Music to my ears......music to my ears

[sherck]

From the Twitter feed from TC today:

Mike Chappell
✔
@mchappell51
Colts ramping up contact in full pads today

Stephen Holder
✔
@HolderStephen
This period of practice w short yardage and goal line is the absolute

Stephen Holder
✔
@HolderStephen
most physical workout I’ve seen in my six seasons covering the Colts.

Kevin Bowen
@KBowen1070
Maybe the most physical session of camp I’ve seen from the #Colts in the last half dozen years.

Zak Keefer
✔
@zkeefer
#Colts have upped the physicality this camp. No doubt. More physical than I’ve seen from this team in YEARS.

Mike Wells
✔
@MikeWellsNFL
The Colts offense - didn't matter who the quarterback was - dominated the defense over and over and over and over (and over) again in the red zone portion of practice. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is going to have his hands full with that unit this season.

Andrew Walker
✔
@AWalkerColts
Replying to @AWalkerColts
Scrum breaks out on field between OL and DL. Matt Slauson not happy with Grover Stewart. Anthony Castonzo and Denico Autry chirping a little bit.

Kevin Bowen
@KBowen1070
Lots happening in OL/DL 1-on-1s.

The veterans getting into a skirmish. Slauson and Simon with their helmets off. Sheard and Howard in there, too

This team needed to get more physical. Sounds like that is what Reich and the rest of the coaches are preaching.

I LOVE IT!

Walk Worthy,

[Luck4Reich]

Probably doesn't take much to look more physical after the cream puff coaches we had before. Still great to hear.

[Brylok]

Glad the softness is gone, but I'm concerned about the defense. They'll need to score a lot of points this year.

[sherck]

Originally Posted by Brylok

Glad the softness is gone, but I'm concerned about the defense. They'll need to score a lot of points this year.

Indeed.

In both the "Good" and "Bad" categories; Andrew Luck's complete percentages for the 11-on-11 drills for the first 5 days in camp:

Day 1 = 11 of 19 (57.9%)
Day 2 = 15 of 19 (78.9%)
Day 3 = 19 of 22 (86.4%)
Day 4 = 24 of 33 (72.8%)
Day 5 = 16 of 19 (84.2%)

Total = 85 of 112 (75.9%)

Yeah for Andrew Luck being back!

Bad on a defense allowing that completion percentage against them early in camp where the defense is supposed to have the advantage.

Oh, yeah, BTW, today was the first day our starting OTs were practicing. Early days (and the associated quick throws or pressures) were against 2nd team O-Linemen whom the defense should be eating up.

Yeah Andrew, (shudder) for defense.

Walk Worthy,

[JAFF]

Physical is good, but the Colts don't need fratricide in pre season. Everyone is on the same team. You don't want a Buddy Ryan situation where the D is trying to hurt their teammates.

[ChoppedWood]

Heard Venturi on the radio, said this was true "getting after it"- said he hasn't seen this type of hitting since his time.

I love it, come Sunday's the other side is not playing touch football.

[Coltsalr]

Originally Posted by JAFF

Physical is good, but the Colts don't need fratricide in pre season. Everyone is on the same team. You don't want a Buddy Ryan situation where the D is trying to hurt their teammates.

Probably not, but I’d still take Buddy Ryan-style over Pagano’s Carebear approach to coaching.

[VeveJones007]

Originally Posted by Brylok

Glad the softness is gone, but I'm concerned about the defense. They'll need to score a lot of points this year.

Start evaluating this team for 2019. It’ll be a much better lens through which to view this team’s progress.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by Brylok

Glad the softness is gone, but I'm concerned about the defense. They'll need to score a lot of points this year.

Can’t fix everything. We knew the defense might be the weak link this year. Too much youth, and still need more talent.

[sherck]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

Can’t fix everything. We knew the defense might be the weak link this year. Too much youth, and still need more talent.

Agreed.

However, in the past two seasons, Ballard has used SIX of EIGHT first/second/third round draft picks on defense (with the other two used on OG). You cannot fault his effort at trying to find defensive playmakers!

- Two secondary pieces (Hooker, Wilson)
- One Linebacker piece (Leonard)
- Three Defensive Line pieces (Basham, Lewis, Turay)

I guess we can complain about how much free cap space Ballard has and that he did not sign any high priced free agents this off-season for the defense but the off-season is not over yet and the cut down to 53 guys per team will put A LOT of talent on the street. We are not a finished package yet.

Heck, think of it this way as well. Between Hooker's injury, Wilson's doghouse of last year and Basham playing out of position, it is almost like getting 3 additional high round rookies added to the defense to join Leonard, Lewis and Turay.

I am not saying that they are going to be good; but they might jel and surprise some folks in the second half of the year.

Walk Worthy,