Blue
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
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DEFENSE:
» Jalen Collins, cornerback: The Colts will enter training camp with nine cornerbacks vying for (probably) anywhere from four to six spots on the Week 1 53-man roster. So that means, just like at wide receiver, there will be some fierce competition for jobs over the next few weeks in practices and preseason games. While Pierre Desir and Kenny Moore II were rewarded with contract extensions this offseason, the team selected Rock Ya-Sin early in the second round of this year’s draft and Quincy Wilson is hoping to keep the momentum going from a solid finish to his 2018 season, beyond that, can Collins, who spent a good chunk of the 2018 season on the Colts’ practice squad, show off the talent that made him a second-round pick of the Falcons back in 2015? Let’s not forget: Collins was Atlanta’s top tackler just three seasons ago in Super Bowl LI.
» Derrick Kindred, safety: Indianapolis has its two starters returning in Clayton Geathers and Malik Hooker. It has a team leader, versatile defender and special teams ace coming back in Matthias Farley. It has George Odum, who surprised many as a small-school undrafted rookie last year, returning for Year 2. And it also moved up 20 spots to select a smart, instinctual player in Khari Willis in the fourth round of this year’s NFL Draft. So it would appear the Colts are just about set at the safety position, right? Well, let’s not forget about Kindred, a fourth-year veteran who was claimed off waivers by Indy back in April. A fourth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns back in 2016, Kindred has 42 games and 17 starts to his credit, which makes him the most experienced safety on the Colts’ roster. And if injuries become an issue again at the safety position, the chance to plug in an experienced playmaker like Kindred — much like Indy did with Mike Mitchell beginning in Week 6 last season — could really help his case.
» Jihad Ward, defensive tackle: Ward’s time on the Colts’ active roster in 2018 was relatively brief, but he made the most of his opportunities in the six games he did get into. The 6-foot-5, 287-pound Illinois product logged a career-best 3.0 sacks to go along with four tackles (three for a loss) and six quarterback hits, constantly applying pressure from the interior of the defensive line. But Ward suffered an ankle injury Week 7 against the Buffalo Bills that would cost him the rest of his breakout season. The Colts enter training camp with plenty of depth along the defensive line, and in the interior they have proven playmakers Denico Autry and Margus Hunt to go along with young guns like Tyquan Lewis and Grover Stewart. But the 25-year-old Ward, who was able to return to the practice field during veteran minicamp to end the offseason workout program, will certainly do his best to make some noise and keep building on what he started last season.