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The Magnificent Seven: On WR Reggie Wayne, the depth of the Indianapolis Colts DL and more
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Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning (AP Photo)
We'll wrap up the first week of Indianapolis Colts 2009 Training Camp and look ahead to the second week with another version of the Magnificent Seven.
It's seven weekly thoughts and observations on the Colts, which ideally will run midweek during the regular season. But with a preseason game Friday against the Minnesota Vikings throwing off the schedule, we'll run it this week on Monday.
But forget about timing . . .
The Colts will practice twice at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, then once Thursday before returning to Indianapolis for the preseason opener. We'll preview that game -- and things to watch -- later this week on Examiner and Indy Football Report, but as for today, let's look at seven aspects of a team that all in all had a promising first week of work preparing for the 2009 NFL season:
7) The defense may not not be Blitzburgh, but it will be aggressive. The talk throughout the offseason has been about the impact of first-year defensive coordinator Larry Coyer. Players like the guy -- a lot -- and spoke excitedly throughout the offseason of a more aggressive approach. Coyer said last week what he and Head Coach Jim Caldwell have said throughout the offseason -- that the Colts won't abandon their philosophy of wanting to pressure the quarterback with four defensive linemen. There still won't be a clear picture of just what the promised "tweaks" will be until the regular season, but it would be surprising if there weren't some blitzes this week against the Vikings. S Melvin Bullitt had a sack in the Colts' blue-and-white scrimmage Saturday.
6) CB Jerraud Powers may be a find. The Colts have been one of the NFL's best drafting teams under President Bill Polian. A hard-to-explain exception has been the third round, where they rarely have drafted big-time contribitors. It's way early, but CB Jerraud Powers -- the team's third-round selection in the 2009 NFL Draft from Auburn -- may change that. He looked confident in the first week of training camp and made a few big plays, including an interception off QB Peyton Manning in the blue-and-white scrimmage.
5) QB Curtis Painter will be intriguing to watch. The Colts' sixth-round selection in the 2009 NFL Draft, Painter isn't expected to challenge backup Jim Sorgi -- not this season, anyway. But with Sorgi out two-to-three weeks, he's going to get a lot of opportunities. He looked good in the blue-and-white scrimmage, leading two scoring drives, throwing a touchdown pass and looking confident. He also looked like he had a big-time NFL arm.
4) OG Ryan Lilja's return is about more than the phyiscal. I've said throughout the offseason that OG Ryan Lilja's return is one of the most -- if not THE most -- important Colts story. The Colts' offensive line struggled at times last season, and it's no coincidence that Lilja missed 16 games with a knee injury. Here's a quote from Senior OL Coach Howard Mudd that provides some insight beyond the physical into just why the sixth-year veteran is so important: He gives us more than just his physical play. He gives us a lot of physical play, but he also gives us leadership and mental toughness that you need when it’s real tough, when you have to go play better than the coach coaches you, or in spite of the coach getting mad at you. You have to suck it up and go play and he’s one of those guys who does that. The more guys you have who do that the more we can have good quality play.
3) The competition for third RB will be close. Very close. Not to be wishy-washy on this, but beyond Joseph Addai and Donald Brown -- the Colts' 2006 and 2009 first-round draft selections, respectively -- there's some serious depth and ability. Mike Hart, Chad Simpson and Lance Ball are all second-year veterans who looked good in brief appearances last season. Hart is coming off a torn ACL and sustaiend an ankle injury in practice last week, but that shouldn't keep him out long. He's a savvy player who always seems to make a play above the Xs and Os, while Simpson has shown big-time speed and some breakaway ability. Ball had a big game in the season finale last season and has shown good ability off tackle in camp. Injuries and ability to do more than play offense may determine this battle.
2) The Colts are deeper at defensive tackle. Much deeper. The team did everything it could to solidify the defensive tackle position, and with DT Ed Johnson back in the lineup, there's more front-line ability than there was most of last season. Elsewhere, the position is deep enough that the Colts moved Keyunta Dawson -- a starter last season -- to end, meaning Fili Moala, Dan Muir, Terrance Taylor, Adrian Grady and Antonio Johnson are battling to determine a starter and provide depth. Not a lot has happened to separate that bunch yet, but the overall strength is far greater than last season.
1) Reggie Wayne may be even more valuable than people think. I mentioned this last week on Examiner and though I hate to keep harping on it, he may be as important as any member of the Colts outside QB Peyton Manning. There's a lot unknown on the Colts' offense this season -- i.e., just how productive WR Anthony Gonzalez will be in his first season as a starter, just how much the 31st-ranked running game will improve and how healthy the OL will stay -- but Wayne hasn't missed a game since 2001 and he has had at least 1,000 yards receiving the last five seasons. He has been to three consecutive Pro Bowls and watching him closely in camp, you're struck by just how reliable his hands are and the precision and effectivness of his routes. He's a big-time wide receiver -- if not a Hall of Famer, then perhaps very, very close -- and being able to rely on he and Manning gives Indianapolis something solid each week offensively.
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
Defensive coordinator Larry Coyer says no Blitzburgh necessary for Colts
Moore, Mudd together just one more year
EXAMINER SERIES: TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH THE COLTS . . .
1) Will Jim Sorgi be the backup quarterback?
2) Will Special Teams be Special?
3) Who will be the Colts' breakout player in 2009?
4) Will loss of former Head Coach Tony Dungy hurt in 2009?
5) What will defense look like in 2009?
6) Will DT Ed Johnson impact the defense in 2009?
7) How important is the return of OG Ryan Lilja in 2009?
8) Will K Adam Vinatieri be ready in 2009?
9) Will WRs be improved in 2009?
11) Will S Bob Sanders be healthy in 2009?
12) Will secondary be one of NFL's best in 2009?
13) Who will start at RB in 2009?
14) What roles will Tom Moore and Howard Mudd play in 2009?
15) Can QB Peyton Manning improve again in 2009?
16) Will the Colts be OK at LB in 2009?
17) Will CB Kelvin Hayden make the Pro Bowl in 2009?
18) Can TE Dallas Clark make the Pro Bowl in 2009?
19) Can OT Tony Ugoh develop into franchise-level LT?
20) Can the Colts win the Super Bowl in 2009?
THE POSITION-BY-POSITION PRE-TRAINING CAMP SERIES:
- The QUARTERBACKS
- The RUNNING BACKS
- The TIGHT ENDS
- The WIDE RECEIVERS
- The OFFENSIVE TACKLES
- The OFFENSIVE GUARDS
- The CENTERS
- The DEFENSIVE ENDS
- The DEFENSIVE TACKLES
- The LINEBACKERS
- The CORNERBACKS
- The SAFETIES
OTHER EXAMINER COLTS TOPICS . . .
- Colts QB Peyton Manning on Steve McNair
- Steve McNair's career often intertwined with the Colts
- QB Peyton Manning omitted from ESPN.com's All-Decade team
- The best of the Indianapolis Colts blogosphere . . .
- 2009 Colts training camp schedule
- SERIES: Top Five reasons to worry about Colts in 2009
- SERIES: Top Five reasons to feel good about the Colts in 2009
- Manning: Influence of Tony Dungy still felt around Colts
- A look back at 2009 Colts minicamp
- Mudd, Moore return inevitable, happy end to long story
- Colts to allow sponsors on practice uniforms
- Hints Emerging about potential Colts defensive changes
- Top Five Real Issues Facing Colts Entering 2009
- Top Five Myths Surrounding the Colts Entering 2009
- Top Five Underrated Players on Colts Entering 2009
- Top Five Breakout Players for Colts Entering 2009
- Top Five Nonissues facing Colts Entering 2009
- Why Colts QB Peyton Manning is primed for another big season
- Preseason dates and times
- Former Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy essays on Michael Vick
- Re-signing DT Ed Johnson makes DT situation even better
- SERIES: Peyton Manning Top 10 underrated moments.
- Breaking Down the 2009 Colts Schedule
- A recap of the Colts' 2009 NFL Draft
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