Indianapolis Colts Football

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.

VICK BALLARD NAMED ONE OF NFL’S BEST PLAYERS UNDER THE AGE OF 23

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports compiled an interesting list earlier this week when he ranked the top 10 players in the NFL under the age of 23.

Last year’s top two picks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III missed the cut off at the age of 23 but the Colts did find themselves represented on the list.

Check out Prisco’s top-10 list here and his analysis on the Colts representative.

10. Vick Ballard, RB, Indianapolis Colts – As a rookie fifth-round pick in 2012, he ran for 814 yards and showed a powerful running style. He will get even more carries in 2013 as he takes over as the starter (Prisco).

Bowen’s Take: To many Colts fans it might come as a surprise that Ballard’s name finds this list. Sure, Ballard had a tremendous rookie campaign but consider that he’s the lone player on Prisco’s list that wasn’t a first or second round selection out of college. (Josh Gordon was a supplemental selection of the Browns and Cleveland eventually forfeited a second round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft).

The list includes just three skill position players and they all come from the AFC in Trent Richardson, Gordon and Ballard. Along with Luck, both Dwayne Allen and T.Y. Hilton fall in the 23-year old age group. It’s nice to see a player like Ballard gain some national recognition after a season in which he (understandably) flew under the radar thanks to his fellow rookie teammates.

For those curious, Ballard will turn 23 years old on July 16th.

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.

ANDREW LUCK JOINS NFL NETWORK CREW FOR INTERVIEW ON OTA’s

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was a guest on NFL Network’s Total Access on Wednesday evening for an interview with Scott Hanson.

This time last season Luck was balancing finishing up courses at Stanford while trying to find time for his first round of OTAs at the NFL level.

In 2013, it’s all football this time of year for Luck and Hanson covered that topic and a few others with the Colts signal caller.

Below is the full Luck interview and some of his quotes are under the video link.

Andrew Luck’s NFL Total Access Interview

On the Colts’ improvement last season and what that means for this season:

“Great for last year, glad we did some positive things. What we did last year doesn’t have any bearing – the good things, the bad things – on what is going on this year. It is nice, personally, to have a year under the belt and a little experience, but we know the road gets that much harder and we are trying to improve.”

On feeling more comfortable being in the NFL heading into his second season compared to last year:

“I am 100% more comfortable. On this day last year, I was probably sitting in class ready to get out of there and go to a rookie minicamp.  It is nice to be able to have the full offseason with the team. We have changed [offensive] coordinators, but I have had a great relationship with Pep Hamilton from before. To be around him and talk his style of offense has been great. It is just nice to be around the guys.”

On the hiring of new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton:

“I do remember someone asking my opinion of Coach Hamilton way early on, right after Coach Bruce Arians left.  I gave him 100% endorsement. I am really glad he is here and really happy for Coach Arians down in Arizona as well.  What a wonderful opportunity for him. I don’t think anybody else deserves to be a head coach in this league more than he does.  But I am glad Pep is coming in, I’m glad I don’t have to learn a completely new playbook. I think he is going to do great with us here.”

On if the Colts offense will be different under Hamilton:

“His offense is different; like B.A.’s, every coordinators offense has its own intricacies. It is too early to say [the biggest difference.] I think we will start to have a feel for that during OTAs when we can go against a defense. There will be different plays, but in the end, it is still football. You still have to go out there and make the plays.”

On the improvement of the Colts this season due to himself, T.Y Hilton, Vick Ballard, among others, gaining more experience and building off last season’s success:

“Hopefully we can build off the experience us young guys and the old guys – and continue to get better. I think we are very fortunate to have to great veteran leadership – Robert Mathis, Reggie Wayne, Cory Redding, Antoine Bethea – that really have set the standard here and know how to win. We just try to follow their lead but hopefully us second and third year guys improve and help the team out.”

CURRENT COLTS REMEMBER THEIR OWN DRAFT MOMENTS

With the 2013 NFL Draft less than 12 hours away, Colts.com takes a look back at a few of the team’s recent draft picks and their stories of draft weekend:

Running Back Delone Carter (2011 NFL Draft: Pick 4-119)

Carter came out of Syracuse fresh off a dominating 2010 Pinstripe Bowl performance (197 yards on 28 carries) but he wasn’t about to read into any draft projections. Watching with family and friends, Carter actually dozed off during the 2011 NFL Draft before his mom awoke him with a phone call from the Colts.

On Wednesday, Carter offered some advice to prospects who will spend the next three days nervously awaiting their name to be called at Radio City Music Hall.

“Enjoy the process,” Carter said. “Don’t get too anxious and get yourself out of the element of having fun with it. It’s a blessing and it will never happen again. It’s something you’ve been training for your whole life and you’re having the opportunity to have it happen.”

Defensive Tackle Drake Nevis (2011 NFL Draft: Pick 3-87)

It was getting late on day two of the 2011 NFL Draft and Nevis was in his home state of Louisiana watching the draft with his family.

Nevis hailed from LSU, where NFL defensive linemen were abundant. The National Championship winning Nevis was added to that list when then Colts general manager Bill Polian phoned the Tigers defensive end.

“It was exciting because that’s what you dream about all your life, playing in the National Football League,” Nevis said. “Even though that’s the beginning, you know that’s where the next phase of your career is going to be.”

Running Back Vick Ballard (2012 NFL Draft: 5-170)

As the fifth round was coming to a close in last April’s draft, Vick Ballard still felt a bit of a burden. He was coming off back-to-back seasons of 980+ rushing yards in the vaunted SEC West, yet was still waiting to hear his dream come true.

“When I got drafted, it was a weight lifted off my shoulders,” Ballard said. “To me, it was the first step to becoming a professional football player.”

Offensive Tackle Justin Anderson (2012 NFL Draft: 7-208)

Anderson did not really know what to expect after injuries held him back during his time at Georgia. For Anderson, he was simply praying that he would hear his name called; the round or position did not matter.

“I couldn’t even watch it past the fourth round,” Anderson said. “I just stopped watching it and I didn’t watch it anymore until I got called. The Steelers called me in the sixth round saying they had a couple of picks coming up. About 10 minutes after I hung up with them the Colts called and it was the best feeling in the world.”

BALLARD READY TO WRITE 2013 CHAPTER

A year into what he hopes is a long and productive NFL career, Vick Ballard is dealing with change.

The change comes with a new offensive system in year two and any questions to Ballard about his 814-yard rookie season will undoubtedly lead to what’s ahead, not what’s behind.

“I tried to close the book,” Ballard said of looking back on the 2012 season in which he finished second among all AFC rookie running backs in rushing yards.

“That was last year and this is this year. We’ve got high expectations and I’m just working on them.”

From an individual standpoint, Ballard pointed to his yards per carry rising above four (he averaged 3.9 yards per carry last season) as something he is striving for in 2013.

One addition that should help that number is the acquisition of fullback Stanley Havili.

“It’s really like having another offensive lineman to me because as many blockers as you can get is always good, especially when you’ve got the ball in your hand,” Ballard said of the presence of a fullback.

The 211 carries Ballard had last year could very well rise this season and the Mississippi State product said the time off has helped his body rest up from the ‘bumps and bruises’ he had following a rookie campaign in which he played in every game.

At times last season Ballard would shake his head when media hoarded the lockers of Andrew Luck and Reggie Wayne, which flank No. 33.

Now the media is gaining numbers around Ballard and while the attention is one thing, the play on the field in 2013 is the only thing that matters.

“We came a long way for it to come to an end all of a sudden,” Ballard said. “It left a bitter taste in our mouth and I think we’ve still got that bitter taste and we don’t want to have it at the end of this season.”

Follow Kevin Bowen on Twitter at @KBowenColts.

SLAYING THE FAVORITES

Darius Slay was not one of the most trumpeted cornerbacks at the combine.

He was not even the most trumpeted cornerbacks at the combine from his own school, Mississippi State.

That honor went to Johnthan Banks, who started 45-of-51 games and had 16 interceptions.

A least one analyst who watched film of Banks noticed Slay.

“I tell you what’s interesting, I like that other corner too, Darius Slay,” said the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock on a pre-combine conference call.  “I put the tape on to watch Banks, who plays in the boundary for the most part, and my eye kept going to the other kid (Slay), and I liked him a lot.

“I think (Slay is) a guy that’s a third‑ our fourth‑round player.  And I think he’s opened some eyes.”

Cornerbacks got their day Tuesday in the 40-yard dash, and Slay topped his cornerback counterparts with 4.36 timing.  Alabama’s Dee Milliner, a talent who should be taken near the start of the draft, clocked in a 4.37.  Washington’s Desmond Trufant timed third at 4.39.  Banks was timed at 4.61.

Slay took a career path to Starkville similar to the Colts’ Vick Ballard.  Ballard played two years of junior college ball before starring at Mississippi State for his final two seasons.

Ballard was a fifth-round pick by the Colts last year, the 170^th selection overall.

Slay played 26 games for the Bulldogs after two seasons at Itawamba (Miss.) Community College.  At 6-0, 191, Slay was a full-season starter in 2012, swiping five passes and recovering one fumble.

His interceptions led the nation’s premier conference and tied for ninth nationally.  In two seasons at State, Slay had six interceptions and broke up 10 passes.

This past year, he came in for all-conference notice by Pro Football Weekly, the SEC coaches and Phil Steele.

Slay chose Mississippi State over offers from Kentucky, Georgia and Oklahoma State.

Indianapolis has been a proving ground for Ballard.  Now, Slay leaves Indy as the top ‘Dog.

LUCK REFLECTS ON SEASON WHILE IN NEW ORLEANS

Andrew Luck is nearly a month into his first NFL offseason, yet he can’t seem to get away from football.

Earlier this week, Luck threw a game-high 205 yards and two touchdowns at the Pro Bowl.

Now, the Colts signal caller is making the rounds at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans and sat down with Adam Schein and Rich Gannon on ‘The SiriusXM Biltz’ to recap his rookie season.

“It was a lot of fun especially just to be in the thick of things come December,” Luck said on radio row. “It was fun for our draft class, T.Y. Hilton, LaVon Brazill, Vick Ballard, the tight ends to be able to contribute.

“It was really a big testament to Reggie Wayne and Rob Mathis sort of leading us and showing us how to be professionals and how to get the job done.”

The blend of youth and experience was managed just right to place the Colts back into a familiar state of taking part in meaningful games during the month of January.

“From the veteran side, I think they were so accepting of us and accommodating and would take time out of their day to maybe show us ‘don’t do this, or you don’t need to be going over here,” Luck said.

“And I think the rookies sort of realizing that we are rookies, keep your mouths shut and put your egos aside. It was a great locker room atmosphere. It really was and I do think that helped a lot in trying to win some football games.”

Luck admitted that he is having trouble trying to ‘digest’ everything he experienced during his rookie campaign.

An 11-win season came after dealing with numerous unforeseen circumstances that only added to the impressive debut by Luck.

“When coach (Chuck) Pagano went down, it was weird, it was tough,” Luck said. “What a great job coach (Bruce) Arians did of stepping in and keeping coach Pagano’s message going and keeping us on the right track.”

“There’s so many good people in the organization, so many good people in the locker room that everything just seemed to work out. Whether it was meant to or not, it just seemed to work out.”

2012 COLTS DRAFT CLASS EXTENDS PAST THE BIG NAMES FOR GRIGSON

If Ryan Grigson’s future draft classes can come close to mirroring the same amount of success his first one in Indianapolis accomplished than the Colts will be a force for the years to come.

The rookie class amassed an NFL record 3,108 yards this season thanks to a handful of skill position players.

Defensively, fifth round pick Josh Chapman is still waiting in the wings after the defensive tackle missed the entire season rehabbing a knee injury.

Grigson beams when talking about his rookie class but he also adds a few names to that group.

What about Bradley Sowell?

The Colts plucked the undrafted free agent off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad on Sept. 11 and Sowell played in 10 games this season.

“Bradley Sowell is a guy, I think he has true left tackle ability,” Grigson said. “It will make himself more valuable if he settles in at right so he can play both.”

Sowell saw his most playing time in the AFC Wild Card loss to the Ravens when he was thrust into action after right tackle Winston Justice went down with an injury in the first quarter.

“Brad is going to be a much better player because of that experience. He fought his tail off.” The Colts GM said

What about Lawrence Guy?

With the defensive line ravaged with injuries, Guy was signed off the Green Bay Packers practice squad on Oct. 17 and played nine games, including starting the final three contests of the year.

Grigson also points to Nathan Palmer, who was signed off the San Francisco 49ers after going undrafted, as a receiver that the General Manger calls ‘about as explosive a receiver we have.’

The headliners from this rookie class will still be Luck, Hilton Ballard, Allen etc. but it’s the guys on the backend of the roster that Grigson points to in completing a group that will play a leading role in the future of the Colts.

“Getting those guys is exciting because those are guys that we looked at in the draft and we were able to get without burning a pick,” Grigson said.

“It may be a warped view but I feel like those guys we poached from other teams practice squads early this season, those guys to me feel like draft picks. The nice thing about that is it’s only going to serve us well in the future because what we’ve been through this year as a team and as human beings.”

ROOKIE RECAP: WILD CARD ROUND

With a plethora of rookie players on the Colts roster, each week Colts.com will take a look at how the first-year players performed.

Dwayne Allen, TE: Allen had four catches for 51 yards against the Ravens. The rookie tight end had two catches for 35 yards on the Colts initial scoring drive.

Vick Ballard, RB: Ballard had 22 carries for 91 yards on Sunday. The 91 rushing yards for Ballard were the most in the postseason by a Colt since Dominic Rhodes (113) in Super Bowl XLI.

LaVon Brazill, RB: Brazill had one catch for 17 yards against Baltimore. The 17-yard reception came on a third down midway through the third quarter and extended a drive that led to the Colts final field goal on the afternoon.

Coby Fleener, TE: Fleener had three catches for 25 yards on Sunday and his seven-yard reception midway through the second quarter helped set up Adam Vinatieri’s first field goal.

T.Y. Hilton, WR: Hilton’s was second on the team with eight catches for 66 yards. Hilton’s 25-yard reception late in the second half set up a 52-yard field goal by Vinatieri at the halftime gun.

Andrew Luck, QB: Luck was 28-of-54 for 288 yards on Sunday and added 35 rushing yards on four carries. Luck’s 54 pass attempts were the most in postseason club history. Luck became the first signal caller to be chosen No. 1 overall and start a playoff game in the same season. Luck’s 288 passing yards were the second most for a rookie in postseason NFL history.

Bradley Sowell: OT: Sowell filled in at right tackle for the Colts on Sunday, playing the majority of three quarters.

Rookie safety Delano Howell wide receiver Nate Palmer was inactive against the Ravens.