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Old 08-04-2022, 08:48 AM
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Default big day for running backs

https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...e/65387402007/

s: Jonathan Taylor leads big day for running backs
Joel A. Erickson
Indianapolis Star
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WESTFIELD — It can be easy to take the Indianapolis running game for granted.

With Jonathan Taylor in the backfield, a bruising offensive line led by Quenton Nelson and one of the best offensive schemes in the NFL, the running game is the least of the Colts’ worries heading into the season.

But even on a day when the Colts weren’t in full pads — NFL rules strictly limit how many days teams can practice in pads in a row—the Indianapolis running game turned in an impressive performance on Wednesday.

Taylor led the way, ripping off big gains to the right and through the middle on the first two snaps of 11-on-11 work, then showcasing his agility in the hole late in the practice.

But he was far from the only one. Veteran Phillip Lindsay has been quick and explosive through the hole in the first week of training camp, allowing him to carve the defense for a solid run up the middle, and undrafted running back C.J. Verdell produced his first two highlights of camp, using a combination of burst and vision to shoot through a couple of holes in the defense.


Colts highlight reel

One day after the defense got the better of the offense in the passing game, the Colts’ pass-catching weapons produced a series of highlights in Wednesday’s practice.

The best came from Ashton Dulin, who has consistently made plays throughout training camp. Three plays after making a short grab from Nick Foles, Dulin raced up the sideline on a go route, only to be blanketed by Isaiah Rodgers. Foles’ throw hit Rodgers in the hands, but a leaping Dulin went over Rodgers’ head, took the ball out of his hands and made the catch for arguably the best catch of training camp so far.

More:Colts' WR Dulin making most of opportunity

But he wasn’t the only one. Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. made a leaping catch over Stephon Gilmore in the middle from Matt Ryan, who finished 7 of 9 on the day, and rookie wide receiver Alec Pierce made a nice grab on the sideline from Ryan for the first 11-on-11 catch of the practice.


Running back Nyheim Hines also made a nice grab in 1-on-1 drills, using his strong hands to rip the ball way from rookie safety Nick Cross.

Hurricane building

Former second-round pick Dayo Odeyingbo is getting his first chance at training camp; he spent last season rehabilitating the torn Achilles tendon he’d suffered while training for the Senior Bowl.

A full-strength, improved Odeyingbo could be an important asset to the Indianapolis pass rush in a rotational role, and although he has struggled at times in 1-on-1 pass rush drills — he’s still learning how to put moves together — Odeyingbo kept making plays in 11-on-11 work on Wednesday.


Odeyingbo was a part of three “sacks” on Wednesday, showing an ability to disengage from his block while the quarterback is moving in the pocket and working through traffic to get to the passer. The second-year defensive end also had a tackle ofHines at the line of scrimmage, and another tackle-for-loss early in the period while taking a lot of snaps.

Kwity Paye, the first-round pick from the same draft class who had four sacks last season, has looked good in 1-on-1 pass rush drills, and he had another highlight on Wednesday, leaving Braden Smith behind with a quick inside move.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) points during a drill at training camp Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Ind.
Bouncing back

For most of the first week, tight end Kylen Granson had been having an uneven training camp, dropping at least two passes in 11-on-11 work and catching just two balls, both from Foles.

Granson bounced back Wednesday, hauling in three catches, all from Ryan, and bursting through the middle of the line on a handoff on one play. At least two of the three catches by Granson came over the middle, an area of the field he’d had some trouble in the first week of training camp.


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A fourth-round pick by the Colts in 2021, Granson caught 11 passes for 106 yards, but the rookie is the only one of the team’s top four tight ends — veteran Mo Alie-Cox and the rookie tandem of Jelani Woods and Andrew Ogletree are the others — who profiles as a true “F”, pass-catching tight end who often lines up in the slot or as an H-back.

“Did you see we put him at fullback the one time and he busted it up the middle?” Reich said with a laugh. “We kind of just did that for fun, but he’s having a good camp.”


Learning curve

Left tackle Bernhard Raimann, the team’s third-round pick, is having his fair share of success and rookie moments early in his first training camp.

For example, Raimann held up well in the first session of 1-on-1 pass rush drills, staying in front of Yannick Ngakoue on two rushes, the rookie’s quick feet on display.

But Raimann has also had some hiccups in 11-on-11 work, illustrated by a pressure allowed to Ben Banogu that forced Foles to step up into the proximity of Odeyingbo for a “sack,” and another pressure allowed to Ifeadi Odenigbo.

Boiling over

Five days into practice, the first real fight of training camp broke out between Pittman Jr. and veteran safety Rodney McLeod. There had been a minor standoff involving Odeyingbo on Tuesday, but Pittman Jr. and McLeod threw several hard punches in the open before teammates quickly converged to break up the kerfuffle.


Always a physical player, Pittman Jr. has never been known to back down, a policy that cost him a questionable ejection in the Colts’ win over New England last season.

“We definitely encourage playing with an edge, and that’s part of what makes Pitt,” Reich said. “But we don’t want to cross the line, especially with our own teammates. … Those are things that we just deal with as they come up, and our guys are pretty mature about that stuff, so we’ll just move on from it.”

Injury report

All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard still has no timeline for his return to the field after offseason surgery to relieve the pressure on two discs in his back were placing on his nerves.

Leonard has been on the field at practices, soaking in the defense, but he remains on the physically unable to perform list.

“He’s doing great,” Reich said. “He’s really been into it out on the field, staying locked in to what we’re doing schematically, really staying in tune with the guys and everything. I know he’s having a good rehab, good progress, but we’re not in that mode where it’s imminent.”

Wide receiver Michael Strachan (knee) also remains on the active/PUP list. Veteran tackle Dennis Kelly (knee), defensive tackle Chris Williams (lower leg), wide receiver DeMichael Harris, running back D’Vonte Price and linebacker Forrest Rhyne also missed practice due to injury.

Cornerback Alexander Myres got up slow after a hit in 7-on-7 and was examined by the trainers.


Quick game

Defensive end Tyquan Lewis, who has been slowly working his way back into action, had a “sack” of Foles in limited team work, a good sign for his recovery. … Odenigbo faces a crowded defensive line, but he has put consistent pressure on the team’s backup quarterbacks. Rushing off the blind side, Odenigbo had pressures on two of three snaps against a Sam Ehlinger-led offense at the end of practice. … For the second consecutive day, there was a botched snap between Ryan and Ryan Kelly. … The Colts signed former Browns and Jets wide receiver D.J. Montgomery, who caught three passes for 36 yards for New York last season.
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