Colts Training Camp Notebook: Physicality Ramps Up Sunday Night

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INDIANAPOLIS – Each day, 1070 The Fan will bring you a full camp notebook covering a variety of tidbits from Colts Training Camp at Grand Park in Westfield.

Sunday was the fourth practice for the Colts at Grand Park.

Here is what was learned from the fourth day of practice:

-We heard from Andrew Luck on Sunday morning. Luck had plenty to say about his return to practice, his ‘new’ throwing motion and Frank Reich wanting him to possibly play a little more in the preseason. Head here for that and a closer look at how Luck performed in Sunday’s night practice.

-The physicality was clearly a notch higher at the second full-padded practice of camp. Even a few scuffles broke out between: Jack Mewhort/Tarell Basham, Quenton Nelson/T.J. Green, Matt Slauson/George Odum and Matthias Farley/James Wright. We also saw about the closest thing to a live tackling period as we’ve seen so far in camp.

-Just because things were physical on Sunday, do not think the running backs didn’t do their part. Robert Turbin first delivered quite the blow over safety Matthias Farley. Later in practice, Marlon Mack ran over safety George Odum.

-Starting middle linebacker Anthony Walker did leave Sunday’s practice with a groin injury. Walker looks to be the favorite to start at the MIKE position. With Walker out, rookie Zaire Franklin took over. If Walker is healthy, it looks like the Colts want to pair Najee Goode and Darius Leonard alongside him in their 3-linebacker grouping.

-By his elite standards, T.Y. Hilton came into Sunday with a ‘quiet’ start to camp. That changed in Sunday’s first 11-on-11 session. Hilton caught a pair of chunk passes from Andrew Luck. The strong rapport between No. 12 and 13 looked back in sync on Sunday.

-Do not make me pick just yet, but if you want a No. 2 wideout, I guess it’s Ryan Grant over Chester Rogers right now.

-Talk amongst the media at Sunday’s practice, does Eric Ebron or Jack Doyle catch more balls in 2018? I’ll go with Doyle, but it’s a great debate.

-At the end of the spring, DE-John Simon and CB-Kenny Moore were not expected Week One starters. But they continue to see significant run with the first team. Simon seems to have overtaken Tarell Basham after 4 practices.

-When Quenton Nelson does rarely get beat, it’s usually Denico Autry doing the monumental task. The Colts may have found something in Autry.

-Noticed rookie defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis flashing in 1-on-1 drills with a variety of moves.

-Second-year cornerback Nate Hairston should not be viewed as just a nickel cornerback. He’s playing outside and inside.

-Let’s go back to Slauson for a minute. He’s a tone setter for the Colts. He obviously isn’t the greatest guard in the NFL, but he sets an important level of work ethic that the Colts desperately need. Slauson isn’t afraid to defend his offensive teammates post-whistle.

-Honestly, it’s been a pretty quiet start to camp for the Colts when talking roster moves/significant injuries. Will that change in Week Two?

-The following players missed Sunday’s practice: OT-Tyreek Burwell (left leg), LT-Anthony Castonzo (hamstring), RB-Josh Ferguson (undisclosed), S-Clayton Geathers (knee), S-Malik Hooker (knee), OT-Austin Howard (undisclosed), OT-Jared Machorro (undisclosed), DE-Chris McCain (ankle), OG-Jeremy Vujnovich (calf).

-Castonzo and Howard—who looked to be the starting tackles coming out of the spring—have both missed the entire camp so far. Reich said the Colts aren’t going to rush the two veterans back, but the duo is “right on the cusp” of returning to work. With those tackles out, the Colts again had Jack Mewhort at left tackle and Denzelle Good at right tackle.

-The Colts had just 10 healthy offensive linemen at Sunday’s practice. A positive to that is guys are playing in multiple spots. But the Colts are also missing out on chances to build some continuity with a firm starting five.

-After 4 straight days of practice, the Colts will have their mandatory off day on Monday. The team will get back to practice with 3 straight afternoon sessions running Tuesday-Thursday, before their second night practice on Friday.