The Terre Haute's Tribune Star has their training camp preview up, and (shockingly) it is far more detailed, thoughtful, and interesting than any preview I've ever read at the Indianapolis Star. And unlike the horrid NFL.com camp preview we trashed last week, the TH preview seems to know what its talking about and validates many of off-season themes we've discussed since March.

Good God. Was March really just  months ago?

The preview's author, Tom James, starts off (after going through the usual who's hurt and why stuff) by naming the Players to Watch: Roy Hall, Mike Pollak, and Philip Wheeler. All three were impressive during the two minicamps and the off0season programs. We've written often about Pollak and Hall, so I found this nugget about Wheeler intriguing:

Slated to be the top reserve behind starter Gary Brackett at middle linebacker as a rookie, he may get a chance to prove what he can do as the team’s strong side linebacker.

Hagler’s pectoral injury could force a move to the outside for the hard-hitting linebacker from Georgia Tech. Wheeler might be in the mix as a replacement when the team reports for training camp. His ability to quickly diagnose a play, combined with his speed and quickness, should serve him well if given the opportunity.

Tyjuan Hagler better heal up quick, because I'm starting to think that Wheeler will win his job as strongside LBer when the pre-season closes.

Some other interesting notes are the possibility of second year player Clifton Dawson transitioning to a lead blocker on short yardage. This is the first I've heard of this, and definitely something I will look at when I get to camp. Other sleepers they mentioned for camp were WR Devin Aromashodu, WR Courtney Roby, WR Pierre Garcon, WR Sam Giguere, WR Charles Dillon, WR Rudy Burgess, TE Gijon Robinson, RB Chad Simpson, DE Ben Ishola, DE Curtis Johnson, DT Colin Ferrell, DT Eric Foster DT Joe Bradley, LB Jordan Senn, LB Kyle Shotwell, CB Brandon Foster, CB Antonio Smith, and SS Jamie Silva. James also says the free agent rookie Sam Giguere is a "Wes Welker clone."

Is Clifton Dawson Indy's new fullback?

via cache.viewimages.com

Tom James put emphasis on players like Eric Foster and Devin Aromashodu:

Aromashodu got the attention of his teammates last year as he filled in on a limited basis for Harrison.

...

Foster is a definitely possibility to earn a spot on the team at the end of training camp.

The article also suggests that kick returning duties will get shared between Dom Rhodes, Dillon, Burgess, Mike Hart, and Simpson. James does not mention TJ Rushing returning kicks, which is interesting to say the least. He did say this about Rushing:

Rushing was drafted to be the team’s kick and punt returner but has proved to be a pretty good cornerback when given the chance to play.

Perhaps Rushing's ability to play CB made him too much of a commodity to just throw out there as a returner. Again, we will pay close attention to see if Rushing is still returning kicks and punts in camp.

Finally, James names his up-and-coming players that could come out of camp and pre-season ready to make an immediate positive impact on the team during the regular season:

In addition to Hall, Pollak and Wheeler, other key players figure to be tight ends Jacob Tamme and Tom Santi; defensive end Marcus Howard; outside linebackers Clint Session and Ramon Guzman; cornerbacks Dante Hughes, Micheal Coe, and Tim Jennings; safeties Melvin Bullitt and Brannon Condren.

Indianapolis’ break out performers could very well be Tamme, Howard, Session, Hughes, Jennings and Bullitt.

This is what football previews are supposed to give you, boys and girls. This article has me fired up big time for training camp, which starts in just four days!

BBS- Old title for this post used to read 2008 Colts Draft Pick: Samuel Giguere et Pierre Garcon donneront un coup de pied à votre âne, which basically translated meant that Giguere and Garcon were going to kick your donkey. I got the word "ass" wrong. The title has been corrected, reflecting that they will kick your rear section, not your donkey. Now kindly kiss my âne. Thanks to bluegirl and TeteDeFer for correcting my Friench.

For you non-French speakers out there, use this site to translate what the title says.

If you hadn't noticed, the theme for this year's off-season is a French one. Vive le France! Vive le Québec libre! Cue the flag pic:

via www.teachnet.ie

Why is the theme a French one? Well, if you haven't noticed, the Colts currently have two WRs on their roster named Pierre Garcon and Samuel Giguere. Giguere (pronounced She-gair) hails from L'Université de Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada, where the team sports colors are Le Vert & Or (The Green and Gold). Despite playing at a school located in another country (and in a part of that country where people speak French and ONLY French), Giguere garnered a lot of interest long before the 2008 April Draft.

Sherbrooke (Canada) senior wide receiver Samuel Giguere is attracting interest. He finished second in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) with 45 receptions for 871 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging more than 19 yards per catch. He has been timed in the 4.4 range in the 40-yard dash with a career best time of 4.35. Giguere ran 4.41 for me during the workout session of this past spring's East-West Bowl held in Quebec City. He is a rare natural athlete with a 40-inch vertical, 4.14 short shuttle, 10-foot, 1-inch broad jump and has also completed 23 reps of 225 pounds during offseason training. Not subject to NCAA rules, he was able to sign with an agent while still having a year of college eligibility remaining. He signed with well-known CFL agent Darren Gill who has represented Jason Clermont and Chris Bauman, two of the top-rated receivers in recent CFL Draft memory. You could hear Giguere's name among the players assigned to the East-West Shrine Game or another postseason game.

The "new frontier" for NFL scouting seems to be Canada. Seven years ago, the Colts were one of the few teams that signed numerous undrafted free agent rookies. Now, teams compete over signing these undrafted players. The Colts and Jaguars got into a bidding war over WR Rudy Burgess just after the NFL concluded with Burgess eventually signing with Indy. The next big fad, established by teams like the Colts, will likely be to start scouting players in Canada. Guys up there can play American football. We all like to bash on Kenton Keith, but the guy did average 4.4 yards a carry and generated 533 yards backing up Joseph Addai last year. And while Keith is not from Canada, he has spent much of his professional career playing for the CFL Roughriders.

Sam Giguere, like all Canadian college stars, has his own website.

Photo via samuelgiguere.com

Regarding Giguere, the first thing you notice about him is his size and speed (4.45 speed). The dude looks like he was exposed to the same radiation that Hulked Dr. Bruce Banner, only in Giguere's case his skin didn't turn green. Between Marvin Harrison Kung Fu skills and Giguere's bulk, I'd rather get into a fight with the o-linemen and take my chances rather than pick a fight with Indy's WR corps.

The other "Frenchie" the Colts plucked from the college ranks is from Division III powerhouse Mount Union: Pierre "The Waiter" Garcon. For those of you who like to reference movies that like to reference movies: Garcon means "boy."

Garcon might have a name that would fit in with the football notables at L'Université de Sherbrooke, Mount Union is in the Ohio Atlantic Conference, and Garcon is from West Palm Beach, FL. So, I highly doubt Garcon walked up to Giguere the first day of rookie mini-camp and said Vou et vous ce a le qua? Because, like, if he did it would have been a little... awkward.

Like Giguere, Garcon came from a school that no many have heard of. Though Mount Union dominates Division III NCAA football, not many NFL prospects comes from Div III. That's not to say that no one from Div III has a shot at the NFL. Last season, the Rams took a shot at Div III Wisconsin-Whitewater's Derek Stanley. So, anything is possible, but if you agree with TheSportsGuru's philosophy of Give me big time players from big time schools who have played in big time games, then Pierre Garcon is not someone you want to draft. Might I suggest then Tommy Frazer, Eric Crouch, or Lawrence Phillips. They played in big time games for big time schools.

Can you tell I think the whole "big school" theory is a big bunch of merde?

Like Giguere, Garcon is 6'0, has good speed, and is quick. Garcon was also one of the top performers at the Combine, running a 4.48. NFL.com has a scouting report on him:

Positives: Adequate size, larger than most small-school prospects. ... Long limbs. ... Accelerates well and is also a strong runner after the catch. ... Blows by defenders at the Division III level. ... Good speed and quickness. ... Used on bubble screens and shallow crossing routes to get the ball in his hands early. ... Also a deep threat, able to adjust to the ball in the air. ... Good hands on punt and kickoff returns. ... Can get upfield quickly and shows a burst to hit the hole hard.

The second to last bit I placed in bold is the reason I thought the Colts drafted Garcon. If you watch any of his college football kick and punt returns, you know the kid is lightening in a bottle. Speed is speed. It doesn't matter if it is Div III or USC v. Notre Dame. Pierre Garcon has speed. Yet, surprisingly, the Colts are saying they will not play Garcon at KR pr PR this year. Um, did they not see the film:

Why is Garcon not returning kicks this year? I have no friggin' clue.

If Garcon or Giguere can return punts and kicks, I think they should have a chance to compete against TJ Rushing. I don't think Rushing stinks or anything, but if Garcon or Giguere can do the job better (or provide a legit threat to score every time they field a kick) they should have a chance to win it over TJ.

Both Garcon and Giguere have excellent chances to make the final roster. I think one will get placed on the practice squad though, but the Colts saw something in these two guys that made them think they could be Colts.

It's been kind of weird this off-season. For the first time in God knows how long, there are more questions about the Colts offense than about the defense. In fact, of three main areas of the team, the defense is the one that has the fewest questions. Now obviously, this is relative to us Colts fans. The "questions" we have about our team focus on depth and versatility. Let's be honest: We're lucky these are our "problems." Elite teams like New England have serious questions about who will start in their secondary, and San Diego doesn't know if their starting QB or their best playmaker in the passing game (Antonio Gates) are healthy.

With the Colts, in particular their defense, there are no current questions about who will start where. Really, if you think about it, there aren't even any big position battles. The only one on defense I can think of is SAM linebacker Tyjuan Hagler fighting off rookie Philip Wheeler, but since Wheeler is a rookie learning an entirely new system, I doubt Hagler will lose his job to him. Gary Brackett is a lock at MLB, and Freddie Keiaho would have to royally screw up to lose his starting WILL spot to the very solid Clint Session.

This means that, essentially, the entire starting defense from the 2007 season will return. This includes Dwight Freeney, who is ahead of schedule on his lis franc rehab. In fact, the Colts seem to think Freeney could play in pre-season, but are holding him back just to be safe. I realize that the Colts injury report is often a load of crap, but seeing Freeney himself say it reinforces it for me. Also expected back at 100% are Robert Mathis and Raheem Brock. Added to their arsenal of DEs are rookies Marcus Howard and Curtis Johnson; both with demon-like speed off the edge.

The key area that will warrant a close look is the secondary. Marlin Jackson, Kelvin Hayden, Bob Sanders, and Antoine Bethea are all locked in as starters. This group in one of the best secondaries in football; top 5, easily. The depth is the area that warrants attention, and not in a bad way. Third year CB Tim Jennings took over the nickel corner spot last season after then-rookie Dante Hughes went down with an injury. Hughes is now back and recovered, and both he and Jennings will battle it out in camps for the nickel back spot. Also lingering are TJ Rushing, Michael Coe,  and Texas free agent rookie Brandon Foster. I don't think Keiwan Ratliff (currently listed on the roster) will last on the team.

Rushing really stepped up his coverage game in 2007. Drafted primarily as a return specialist, he has grown into a solid nickel or dime coverage DB. Because Rushing can return kicks and cover, he has likely locked down a roster spot. If Hughes is healthy, he could win back his starting nickel spot, leaving Jennings as a potential odd man out. Still, even with Jennings potentially getting lost in the shuffle, this is a very deep secondary. I mean, I haven't even touched on players like reserve safety Matt Giordano, or rookie Jamie Silva. This is a touch, hard-hitting, big play group that will flourish in 2008 if the Colts pass rush can stay healthy.

All this talk about defense, and not one mention about the DTs and the run. What difference a year makes. Last year, we were practically down on our knees, begging God Almighty not to get Booger McFarland hurt. Then, Booger went down in the first week of Training Camp. He was replaced by a group of tough, smart rookies like Ed Johnson, Quinn Pitcock, and Keyunta Dawson. Each played magnificently in 2007, and the Colts run defense improved dramatically. Teams like Jacksonville didn't run all over Indy, and even great backs like LT had a hard time gaining yards. This group is now a year older, a year wiser. With Raheem Brock returning to DT, this is a solid group.

I expect big things from this defense in 2008. They have the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Bob Sanders and a (hopefully) healthy Dwight Freeney. This group should dominate.

Colts rookie camp starts today at West 56th Street:

The 22 rookies recently acquired by the Colts will report to the team's practice facility Friday for the first time, then will spend the weekend at a three-day rookie camp designed to allow them to acclimate, learn and prepare.

When it begins, Polian – in his 11th season as the Colts’ President – said they will receive two messages. One, that they will have every chance regardless of background or draft status to make the 53-man roster. The other, Polian said, is equally important:

College is over. The NFL Draft is over.

All that matters as far as the Colts are concerned is the future.

Starting right now.

“This is the real world,” Polian said, discussing what the rookies will be told at the beginning of the team’s 2008 rookie camp at the team’s practice facility Friday.

“All that took place on draft day, and before that, is the phony world of the draft. This is now the real world of the NFL. It doesn’t have to do with marketing and it doesn’t have to do with seminars on how to be a better person.

“All that stuff is fine and dandy at the appropriate time, but this is about competing for a job in the National Football League.”

The Colts made a conscious decision to improve the interior of their offensive line in the 2008 NFL Draft, taking OG Mike Pollak, OC Steve Justice and OG Jamey Richards. They also wanted to gain more depth at running back, drafting Michigan legend Mike Hart in round 6 and signing rookie free agent Chad Simpson out of Morgan State. Special teams, in particular the return game, were also a focus. Bill Polian drafted Mount Union standout Pierre Garcon to compete with current returner TJ Rushing. Simpson also has the skills to return kickoffs. Georgia standout DE Marcus Howard will likely play special teams and get acquainted with d-line coach John Teerlick.

When we get pics of the 22 rooks at camp, we will post them. Rookie camp runs through Sunday.