem Brock out and with Pro Bowl pass-rushing end Robert Mathis out, too, Howard could get the start and almost certainly will get extended playing time. That means he will get the opportunity to improve on an impressive performance in the preseason opener. Howard, who had a sack and a half in the 2008 regular-seaon finale, got good pressure against the Vikings, and nearly had a sack in the first half. He has big-time pass-rushing skills and the Colts selected him in the fifth round in 2008 with the idea he could develop into a third rusher behind Dwight Freeney and Mathis. The Colts expect rookies to make a big jump in their second season, and Howard is one of this year's candidates.

4) The continued development of CB Jerraud Powers. We spotlighted him in last week's five things to watch on the Colts' defense, which stands to reason: he has been spotlighted a lot in the preseason. Although the Colts have had mixed success with third-round CBs over the years, Powers has been impressive in training camp and doesn't seem to be as up and down as many rookies. With CB Kelvin Hayden hurt (hamstring) and CB Marlin Jackson recovering from a knee injury, Powers could start Friday, but even if he doesn't, he'll get extensive playing time and could be earning a significant regular-season role.

3) Just who will play in the secondary? The Colts have had their share of preseason injury issues, but throughout most of the roster, the issues haven't been serious. That's less true in the secondary, with S Bob Sanders on the PUP list and CB Kelvin Hayden sustaining a hamstring injury this week in practice. The Colts' secondary withstood a slew of injuries last season to set a league record for fewest touchdown passes allowed in a season (six), but their starters are potentially some of the NFL's best and they're signifcantly less intimidating defensively with Sanders and Hayden out.

2) What will the regular season hold? Realistically, what has been true since early in the offseason will remain so -- and that's that the Colts probably aren't going to reveal too much about the tweaks and changes defensively until the regular season. That won't stop fans and media from looking for potential signs of changes, such as a blitz by S Melvin Bullitt in the blue-and-white scrimmage two weeks ago and a blitz by LB Philip Wheeler in the preseason opener last week. Are the blitzes a mere hint of a lot more during the regular season? Who knows, but while the last three preseason games likely won't offer much more insight than the first, there's no harm in looking.

1) The stoutness of the defensive interior. The Colts made significant moves to strengthen the defensive tackle position in the offseason, re-signing DT Ed Johnson and drafting DT Fili Moala (second round) and DT Terrance Taylor (fourth). The Vikings rushed for 198 yards on 41 carries against the Colts in the preseason opener, and while preseason statistics can be deceiving -- and while sometimes they can mean absolutely nothing -- Caldwell made it clear he was disappointed that the Vikings controlled the line. DT Antonio Johnson, who is the starter beside Ed Johnson, was out last week and he practiced several times this week, but with or without him, the Colts no doubt want to see the interior hold the line a bit better against the Eagles.

TRAINING CAMP NEWS

K Adam Vinatieri says he'll be ready for regular season

Colts becoming Head Coach Jim Caldwell's team

WR Reggie Wayne continues to be team leader

Magnificent Seven I: Seven training camp thoughts and observations

On Colts RB Joseph Addai

Defensive coordinator Larry Coyer says no Blitzburgh necessary for Colts

Moore, Mudd together just one more year

Magnificent Seven II: On the Colts' defensive tackle position and WR Reggie Wayne

Indianapolis Colts offensive line moving forward with lineup few expected

Colts Uncertain when Bob Sanders will return

Colts CB Kelvin Hayden out 3-to-4 weeks