One of the more confusing developments for the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 was the lack of playing time for rookie third-round pick Nick Cross.
Despite the elite athleticism and the fact that he was making plays during training camp and the preseason, Cross wound up losing the starting safety role just three weeks into his rookie campaign.
While speaking with reporters Wednesday, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley detailed what kept the Maryland product from seeing the field.
“He is extremely talented, he is fast, he’s got the ability. Now it’s just playing fast on the field. That part we didn’t see in the beginning of the year. We felt like he was thinking a lot,” Bradley said of Cross.
The physical tools certainly are there for Cross. He has the size and elite speed and explosiveness to be a strong starter in Bradley’s defense. But the processing and play speed aspects of his game were lacking.
It’s one thing to have elite physical traits at the NFL combine. It’s an entirely different story when it comes to effectively using those traits on the field. Everything happens so quickly on a football field that even the best athletes struggle if they’re thinking too much.
“The conversation was more about doing things right rather than just reacting and it slowed him down some. I think as the season went on, conversations towards the end, it was more like ‘I felt it. I know what that feels like now.’ Where you’re thinking too much and not playing as fast as maybe I did in college,” Bradley said. “So, if he can recognize that, own that and say now in the next year, let’s get back to playing fast.”
Cross was a young prospect entering the league. He’s still just 21 years old so there’s still hope he can bounce back from a disappointing rookie season.
But this will be a big year in terms of his development, especially now that he has a full season of working in Bradley’s defensive scheme.
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