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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
7 Non-quarterback position battles to watch in Colts v. Ravens preseason game
The Indianapolis Colts will open the preseason on the road on Thursday evening against the Baltimore Ravens. During the preseason, instead of focusing on how the Colts stack up to their opponent, we look internally at what positional battles are taking place and will ultimately shape what the 53-man roster looks like in a few weeks. We know quarterback is the big competition that all eyes will be on. Anthony Richardson will get the start in this game and play roughly a quarter and a half. For more on what the Colts hope to see from him in this game, you can find that here. But for now, let's focus in on the other positional battles taking place. Colts' backup running back role Earlier this offseason, GM Chris Ballard said that the Colts needed more production from the backup running back role. Competing for those snaps are DJ Giddens, Tyler Goodson, and Khalil Herbert. Giddens has made a strong impression as of late, showcasing his ability to find space and create off it, along with being able to contribute in the passing game. As offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter mentioned recently, more has been put on Giddens' plate. Starting center It's been presumed all offseason that Tanor Bortolini would start at center, but he is competing for that job with Danny Pinter. However, that role may already be taking shape with Bortolini working with the first-team over the last two consecutive practices after he and Pinter had been alternating days. Pre-snap protection calls and adjustments are key responsibilities that come with filling this role. A lot is also asked of the center position in the run game within Shane Steichen's offense. Fourth tight end We know Tyler Warren is at the top of the depth chart, while we can assume that Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree will hold the other two spots. But that fourth spot is up for grabs. Primarily competing for that role are Will Mallory and Jelani Woods, both of whom can bring an added pass-catching presence to the position. Warren is going to be featured right away, but we will see a lot of two tight end sets, and during those more obvious passing situations, either Mallory or Woods could pair with Warren. Fourth defensive tackle in the rotation Of course, DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart will be leading the way here. Neville Gallimore also seems fairly well cemented into the third rotational role. But at a position where four players see regular snaps, that last spot in the rotation is available. Competing for it are Eric Johnson, Tim Smith, and Adetomiwa Adebawore. As always, consistency will be key, but also potentially factoring into the decision will be whether the Colts want more of a pass rush presence, which Adebawore can provide, or a run-stuffing presence, which the other two can add. The starting linebacker role next to Zaire Franklin The thought has been that Jaylon Carlies will start next to Franklin this season, and that still may be the case. However, it doesn't look like a foregone conclusion either. One player to watch in particular is Joe Bachie, who has consistently made plays in practice and is familiar with Lou Anarumo's defense, having spent the last few seasons with him in Cincinnati. The third safety Cam Bynum and Nick Cross will, of course, be the starters here, but under Anarumo, we could see a lot more three-safety looks this season. Hunter Wohler is coming off a strong showing in the joint practice, which included him coming away with two interceptions, one of which came at linebacker and the other at safety. Rodney Thomas is vying for this playing time as well. Wohler provides more of a box presence while Thomas can fill more of a free safety role. Cornerback spot opposite of Charvarius Ward Competing for these snaps were Jaylon Jones, JuJu Brents, and Justin Walley. All three players, however, are dealing with injuries currently. So this position battle may be on hold for the time being. It could also mean we see a lot of Samuel Womack, who will have the opportunity to make some plays and perhaps make his way into the conversation. This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts vs. Ravens: 7 Non-quarterback position battles to watch
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Colts coaching staff impressed with Anthony Gould's quiet improvement
Colts coaching staff impressed with Anthony Gould's quiet improvement originally appeared on The Sporting News Second-year wide receiver Anthony Gould may not be the biggest name on the Colts offense, but he hasn't been deterred. The Oregon State product had an uneventful rookie year. He made just one 23-yard catch on offense and had a role as a special teams return man, returning a total of 17 kicks and punts over eight appearances. This offseason, Gould has taken a step up. Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter sees his hard work paying off. 'He put in a really good offseason of work, and it's showing here at camp,' Cooter said after Sunday's practice. 'He's playing really good ball right now…he's absolutely gotten better.' Gould has been a frequent target for both Anthony Richardson Sr. and Daniel Jones as a quick-hitting, over the middle connection for easy yards. That role is typically occupied by Josh Downs, but Gould has a similar skillset. Gould is listed a place behind Downs on the Colts first unofficial depth chart, the same position he was slotted into on last season's first depth chart. He's also listed as the primary kick and punt returner, a decision backed up by multiple reports of him fielding kicks at Grand Park. There's no telling how much of an impact Gould can have offensively in a crowded passing game, but the skillset and versatility is there to become a valuable asset in Indianapolis.
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Anthony Richardson has a shaky Saturday practice after a strong week
Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson's practice work is being watched closely this summer and word from reporters during three practices this week was that Richardson was doing some of his best work. Saturday's session didn't earn the same kind of raves. The Colts had a red-zone heavy practice and Richardson struggled to complete passes while also throwing an interception. Reporters noted that Daniel Jones, who is competing with Richardson, also had a hard time. After the practice, offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said the focus was on dropback passing and that is difficult in the red zone because of advantages the defense can deploy to stop it. As a result, Cooter said he found positive signs amid the overall performance. "The defense squeezes those zones, the man coverage is tighter," Cooter said, via the team's website. "We're trying new plays. We want to be really, really good at all that stuff. At the same time, these guys are working different progressions and where they can throw certain balls. We want to go through a practice and be really, really clean, but at the same time you don't want those guys to avoid sort of working on trying a throw or working on trying to hit a certain receiver in a certain spot, maybe a back shoulder type of throw. So red zone practices, when you sort them up at the end of the year, they don't always end up being your highest-production practices, but we do get a lot out of them. It's going to make us better moving forward. There's going to be some things we can coach off today's tape, but it was an encouraging day because we're working a lot of things and I think we got better at it." The Colts will be in Baltimore on Thursday to kick off their preseason schedule and that should mark a significant chapter in the quarterback competition.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WATCH: Tyler Warren highlights from Indianapolis Colts' training camp practices
Take a look at a few Tyler Warren highlights from the Indianapolis Colts' training camp practices. After a relatively quiet first day of practice, Warren's presence has been felt in the passing game over the last two. He's been a favorite target over the middle of the field, where he can be a difficult matchup with his combination of size and athleticism, and he's made some difficult catches in traffic as well. That pass-catching reliability that Warren has already displayed is one of the many aspects of his game that drew the Colts to him during the pre-draft process. 'Something we thought was a real strength of his was his hands, his ability to focus, concentrate, and make those tough catches,' Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said via the Indy Star. Given the Colts' need for a pass-catching presence at tight end, Warren's ability in the passing game will garner a lot of the attention. However, his impact goes well beyond that facet of the game. As offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter mentioned, the full extent of what Warren can do won't be recognized until the pads come on and his physicality and blocking abilities can be displayed as well. "We haven't even seen him in pads, which I think is going to be a real strength of his," Cooter said. "When he gets to play football in pads, the extra elements of his game are going to come alive." This do-it-all presence brings a level of unpredictability to an offense with Warren able to wear so many hats. This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts training camp: Watch some Tyler Warren highlights from practice
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jim Bob Cooter weighs in on progress this offseason from Indianapolis Colts WR AD Mitchell
By all accounts, Indianapolis Colts' second-year wide receiver AD Mitchell has had a very strong showing throughout the team's offseason programs. "AD's had an exciting start to the offseason," said offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. "He's really been playing good football out there. Getting open, making catches." Advertisement Even through the ups and downs that Mitchell experienced as a rookie, what also stood out was his ability to get open and create separation, particularly against man coverage. With Mitchell's combination of speed and route-running abilities, he can be a very difficult matchup. However, overshadowing that playmaking potential in Year 1 were the miscues. Dropped passes, wrong or mistimed routes, and not being on the same page with the quarterback were all too prevalent. This resulted in Mitchell catching just 45% of his 51 targets and a lack of playing time and opportunities as well. There were some weeks where, by snap count, he was the fifth wideout on the Colts' depth chart. So the big thing for Mitchell as he enters Year 2 is finding that consistency. Advertisement "It's a consistency thing," Cooter added. "Like Shane's talked about with our offense, with our team, with a lot of our guys. Attacking each day with consistency, going out there if you're AD Mitchell and you have some really good ability to go get open and make great catches, well, that's going to be the expectation, day in and day out." Year 2 is often when we see NFL players make the biggest developmental jump. For one, there is the comfort and confidence that comes with having an NFL season under their belt, but they also have a full offseason to work on their craft, rather than focusing on the pre-draft process. Even in a crowded Colts' receiver room that also includes Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, if Mitchell can take a step forward this season and find that consistency, more opportunities will come--in snaps, targets, and in the type of routes he's asked to run--because his skill set, and how he can stress various levels of the field, can add another element to this Colts' passing game. "He's done a really nice job," Cooter added. "He's had a great attitude attacking this spring. He's had some opportunities in practice, and he's made the most of those things, and those will keep coming." This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts WR AD Mitchell with 'exciting start' to offseason programs
