Indianapolis Colts Football

INSTANT REACTION: AHMAD BRADSHAW AGREES TO TERMS WITH THE COLTS

It’s been a quiet few weeks for transactions and the Indianapolis Colts.

With minicamp beginning this afternoon, Colts GM Ryan Grigson added another major splash in the 2013 offseason as the Colts have agreed to terms with former New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw.

How does this acquisition impact the Colts?

The Colts are getting a bona fide 1,000-yard rusher who has been apart of a pair of Super Bowl winning teams with the Giants.

Bradshaw was the Giants leading rushing in both Super Bowl XLVI and Super Bowl XLII victories, including a 17-carry, 72-yard, one-touchdown (the game winner with less than a minute to play) performance at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2012.

Fans should not worry about the durability of Bradshaw as he has missed an average of less than two games per season since 2007.

Where Bradshaw, who has played all six of his NFL seasons with the Giants, exactly fits in the Colts backfield remains to be seen.

What we know about Bradshaw is he is a consistent threat in both the rushing and receiving departments, and is a physical runner at 214 pounds.

Pep Hamilton’s offensive system highlights backs that can run between the tackles and Bradshaw certainly fits that type of runner, along with being a more than adequate pass blocker.

How about Bradshaw against the AFC?

In 20 career games against his new conference, Bradshaw has averaged 5.4 yards per carry and gained over 1,300 yards.

Colts running backs coach David Walker said a few weeks back that although Vick Ballard ended the year as the starter, the team will undoubtedly have to rely on multiple backs in order to get through a 16-game regular season schedule.

I see Bradshaw and Ballard forming a very solid one-two punch (both getting ample carries) that is up there with some of the better ones in the AFC.

Throw in Donald Brown, Delone Carter and Kerwynn Williams and the Colts have significantly upgraded the depth at a position that needs more than one threat over the course of a season, one that has the potential to last into 2014.

COLTS DAILY HEADLINES: JUNE 7TH EDITION

Each morning Colts.com will take a look at the top headlines surrounding the Indianapolis Colts from around the globe. What is the local and national media saying about the Colts?

Take a look below at the top five pieces from Friday, June 7^th.

Colts welcome arrival of Wayne for offseason work

By: Mike Marot Associated Press

Marot takes a look at the 34-year old Wayne and how the six-time Pro Bowler is adjusting to another offseason with new faces and a new scheme.

With faces continuing to change around Wayne, he remains one of the most experienced Colts on the entire roster.

“The last few years my main focus on Day 1 has been just getting to know my teammates, getting to know their names, getting to figure out where everybody comes from and then going into the playbook because at the end of the day, you are out there with them and they are out there with you and you are doing whatever you got to do for each other. So I think it would be bad to go out there and not know the guy next to you, his first and last name,” Wayne said. “It has been a challenge, but I’m getting it done. It’s a little new to me still, but it’s cool.”

Finding the Fits: John Boyett could be solution to Colts’ secondary

By: Rob Rang, CBS Sports

CBS Sports is taking a look at some of the more intriguing draft picks from this April’s draft and Boyett fits the mold for Indianapolis.

Rang analyzes Boyett’s knee injuries that are currently holding him out of OTAs and how that will impact his future at the safety position.

As a sixth-round pick, Boyett isn’t likely to overtake Antoine Bethea or Landry as a starting safety for the Colts this season. His reliable open-field tackling and passion, however, could make him a special teams demon and valuable backup as a rookie. Considering that Landry hasn’t started all 16 games since 2008, Boyett’s readiness could be tested earlier than anyone expects.

The article also takes a look at first round pick Bjoern Werner and fifth round selection Montori Hughes.

Indianapolis Colts must run the ball better in 2013

By: Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Star

On a day when the Colts news centered around Ahmad Bradshaw visiting the team’s complex, Chappell took a look at the running back position in Indianapolis.

For more than a decade, the Colts have been more prone to go through the air than carving up yardage on the ground.

While the attempts are one thing, Colts coaches look at another stat when evaluating the running game.

“It’s not necessarily how many yards we rush for, it’s … how efficient we are when we’re doing certain things,” said running backs coach David Walker. “If we run it 30 times but only gain 30 yards, we really didn’t do much.

“If we run it 30 times with 120, 130 (yards), then we’ve probably won the game and allowed other parts of our offense to open up.”

Ahmad Bradshaw, if healthy, would boost Colts’ running game

By: Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Star

In Chappell’s blog, he takes a closer look at Bradshaw and how his potential addition may impact the Colts backfield.

Chappell believes that Bradshaw would “bolster” the position and says the following about the former Giants running back.

Bradshaw, 27, is a proven commodity. He rushed for 4,232 yards and 32 touchdowns in six seasons with the Giants, and topped the 1,000-yard mark in two of his last three seasons (1,015 yards in 2012, a career-high 1,235 in ’10).

Breakout Player to Watch: Vick Ballard

By: Chris Burke, Sports Illustrated

Burke is running a series on players he expects to breakout in 2013 and Ballard was one of his selections.

The article takes a look at a number of reasons on why Burke believes Ballard’s numbers will rise in 2013, including being involved in Pep Hamilton’s scheme.

Simply entering the season as the No. 1 back puts Ballard in position for a statistical boost. Ballard averaged just 5.8 carries per game and a measly 13.4 yards from Weeks 1 through 5; over the Colts’ final 11 contests, those numbers bumped to 16.5 and 67.9, respectively. Those averages, extrapolated out over a full season, put Ballard at nearly 1,100 yards.

How underrated? Well, just for discussion’s sake, Ballard was the 31st running back taken in Sports Illustrated‘s offseason fantasy mock draft (on shelves in our annual Fantasy Football magazine soon), behind such players as Baltimore backup Bernard Pierce, oft-injured Chargers starter Ryan Mathews, rookies Le’Veon Bell and Eddie Lacy, and unproven Jets back Chris Ivory.

Ballard has a very realistic shot to soar past the production of any player listed there — his 67.9 yards-per-game average in his final 11 outings would have been a top-20 mark were it not for his lack of carries in games 1 through 5.

The Colts have not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Joseph Addai ran for 1,072 yards back in 2007. If he stays healthy and the Colts do not freeze him out of the offense, Ballard should break that drought.

RUNNING BACK POSITION DEEPER THAN JUST VICK BALLARD AND DONALD BROWN

Colts running backs coach David Walker does not live in a fantasy land.

In a perfect world, Walker would rely on one main back in 2013 with a backup sprinkled in at opportune times.

That’s not how the NFL operates with the rate of injuries that occur on a weekly basis.

Names like Delone Carter and Kerwynn Williams might not be focal points heading into the regular season but if history is any indication than they will be relied on in 2013.

Carter is entering his third season in the NFL and has battled through injuries to find a niche as a short-yardage runner that accounted for three touchdowns last season.

“He’s obviously shown he can do it. He’s been in games his first two years,” Walker said of the 238-pound Carter.

“But whatever combination of three guys, four guys there’s going to come a point, unfortunately, where someone’s going to twist an ankle, going to be out, someone’s got to get in and kind of take over that role for the time or for a few plays. All of our jobs are just make sure whomever we put in there is able to be productive and we don’t miss a beat.”

Williams is barely a month into his NFL career so any forecast on where he might fit into the running back position will have to wait until the pads are put on in late July.

For many rookies, special teams can be an early avenue to immediate playing time and that could very well be the case with Williams at the kick returner position.

“He’s a smart kid, a good learner, a good worker,” Walker said of Williams’ prognosis at running back.

“He understands the schemes, answers questions for us in meetings but we’ll have to see him a little bit more on the field before we make a determination how much he’s going to help.”

Last season it was Vick Ballard and Donald Brown that dominated the backfield for the Colts.

But people should not forget Delone Carter’s hard-nosed running late in the Colts overtime victory over the Titans.

Walker feels he’s got a group of guys that bring different skill sets within the Colts offense and sees contributions coming from a number of players.

“Whenever your number is called be ready to contribute and play and play to a high standard,” Walker said of his message in the running backs room. “We don’t really look to what guys can’t do, we look to what guys can do and put them into situations where they can have success.”

COLTS DAILY HEADLINES: MAY 24TH EDITION

Each morning Colts.com will take a look at the top headlines surrounding the Indianapolis Colts from around the globe. What is the local and national media saying about the Colts?

Take a look below at the top five pieces from Friday, May 24^th.

26 Cities With Young Franchise-Caliber Duos

By: Staff, Indianapolis Star

Thanks to a tremendous 2012-2013 seasons for a pair of Indianapolis finest professional athletes, the state capitol is starting to garner some attention with Andrew Luck and Paul George.

The Indianapolis Star ranked the top 26 city duos taking into consideration players 26-years and younger in the four major sports.

The duo of Luck and George find themselves No. 3 on the list behind San Francisco’s Buster Posey and Colin Kapernick and Washington D.C.’s Robert Griffin III and Bryce Harper.

Here is the analysis of Luck and George:

Luck (23): A Pro Bowler in his rookie season, the No. 1 overall pick in 2012 was tabbed as the best quarterback prospect since John Elway. Not bad company. Luck set a rookie record for passing yards in a single game (433 vs. Miami) and recorded the most wins by a No. 1 overall pick in his rookie season leading the Colts to the postseason. Colts fans were spoiled with Peyton Manning, but Luck has helped ease the pain of No. 18′s departure… and then some.

George (23): After showing glimpses of his All-Star potential in his first two seasons, George broke through in 2013 earning All-NBA third team, the NBA’s Most Improved Player and an All-Star apperance in guiding the Pacers to the Central Division title and Eastern Conference finals. Danny Granger’s injury thrust George into a more prominent role and the Fresno State product has been more than up to the challenge.

Luck having fun with his first OTAs

By: Tom James, Terre Haute Tribune-Star

James followed in a similar fashion to the pieces we saw yesterday on the Colts Wednesday OTA open to the media.

He mentions about Luck finally being able to take part in all of the Colts OTA schedule, along with the quarterback’s high praise for new wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey.

“Darrius had been great. He’s been a great addition. He has great speed, obviously, and he’s got a real knack for football,” he said. “He’s played a lot of football and he understands situations. He’s a good force in the wide receiver rotation. He’s done a phenomenal job so far.”

James provides a brief update on who didn’t participate in Wednesday’s OTA and talks about running backs coach David Walker’s assessment of the running back position.

On Tony Dungy changing player habits

By: Paul Kuharsky, ESPN AFC South Blog

ESPN is in the process of a project that ranks the top 20  coaches in NFL history.

At No. 20 checks former Colts leader Tony Dungy.

The piece highlights Dungy’s greatest accomplishment of helping the Colts capture Super Bowl XLI.

Kuharsky points out an excerpt from the book “The Power of Habit” that mentions Dungy.

“Champions don’t do extraordinary things,” Dungy would explain. “They do ordinary things, but they do them without thinking, too fast for the other team to react. They follow the habits they’ve learned.”

IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF THE NFL, MORE THAN ONE RUNNING BACK IS NEEDED

The NFL is an ever-changing league.

New offensive and defensive schemes are implemented every year with trends and fads making for endless nights for coaches around the NFL.

One of those tendencies has caused for deeper and deeper backfields in the recent years.

Personnel departments all over the NFL know the need for more than one reliable threat in the running game and position coaches echo the same notion

“Most people are going to use two, if not three (running backs), unless you are fortunate enough to coach in Minnesota where you give one guy (Adrian Peterson) the ball the majority of the time,” Colts running backs coach David Walker said earlier this week.

Last season the Colts utilized a trio of backs who carried the ball at least 32 times.

Injuries late in the season forced Walker to rely heavily on Vick Ballard and while the rookie was extremely productive, his running backs coach knows that for long-term success a stable of runners is needed.

“We’ve got a group of guys that have different skill sets but within the realm of offense, they all can be solid contributors,” Walker said.

“So whenever your number is called, be ready to contribute and play to a high standard. We don’t really look to what guys can’t do, we look to what guys can do and put them into situations where they can have success.”

In 2012, Brown began the season as the starter but a knee injury forced Ballard into the No. 1 role, where he thrived.

Walker knows that the guy who is getting 20+ carries in September might not be in the fold later in the season.

It’s life in the NFL and to prepare for that Walker feels the Colts have a trio of established backs that will each hear their number called in 2013.

“We’ve got a good group and really we’ve got to continue to develop the third guy because just like last year and the season before, at some point, whoever is third on our depth chart is going to be starting a football game and helping us have to win,” Walker said.

“What we realize is we’re going to need three very capable backs to get us through the season.”

COLTS DAILY HEADLINES: MAY 16TH EDITION

Each morning Colts.com will take a look at the top headlines surrounding the Indianapolis Colts from around the globe. What is the local and national media saying about the Colts?

Take a look below at the top five pieces from Thursday, May 16^th:

Ex-Colts’ OLB Dwight Freeney headed to San Diego? Stay tuned

By: Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Star

It was only a matter of time before Dwight Freeney’s name resurfaced with NFL teams and that time came on Wednesday.

With the Chargers losing former first round draft pick Melvin Ingram to an ACL injury, the need is there for an edge rusher.

Freeney’s visit to San Diego is scheduled to run through today as the possibility is there for him to be reunited with former Colts Vice President of Football Operations and current Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco.

Colts liking Vick Ballard as lead running back

By: Paul Kuharsky, ESPN.com

In a recent interview Kuharsky had with Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, the topic came up of Vick Ballard as the top running back for the Colts.

Pagano knows the benefit of having a couple of change the pace type backs and the coach also broke down what Ballard and fellow 2012 starter Donald Brown bring to the table.

“Vick is a solid, solid guy; Donnie is a home run hitter,” Pagano said. “If he gets the edge and hits a crease, he can take it the distance. For Vick, look at that last drive of the regular season against the Texans: We got the ball with 9:46 on the clock, we ran 12 plays, 11 runs, and we ended up taking a knee. Vick took the lion’s share of carries on that drive. He just keeps getting stronger, the more carries he has the better he gets.”

Accepting nominations for Colts’ Mt. Rushmore

By: Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk

The popular Pro Football Talk has moved onto the AFC teams in accepting nominations for Mt. Rushmore candidates with the Colts the first team up.

Florio writes that the four players can be chosen from the Baltimore and Indianapolis era with John Unitas and Peyton Manning being two of the obvious choices.

The final four will be revealed on NBC Sports Network sometime next month.

OFFSEASON QUESTIONS FOR THE COLTS POSED BY SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

There will be a lot of introductions going around NFL locker rooms on Monday morning as teams incorporate their rookie classes with OTAs continuing through the rest of the month.

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Burke posed a couple of question surrounding the Colts with rosters growing to 90 on the practice field this week.

Below are his two questions on the Colts and both Burke and I offer our analysis on the proposed issues.

Will any of the running backs step up?

• Burke’s Analysis: This sure feels like Vick Ballard’s job to lose after he led the team in rushing last season. Nobody on the depth chart appears on the cusp of stardom, though, from Ballard to Donald Brown to seventh-rounder Kerwynn Williams. Ballard’s 814-yard rookie year at least gives Indianapolis something on which to build.

• Bowen’s Analysis: I would have to agree with Burke’s notion that the running back job is Vick Ballard’s to lose. Ballard was productive in his rookie season and that was running behind an offensive line that has improved in the offseason and an offense that appears to be utilizing more of a fullback than last year. I could very well see Ballard being a consistent 1,000+-yard rusher for years to come. Donald Brown (speed) and Delone Carter (power) both fit a role at the running back position but it’s hard to imagine either of them supplanting Ballard as the starter. Kerwynn Williams’ first crack at making a contribution should be on special teams but the return threat also showed at rookie minicamp this past weekend that he can catch the ball out of the backfield and has a chance to find a role as a third down back.

Position Battles: Erik Walden vs. Bjoern Werner, OLB, Colts:

• Burke’s Analysis: This ought to be an interesting one with Walden, arguably overpaid in free agency at four years and $16 million, taking on Werner, whom many thought should play DE in the pros. The winner gets to start opposite Robert Mathis at OLB in the Colts’ 3-4 scheme. Walden was underwhelming as a Packer, which is why Green Bay let him walk without any semblance of a fight this offseason. He could hold down the fort, at least early as Werner learns the ins and outs of playing linebacker.

• Bowen’s Analysis: First off, let’s make this clear that this is a great problem to have at the outside linebacker position. Pro Bowler Robert Mathis is the obvious starter at one side of the linebacker corps but the other side has two quality candidates. Walden has been raved about for his ability to set the edge and he was one of the bigger splashes the Colts made in free agency. Werner will get his first taste of veterans in the NFL this week during OTAs, after the Colts first round draft pick had a very solid start to his professional career at rookie minicamp. Colts defensive coordinator Greg Manusky made it clear that there will be times this year where all three will be on the field together and expect this specific battle to last well into August with two dynamic edge players, both of which will play a good portion of defensive snaps come the regular season.

IN TIME OF NEED, FAMILIARITY RETURNS TO BACKFIELD

It looked like Anderson all over again.

No, this wasn’t training camp and the setting was a little further south at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center but back in the corner of the Colts locker room on Wednesday was the group of running backs, including Deji Karim and Mewelde Moore, looking like they had never missed a beat with each other.

Karim and Moore returned to the facility for practice on Wednesday as the next chapter of ‘next man up’ will focus on the running back position.

Moore played six games for the Colts this season and was frequently used as a third down back earlier this year before being cut on Oct. 29. With running backs Donald Brown and Robert Hughes being placed on injured reserve on Tuesday and Delone Carter out two to three weeks according to Bruce Arians, Moore’s return will directly impact Sunday’s game.

“That’s my goal at all times,” Moore said of getting back out on the field. “I’m a competitor and I love to compete. I’m very grateful to be back and being able to get a chance to play.”

Where as Moore survived training camp cuts, Karim did not with a crowded backfield allowing for only four spots on the opening day regular season roster.

Not only is Karim returning to the fold with playing time up for grabs this weekend but he is also coming to a team who he spent all of the offseason with, and now a team on the brink of the playoffs.

“When we are in meetings (Wednesday), going through the plays and everything it just came back naturally,” Karim said of the offensive scheme. “Just asking for details from coach (Walker) and putting things together was much easier.”

“I spent three years in Jacksonville and no playoff hopes at all, not at this point of the season, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Starting running back Vick Ballard is the lone healthy back that has remained in the lineup for the entire season.

As a nine-year veteran, Moore has seen his fair share of backs grow up before him and he admitted it’s been special sitting at home watching Ballard’s growth.

“I’m very proud just to be able to come in from the beginning of it and see Vick how he’s evolving and growing in the game and becoming more and more of a professional,” Moore said. “I’m very excited about it and I’m very happy that he’s achieving great things.”

While their numbers have changed to 37 (Moore) and 36 (Karim), both players are perfectly content with where the Colts are positioned in the middle of December.

Moore was a member of the Steelers Super Bowl XLIII team and it’s games at this point of the season that is why he finds himself still in the league at the age of 30.

“It’s what you dream about,” Moore said of playing in December. “This is the part of the season that every kid’s played in his backyard. A final play, fourth-and-two and you are diving over the pile. This is the type of football that now means the most. Football in December, January and so on.”

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS MAKE ROSTER MOVES

The Indianapolis Colts today signed running backs Deji Karim and Mewelde Moore to the active roster and placed running back Donald Brown and fullback Robert Hughes on Injured Reserve. The team also signed running back Davin Meggett to the practice squad and released running back Alvester Alexander from the practice squad. Offensive guard Justin Anderson was placed on the Practice Squad Injured List.

Karim, 5-8, 209 pounds, has appeared in 23 games over his three-year career, recording 98 rushes for 290 yards and 17 receptions for 130 yards. He was acquired from waivers by the Colts on April 30, 2012 before being waived-injured on September 10. Karim was originally selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Southern Illinois University. He spent two seasons with the Jaguars before being waived on April 27, 2012.

Moore, 5-11, 209 pounds, has totaled 503 rushes for 2,261 yards and six touchdowns over his nine-year career. He has also caught 218 passes for 1,911 yards and eight touchdowns. In six games this season with the Colts, Moore has rushed nine times for 14 yards and has caught four passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. He was originally signed by the Colts as an unrestricted free agent on June 19, 2012 before being waived on October 29.

Brown, 5-10, 210 pounds, tallied 108 rushing attempts for 417 yards and a touchdown and nine receptions for 93 yards in 10 games (four starts) this season. For his career, Brown has rushed 449 times for 1,840 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has also recorded 56 receptions for 553 yards. Brown was selected by the Colts in the first round (27th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Hughes, 5-11, 235 pounds, notched one rush for five yards and one reception for three yards in five games (one start) this season. Hughes was originally signed to the Colts practice squad on October 10, 2012 and elevated to the 53-man active roster on October 29.

Meggett, 5-8, 215 pounds, was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Houston Texans out of the University of Maryland on May 14, 2012 and was waived on August 26. He was then signed to the Texans practice squad on September 26 and released on November 27. At Maryland, Meggett saw action in 50 career games (17 starts), carrying the ball 485 times for 2,469 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Alexander, 5-11, 204 pounds, was originally signed by the Colts on August 15, 2012 before being waived on August 26. He was signed to the practice squad on September 3 and released on October 9. Alexander was signed back to the practice squad on October 30 and released on November 20. He was then signed to the practice squad again on December 4.

Anderson, 6-5, 342 pounds, was originally selected by the Colts in the seventh round (208th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Georgia. He was placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List on August 27, 2012 and was activated on November 19. He was then waived by the team on November 20 and signed to the practice squad on November 23.

RUSHING ATTACK HAS LEAD TO WINNING WAYS

In searching for their first road win of 2012, the Indianapolis Colts headed down to Nashville on Oct. 28 knowing a balanced offense would be critical in wining away from Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Colts were coming off their finest rushing performance of the season the previous week when they ran for 148 yards on 37 carries in a 17-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

That type of rushing effort carried over the next week against the Titans and the Colts have seen a steady improvement in their rushing attack since the beginning of the season.

Two areas that have led to a more balanced offense is the Colts finding continuity on an offense line that is paving the way for rookie running back Vick Ballard.

After battling injuries along the offensive line for the early part of the season, the Colts have been relatively healthy up front with the expected starting five coming out of training camp in the lineup for three of the past four games.

“I think the biggest thing is our offensive line, tight end unit and our receivers are blocking well. They’ve picked it up a little bit,” interim head coach Bruce Arians said.

“One of the things that we do is keep it simple. We run the same things over and over, make it look different but we don’t change a lot of what we do in the running game. We try to tailor it to who’s running the football and what five guys are playing that week up front.”

Back on Oct. 28, the Colts won the overtime toss after erasing a fourth quarter deficit with Delone Carter scoring on a one-yard touchdown run with 3:24 remaining.

Against the Vikings and Packers, game-winning drives came predominantly via the Indianapolis passing attack but on this Sunday afternoon it would come in the trenches.

Running back Donald Brown began the drive with six straight rushes for 39 yards.

The drive will be remembered, and rightfully so, for the tremendous effort shown by Vick Ballard on the 19-yard screen pass for the game winning score, but without the early commitment to the rushing attack who knows if Ballard would have had such an opportunity.

Ballard has continued to find himself in the starting lineup and after rushing for just 67 yards through the first five games of the season, has erupted for 401 yards on 98 carries in the last seven contests.

It was once again Ballard on Sunday alluding a pair of would be tacklers on the first drive of the second half to record his first career rushing touchdown with an 11-yard score early in the third quarter.

Following a first half in which the Colts strayed away from the ground attack, they quadrupled their production in the second half and finished the game averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

“The running game perked up,” Arians said. “The coaches did a good job of nailing down some runs and we knew we wanted to go no huddle (on the Ballard touchdown drive).

“Vick probably had his best game and I was really proud of him. He had an excellent ball game and had a great run down there to make two guys miss. He’s capable of that.”