The Indianapolis Colts have gotten through three weeks of training camp and will break camp on Friday following the joint practices with the Cleveland Browns at the Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield.
Between the training camp practices and the preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills, there were a lot of notes to take away from the third week for the Colts.
Here are eight things we learned from Colts training camp in Week 3:
The WR competition is still getting deeper
Making cuts in the wide receiver room is going to be incredibly difficult. The competition is seemingly still growing with a few new names entering the mix. With three spots theoretically locked up, there are a number of players vying for the final three spots.
While Chester Rogers and Zach Pascal are likely thought of the leaders in the competition for the reserve roles, Deon Cain, Marcus Johnson and now Daurice Fountain are all in the running for a spot. The latter three looked extremely solid in the preseason opener with Fountain pacing the entire offense in receiving.
There are other names, too, that are flashing. Jordan Veasy and Krishawn Hogan have been having solid camps while undrafted free agent Ashton Dulin has been flashing as well.
The wide receiver battle has become the Colts’ deepest competition and I don’t envy the ones that have to make the final decisions.
LB competitions are getting tighter
There was a lot of talk about the linebacker competition before training camp, but it seemed the unit was pretty set through the first two weeks of practice. Now, the competition is getting tight again.
We know Darius Leonard isn’t coming off the field. Anthony Walker has the leg up in the competition as the starting MIKE linebacker, but rookie Bobby Okereke is beginning to see more work there competing with him. The duo started the preseason opener against the Bills with Okereke working at the MIKE spot.
There’s another spot that is also seeing some tight competition. That comes at SAM linebacker, which is only used in about 20% of defensive snaps in a game. Still, Matthew Adams appears to be the starter, but rookie E.J. Speed is giving him a run for his money.
The MIKE position is vital to the success of the defense and while the SAM won’t make a massive impact, these battles are getting tighter as the preseason officially approaches.
Rookies are developing
There is still a long way to go for each player, but we got a glimpse at the development of the rookie class in the preseason opener. Some shined while others showed development is still taking place at a slower rate.
Wide receiver Parris Campbell and defensive end Ben Banogu were inactive for the game, but cornerbacks Rock Ya-Sin and Marvell Tell were solid in their first games as Colts. Linebackers E.J. Speed and Bobby Okereke were flying to the ball while safety Khari Willis allowed a big play in blown coverage. However, the rest of his game was solid as he was flying around the ball.
With the depth across the roster, the Colts don’t need to rush the development of any of the rookies. They can allow it to take place at its own pace instead of forcing them into a situation that might stunt their growth.
Regardless, there was some promise shown out of the rookie class in the preseason opener, and their development will be a continued storyline to watch.
Chad Kelly is leading the battle for QB3
Though the word out of training camp was that Kelly was far behind on the depth chart int he quarterback room, he proved that isn’t the case in the preseason opener against the Bills.
He was the gem of the game going against the Bills third-team defense while Phillip Walker struggled with the second team. Kelly’s performance in the opener showed that he’s the one leading the race for the QB3 role behind Andrew Luck and Jacoby Brissett.
Kelly was accurate and mobile throughout his quarter of play. His movement in the pocket was impressive while showing he can make some big-time throws in some tight windows. It also helps that he can make an impact as a runner.
The battle for QB3 is far from over, but Kelly is the one leading the charge there and should be a player to watch over the next three preseason games.
Versatility is still key on the defensive line
The Colts have harped on the aspect of versatility along the defensive line. Being able to work both inside and on the outside is key for defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
This has led to several players working both as a defensive tackle on the interior and on the edge as a defensive end, including Denico Autry, Margus Hunt and Tyquan Lewis.
“We’re going to dress eight guys on the defensive line,” Eberflus told reporters Sunday. “We have to have players that can play both sides, play nose tackle, under tackle and be able to move throughout the line. So we’re always looking at different pieces.”
The Colts are sporting a lighter defensive line that focuses on speed. Having that positional flexibility is another important aspect to the unit.
Backup LT job is a major concern
The Colts better be hoping that starting left tackle Anthony Castonzo doesn’t get hurt during the season, because it hasn’t been an encouraging look for the backups competing behind him.
Whether it is Le’Raven Clark or Antonio Garcia, the Colts showed during the preseason opener against the Bills that the backup left tackle position is a major question mark and concern. Neither player had an encouraging outing during the first preseason game, especially with Clark, who was beaten a few times running the arc.
Castonzo is healthy right now, which all the Colts want. But the depth at the position is thin and one that the Colts will have to begin addressing soon.
Jonathan Williams is taking advantage of his opportunity
With Jordan Wilkins dealing with an injury, all of the RB3 reps have gone to Williams. A grinder in the true sense of the word, Williams has been shining in the opportunity given both in practice and in the preseason opener.
With Marlon Mack entrenched as the starter and Nyheim Hines as the pass-catcher, the Colts will have a competition to see who best deserves the RB3 role in the room. Williams is leading the charge entering the final week of training camp given his short-yardage prowess and ability to fight through contact.
“I didn’t know a lot about him when he came here, I’ll be honest,” said Nick Sirianni on Sunday. “But what I have seen is his size is different. His size, his strength and the way he runs is different. He’s tough. He had some blitz pickups the other day that were really outstanding to show his toughness. We’re really excited to have him on the field and we really think he can push to compete.”
Williams has been a winner throughout the majority of training camp and should continue to solidify his roster spot if he continues to impress.
Hale Hentges is making a name for himself
Though the tight end room will be hard to crack for an undrafted free agent, the player with the best chance to do so is Hentges. The Alabama product is known for his work as a sufficient run blocker, but he has also impressed the Colts as a pass-catcher.
For Hentges to make the roster, he will have to force the Colts to keep four tight ends. With Jack Doyle, Eric Ebron and Mo Alie-Cox likely solidified on the roster, Hentges has shown he’s a complete player at the position. Offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni has certainly taken notice.
“Like I said, we knew what we were getting from him in the run game. We knew what we were getting from him in the run game,” Sirianni said Sunday. “We didn’t know he’d be that consistent in the pass game. So, nice pleasant surprise of what Hale (Hentges) has been. (He’s) really proved to us that he’s a full-rounded tight end.”
With both Doyle and Ebron in a contract year, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Hentges stick around. He’s proven thus far that he deserves the best chance at the final tight end spot.
