2011 Colts Training Camp: Who Impressed and Who Didn't After First Preseason Game
by Brad Wells on Aug 15, 2011 11:30 AM EDT
in 2011 Colts Training Camp
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PrintAs announced previously in this space, XFINITY from Comcast has generously agreed to support the best NFL community around -- us! As part of that effort, XFINITY will be sponsoring our Stampede Blue's training camp coverage as well as a variety of special editorial and interactive features on our site between now and the end of the 2011 NFL season.
Colts Training Camp Schedule
Monday, August 15th
3:30 p.m.
According to Tom James, today's practice is an hour long workout.
After the jump, we rate which players are 'on the rise' and 'falling' after the first preseason game of 2011.
Stock Up
Philip Wheeler
The Colts signed free agent linebacker Ernie Sims this off-season. Sims, a former Top 10 pick from 2006, can play both SAM and WILL backer positions. Wheeler, who has been benched twice in his career, apparently got the message that he better start producing, or he would be toast in Indianapolis. The former George tech product was all over the field Saturday night, leading the team with 6 tackles. Wheeler is unlikely to regain his starting job, but if he wants to stay on this roster, games like the first preseason game will help.
Donald Brown
The reason the Colts made the uncharacteristic move in re-signing the 28-year-old Joesph Addai is because they have little or no faith in Donald Brown. Last week, Brown restored a little faith by running well with the second unit (four carries, 21 yards).
Drake Nevis
He was advertised as a beast in camp, and he lived up to the billing playing 'under the lights.' Nevis gave the Rams interior linemen fits all night. they doubled him, and he still managed to get near Sam Bradford. Nevis was so impressive that I think he should start over Fili Moala. Speaking of Fili, remember when the Colts brass chirped on and on about how it takes DTs three years to develop? Well, right now, Nevis is better than Moala. Nevis is a rookie. Moala is a third year player.
Stock Down
Jerry Hughes
We wrote a lot about Hughes' awful performance this weekend. So, no reason to rehash it. He needs to prove he is worth a damn. Right now, he has the 'bust' label slapped clearly on his forehead.
Jeff Linkenbach
He started at left tackle against the Rams. If the Colts think this guy is better than Anthony Castonzo, Peyton Manning should start to sweet. I saw Linkenbacj get dominated by Rams rookie Robert Quinn. Quinn isn't nearly the player Mario Williams is, and the Colts will face Williams Week One in Houston. Linkenbach is a decent back-up who is better suited playing RT.
Jacques McClendon
Just like with Linkenbach, I was not impressed with McClendon Saturday. I don't even know why he started. Did he really 'earn' that spot over Kyle DeVan? No, he didn't. Saturday night proved it as DeVan showed he is still the better guard. also, like McClendon, DeVan plays center and plays it quite well. It didn't see much push from McClendon, and on passing downs he didn't hold his own. How a guy weighing 325 pounds doesn't get push? Beats me. McClendon needs to prove he's a starter. Right now, I'm not seeing it.
***
You'll note that I did not place Curtis Painter or Mike Pollak in the 'stock down' category even though both had wretched games Saturday. This is because Painter and Pollak are as low as one get get. There really is no logical reason to have them on the team. Nothing they've done on the field justifies it. Unless they go out there and start turning heads, I consider these two 'wasted roster spots.' Their presence on the roster actually hurts the team, in my opinion.
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Most other blogs
seem to think McClendon did a good job in the first preseason game and currently project him as the starter. I wonder what they are seeing that BBS is not or vice versa.
What other blogs?
Linkage plz
SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue and editor of SB Nation Indiana.
Coltzilla
Some guy at 18to88 (not Dunlevy)
Blue Sunday
There were a few others though I can’t be bothered to find them
by LeftNutForAStarCenter on Aug 15, 2011 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree for the most part.
Why didn’t Painter play more? He needs all the reps he can get. Mclendon played the whole game and didn’t impress at all. Brown looked fresh and fast I hope he has his break out season. Nevis is a beast! Kevell Conner played well, it will be interesting when Simms gets back to see who wins the starting spot.
by VERNON HOWELL on Aug 15, 2011 12:06 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Painter will play much more now
Painter is the 1st unit QB- Expect him to play the role that PM would be playing- so more in 2 and much more in the 3rd game. PM starts to practice after game 3 but doesn’t play in the game 4 .
@IndyVerm
Couple things
McClendon didn’t stand out to me but I didn’t notice him getting pushed backward. Was Devan really even in the game long enough to evaluate him?
I also think in a year your comment about Robert Quinn not being the player Mario Williams is will be wrong. He may not be the physical freak that Williams is but when their careers are over I bet Quinn will have more sacks. IMO Williams still hasn’t lived up to his potential.
I didn’t think Brown was impressive it at all. He had 4 carries and averaged about 5 yards each. BFD. At this point I’d rather have Carter, Evans, and Moore on the roster.
Wheeler might be playing for a contract but if it motivates him, who cares? Maybe we’ll get 1 good year out of him. It’d be 1 year more than we’ve had from him so far.
1 game doesn’t make Nevis better than Moala. Moala didn’t even play. I liked Nevis’ performance but it was one game and who do the Rams have at OG right now really? At least he was playing UT where he belongs.
Surprised you didn’t mention Harris. His percentage of positive plays was higher than Nevis’. He wasn’t in for as many snaps, sure. I’m glad, his health is a real question.
I’ll take 5 yards a carry from Brown any day.
by VERNON HOWELL on Aug 15, 2011 12:14 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, I guess Barry Sanders wasn't that good,
Only averaging 5 YPC.
"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West
Donald Brown is close to being a bust.
He had 5 ypc against 2nd and 3rd string guys, keep that in mind.
don't compare
Barry Sanders’ career as the ONLY offensive weapon, against teams keying on him 100% of the time, to Donald fucking Brown’s 4 carries in a preseason game. Give me a break, that is the most laughable comparison I’ve ever read.
it may have been preseason
but two of his best runs came when blocking was almost no existant. Just because you dont like him means you can downplay his performance. Yes, he still has a lot to prove but he’s far better than Hughes.
what does
Hughes have to do with Brown? They are both 1st round disappointments so far. I just don’t take 4 runs in a preseason game as a reason to be positive about him this year. He’s had 2 years at a position where rookies routinely do very well and he’s looked awful. If he improves and earns a spot, great. I have my doubts and I think the only way he stays on the roster is if the front office refuses to admit he was a bad 1st round pick.
hughes and brown are both looked at as 1st round busts
thats what they have to do with each other and right now Brown looks more likely to turn into something than Hughes. And last year Brown had a great game whe Addai was out (i forget against who). He’s been hurt and we’ve had a terrible line but you label him a bust? Come on now.
The bottom line is that we need the depth at RB
remember last year when addai, brown and hart were all down and we had to get Javarris James and Dom Rhodes?? If for nothing else, the simple fact that Brown has potentential to be a hard runner and he has been around and knows the play book, we have to keep him. Plus he has a first round draft pick contract that would prob hurt us to cut him.
5 MVPs, 3 Superbowl Appearances, 2 Superbowl Rings
by BleedingBlueForever on Aug 16, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
He averages 3.8 YPC.
Hardly a bust. If he could stop getting hit 2 yards into the backfield, he might have something.
"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West
only watched the first half as of now
but nevis looked way better than harris
You said Quinn dominated all our LTs, but in reality, he had no sacks
and maybe 1 pressure and 1 tackle. He had this stat with QBs waiting longer in the pocket, than Peyton.
Mike Pollack - Ugh
I re-watched the game last night and oh my Lord. Pollack would miss blocks, let the defender by him, and just sort of shrug his shoulders and not give chase. Conversely, Revis was running like a maniac to ever ball carrier, even if across the field. Very nice! I turned it off by the end of the 2nd quarter because it started to look like a high school game.
Mcclendon didn't impress?
What crack are you smoking?
Let me guess Devan must be a close personal friend right BBS?
Mike Tepper
Guys, both of Darren Evans’ runs were off Mike Tepper’s blocks. Watch that guy next time, that big dude from Cal. that we got/was released from the Cowboys’ PS, I think. He blocks real good in the running game, he might make the roster, I feel.
Hey
Can someone link a site where I can watch the game? Thanks
by BleedBluenWhite on Aug 15, 2011 3:21 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Nevis vs Moala
Nevis is not ready to start, period. He lacks gap discipline on run plays and was being blocked out of the play consistently. He has a high motor and does a very good job of disrupting the pocket on pass plays, but his inconsistentcy on run plays led to some huge holes that the Rams could have driven a truck through.
I love Nevis and think he will be great once he develops, but for now I think he is best served as a spot pass rusher or DT in nickel situations.
I don't always drink beer....but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.
Dirty thinks McClendon played decently. Not great, but decent and definitely not bad (at least in the first half which is all Dirty has had time to watch). The combination of Pollack at C and McClendon at LG was something Dirty watched and the tandem played alright.
Dirty liked what he saw out of Wheeler – hopefully the hombre is motivated. Look at the play before Wheeler’s big hit over the middle on Amendola. Wheeler is engaged by the Rams’ TE blocking into the second level; Wheeler stands up the blocker, watches the ball carrier, and once Cadillac Williams commits to cutting to Wheeler’s right, Wheeler easily sheds his block and makes an nice, hard tackle.
Nevis looks promising. Reitz looked good as well and showed a push with that huge body at G.
Blood loves
that you go third person…..
by BLOODontheTRACKS on Aug 16, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions
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