Indianapolis Colts Football

DAVIS ECSTATIC TO CALL INDIANAPOLIS ‘HOME’

Vontae Davis has called Indianapolis home for a little more than four months but could not be happier.

In his fourth NFL season, Davis fought through injuries to play his best football at the end of the year and got his first taste of the playoffs.

“I love it here,” Davis said of Indianapolis. “The fans and everybody in the locker room took me in. Right now I’m excited for next year to be back with the guys and there’s going to be a lot to build on.”

Just prior to the Colts final preseason game, Davis was acquired from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a second round draft pick.

Davis played his first three seasons with the Dolphins and even though he was not familiar with many faces around the Colts locker room, he quickly felt apart of his new family

“Coming in from Miami, the transition was kind of tough at first trying to get used to everything but I settled in and it became a fun ride,” Davis said.

“Getting to know and getting used to the guys, I felt like I built a relationship with a lot of the guys here.”

As the Colts head into the offseason, they do so without their second round pick but head coach Chuck Pagano has been adamant that you won’t find a players with Davis’ talent at that point come April.

Davis production would back up that statement with him finishing the season with three interceptions in the final two regular season games. He became an extremely sound tackler in open space for the Colts defense.

For the first time in his NFL career, Davis got a taste of something his brother (Vernon Davis of the San Francisco 49ers) has told him all about.

The playoffs is something Davis wants to get used to experiencing and he’s itching to put in the needed time this offseason in order to get back to that atmosphere.

“We had the record we had a lot of guys bought in and worked hard,” Davis said. “You can’t accomplishing nothing without the hard work. We just have to come in and work hard to get where we want to get to next year.”

“This was my first playoff experience and the feeling was just phenomenal. I want to get there and go further next time.”

DAVIS A FULL PARTICIPANT AT PRACTICE

While the Colts have been winning four of their past five games, cornerback Vontae Davis has been merely an observer during the Colts successful month of November.

As the calendar turns to December, Davis looks to be back on the gridiron this weekend after being a full participant in practice the past two days.

“I’m just happy to be back with the team,” Davis said on Thursday. “We have a lot of good guys in the locker room and I mean it’s home for me right now. It’s football. I love football. It’s a fun game and I can’t wait to get back on the field.”

The potential addition of Davis in the secondary comes at a welcoming time for the Colts defense.

All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson awaits the Colts this weekend and no matter who lines up across from him this weekend, you can expect multiple players to be assigned to him throughout the game.

“Put two guys over (Johnson) and even then sometimes he goes up and gets some balls,” Colts defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said of defending Johnson. “I’ve seen a good performance from him over the last couple of weeks and over the entire season. He’s a formidable guy that’s out there and we’ve got to defend him.”

Cornerbacks Darius Butler and Cassius Vaughn have been the starters the last three weeks after Jerraud Powers was placed on injured reserve with a toe injury following the Jaguars game on Nov. 8.

In trying to limit the league’s second best offense, Butler stressed trying to force someone other than No. 81 to make plays.

“Obviously, a lot of the offense is based around (Johnson) and they are going to get him the ball,” Butler said. “They’ve got a good quarterback and players around him. You have to limit his production to make somebody else beat you.”

During the past month, Davis has been thrilled with his teammates’ success and chooses to have a positive spin on his knee injury.

“It’s a blessing. Everything happens for a reason, a humbling experience,” Davis said of the injury. “

“My grandma always tells me, ‘Be patient, stuff might not happen when you want it to happen but you be patient, then it comes when you least expect it.”

COLTS SECONDARY MORE THAN IMPRESSED WITH CALVIN JOHNSON

Cassius Vaughn doesn’t consider Calvin Johnson the ‘ideal receiver.’

No, that praise would be selling Johnson short.

Instead, Vaughn uses another term to describe the 6-foot-5-inches, 236-pound Johnson.

“No, the ideal receivers are the other guys. Calvin is a ‘freak of nature.’ He’s the total package,” Vaughn said.

Vaughn and the Colts secondary will try and limit the league’s leading receiver at 1,257 yards.

Johnson is averaging 114.3 receiving yards per game and is looking for his fifth straight game over 100 receiving yards.

“(Johnson) brings everything,” cornerback Darius Butler said. “If you want to go create a receiver on Madden that’s going to look like Calvin Johnson. He brings everything to the table so we are going to have to bring our ‘A’ game.”

Last season, Johnson and the Lions ended a playoff drought dating back to 1999 with a 10-6 record and an appearance in the NFC Wild Card.

At 4-7, Johnson acknowledged that this season hasn’t gone as planned but heading into the final month of the season the Lions mindset remains the same.

“Guys are still pushing. That hasn’t changed here in practice or anything like that,” Johnson said. “That’s the thing I like about what’s going on right now. Even though, we are not where we thought we should be at right now, at this point of the season, guys are still working their butts off.”

The Colts defensive backs weren’t afraid to share their praise of Johnson and the All-Pro receiver appreciated the kind words from the guys he will line up across from Sunday.

“You play to be the best. You play to win the Super Bowl. You play to compete,” Johnson said. “If you do that and you’re taken seriously, and find something to work on day-in-and-day-out than you can achieve that.”

In trying to defend Johnson, the Colts secondary is hoping to get the services of cornerback Vontae Davis back this weekend.

Davis has been on the sideline for the past four weeks and with him and Jerraud Powers out of the lineup, it’s been Vaughn and Butler filling the void.

No matter who the Colts place in the backend of the defense on Sunday, trying to neutralize Johnson is a gargantuan task.

“You just have to be on your Ps and Qs, your fundamentals and techniques,” Butler said. “Obviously (Johnson) has a size mismatch on pretty much every (defensive back) out there but you just have to put yourself in a position to make a play on the ball.”

DAVIS READY TO HIT THE FIELD WITH HIS TEAMMATES ON SUNDAY

A welcoming sign to Colts fans this week is cornerback Vontae Davis’ name appearing as a full participant in practice the past two days.

Davis has missed the past two games after injuring his ankle late in a Week 3 loss to the Jaguars.

Last week, Davis was active against the Jets but was only going to be used in an emergency situation.

Now after a full week of practice, Davis is ready to get back on the playing field.

“I’m just fortunate to be back with my teammates and getting back in and learning the defense, trying to make plays,” Davis said.

“I’m taking it one day at a time. Just trying to get better as a player, help my teammates win. But I’m feeling pretty good and as it gets closer to the game, I should feel better.”

The Colts secondary has remained in tact without Davis the past few weeks, and the unit ranks third in the NFL allowing 200 yards passing per game.

Davis said he is feeling more comfortable the more he practices and he knows if you aren’t completely healthy, then opposing teams will take advantage.

“You need to be pretty close to (100 percent) (laughing),” Davis said. “Corner is one those positions where you have to be as close to 100 percent as possible.”

“(Wednesday) was the test. It’s getting better. I’ve got a couple of days to stay on it, just try and get ready for Sunday.”

Cornerback Cassius Vaughn has started in place of Davis the past two weeks and has been a part of a Colts secondary that has allowed just 203 yards passing over the team’s last six quarters.

Davis expected to be in the fold, the secondary will by far have the healthiest Colts defensive unit on Sunday.

The Browns have eight different receivers that have caught at least nine passes this season and Davis recognizes the task but believes his teammates are focused in trying to even the Colts record at 3-3.

“Every week, you have to come out and play with a sense of urgency,” Davis said. “Whatever team comes out ready to play, you’ve got to match each team’s intensity. That’s the key, intensity.”

VAUGHN PREPARING LIKE HE ALWAYS DOES

For cornerback Cassius Vaughn his preparation for this week won’t be any different from any other he has had in his three NFL seasons.

Despite interim head coach/offensive coordinator Bruce Arians saying cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Justin King are ‘day-to-day’ and didn’t practice on Wednesday, Vaughn is staying the course.

“Even if they were here, you’ve got to approach it like you are a starter,” Vaughn said. “You’re a professional. You’ve got to prepare every day like you’re going to play because you never know what situation can pop up in a game and you’ve got to be ready for it.”

Vaughn joined the Colts in late May and has played mostly on special teams during the first three games.

He saw action in the secondary late in the fourth quarter against the Jaguars with extended playing time potentially on the horizon this weekend against one of the premiere passing teams in the league.

“They got a great team,” Vaughn said of the Packers. “We’ve watched them on film and they do a lot of unique things. They are very consistent so we just have to go out there and do what we’ve got to do and put these practices together.”

With facing one of the best passing teams in the league, Vaughn is ready for the task the secondary is going up against on Sunday.

Fellow cornerback Jerraud Powers is a four-year starter for the Colts and Vaughn knows with his inexperience (Vaughn has started three games in his career) he might be tested a bit more on Sunday.

“You have to accept that challenge and be ready for it. I didn’t come here not to be challenged at all,” Vaughn said.

“I look forward to it because you never know how good you are until you go up against the best and for years they’ve been the best. They’ve got a great group of receivers and quarterback so you got to go out there and be ready.”

BUTLER CHANGES SIDES IN RIVARLY

As Darius Butler walked into the Colts locker room on Tuesday afternoon he quickly realized he was on the other side of the rivalry.

Butler, the Colts newly signed cornerback, comes to the Indianapolis after playing his first two NFL seasons (2009-2010) with the New England Patriots.

“It’s a great organization,” Butler said of his new team. “I played against this team every year. This is a big rivalry. It’s a great organization and I’m real happy to be a part of it.”

Last season, Butler played for the Carolina Panthers and has been ready for the chance to get back on the playing field after being cut on August 31.

He comes to the Colts during a time where the cornerback position is going through some injuries.

Head coach Chuck Pagano said on Monday that cornerbacks Vontae Davis (ankle) and Justin King (groin) would be week-to-week.

Butler isn’t sure where he will fit at the cornerback position but is anxious for another opportunity.

“They are kind of feeling me out, just like I’m kind of feeling them out,” Butler said. “We’ll know pretty quickly where they want me to help, where they think it’s best for me to help out. I’m ready to come in here and do whatever they need to do to help the team.”

During his 2009 season with the Patriots, Butler made seven tackles in a reserve role against the Colts.

The new scheme the Colts have implemented in the defensive backfield is something that has Butler intrigued.

“I definitely think it fits me well,” Butler said of the scheme. “It’s just pretty much picking up new terminology. Once I pick that up, I can play faster and think faster.”

Walking into the locker room, Butler did see a pair of former teammates from Connecticut in running back Donald Brown and linebacker Scott Lutrus.

Butler played in 42 career games at Connecticut and was a two-time captain for the Huskies.

He comes into a bye week for the Colts which should speed up the learning process, with the next game not until Oct. 7.

“I’m sure it will help me out mentally, getting the hang of things, getting used to the scheme and program,” Butler said. “Physically, I want to get out there. I’ve had enough bye weeks this year. I would like to get out there this Sunday but it’ll be good to get used to the new surroundings.”

MANUSKY ADDRESSES HIS DEFENSE HEADING INTO WEEK 1

Throughout the entire offseason, Colts defensive coordinator Greg Manusky has often heard the same question regarding his Pro Bowl outside linebackers.

It didn’t take long Thursday afternoon for Manusky to hear it again and he’s looking forward to seeing No. 93 and 98 on the field for extended action against the Bears.

“I don’t think you’re ever right where you want to be every week but we’re making a lot of progress,” Manusky said. “I think both guys are really taking hold to what their job is supposed to be and they’re rolling with it and they’re doing a great job.”

This offseason the buzz surround Manusky’s hybrid 3-4 defense has been the influx of players familiar with the system along with getting the other Colts caught up with the scheme.

Even Manusky admitted there is a little more anticipation for this season opener considering all the changes.

“It’s a little bit different coming from a 4-3 (defense) to a 3-4 defense with these guys,” Manusky said. “With Vontae (Davis) being a little bit new, even Justin King having a little bit of newness to him. We’re all working together as a unit, trying to go out there and get a victory.”

Getting Davis acclimated with his new teammates and the system has been high on the priory list for Manusky over the past week.

Davis is expected to start opposite cornerback Jerraud Powers on Sunday and his knowledge of playing in similar defenses has helped him out immensely.

“He’s ready,” Manusky said of Davis. “I think there is a little bit of familiarity with Mike Nolan’s system. So the calls might be a little bit different but for the most part he’s played in that kind of system a little bit, our system, so it’s good.”

The task for Manusky’s defense will be a multi faceted offense leaning on Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte.

In the first three weeks of the season, the Colts rush defense will be tested by trying to stop a trio of Pro Bowl running backs.

“That’s the way this league is,” Manusky said of the running backs. “You’ve got to make sure you set your sights on stopping the run, that’s the most important thing. We’ve been stressing that since we got here so that’s what we got to do on Sunday.”

A WEEK IS ALL THAT IS NEEDED FOR DAVIS

He has been a member of the Colts for just over a week but cornerback Vontae Davis will be running out with the first team defense on Sunday.

As a former defensive backs coach, head coach Chuck Pagano has observed his former position closely this offseason and likes what he sees in his newest addition.

“He’s doing really well,” Pagano said of Davis. “He’s spending extra time with his position coaches and putting the time in obviously.”

“I could tell just by sitting back and watching, he’s not making mental (mistakes), and you can see his athleticism out there and his playmaking ability. That’s only going to get better as he becomes more comfortable in the system, with the terminology.”

Davis brings a wealth of young talent to the secondary and his fellow defensive backs like the progress he has made in just over a week.

“For him, it’s just getting comfortable with what we’re doing. Pretty much right now he’s getting there,” safety Antoine Bethea said. “Of course, a couple more days of practice and he’ll be there but when we’re out there on the field, I got confidence in all my guys.”

One advantage that Davis has had in learning the Colts defense is his familiarity with the system.

Former Dolphins defensive coordinator Mike Nolan (2010-2011) overlapped two seasons in San Francisco (2007-2008) with current Colts defensive coordinator Greg Manusky.

Being able to be ready for the season opener from a physical standpoint for Davis wasn’t the question when he arrived in Indianapolis early last week.

It was his ability to handle new calls that presented the biggest challenge.

“He’s grasped onto the system well for the past week or so that he’s been here,” cornerback Jerraud Powers said. “It’s kind of easy for him because he was in a similar system with the defensive coordinator in Miami.”

Now with Davis opposite Powers, the Colts starting secondary has four players each with four years of NFL experience, with all having started at least 14 games over their respective careers.

The trade comes at an opportune time for the Colts as they will face a very talented Bears receiving crops in the season opener.

“Vontae is a hell of a football player and he’s going to come out and help us out a lot,” Powers said. “I think we got a good group in the secondary. He’s just another dimension, another playmaker added onto this defense.”

POWERS AND DAVIS REUNITE IN INDIANAPOLIS

In the family of players that is the NFL, those that enter the league in the same draft class tend to cling to each other.

Going through the jump from college to the NFL can be a strenuous process so being able to lean on fellow players making the same leap is often beneficial.

This was the case back in 2009 as cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Jerraud Powers entered the NFL Draft.

Little did those two know that flash forward three years and their paths would cross again, this time in the same locker room.

“We were the same draft class, 2009, so we ran into each other a lot through the whole process,” Powers said. “I just kept in contact by him wishing me well, and me wishing him well throughout games, seeing him at certain events. We’ve been good friends ever since we’ve both entered the NFL.”

As Davis walked into the locker room Monday morning, he saw some more familiar faces in his new home.

“I know most of the guys, (Jerraud) Powers, Joe Lefeged,” Davis said. “It’s crazy, this league is so small. I’m excited to get to know more of the guys.”

Cornerback Brandon King spent a majority of the 2011 season with Davis and the Miami Dolphins and it’s that familiarity in the secondary room which should make the transition to Indianapolis easier.

“Any time you can go to a team and you know some guys on the team, you kind of don’t feel like the outcast, you can blend in with guys,” Powers said. “It’s not like he’s just a new face that nobody knows him. Everybody has at least heard of Vontae because of his production and what he’s done on the football field.”

Safety Antoine Bethea has a view of Davis’ ability from afar and calls him an ‘aggressive, fast’ corner that can cover.

Powers and him will now get a first-hand look at Davis’ talent and are happy to have another player of his caliber in an already talented secondary.

“You add another playmaker on the field,” Powers said. “He’s made a lot of plays for Miami, interceptions, hitting, no matter what it is, he’s made them. He’ll come at you, loves to play man-to-man coverage, loves the type of scheme we are in.”

If all goes well over the next two weeks, Davis is expected to start opposite Powers in the season opener in Chicago.

Colts fans got a brief scare on Saturday when Powers left the Redskins game with a knee sprain. On Monday though, Powers re-assured those worried that had the game been Week 1 of the regular season, he would have been back on the field.

“I’m fine,” Powers said.

“On the play with Robert Griffin III, I hit him on the sideline and kind of banged my knee a little bit. It ended up getting tight a little bit. I just came out for precautionary reasons but if it was a (regular season) game, I definitely wouldn’t have come out.”

COLTS ACQUIRE CB VONTAE DAVIS IN TRADE

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS RECEIVE CB-VONTAE DAVIS IN TRADE WITH MIAMI DOLPHINS

The Indianapolis Colts today received cornerback Vontae Davis in a trade with the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a second-round pick and a conditional late-round pick in 2013.

“Bottom line with this move today is we got better as a football team,” said General Manager Ryan Grigson. “That is always the goal each day for this organization. From the first time he stepped on the field at Illinois as a freshman or in the National Football League as a rookie, you knew Vontae was a special talent. Now he has a chance under Coach Pagano and this coaching staff to reach not only his potential as a football player, but as a person as well. That is our collective goal moving forward.”

Davis, 5-11, 205 pounds, is entering his fourth NFL season. In 44 games played (36 starts), the 24-year-old has totaled 142 tackles (126 solo), 32 passes defensed and nine interceptions for 124 return yards, including one for a touchdown. Last season, Davis led the team with four interceptions and nine passes defensed, while finishing the year with 43 tackles (39 solo). His four interceptions ranked tied for fifth in the AFC.

In his rookie season, Davis led the team with four interceptions, making him the first Dolphins rookie to lead the team in interceptions in 20 years and the first Dolphins rookie cornerback to lead the team since 1969. That year, he finished with a career-high 44 solo tackles to go along with 11 passes defensed.

Davis was selected in the first round (25th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft out of the University of Illinois. A three-year starter at Illinois, he started 34-of-36 games played and posted career totals of 206 tackles (139 solo), 22 passes defensed, seven interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. In his final season at Illinois in 2008, Davis was named a consensus All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection after tallying a career-high 78 tackles (53 solo) and tying for second in the conference with three forced fumbles. As a sophomore in 2007, he started all 12 games and was the only sophomore semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back. As a freshman, Davis started 11-of-12 games, was named the team’s Rookie of the Year and was honored as a Freshman All-America selection by The Sporting News, Scout.com and Rivals.com.