Colts.com writer Amanda Foster is joined by JJ Stankevitz to break down the first three practices of Colts training camp, with updates on the quarterback competition between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones and observations from first looks at Lou Anarumo's defense. The duo also dives into the increased level of competition on the roster and what to expect from rookie tight end Tyler Warren.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
Hello Colts fans, and welcome back to another episode and
new season of the Two Minute Drill Podcast. I'm Amanda Foster,
joined by JJ Stankowitz here at Grand Park on Friday,
July twenty fifth, where the Colts just finished up their
third practice of twenty twenty five Colts Training Camp sponsored
by Corson Fire and Security. On this first episode back,
we'll give you all the updates you need on the
quarterback competition between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, lou Anrimose, defense,
(00:33):
and what we heard from general manager Chris Ballard earlier
this week. So, JJ, thing's got underway here on Wednesday,
We're back. We're back. It's been hot and humid, Yeah,
but it hasn't said Yeah, it has not stopped the
fans from coming to watch their team get ready for
the season, and there's been a lot for them to watch.
Of course, the biggest topic that we have to cover
first is the quarterback competition between Richardson, excuse me, Richardson
(00:56):
and Jones. You've been focusing pretty heavily that on that
over these last few days. So what stood out to
you so far as you've watched these two.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Yeah, I think I think just kind of to start
camp it you know, some people might say, oh it's
been slow or it's been a little bit sloppy, but
I don't know. I feel like every camp I go to,
the defense is usually a little ahead of the offense
to start, and once you kind of once the Colts
kind of get through this ramp up period so they're
having four practices in a row to start camp, then
(01:25):
Monday is when the pads come on, and Monday, I
think Monday's got to be go time for this offense.
And it's gotten progressively better, right, I think over the
you know, from day one to day two to day three,
I think Day three was Anthony Richardson's best day throwing
the football. He had some really nice completion It's really
good decision making. It looked like he he had a
thrown to Tyler Warren where lou Anarrimo threw some funky
(01:46):
linebacker blitz and he was able to diagnose that get
the ball to where it needed to go, you know,
And Daniel Jones has been efficient throwing the football as well,
So I think there's no separation in it. But I think,
you know, when we have this podcast a week from now, Amanda,
I think that's when hopefully we're talking about you're seeing
more more completion. I mean, the completions actually have kind
(02:07):
of been there lately, but maybe you're just seeing it.
Maybe it'll just go we'll feel a little better. But again,
that the defense. I think the side note to this
is that that defense came into camp tuned up and
ready to go. They look very impressive.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yeah, you have to take that into account definitely. I
think also worth noting we heard this early in the
week and we've seen it now. Both quarterbacks are evenly
splitting their reps with the first team just kind of
rotating in and out day to day. Eleven by eleven seven.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, and it's been almost like period by period, so
you can kind of predict it now, right, Yeah, exactly,
It's like the first two full team periods are going
to be you know, if it's whatever, you know, if
it's today, was Daniel Jones taking the first team reps.
Then in the second half of practice those team periods,
the first team reps went to Anthony Richardson. And it
is a an intentional even split. The Colts are not
(02:53):
just kind of throwing it out there and rolling the
ball and say yeah, we'll figure it out. It's like
this is a very calculated period to peer plan that
they have to get guys equal reps, and Amanda, the
point of that is to get them equal reps in
certain situations. So you know, the Colts have been working
a lot on first and second down, when they get
into third down, red zone, low, red zone, backed up
(03:15):
two minute, these very critical situational periods. They want Richardson
and Jones to have the same number of reps with
the first team offense, which helps both of them out,
but it also helps the Colts get a clear evaluation
of where these guys are with consistent personnel and consistent
even the consistent defense in front of them.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
And we heard from Chris Ballard, I mean, this is
very much a true competition between these two guys, and
they both sound like they have a lot of faith
and a lot of people have a lot of belief
in both of them. We heard from Ballard specifically talk
about both of them and just how hard workers they are.
And you know, Jones coming in with a little bit
more experience, but Richardson has been here for a couple
of years, so there's there's definitely a lot there that
(03:54):
both of them are going to have to kind of,
you know, take advantage of as they keep going.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I think the larger point, Amanda there is that the
Colts are not walking into this being like we want
one of these guys to win it exactly. They're walking
in being like, we need to figure out who is
going to win it. I don't think they're not in
a rush to figure it exactly. That everyone has been
very clear that there's no timeline on it. Chan Stiken
even told both quarterbacks like, there's no timeline on when
we're gonna decide this. You know, We're gonna let the
(04:19):
process play out. And usually when it comes to one
of these competitions, it's like it'll become clear to the
point where it won't be a surprise to whoever is
the winner and whoever does not wind up being the
Week one starter. But again, I just I don't get
the sense that the Colts are like, we need Anthony
Richardson to win it, or we need Daniel Jones to
(04:40):
win it. It's like, I think either of those guys,
whoever plays the best and gives us the best chance
to win games, is gonna play without any sort of
ulterior motives or preconceived notions about where this is gonna go.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Yep, and they'll be whoever it is coming into it.
And we've even seen it here in camp with the
two of them so far. The offense that they're joining
with the ride receivers with you know, you've got Alec Pearson,
Tyler Warren and the tight ends, even the offensive line
and the running backs. Obviously, it's a pretty solid stat
offense that they're going to be joining.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
It's it's funny like I was listening to the Athletic
Football Show this this week. I was catching up on
an old podcast they did where they were ranking the
AFC supporting casts.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Okay, and one.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Of the hosts of that show had the Cults fifth
in the AFC. Yeah, ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs
by the way, which you know, it took into account
everything right outside of the quarterback within the offensive ecosystem.
But I think that speaks to the depth this team has,
especially with their pass catchers, where yes, you dropped Tyler Warren.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Into there, very different from last year.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
It is right where tight end was a position that
you did not expect a lot out of in terms
of the pass catching game. Yeah, and now this year,
I think you're gonna expect I mean I counted, let's
see today, going through my practice notes, I got let's see,
there's one to Tyler. There's one to Tyler Warren, two, three, four.
I think I have like four five, six catches almost today.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
He was he was moving today especially. He got a
lot of a lot of looks.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
He was very active today in practice, and I think
that just speaks to how he can impact the rest
of this offense, because I mean, Pittman's gonna get the ball. Downs,
It's gonna get the ball. Pierce is gonna get the ball.
And now you throw a Warren in there into an
offense to by the way, Man is probably gonna run
the ball a whole lot. With one of the best
running backs in the league and Jonathan Taylor. I do
like this collection of weapons the ibacks happened. I again,
(06:29):
I think it's like sometimes we sit here and we
can talk ourselves into it. Yeah, but hearing someone nationally
who has no connection to the Colts and hasn't you know,
just sort of studies the league say that's a top
five group in the AFC. You know that kind of
makes you perk up a little bit and say, oh, okay, like,
maybe maybe what I am seeing out of heard what
I believe about this team really is true. I'm not
just kind of viewing it through blue and white colored glasses.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Right. Well, and speaking of exciting groups, we have to
talk about the defense, obviously, specifically the secondary. Yep with
lou Ana Roumo. Yep, you were in numbers and a
stats guy. You like Lou, You like what lou does,
not necessarily that that's like numbers and status, but it's
all intertwined. We've heard a lot about his coaching style.
We've heard a lot about his personality. He's very blunt.
(07:13):
Someone described to me as Staten Island but the good parts,
Oh yeah, yeah, I think you're from the that is,
I don't claim that Staten Island. Northeast Maine is very
different than New York and Status Island. See.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
I feel like, as a Midwesterner together you East Coasters
are like, oh yeah, like you're from Chicago. That's right
by Kansas City. Like no, it's like eight hours away.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Okay, But I'm like both Midwest and East. I'm Northeast,
not East Coast and New York is not like New England.
I'm New England. New York is not.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Okay, that's a better that's a better description. You wouldn't Okay, Yes,
I see im all onto the northeast.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
I know New York and work on that. Okay. Anyways, Anyways,
allowing for kind of a reset and a restart for
this defense, it seems like in a lot more ways
than just kind of reinvigorating the secondary.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yeah, the way that he disguises things like I asked
Daniel Jones about it this week and he said, you know,
it's just what he'll give you a look, and you
have to know that what the look is might not
be the look after the snap, or maybe it will
be right. And it's like you don't know and you
don't know, and it's like cam Binam was talking about
(08:23):
this or he was like, you know, yeah, like we
don't want to bail, you know, if we show a
cover one, we don't want to always bail to a
cover two. So sometimes we we're going to stay in
cover one, sometimes we're going to go to cover two.
And it's like the point is there are no tells
within the defense. That's what he's coaching these guys up
to do and with a veteran group, right, Kenny Moore,
the second, Tarvarius Ward, cam Binam, you know, even Nick
(08:45):
Cross is kind of get reaching that almost veteran status
right now. I think that's the group of guys that
if you don't have a tell of what you're doing,
that makes it really hard on our quarterback.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
So and then you, by the way, like what I
wrote about on a Colts dot com this week was
out of the defense is challenging the quarterback. Yeah, it
is the scheme. And then watching Tarvarious Ward out here
for I'm gonna raise my head. He's been the best
player on the field the two days that he's practiced.
He didn't practice on Friday, he got a rest day,
but the Wednesday and Thursday, I think Travarious Ward is
(09:20):
the best player on the field.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah. And the Colts knew what they were getting when
they signed him in free agency, and they knew what
they were getting when they signed Cambin him as well.
And now we're finally seeing that come to life on
the field in these practices, in these like team drills
where he's going up against guys like Alec Pearson, Michael
Pittman and sticking to them and literally not letting them go.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
And you know what that's doing, Amanda, is it's forcing
these quarterbacks to have not just accuracy, but like accuracy plus.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Yep, you're rid about this yesterday.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
I did write about this yesterday where Anthony Richardson one
of the first the first completion he had on Thursday,
Travarious Ward was draped all over Michael Pittman Junior's back
hip and Richardson kind of led Pittman over the middle
threw it away from his body. It was a really
nice completion. But I was like, if that ball is
on the numbers, you can bet Travarious Wards sticking his
pond there and breaking that pass up. If that ball
is behind him, Trevarious Ward's picking it off. So it's
(10:10):
forcing these quarterbacks to be to really heighten their game.
And like, right from the jump, I think that's good.
Maybe it's led to a little bit more of a
slow start for the Colts offense, but I think as
we get into camp and as these guys keep going
against each other, it's gonna bring out It's gonna bring
out the best versions of Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones,
and that is a good thing for this Colts team
as a whole.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Well, and we've talked a lot about competition heading into
turning camping into the season. That's kind of gonna be
the theme for all of these different position groups and
skill groups. But then you're seeing it out there between
the offense and the defense as well, and that's only
gonna make everybody better. You know, you're not having people
competing for a starting linebacker job what you are, but
they're also competing with the offense and everybody's going back
and forth, and it's all it's the iron Turpin's iron
(10:52):
that everybody likes. Yes, oh yeah, that like times a
million because it's everybody who's all competing with each other
when you think about it.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
And and also too, like I think you're seeing really good,
like a really healthy level of competition across the roster
where you know, you've seen Tanner, Bordolini and Danny Pinter
rotated in its center. You've seen Jalen Jones and Justin
Wally and Juju Brent's all get reps at the first
Justin Wallly, we're talking about him like we are Justin Waller,
(11:21):
He's been one of the stories of camp as well.
But just to kind of put a button on the
competition thing like defensive end, that rotation you've seen Quiddy
Peleatu lat Samson, ebucom Taekwon Lewis all get reps with
the first team and a really healthy rotation there. And
even at tight end, you know you're seeing Tyler Warren
go between the first and the second team offense with
Will Mallory and mo Aley Cox and Drew Ogletree, And
(11:44):
I think last year it almost felt like there were
a lot of that. There was a lot solidified like
last year when we were tracking, competition had to be right,
like that's that's how the roster was designed, and that's
something Chris Ballader has admitted was a flaw that roster.
But last year the competitions that we were watching, it
was like Alec Pierce for Sadie Mitchell and then it
was like, is Nick Cross going to be the starting
(12:06):
safety on this team?
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Right?
Speaker 2 (12:08):
And it was like Nick Cross from like the jump
was yeah, he's set there. And then that Pierson Mitchell
competition was really heated and it wound up bringing up
the best in Alec Pearce, who wound up leading the
league in yards per reception. And I think the more
competition you see across this roster, even like backup running
back where you got DJ Giddens, Khalil Herbert, and I
(12:29):
think Tyler Goodson's had a really good camp so far too.
He's been pretty impressive early on. Like that's going to
bring out the most in figuring out who's going to
be Jonathan Taylor's backup. So it's not just the quarterback. Yeah,
it really is across the roster. And that is a
really really good thing. That's a really good takeaway early
on from what we've seen out here.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Yeah, and it was something that Chris Baller talked about
at the end of last season again when we talked
to him earlier this week, and you can see that
that's really coming to life. So now we talk about
the rookies. Yeah, Justin Wally and Tyler Warren specifically are
the two that have kind of stood out the most
than that we have talked about the most outside of
this podcast. Starting with Justin Wally. He has received praise
(13:06):
from anybody you've asked and anybody you haven't asked, because
he'll come up anyway and talking about what he's been doing.
He's been getting first team reps YEP since Wednesday, since
they began going up against He was up against Pittman
a couple of times earlier today in practice showing out really,
really impressively. And Anna Rumo specifically has talked about how
much he likes Justin.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yeah, and the thing with Wally Amanda is that he's
been going between inside and outside corner. So Kenny Moore
at a rest day on Thursday's day, so Justin Waller
kicked into the slot then, and then on Wednesday and Friday,
and those two practices where Kenny has been playing, Wally's
been outside. And I don't want to diminish how difficult
(13:49):
that is to do, like Kenny can do it.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
But the league right now.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Like the playing slot and then playing outside, It is
like playing two differ in positions. Right They are both
a cornerback position, but the responsibilities and the space you
have to work with as a slot is different than
you're playing on the outside. The physicality you have to
have playing outside is different than in the slot. And
the fact that we've seen Wally already do both, that's encouraging.
(14:16):
And I asked Lu and Arumo about that, and he
said it it really starts with his football IQ, like
you have to have a high level of intelligence to
be able to juggle those two responsibilities. And then he's
just he's he's got really good athleticism, he's a competitor,
he's scrappy. He's a guy who, like the Colts have
seen a lot in him since they got him in
(14:37):
the building and on his trajectory right now, Like I remember,
you know, people are saying he's a reach in the
third round. The way he's going and the way we're
talking about him, and the way more importantly, the way
everyone else is talking about him in the Colts building
is uh, we're just thrilled to have this guy and like,
thank goodness we got him where we got him right,
you know.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
And he's one that also kind of bringing this to
Tyler Warren again just for a little bit, doesn't necessarily
look like a rookie when he's out there, and part
of that comes with, you know, you're you're getting these
first team reps, so you've earned that kind of role
to try it out. But he and Warren both are
operating at a level that in the first three days
of training camp is maybe not like you would expect
(15:18):
it from Warren as a first round pick, but for
someone like Wally you said, it's yeah, definitely very impressive
and a good sign for both sides of this team.
Right now.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
We got to see when the pads come on. Yes
he continues to ascend like this, but you know, right now,
it's a really good start and it's good to have
an encouraging start to camp. A couple of the rookies
I do want to talk about, yeah, you know, j
T Twoey Molowaw has kind of been with the second
third team. He left practice on Friday. We'll get an
update from Shane Steichen on Saturday what his status is.
(15:47):
We'll see if he's back out there. And then the
two guys though who I'm very interested in are Jalen Travis,
who's fourth round tackle out of Minnesota, and then Tim Smith. Yeah,
the six round defensive tackle from Alabama. Braden Smith got
a rest day on Thursday, and it was Jalen Travis
who was out there with the first team offense. So
he's in a competition with Blake Freeland twenty twenty three
(16:09):
fourth round pick to be the kind of primary swing
tackle and I thought that was that was interesting and
kind of shows what the Colts think of Travis to
get him out there with the first team right off
the bat. Now he's still gonna have to, you know,
do that again and keep proving it again.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
But he's a he's a smart guy and he's a
big guy.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
He's a very smart guy.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
He's got a lot of in the mental side of
it going for him as well.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
And then Tim Smith is going to really compete to
be in that defensive tackle rotation. He's a guy who
you know, I know Lou and Aruma thinks highly.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Of him and the Alabama guy. So Alabama guy, he
knows the vibes. He said to himself when he got drafted.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
He's played a lot of meaningful football for a big
time program. And you know, behind Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner,
there's Neville Gallimore. Yeah, it's a veteran free agent signing.
And then you know you kind of have at a
Tommy White at a bar a you have you know,
Tim Smith there competing to get into that rotation, and
that's gonna be the I mean, I know, it's it's
(17:05):
like probably one of the it might be one of
the least interesting things to talk about, is like defensive
tackle depth sometimes, but but it's.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
A part of it. It's and it couldn't turn interesting
in two weeks.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
I mean, look at look at how much the Colts
run defense struggled in the last two seasons, when Grover
Stewart missed time in twenty three and to Forrest Buckner
miss time in twenty four. They need to have that
consistent rotation and that that guy who can step in
and look, you're not gonna be Grove and buck those
are two really good players. But as long as the
drop off isn't you know, from way up here to
(17:35):
way down here, yep, that's kind of what you need.
And that's a very important aspect of what the Colts
are going to try to build on in training camp.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Yep. Well, definitely lots to keep looking for on all
areas of the field. We haven't even talked about special teams.
We'll get to that at a later day, I think
kicking competition. So go read about that. That'll do it
for us today on this episode of the two minut
Drill podcast. You can subscribe to us on the Colts
Audio and work on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else
you get your podcasts if you haven't already, but you should.
(18:05):
For JJ Sankovitz, I'm Amanda Foster, and we will talk
to you next week from Grand Park
Hello Colts fans, and welcome back to another episode and
new season of the Two Minute Drill Podcast. I'm Amanda Foster,
joined by JJ Stankowitz here at Grand Park on Friday,
July twenty fifth, where the Colts just finished up their
third practice of twenty twenty five Colts Training Camp sponsored
by Corson Fire and Security. On this first episode back,
we'll give you all the updates you need on the
quarterback competition between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, lou Anrimose, defense,
(00:33):
and what we heard from general manager Chris Ballard earlier
this week. So, JJ, thing's got underway here on Wednesday,
We're back. We're back. It's been hot and humid, Yeah,
but it hasn't said Yeah, it has not stopped the
fans from coming to watch their team get ready for
the season, and there's been a lot for them to watch.
Of course, the biggest topic that we have to cover
first is the quarterback competition between Richardson, excuse me, Richardson
(00:56):
and Jones. You've been focusing pretty heavily that on that
over these last few days. So what stood out to
you so far as you've watched these two.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Yeah, I think I think just kind of to start
camp it you know, some people might say, oh it's
been slow or it's been a little bit sloppy, but
I don't know. I feel like every camp I go to,
the defense is usually a little ahead of the offense
to start, and once you kind of once the Colts
kind of get through this ramp up period so they're
having four practices in a row to start camp, then
(01:25):
Monday is when the pads come on, and Monday, I
think Monday's got to be go time for this offense.
And it's gotten progressively better, right, I think over the
you know, from day one to day two to day three,
I think Day three was Anthony Richardson's best day throwing
the football. He had some really nice completion It's really
good decision making. It looked like he he had a
thrown to Tyler Warren where lou Anarrimo threw some funky
(01:46):
linebacker blitz and he was able to diagnose that get
the ball to where it needed to go, you know,
And Daniel Jones has been efficient throwing the football as well,
So I think there's no separation in it. But I think,
you know, when we have this podcast a week from now, Amanda,
I think that's when hopefully we're talking about you're seeing
more more completion. I mean, the completions actually have kind
(02:07):
of been there lately, but maybe you're just seeing it.
Maybe it'll just go we'll feel a little better. But again,
that the defense. I think the side note to this
is that that defense came into camp tuned up and
ready to go. They look very impressive.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yeah, you have to take that into account definitely. I
think also worth noting we heard this early in the
week and we've seen it now. Both quarterbacks are evenly
splitting their reps with the first team just kind of
rotating in and out day to day. Eleven by eleven seven.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, and it's been almost like period by period, so
you can kind of predict it now, right, Yeah, exactly,
It's like the first two full team periods are going
to be you know, if it's whatever, you know, if
it's today, was Daniel Jones taking the first team reps.
Then in the second half of practice those team periods,
the first team reps went to Anthony Richardson. And it
is a an intentional even split. The Colts are not
(02:53):
just kind of throwing it out there and rolling the
ball and say yeah, we'll figure it out. It's like
this is a very calculated period to peer plan that
they have to get guys equal reps, and Amanda, the
point of that is to get them equal reps in
certain situations. So you know, the Colts have been working
a lot on first and second down, when they get
into third down, red zone, low, red zone, backed up
(03:15):
two minute, these very critical situational periods. They want Richardson
and Jones to have the same number of reps with
the first team offense, which helps both of them out,
but it also helps the Colts get a clear evaluation
of where these guys are with consistent personnel and consistent
even the consistent defense in front of them.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
And we heard from Chris Ballard, I mean, this is
very much a true competition between these two guys, and
they both sound like they have a lot of faith
and a lot of people have a lot of belief
in both of them. We heard from Ballard specifically talk
about both of them and just how hard workers they are.
And you know, Jones coming in with a little bit
more experience, but Richardson has been here for a couple
of years, so there's there's definitely a lot there that
(03:54):
both of them are going to have to kind of,
you know, take advantage of as they keep going.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I think the larger point, Amanda there is that the
Colts are not walking into this being like we want
one of these guys to win it exactly. They're walking
in being like, we need to figure out who is
going to win it. I don't think they're not in
a rush to figure it exactly. That everyone has been
very clear that there's no timeline on it. Chan Stiken
even told both quarterbacks like, there's no timeline on when
we're gonna decide this. You know, We're gonna let the
(04:19):
process play out. And usually when it comes to one
of these competitions, it's like it'll become clear to the
point where it won't be a surprise to whoever is
the winner and whoever does not wind up being the
Week one starter. But again, I just I don't get
the sense that the Colts are like, we need Anthony
Richardson to win it, or we need Daniel Jones to
(04:40):
win it. It's like, I think either of those guys,
whoever plays the best and gives us the best chance
to win games, is gonna play without any sort of
ulterior motives or preconceived notions about where this is gonna go.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Yep, and they'll be whoever it is coming into it.
And we've even seen it here in camp with the
two of them so far. The offense that they're joining
with the ride receivers with you know, you've got Alec Pearson,
Tyler Warren and the tight ends, even the offensive line
and the running backs. Obviously, it's a pretty solid stat
offense that they're going to be joining.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
It's it's funny like I was listening to the Athletic
Football Show this this week. I was catching up on
an old podcast they did where they were ranking the
AFC supporting casts.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Okay, and one.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Of the hosts of that show had the Cults fifth
in the AFC. Yeah, ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs
by the way, which you know, it took into account
everything right outside of the quarterback within the offensive ecosystem.
But I think that speaks to the depth this team has,
especially with their pass catchers, where yes, you dropped Tyler Warren.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Into there, very different from last year.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
It is right where tight end was a position that
you did not expect a lot out of in terms
of the pass catching game. Yeah, and now this year,
I think you're gonna expect I mean I counted, let's
see today, going through my practice notes, I got let's see,
there's one to Tyler. There's one to Tyler Warren, two, three, four.
I think I have like four five, six catches almost today.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
He was he was moving today especially. He got a
lot of a lot of looks.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
He was very active today in practice, and I think
that just speaks to how he can impact the rest
of this offense, because I mean, Pittman's gonna get the ball. Downs,
It's gonna get the ball. Pierce is gonna get the ball.
And now you throw a Warren in there into an
offense to by the way, Man is probably gonna run
the ball a whole lot. With one of the best
running backs in the league and Jonathan Taylor. I do
like this collection of weapons the ibacks happened. I again,
(06:29):
I think it's like sometimes we sit here and we
can talk ourselves into it. Yeah, but hearing someone nationally
who has no connection to the Colts and hasn't you know,
just sort of studies the league say that's a top
five group in the AFC. You know that kind of
makes you perk up a little bit and say, oh, okay, like,
maybe maybe what I am seeing out of heard what
I believe about this team really is true. I'm not
just kind of viewing it through blue and white colored glasses.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Right. Well, and speaking of exciting groups, we have to
talk about the defense, obviously, specifically the secondary. Yep with
lou Ana Roumo. Yep, you were in numbers and a
stats guy. You like Lou, You like what lou does,
not necessarily that that's like numbers and status, but it's
all intertwined. We've heard a lot about his coaching style.
We've heard a lot about his personality. He's very blunt.
(07:13):
Someone described to me as Staten Island but the good parts,
Oh yeah, yeah, I think you're from the that is,
I don't claim that Staten Island. Northeast Maine is very
different than New York and Status Island. See.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
I feel like, as a Midwesterner together you East Coasters
are like, oh yeah, like you're from Chicago. That's right
by Kansas City. Like no, it's like eight hours away.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Okay, But I'm like both Midwest and East. I'm Northeast,
not East Coast and New York is not like New England.
I'm New England. New York is not.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Okay, that's a better that's a better description. You wouldn't Okay, Yes,
I see im all onto the northeast.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
I know New York and work on that. Okay. Anyways, Anyways,
allowing for kind of a reset and a restart for
this defense, it seems like in a lot more ways
than just kind of reinvigorating the secondary.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yeah, the way that he disguises things like I asked
Daniel Jones about it this week and he said, you know,
it's just what he'll give you a look, and you
have to know that what the look is might not
be the look after the snap, or maybe it will
be right. And it's like you don't know and you
don't know, and it's like cam Binam was talking about
(08:23):
this or he was like, you know, yeah, like we
don't want to bail, you know, if we show a
cover one, we don't want to always bail to a
cover two. So sometimes we we're going to stay in
cover one, sometimes we're going to go to cover two.
And it's like the point is there are no tells
within the defense. That's what he's coaching these guys up
to do and with a veteran group, right, Kenny Moore,
the second, Tarvarius Ward, cam Binam, you know, even Nick
(08:45):
Cross is kind of get reaching that almost veteran status
right now. I think that's the group of guys that
if you don't have a tell of what you're doing,
that makes it really hard on our quarterback.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
So and then you, by the way, like what I
wrote about on a Colts dot com this week was
out of the defense is challenging the quarterback. Yeah, it
is the scheme. And then watching Tarvarious Ward out here
for I'm gonna raise my head. He's been the best
player on the field the two days that he's practiced.
He didn't practice on Friday, he got a rest day,
but the Wednesday and Thursday, I think Travarious Ward is
(09:20):
the best player on the field.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah. And the Colts knew what they were getting when
they signed him in free agency, and they knew what
they were getting when they signed Cambin him as well.
And now we're finally seeing that come to life on
the field in these practices, in these like team drills
where he's going up against guys like Alec Pearson, Michael
Pittman and sticking to them and literally not letting them go.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
And you know what that's doing, Amanda, is it's forcing
these quarterbacks to have not just accuracy, but like accuracy plus.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Yep, you're rid about this yesterday.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
I did write about this yesterday where Anthony Richardson one
of the first the first completion he had on Thursday,
Travarious Ward was draped all over Michael Pittman Junior's back
hip and Richardson kind of led Pittman over the middle
threw it away from his body. It was a really
nice completion. But I was like, if that ball is
on the numbers, you can bet Travarious Wards sticking his
pond there and breaking that pass up. If that ball
is behind him, Trevarious Ward's picking it off. So it's
(10:10):
forcing these quarterbacks to be to really heighten their game.
And like, right from the jump, I think that's good.
Maybe it's led to a little bit more of a
slow start for the Colts offense, but I think as
we get into camp and as these guys keep going
against each other, it's gonna bring out It's gonna bring
out the best versions of Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones,
and that is a good thing for this Colts team
as a whole.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
Well, and we've talked a lot about competition heading into
turning camping into the season. That's kind of gonna be
the theme for all of these different position groups and
skill groups. But then you're seeing it out there between
the offense and the defense as well, and that's only
gonna make everybody better. You know, you're not having people
competing for a starting linebacker job what you are, but
they're also competing with the offense and everybody's going back
and forth, and it's all it's the iron Turpin's iron
(10:52):
that everybody likes. Yes, oh yeah, that like times a
million because it's everybody who's all competing with each other
when you think about it.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
And and also too, like I think you're seeing really good,
like a really healthy level of competition across the roster
where you know, you've seen Tanner, Bordolini and Danny Pinter
rotated in its center. You've seen Jalen Jones and Justin
Wally and Juju Brent's all get reps at the first
Justin Wallly, we're talking about him like we are Justin Waller,
(11:21):
He's been one of the stories of camp as well.
But just to kind of put a button on the
competition thing like defensive end, that rotation you've seen Quiddy
Peleatu lat Samson, ebucom Taekwon Lewis all get reps with
the first team and a really healthy rotation there. And
even at tight end, you know you're seeing Tyler Warren
go between the first and the second team offense with
Will Mallory and mo Aley Cox and Drew Ogletree, And
(11:44):
I think last year it almost felt like there were
a lot of that. There was a lot solidified like
last year when we were tracking, competition had to be right,
like that's that's how the roster was designed, and that's
something Chris Ballader has admitted was a flaw that roster.
But last year the competitions that we were watching, it
was like Alec Pierce for Sadie Mitchell and then it
was like, is Nick Cross going to be the starting
(12:06):
safety on this team?
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Right?
Speaker 2 (12:08):
And it was like Nick Cross from like the jump
was yeah, he's set there. And then that Pierson Mitchell
competition was really heated and it wound up bringing up
the best in Alec Pearce, who wound up leading the
league in yards per reception. And I think the more
competition you see across this roster, even like backup running
back where you got DJ Giddens, Khalil Herbert, and I
(12:29):
think Tyler Goodson's had a really good camp so far too.
He's been pretty impressive early on. Like that's going to
bring out the most in figuring out who's going to
be Jonathan Taylor's backup. So it's not just the quarterback. Yeah,
it really is across the roster. And that is a
really really good thing. That's a really good takeaway early
on from what we've seen out here.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Yeah, and it was something that Chris Baller talked about
at the end of last season again when we talked
to him earlier this week, and you can see that
that's really coming to life. So now we talk about
the rookies. Yeah, Justin Wally and Tyler Warren specifically are
the two that have kind of stood out the most
than that we have talked about the most outside of
this podcast. Starting with Justin Wally. He has received praise
(13:06):
from anybody you've asked and anybody you haven't asked, because
he'll come up anyway and talking about what he's been doing.
He's been getting first team reps YEP since Wednesday, since
they began going up against He was up against Pittman
a couple of times earlier today in practice showing out really,
really impressively. And Anna Rumo specifically has talked about how
much he likes Justin.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yeah, and the thing with Wally Amanda is that he's
been going between inside and outside corner. So Kenny Moore
at a rest day on Thursday's day, so Justin Waller
kicked into the slot then, and then on Wednesday and Friday,
and those two practices where Kenny has been playing, Wally's
been outside. And I don't want to diminish how difficult
(13:49):
that is to do, like Kenny can do it.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
But the league right now.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Like the playing slot and then playing outside, It is
like playing two differ in positions. Right They are both
a cornerback position, but the responsibilities and the space you
have to work with as a slot is different than
you're playing on the outside. The physicality you have to
have playing outside is different than in the slot. And
the fact that we've seen Wally already do both, that's encouraging.
(14:16):
And I asked Lu and Arumo about that, and he
said it it really starts with his football IQ, like
you have to have a high level of intelligence to
be able to juggle those two responsibilities. And then he's
just he's he's got really good athleticism, he's a competitor,
he's scrappy. He's a guy who, like the Colts have
seen a lot in him since they got him in
(14:37):
the building and on his trajectory right now, Like I remember,
you know, people are saying he's a reach in the
third round. The way he's going and the way we're
talking about him, and the way more importantly, the way
everyone else is talking about him in the Colts building
is uh, we're just thrilled to have this guy and like,
thank goodness we got him where we got him right,
you know.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
And he's one that also kind of bringing this to
Tyler Warren again just for a little bit, doesn't necessarily
look like a rookie when he's out there, and part
of that comes with, you know, you're you're getting these
first team reps, so you've earned that kind of role
to try it out. But he and Warren both are
operating at a level that in the first three days
of training camp is maybe not like you would expect
(15:18):
it from Warren as a first round pick, but for
someone like Wally you said, it's yeah, definitely very impressive
and a good sign for both sides of this team.
Right now.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
We got to see when the pads come on. Yes
he continues to ascend like this, but you know, right now,
it's a really good start and it's good to have
an encouraging start to camp. A couple of the rookies
I do want to talk about, yeah, you know, j
T Twoey Molowaw has kind of been with the second
third team. He left practice on Friday. We'll get an
update from Shane Steichen on Saturday what his status is.
(15:47):
We'll see if he's back out there. And then the
two guys though who I'm very interested in are Jalen Travis,
who's fourth round tackle out of Minnesota, and then Tim Smith. Yeah,
the six round defensive tackle from Alabama. Braden Smith got
a rest day on Thursday, and it was Jalen Travis
who was out there with the first team offense. So
he's in a competition with Blake Freeland twenty twenty three
(16:09):
fourth round pick to be the kind of primary swing
tackle and I thought that was that was interesting and
kind of shows what the Colts think of Travis to
get him out there with the first team right off
the bat. Now he's still gonna have to, you know,
do that again and keep proving it again.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
But he's a he's a smart guy and he's a
big guy.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
He's a very smart guy.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
He's got a lot of in the mental side of
it going for him as well.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
And then Tim Smith is going to really compete to
be in that defensive tackle rotation. He's a guy who
you know, I know Lou and Aruma thinks highly.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Of him and the Alabama guy. So Alabama guy, he
knows the vibes. He said to himself when he got drafted.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
He's played a lot of meaningful football for a big
time program. And you know, behind Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner,
there's Neville Gallimore. Yeah, it's a veteran free agent signing.
And then you know you kind of have at a
Tommy White at a bar a you have you know,
Tim Smith there competing to get into that rotation, and
that's gonna be the I mean, I know, it's it's
(17:05):
like probably one of the it might be one of
the least interesting things to talk about, is like defensive
tackle depth sometimes, but but it's.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
A part of it. It's and it couldn't turn interesting
in two weeks.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
I mean, look at look at how much the Colts
run defense struggled in the last two seasons, when Grover
Stewart missed time in twenty three and to Forrest Buckner
miss time in twenty four. They need to have that
consistent rotation and that that guy who can step in
and look, you're not gonna be Grove and buck those
are two really good players. But as long as the
drop off isn't you know, from way up here to
(17:35):
way down here, yep, that's kind of what you need.
And that's a very important aspect of what the Colts
are going to try to build on in training camp.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Yep. Well, definitely lots to keep looking for on all
areas of the field. We haven't even talked about special teams.
We'll get to that at a later day, I think
kicking competition. So go read about that. That'll do it
for us today on this episode of the two minut
Drill podcast. You can subscribe to us on the Colts
Audio and work on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else
you get your podcasts if you haven't already, but you should.
(18:05):
For JJ Sankovitz, I'm Amanda Foster, and we will talk
to you next week from Grand Park
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