2009 Colts Training Camp: News from 8/4/09 morning practice
by Brad Wells on Aug 4, 2009 10:52 AM EDT
in Training Camp
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PrintOnce again, the ever diligent Eric Hartz is Tweeting from camp, and ColtPower is rolling up his Tweets in real time. This is the awesome, cool, OMG! power of modern media tools like blogs, Twitter, live chats, etc. Information comes immediately! I don't have to wait for someone to write a newspaper article about it hours, or even days, later.
Not long ago, the Colts wrapped up their morning practice. Once again, the defense is getting the better of the Colts offense:
- The Colts are blitzing more, in particular Clint Session. They are also moving Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis around a bit.
- Fili Moala looks slow off the ball.
- Melvin Bullitt picked off a pass from Peyton Manning. Manning overthrew Dallas Clark.
- T.J. Rushing is back at practice, and is in pads.
- Jerraud Powers and Michael Coe were given the return job in today's special teams practice
- Ryan Lilja and Mike Pollak, who sat out afternoon practice yesterday, are practicing line drills today.
Again, his is just a few notes taken from Eric's many, MANY Tweets from camp. I'll update this post as we get more info from blogs, reporters, and commenters like you. If you are at camp, Tweet us at @StampedeBlue, or shoot me an email.
Updates after the jump...
PhilB at the Indy Star has more information on this morning's practice, which concluded just prior to a severe thunderstorm rolling in and soaking most of the Terre Haute area.
Speaking of that position, WR Pierre Garcon has impressed in the first couple days. Caldwell praised him first, which doesn't mean we should rush to judgment, but it was with merit. He's got great hands, seems to be under control, and his do-anything laid-back attitude makes him one of the more likable guys here.
TE Jacob Tamme made a nice sliding catch on a ball thrown behind him and through traffic. Rookie WR Austin Collie also had a decent grab. The catches all seemed to happen in a short time span, too.
Check out PhilB's site on IndyStar.com for more updates.
Also, if you have been listening to Sirius Satellite Radio's live coverage of Colts Training Camp today, you got some interesting information from Peyton Manning, who was interviewed:
- Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie seem to have caught Peyton's attention so far as they battle for the 3rd WR spot
- Peyton thinks the battle will last well into the 4th pre-season game.
- Peyton spent a lot of the off-season working on making his legs stronger.
Other news and notes from Jim Miller, who is covering Colts camp with (ugh!) Solomon Wilcotts:
- Taj Smith looks really good and has impressed coaches with his WR play.
- Clint Session leveled Roy Hall in the morning practice today. It pissed off Jim Caldwell a bit.
- Joseph Addai did not practice this morning.
[UPDATE]: More info from Sirius:
- Colts Tampa-2 defense looks very different under Larry Coyer than it was under Tony Dungy and Ron Meeks.
- The Colts are deploying linebackers to pressure the QB, especially the SAM linebacker.
- Colts want Philip Wheeler to win SAM job.
- Dwight Freeney like Larry Coyer. He referred to his former defensive coordinator as "Meeks." Thought that was interesting.
- Sirius commentators really like Daniel Muir at DT.
- Freeney loves Ed Johnson, and seems to like Fili Moala.
- Dwight Freeney has known Jim Caldwell since high school. Caldwell tried to recruit Freeney to play at Wake Forest when Caldwell was the head coach there. Freeney said that, back then, Caldwell said Dwight would play both offense and defense. Now, today, Caldwell is his HC, meaning Dwight is lobbying to get in on offensive plays.
Bill Polian and Jim Cadlwell are expected on later.
[UPDATE] Bill Polian interview:
- Taj Smith has made some of the biggest improvement of anyone on the roster.
- Austin Collie is a lot like Brandon Stokley.
- Five receivers are fighting for two receiver spots.
- Donald Brown a better receiver than they anticipated.
- Brown more like Thurman Thomas, a cut and go back, than a "shake-and-bake" guy.
[UPDATE]: Jim Caldwell interview:
- Larry Coyer brings great intensity to the team.
- Ray Rychleski lives and breathes football. He's also LOUD on the practice field.
- Caldwell likes the WRs competing for the 3rd spot. Singled out Hall, Giguere, Smith, Garcon, and Collie.
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2 thoughts
I’m really into the idea of moving around Freeney and Mathis. We’ve all talked about how good the D-line could be this year and if we started playing with those guys a bit and throwing out different looks I honestly can’t imagine how good we could be. Literally, I cannot imagine how good that defense would be.
Interesting to see the return guys changing each day. It sounds like they’ll really be holding that position open for whoever does the best, without any favorites (obviously a good thing). I hope we can get someone to return kicks/punts well, it’s been a while. I’m interested in Collie there
"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."
Sometimes I hate these practice reports
I simultaneously cheer and boo when I hear that Bullitt picked off a pass (YEAH!) because Manning overthrew Clark (BOO!). So conflicted – lol!
How can you not love a team that does this?
Be excited.
We know what we have in 18 and are pretty sure INTs won’t be a chronic problem this year. So if 33 is picking him, that’s a good thing.
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
Session and Moala
Great to see Session getting some blitzes at the weakside, he could be scary without a TE to block him. His best skill is getting off the ball and blowing fools up in the backfield.
Moala has been sick apparently, throwing a guy getting over the flu into muggy Hoosier heat, he’s gonna be a little slow at first. Plus this was his first day, look for him to flash the quickness that got him drafted.
muggy heat
not to mention throwing a guy used to California, where we have outlawed humidity, into muggy Hoosier heat is going to slow someone down
see: spectacular Jahvid Best puking scene, Cal @ Maryland, 2008
How can you not love a team that does this?
co-inkydink.
it’s been pretty humid down here for a couple of days now. I feel like I’m in the desert during “monsoon” season…
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Aug 4, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Check the calendar
You’ll notice it’s August. I love Indiana and Indiana summers, but August is a MISERABLE time to be a Hoosier. Hot, humid, buggy…it’s like the deep South without the good barbecue.
I'm in Orange County, CA.
That’s why its wierd. Feels like Palm Springs or Arizona.
Odd weather for here – so if Maola was here, he would still have an issue.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Aug 4, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Damn, skippy!
…it’s like the deep South without the good barbecue.
You Northerners, Midwesterns, and West coast people can say what you what about the South, but y’all know y’all love our barbecue. :-)
"Peyton Manning flow, I just go no huddle."
- Lil' Wayne, Put Some Keys on That
BBQ
Hey, the two best joints in Seattle are run by southern transplants. One, aptly called Hole in the Wall, is smaller than some bedrooms I have seen, and the other is called Dixie’s, for Pete’s sake! Dixie’s is pretty close to Microsoft’s main campus, so if you go around noon, expect to stand in line outside for at least a half hour. Pretty funny seeing a flotilla of Porsches next to giant, mud-spattered pickups. hhhhm it’s almost lunch time….
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
I'm confused
Clint Session leveled Roy Hall in the morning practice today. It pissed off Jim Caldwell a bit.
Is Caldwell pissed at Session for leveling Hall or at Hall for getting leveled?
"Peyton Manning flow, I just go no huddle."
- Lil' Wayne, Put Some Keys on That
if I had to guess it'd be @Sessions
leveling teammates often goes over poorly, especially on the second day of practice.
You think you notice most everything around you, but in reality you're nearly blind to everything outside of your current focus. Hilarious example.
Another
Especially a promising youngster who has had injury issues in the past
One bad hit could erase three years of work, patience, training, salary, etc. And what for?
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
oh yeah you know what I'm talkin' about
OH NO WE SUCK AGAIN!
by colts9318rock on Aug 4, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
For that play
Klecko will always have a special place in my heart
"It's the greatest job in the world until Peyton comes off the field and you think his thumb might be broken and there's three minutes left in the AFC Championship Game and you're down by three to New England and you haven't taken a snap all year. Yeah, it's a great job until that point." - Jim Sorgi
What's going on with the D-line
Moving guys around, haveing two guys close to 300lbs, and both can get up field, it’s a departure from the past, and I LIKE IT.
Defense is more important than breathing.
Last year when I was at training camp,
I saw Session level Addai in a RB/LB drill. It was something else! Addai stood to the side to regroup, then he cut in line when Session came back around, trying to earn back some dignity. I’m telling you, Session impressed. Sounds like more of the same this year…
Five receivers fighting for two spots.
I took that to be meant with the assumption that Collie was a lock, after he had praised the young Stokely type.
Wayne, Gonzalez, Collie, Garcon and Smith, with Hall as an outside chance. What think ye?
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