Indianapolis Colts Football

Colts Witness Change on the Defensive Line

By Kevin Bowen, Colts.com

Perhaps no unit on the Colts roster will take on a new look more in 2012 than the defensive line.

Thanks to a new scheme, a trio of new faces and some positional changes along the front, the line has a multitude of options as the Colts make their way through OTAs this offseason.

One of the first moves the Colts made was signing a pair of former Baltimore Ravens defensive linemen in Brandon McKinney and Cory Redding.

“Anytime you’re dealing with guys who have been in the system, they’re comfortable,” defensive line coach Gary Emmanuel said. “They are like an extra coach in the room. They really help as far as their leadership and that’s the biggest thing.”

Meshing with some new faces are a pair of returning defensive linemen who have shown some flexibility in moving along the new three-man front.

Last season Fili Moala and Drake Nevis both played primarily inside on the defensive line but they will be expected to play the end position in 2012.

“Drake and Fili both are progressing,” Emmanuel said. “They are getting better each time out. They are really improving their technique. They do a great job of picking up the scheme and working hard at the scheme to understand it. I’m extremely pleased with what they’re giving us.”

The Colts turned to the draft to add some more depth on the line when they chose their first defensive player during April’s draft in the fifth round by selecting Alabama defensive tackle Josh Chapman.

It remains to be seen when Chapman will hit the playing field as he finished last season playing with a torn ACL while helping the Crimson Tide to the 2012 National Championship, but his ability to play through pain won’t be questioned.

“He’s tough. He’s physical,” Emmanuel said of Chapman. “He’s been coached hard because coach (Nick) Saban does a great job down there with the personnel. We are really excited about Josh and looking for some great things from him.”

With Chapman and the 350-pound McKinney manning the middle the Colts are starting to add the pieces to a system that has found success throughout the league in the past few years.

McKinney had been apart of the Ravens defense since 2008 and says he is hoping to bring some ‘nastiness’ to the new unit along with helping his teammates learn a fresh system.

“It’s one thing to just go out there and pick it up but it’s another thing to actually want to learn and learn the whole system,” McKinney said.

Allen Readies for Role With Colts

By Kevin Bowen, Colts.com

As the media headed into the Colts locker room on Wednesday afternoon for player availability a swarm gathered in front of locker #83.

Occupying that spot would be third round draft pick Dwayne Allen out of Clemson University.

The Mackey Award winner from last season, Allen was named the nation’s top tight end thanks to setting school records for tight ends with 50 catches for 598 yards and eight touchdowns in 2011.

With Allen still on the board at the top of the third round in last month’s draft, the Colts knew they couldn’t pass on a player that fits into a offense which uses the tight position extensively.

“(The offense) requires the tight ends to be versatile and do a lot of jobs,” Allen said. “Coming from the college offense that I played in, I showed my versatility and I feel I have a very good chance to show it here.”

His ability on the field speaks for itself but the 22 year-old Allen was extremely composed while fielding questions from the media on Wednesday.

Colts tight end coach Alfredo Roberts has a pair of high draft picks at his disposal this season and can’t wait for the city of Indianapolis to see what he has already witnessed.

“He’s a big, strong guy that’s willing to work on some things that he’s probably not as clean on,” Roberts said of Allen. “People of Indianapolis are going to be impressed with the type of player and person he is once they get to know him.”

Offensive Line Presents Versatile Options

By Kevin Bowen, Colts.com

Of all the units on the Colts roster to see an influx of new talent this offseason, the offensive line received the most veteran additions with a trio of lineman made the move to Indianapolis.

Center Sampson Satele (6 years), guard Mike McGlynn (5 years) and tackle Winston Justice (7 years) all bring together ample NFL experience to a unit that is trying to blend it’s young talent around them.

Offensive line coach Harold Goodwin talked about each of the new additions and what they will bring the Colts in the trenches:

On Satele: “He’s been in the battle. He’s been in the wars. For him to come in, it’s just transitioning the terminology to what he’s heard in the past and flipping it over. He’s been great because he’s a smart football player and anything I teach him he picks up right away.”

On McGlynn: “He’s a huge leader in the room and a powerful, smart football player.”

On Justice: “We have a flexible guy who can play right tackle or play left tackle.”

The unit was a little undermanned on Wednesday afternoon with first year players Anthony Castonzo and Ben Ijalana both sidelined along with guard Joe Reitz.

Castonzo and Reitz saw extensive action on the line last season and with them sidelined the veteran returnee came in the form of third-year pro Jeff Linkenbach.

“As far as the guys who’ve been here, Jeff (Linkenbach) is doing a great job. (We’re) kind of bouncing him around from tackle to guard, just trying to find him a home because I think he’s maybe one of our top five or six lineman.”

Goodwin said that even though the line is ever changing during the month of May he expects that to change come training camp.

“I know I’m kind of bouncing them around a little bit, but I just told them ‘stick with me’ and once we get to training camp and have healthy bodies we can start slotting guys into a single spot and go from there,” Goodwin said.

WELCOME TO INDY ANDREW LUCK

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR 2012 NEW ERA 59FIFTY DRAFT CAP

We knew it was coming. We could saw we knew for a while. We knew the Colts were going to take Andrew Luck with the first overall pick, but when Roger Goodell said “with the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts select Andrew Luck, quarterback, Stanford,” I simply got goose bumps.

I vividly remember the last time we were in this position. I was a little boy sitting at home watching it on TV. Tonight, sitting at Colts Grille surrounded by hundreds of Colts fans was a much different experience. Everyone was happy, everyone was cheering, and every single one of us wanted Andrew Luck as our next quarterback. For a team that finished 2-14 less than 5 months ago, it was an opportunity for us, the fans, to cheer for this new era of Indianapolis Colts Football.

As if we’re the lucky ones. Andrew Luck himself is ecstatic to be a Colt. He knew he was coming here, but he still was excited. He still was smiling ear to ear to because he was coming to represent this city, this state, and Colts fans worldwide. He wanted to wear the horseshoe.

It’s not going to be the easiest ride, but if anyone can handle it and is up to the challenge, it’s Andrew Luck. When his live stream from Colts.com was played at the Colts Grille, and he said he can’t wait to come here, you could tell it was genuine. Oh, and the entire place went wild!

This is our moment. This is our time. We are at the center of the football universe for the time being. So enjoy it Colts fans and soak it up. Oh and be sure to come join me and the rest of “Blue Nation” at Lucas Oil Stadium tomorrow night at six as we welcome Andrew Luck to this great football team!

The Colts No. 1 pick Andrew Luck will put on the New Era 59Fifty Draft Cap in a few hours when he’s drafted. Get your own right here from the Colts Pro Shop and be like Andrew in this new era of Colts Football!

GO HORSE! COLTSTRONG!

Forever in Football,

Colts Fan Casey

COLTS, ANDREW LUCK, AND THE NEW ERA

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR 2012 NEW ERA 59FIFTY DRAFT CAP

Wow, what a great day to be an Indianapolis Colts fan! I know the last few months have been full of mixed emotions, but tonight is finally the night that the Colts will name Andrew Luck their next quarterback.
I remember a little over a year ago when all the speculation was about Andrew Luck going pro after his junior year. As a Colts fan, whoever would have thought that Luck would be our next quarterback? I know I sure didn’t! But here we are, it’s April 26^th 2012, and the Indianapolis Colts have the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Andrew Luck happens to be who we’re taking as GM Ryan Grigson said earlier this week. It sure has been a wild ride.

Obviously Luck is just one piece to this new era of Colts football. I’ve been watching some of the videos on Colts.com during workouts and practices and man is there a new level of energy or what!? All of the coaches and players talk about the energy that surrounds this team and it’s traveled out of the complex and right into my head. I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE 2012 SEASON!!!

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what I am most excited for. This whole new regime and new era has me super excited to be in Lucas Oil Stadium during the 2012 season. My favorite part is the excitement that surrounds the 2012 Colts. I’m like a little kid waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve!

We have a new quarterback, who happens to be Andrew Luck, a new coaching staff headed up by Chuck Pagano with a new level of intensity, not to mention “building the monster” that is our defense, some key offseason additions such as Cory Redding and Tom Zbikowski, as well as the new Nike Jerseys and New Era hats. Such a thrilling time to be a Colts fan!

So in closing fellow Colts fans I say this, think about the great memories from the past decade of Colts football, cherish them for what they are, but at the same time, share the same level of excitement and energy that the players and coaches have exemplified. What is great about this season is we don’t know what will happen, we don’t have expectations, but we all know we’ll be along for the ride. A ride that has me on the edge of my seat, ready for the Indianapolis Colts to continue their pursuit of greatness sharing the same passion as me and you!

The Colts No. 1 pick Andrew Luck will put on the New Era 59Fifty Draft Cap in a few hours when he’s drafted. Get your own right here from the Colts Pro Shop and be like Andrew in this new era of Colts Football!

GO HORSE! COLTSTRONG!

Forever in Football,

Colts Fan Casey

New Day In Indy

The sun comes up on an April morning.  At first all seems quiet at W. 56^th street headquarters.  But something is stirring.  There has been activity here before, but not quite like this…Something new…something different…a new scent perhaps.  Something other than the traditional bacon egg and sausage biscuit now wafts through the air.

“Feed the beast”.  I hear someone say from behind closed doors.  But no one quite knows what it wants.  “Feed the beast!” again a little louder.  But no one knows what it needs.  “Feed the beast!!!” louder still until a voice responds “I know just what to give it.”

Suddenly a noise explodes from the building like a great monster awakening from centuries of hibernation.  I become a little worried the Kraken is real.  But I know it is just a myth.  Clearly there is some non-mythical creature here now, some new monster created for the express purpose of… of what?

I see the door to the facility open a crack and out comes bits and pieces of a Titan – scary really that so little is left.  I try to catch a glance of the beast inside but to no avail as the door slams shut.  Something is still stirring inside. I am caught off guard by the sudden onset of the howls of a jungle cat.

“Release the beast now” a voice bellows from inside, and the howls are replaced by the stomping and braying of a monster.  “This is no ordinary horse” I think as I see the door once again open a crack as the hide of a Jaguar is launched beside the Titan.  I would really like a look at this animal now.  My curiosity as to what could be inside turns my own innards around.

Then I realize the animal has not finished.  I hear more bucking and braying followed by shouts of…of…fear maybe?  I am not sure.  The muffled yells fade and the door opens for a third time.  It appears to be a Texan, caught in his own rope, hopping out the door until the end of the rope appears to snag and he gets yanked to the ground and dragged back into the building.

“Oh, this can’t be good” I think out loud “at least not for those Texans”.  After a few more hollers and whimpers the building falls silent.  I wait a while, hoping to catch a glance of this new Colt that could cause such destruction to Titans, Jaguars and Texans.  But as the morning passes my innards focus more on my own instinctive needs and I don’t believe I can wait any longer.  I turn to go, pausing a second to listen once more for the monster that is growing within the building, but the silence is deafening.

I know then that I must plan a trip to Anderson in August to see the beast in action.  I don’t want to be in the dark when the new dawn rises.  But for now, that bacon egg and sausage biscuit is calling my name.

Colts.com/Forum Integrated Login

Colts Fans are an important part of Colts.com, so we’ve made some changes to reflect that.

Effective today, logging in to the forums and logging in to Colts.com are one in the same
In other words, in order to comment on articles on colts.com, you must be a member of our forums and also agree to our code of conduct.

The very cool thing about this is, that colts.com articles appear here in a new forum called Colts.com News.

If you post a comment to an article on colts.com, that post will appear both beneath that article and also here on the forums in the Colts.com News forum along with your profile Picture and a link to your profile page.

Read more about this change and updates to the Colts Message Boards here.

Donnie Avery

by Kevin Bowen

It was match that seemed too could to be true.

The Colts were looking for a receiver that could stretch the field and Donnie Avery wanted a fresh start to showcase his speed that made him the first receiver chosen in the 2008 NFL Draft.

That combination turned into a free agent signing for Avery and the Colts. Avery said the dedication by the Colts staff outweighed his other four suitors in ultimately deciding on Indianapolis.

“Chuck (Pagano), the head coach, he called me about four or five times and told me how he could get me back to my early years in the NFL, how I can look up to Reggie Wayne and the rest of the guys and how I can fit in the offense,” Avery said.

Avery entered the NFL in 2008 and caught a total of 100 passes in his first two seasons with the St. Louis Rams.

A preseason knee injury would sideline him for the entire 2010 season and Avery then played in eight games for the Tennessee Titans last season.

“This is a great start overcoming from the injury in 2010,” Avery said. “I feel like it is a great start with the organization, with the coaches, just feeling good about coaches that want me, that want me again.”

In getting back that speed, Avery worked with Olympic Track Coach Allan Powell during last season’s lockout and has seen the benefits.

“He got me back up to speed. Had me do a lot of long distance running,” Avery said. “When I saw long distance, I mean 100s and 200s at full speed to train myself, to train those fast-twitch nerves to get back working.”

One of the many reasons that sold Avery on playing in Indianapolis was a chance to learn from one of the franchise all-time leading receivers Reggie Wayne.

Avery, although not the most vocal person, said he won’t bother Wayne too much for advice but you can be assured he will be paying close to the Pro Bowl receiver’s every move.

“I just like to sit back and observe and pick up everything they do; how they carry themselves on the football field and how they recover from a drop or how they block or come out of their breaks and stuff. It is going to be awesome just getting a first-hand look at that.”

With new faces across the board on the Colts offense, Avery said he feels as though everyone will be on the same page as he looks to get back to the player he was in St. Louis.

“I feel like I am on level ground because of the new offensive coordinator coming in, you know, so everybody is learning the playbook at once,” Avery said. “Going into OTAs you get to build chemistry with the quarterbacks, you know that foot memory with running your routes.”

Drew Stanton

             by Kevin Bowen

It has been a whirlwind past 10 days for quarterback Drew Stanton.

After singing with the New York Jets on March 16 and believing his new home would be in the AFC East, Stanton has now found a new home in Indianapolis when the Colts traded for the former Michigan State quarterback on Friday.

Stanton spent his first five seasons in the NFL with the Detroit Lions but after an interesting past few weeks he is starting to settle into being in Indianapolis.

“The circumstances change every single day with the dynamics involved in this league,” Stanton said. “It was a domino effect or almost circular in the fact that everybody flipping places and moving over one.”

The dominos fell to Indianapolis for Stanton and he heads into a team with many new faces moving into the 2012 season.

“It’s a unique situation I think, especially with a new coach and (general manager),” Stanton said. “They thought enough (of me) to trade for me and I’m really excited about the opportunity that exists there.”

At 6-foot-3-inches and 230 pounds, Stanton has the physical tools that helped him become a second round draft pick by the Lions back in 2007.

He has started four games in his NFL career including winning his final two starts in 2010.

“Drew is a big, athletic and strong armed quarterback that has the intangible package we are looking for at the position,” said General Manager Ryan Grigson. “He is a young, but seasoned quarterback that has won games in this league and we look forward to seeing him contribute to this team and our collective vision for the future.”

One particular aspect of the Colts organization that Stanton is looking to forward to working with is his new offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

Since 2007, Arians has been the offensive coordinator with the Pittsburgh Steelers but now he has made the switch to the Colts and that is something that intrigues Stanton.

“I’m excited to see what (Arians) offense is all about,” Stanton said. “When you look at the numbers Ben’s (Roethlisberger) been able to put up and the success he’s had. And the receivers (Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown) last year.”

For right now Stanton joins Trevor Vittatoe as the only Colts quarterbacks on the roster and Stanton knows that no matter what happens between now and the start of the season he has to practice as the starter.

“I think that’s just the mentality you have to take in this league,” Stanton said. “We put so much time and effort into our profession behind the scenes. If you’re not preparing that way, then you’re doing yourself and your team an injustice.”

Dwight Freeney

As the Colts have welcomed new faces to their defense in the past few weeks, one staple will be back in the fold next season.

Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said on Monday that seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney will be back in the horseshoe.

“Everything with Dwight is great. He’s going to be here this year,” Grigson said. “We expect him to be a major contributor and a guy who strikes fear in our opponents and those offensive linemen every week.”

This past season Freeney cracked the 100-career sack plateau in earning his fourth straight Pro Bowl appearance.

It remains to be seen how No. 93 will fit into the new Colts defensive scheme but there is no doubt where he will be playing football come September.

“When we start getting to practice and OTAs, Coach Pagano will address our scheme and what we’re going to do specifically,” Grigson said. “We’re still trying to build this team and get our coaches in line and on the same page with this scheme.”

The Colts added former Baltimore Ravens defensive end Cory Redding on March 14^th giving them some more pieces among the defensive line.

With Redding in the mix, the Colts have another end to go with a pair of returning Pro Bowlers that have wreaked havoc for opposing Indianapolis quarterbacks during the past nine seasons.

“We’re going to take it day-by-day and everything right now looks great for our defense with re-signing Robert (Mathis) and having Dwight in the fold,” Grigson said. “It sure makes me sleep better at night knowing those two guys are going to be bringing it on third down.”

-Kevin Bowen