2010 Colts training camp: Notes from the eleventh practice (Aug. 9th)

by Brad Wells on Aug 9, 2010 10:47 AM EDT in 2010 Colts Training Camp

After 1.5 days off, the Colts players and coaches returned to the Anderson practice fields this morning. The lingering question on most people's minds was "Where is John Gill?" Gill was arrested for public intoxication on Sunday morning outside a strip club in downtown Indianapolis. No charges were filed, but Gill did spend Sunday morning in jail.

The fast answer to the question is "No, Gill was not seen on the practice field." The most loaded question of "Why?" has no answer at this time. Personally, Gill was on borrowed time with the Colts even before his drunken adventures Saturday night-Sunday morning.

But enough talk about idiot third-string DTs. Let's get more important news and notes from camp. Once again, Eric Hartz of ColtPower.com and Brett Mock of Coltzilla thumb their noses at the high heat index as they sit near the practice fields, Tweeting up their observations. Notes from them, and others:

Finally! A Ray Fisher sighting, and a good one! Fisher hit a seam on a return and flew through. Tremendous speed.
Colts wore their blue throwback helmets today.
Anthony Gonzalez, Pierre Garcon, Brandon King, Dallas Clark, Clint Session, Keyunta Dawson, Colin Cloherty, and Andy Alleman, and Charlie Johnson did not participate.

More after the jump...

Equally as impressive today on special teams as a returner was Brandon James. Like Fisher, James continues to display impressive speed on returns.
Sam Giguere muffed a kick return.
Right now, Cody Glenn is the back-up middle linebacker, not Pat Angerer.
Though Brandon James really seems to dazzle as a returner, he continues to drop balls in the receiving drills. James runs these drills with the other WRs.
Dudley Guice was hot and cold today. On one route, he runs a crisp pattern and makes a grab. On another, "Stonehenge."
Devin Moore shows real "pop' when hitting a hole in runningback drills. His downside is his size. Very small for a RB.
Funny as hell Tweet from Brett Mock regarding Peyton Manning: "Peyton just yelled at Pierre..."Pierre, get your ass over here!" It was hilarious."
Peyton was sans Darth Vader visor today.
Again, Brandon James working with first team offense as a skat-back. He received a lot of attention. Colts have plans for him. On one play, James had a nice hook route and caught the pass from Peyton.
Special teams worked on back-up punt drills. Pat McAfee dropped a 41-yarder.
Just like last year's camp, Taj Smith impressed. Made several impressive catches.
No fault of Taj's, but on one screen pass he got blasted by Antoine Bethea.
Speaking of blasted, Bob Sanders "vaporized" Sam Giguere on one play. Crowd cheered.
Blair White worked out of the slot.
First unit offensive line had Tony Ugoh back at left tackle, Mike Pollak at LG, Jamey Richard at C, Kyle DeVan at RG, and Ryan Diem at RT.
Colts also rotated in Jaimie Thomas at LG with the first unit.
Curtis Painter continues to struggle.
Team split Javarris James out wide for a screen play.
Interesting Tweet from Eric Hartz: "Watching the linemen a bit. Really lime Ervin Baldwins motor.His technique is not perfect but he goes hard."

Look for more notes and updates throughout the day. today's 3:30pm practice is for special teams only.

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Comments

We’re talking about a idiot DT who got liquored up…

by g7on on Aug 9, 2010 11:17 AM EDT reply actions

"Speaking of blasted, Bob Sanders "vaporized" Sam Giguere on one play..."

Oh noes!!! Guns is dead???

Hit by a speeding Bobzilla… reduced to mist…. Sam, we hardly knew ya. R.I.P. Mr. Biceps; we woulda loved to have had you play.

To the rest of the league: Watch out, BOB’S HEALTHY!!!!

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"How can a pickup truck contain enough mass to unfold into a towering machine? I say if Ringling Brothers can get 15 clowns into a Volkswagen, anything is possible."

Roger Ebert, Transformers review.

by E.M.H. on Aug 9, 2010 11:23 AM EDT reply actions

I have a question

I´m from Germany and a big Colts fan since 5 years or so. My question is: What is a scat-back? I have read several times now but I have no clue what it means?

by tbs14 on Aug 9, 2010 11:38 AM EDT reply actions

Scat-back

Think Reggie Bush. These backs are more WR than running back. They are too small to be effective running between the tackles, or “up the gut,” so to speak. They are good at screen plays, draws, reserves, and as a receiver out of the backfield.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account so you can post a FanPost, make a FanShot, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by Brad Wells on Aug 9, 2010 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

It's actually a slang term

The generic “halfback” position can be filled with players across a variety of size and skill types. On one end, you have the big, brusing halfback that might as well be a fullback (think Jerome Bettis… technically, he lined up as a halfback, right? Correct me on that if I’m wrong please). On the other, you have the small, agile, quick players who are far from being big, but who’s advantage is that they’re hard to hit. One of the terms for that sort of running back is a “scat back”; it’s a slang term imposed to distinguish that sort of small, shifty player from the average running back as well as the big, bruising sort of fellow.

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"How can a pickup truck contain enough mass to unfold into a towering machine? I say if Ringling Brothers can get 15 clowns into a Volkswagen, anything is possible."

Roger Ebert, Transformers review.

by E.M.H. on Aug 9, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Bah... BBS beat me to it.

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"How can a pickup truck contain enough mass to unfold into a towering machine? I say if Ringling Brothers can get 15 clowns into a Volkswagen, anything is possible."

Roger Ebert, Transformers review.

by E.M.H. on Aug 9, 2010 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks

Thank you, BBS and Roger, for explaining me this.

by tbs14 on Aug 9, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

You're welcome... but my name's not Roger :)

What you’re seeing in my post is my signature, which is a quote from a movie critic named Roger Ebert. No offense taken, though; I got a good chuckle out of the error. Especially because that means I can start calling forum member peytonsurdaddy a new name: “General Kala”.

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"How can a pickup truck contain enough mass to unfold into a towering machine? I say if Ringling Brothers can get 15 clowns into a Volkswagen, anything is possible."

Roger Ebert, Transformers review.

by E.M.H. on Aug 9, 2010 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry

It was my fault, I was in a hurry and so I looked at the wrong name.

by tbs14 on Aug 9, 2010 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Not a problem at all. No need to apologize.

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"How can a pickup truck contain enough mass to unfold into a towering machine? I say if Ringling Brothers can get 15 clowns into a Volkswagen, anything is possible."

Roger Ebert, Transformers review.

by E.M.H. on Aug 9, 2010 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

hey, Roger!

What was it like working with the Transformers?

/heh

Careful what you wish for... "A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have." Gerald Ford, 38th US president

by teej813 on Aug 9, 2010 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Pbbppppppppt!

(∗Grumble∗, ∗mutter∗) All these ex-Presidents are smart asses (∗moan∗, ∗whine∗).

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"How can a pickup truck contain enough mass to unfold into a towering machine? I say if Ringling Brothers can get 15 clowns into a Volkswagen, anything is possible."

Roger Ebert, Transformers review.

by E.M.H. on Aug 9, 2010 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Angerer 3rd string?

"We are a lot more than the three coverages we used to run for five or six years there. We are a little bit more exotic now. It is going to take a little while to learn things, but obviously you can see (he’s) athletic, got some fire in him and can explode as a tackler."

Bracketts quote in jake thompsons article on colts.com.
Seems like the rook will need a little more time to get the defense down..hopefully he’ll get it at some point during the season. it took wheeler a while and the jury is still out on moala. i think once he get’s it…..watch out!

by tenaytiousd32 on Aug 9, 2010 12:07 PM EDT reply actions

I'm...

…far less worried about the “liquored up reserve DT” (trademark someone awesome) than I am about the scarily bad offensive line, the fact that Peyton looked like he was doing some sort of Jamarcus Russell imitation in the Blue vs White scrimmage and, most of all, that my beloved Dallas Clark has been suspiciously held out of practice for a few consecutive days. I’m not trying to be one of those hyper-anxious fans who looks for things to stress about, but I’m not getting an especially good feeling…at all.

by racf617 on Aug 9, 2010 12:11 PM EDT reply actions

Update re. my concerns about Dallas...

…According to Phil B., Jim Caldwell claims Dallas has “a little soreness.” Is that Coltsian language for “he’s severely injured and will probably miss the first eight games of the season”?!

by racf617 on Aug 9, 2010 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions

bite your tongue, girl!

we need Dallas about as much as we need Peyton

Careful what you wish for... "A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have." Gerald Ford, 38th US president

by teej813 on Aug 9, 2010 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude relax

Aside from Saturday, ZERO starters were blocking for Manning. They were 2nd and 3rd teamers going against freeney and mathis. They will not be blocking for him in the regular season, the starters will, and Peyton will not have to face any rush D that includes Mathis and Freeney. You are blowing it way out of proportion. Jamarcus Russell imitation? Get a grip on reality man, that type of gloom and doom comment is not only a complete overreaction, it is just plain ridiculous.

"A lot of times, Kenny, we have no idea what we're doing. But the DEFENSE doesn't know that we don't know what we're doing.....and that's next level." -Peyton Manning

by npb1985 on Aug 9, 2010 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Well...

“Get a grip on reality man, that type of gloom and doom comment is not only a complete overreaction, it is just plain ridiculous.”

Man, it’s a good thing we’re all free to honestly express our concerns here, ‘dude’. And, as most third graders would be able to ascertain, man, comparing Peyton’s performance to Jamarcus was hyperbolic, man. Maybe you could focus more on verifying your information (at least one and possibly two of those guys playing in the Blue and White Scrimmage probably WILL be starters on our crappy O-Line) rather than insulting other posters…okay, man?

by racf617 on Aug 9, 2010 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Anyone know how Hiller and Brandstater are doing?

I’m a little nervous about how poorly Painter is playing

And I’m with racf617… the O-Line is sounding downright ugly

How can you not love a team that does this?

by LovinBlue on Aug 9, 2010 12:16 PM EDT reply actions

I definitely..

,,,know what you’re saying, LovinBlue, but I’m actually way more concerned about the O-Line, the crappy way Peyton’s playing behind that O-Line and Dallas’ possible injury (see above post). I’ve just kind of resigned myself to the fact that, for a whole variety of reasons which include the fact that Painter is downright terrible, we have no chance of winning games without Peyton behind center anyway. It’s that things on O don’t seem too rosy even WITH Peyton under center that’s giving me Colts-themes nightmares…

by racf617 on Aug 9, 2010 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Hiller looks sharp

He makes accurate passes with zip, at least on short and intermediate routes. I didn’t see any deep throws from him, so we’ll probably have to wait until preseason to get an up close look at that.

Brandstater, I have not seen play at all. I’m excited to see what he can do, though. Anything is better than Painter.

by Aerostar193 on Aug 9, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Charlie Johnson, Ugoh, Devan, and Diem

will be blocking for Peyton in the regular season. They weren’t in the blue-white game. He also won’t have to face Freeney and Mathis.

"A lot of times, Kenny, we have no idea what we're doing. But the DEFENSE doesn't know that we don't know what we're doing.....and that's next level." -Peyton Manning

by npb1985 on Aug 9, 2010 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Charlie Johnson..

…is injured. We certainly can;t count on him as a given to 1) play right away or 2) to play effectively. Frankly, while I like Charlie, he’s mediocre even when NOT injured.

“He also won’t have to face Freeney and Mathis.”

No, but there are other great pass rushers in this league who he WILL have to face. Peyton’s stats in that scrimmage game may not be indicative of much once the regular seaosn starts, but they WERE atrocious. No other way to spin it.

by racf617 on Aug 9, 2010 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Hi LB...

I tweeted Phillip Wilson and here you go…

@flobeau We heard positive reports on this guy when he was claimed, but he’s down the depth chart. As of today, I don’t know he makes PS.
3:16 PM Aug 8th via TweetDeck in reply to flobeau

@flobeau He stood on the sidelines and watched. Tim Hiller got a chance at the end to run 2-minute offense. Brandstater didn’t get a snap. 2:48 PM Aug 7th via TweetDeck in reply to flobeau

Personally I am not sure why Brandstater didn’t even “get a snap”…. If he is not even given a chance to throw and practice, why did the Colts even claim him?

If you see my smilieys, think of E.M.H. - our COLTs King of Smileys!

by Manning4ever on Aug 10, 2010 3:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I was there, too...

Will post my observations here in a sec (already on ColtFreaks.) Agree with most points except Guice being “hot and cold.” I thought he was just cold. Had almost as many drops as B. James, and he doesn’t have the insurance of being a good returner to help him out! No excuse for a WR that solely plays WR and cannot consistently catch the football (especially on cone drills with no defensive presence around.)

by Collin McCollough on Aug 9, 2010 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

I haven't heard much about Blair White.

From what i saw, he looked good. But not much mention.

Careful what you wish for... "A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have." Gerald Ford, 38th US president

by teej813 on Aug 9, 2010 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions