Colts Training Camp Journal, Day 6: Anthony Richardson Runs with First-Team Again
It was another hot, fully-padded practice for the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday as Day 6 of training camp got underway at Grand Park Sports Campus.
After a shaky performance by rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson during the previous practice, along with a bevy of recent roster moves this week that brought in new players, there was plenty to watch on Thursday.
I was in attendance and now provide my notes from the sidelines.
TEAM
— Since the Colts' most recent practice, they signed free agents in offensive tackle Dan Skipper, tight end La'Michael Pettway, and wide receiver Amari Rodgers, and waived offensive tackle Jordan Murray, tight end Kaden Smith, and wide receiver Johnny King.
— Tight end Jelani Woods (hamstring), running back Zack Moss (arm), strong safety Julian Blackmon (hamstring), cornerback JuJu Brents (hamstring), defensive end Samson Ebukam (hamstring), linebacker E.J. Speed (ankle), offensive linemen Jake Witt (hip) and Emil Ekiyor (undisclosed), and linebacker Liam Anderson (right arm in sling) all missed practice. Running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) and defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis (knee) both remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
— Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (foot) left practice and did not return.
— Rookie cornerback Darius Rush (shoulder) returned after missing the last couple of practices.
— In 1-on-1 drills pitting offensive skill position players against defenders, the following is how each rep went, with a "win" being rewarded to a receiver for a catch but any non-catch (other than a penalty) going to the defense: Mo Alie-Cox def. Nick Cross; Deon Jackson def. Shaquille Leonard; Kylen Granson def. Rodney Thomas II; Segun Olubi def. Jake Funk; Grant Stuard def. Drew Ogletree; Zavier Scott def. JoJo Domann; Will Mallory def. Marcel Dabo; Breshad Perriman def. Jaylon Jones; Juwann Winfree def. Darrell Baker Jr.; Kody Case def. Chris Lammons; Isaac Taylor-Stuart def. Malik Turner; Alec Pierce def. Darius Rush; Amari Rodgers def. Michael Tutsie; Michael Pittman Jr. def. Kenny Moore II; Kevin Toliver II def. Mike Strachan; Isaiah McKenzie def. Tony Brown; Dallis Flowers def. Ashton Dulin; Vyncint Smith def. Darius Rush; Chris Lammons def. Josh Downs; Breshad Perriman def. Jaylon Jones; Darrell Baker Jr. def. Juwann Winfree; Michael Tutsie def. Ethan Fernea; Malik Turner def. Isaac Taylor-Stuart
— The 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills focused primarily on high red zone, red zone, and two-minute situations.
OFFENSE
— Richardson received all of the first-team reps on Thursday, which is the first time we've seen that on consecutive days all year including the spring. After practice, head coach Shane Steichen said they wanted to get Richardson extra reps because of the practice that Richardson missed earlier in the week on Monday.
— Richardson statistically had a better day passing on Thursday (8-of-13 [61.5%]) than the previous practice, which included a touchdown and an interception, but the performance was about the same. There were some completions made that the other quarterbacks simply can't duplicate due to his arm strength and ability to throw off-platform, but the timing and anticipation of Richardson's throws were inconsistent, particularly early in the day. He did get more accurate and poised as the practice wore on, however. During the final session of 11s, which was a two-minute drill, Richardson went 3-of-6 (50.0%) and also ran for a first down on 3rd-and-10. The drive ended with a Matt Gay field goal from approximately 58 yards. Throughout the day, Richardson had completions to Pittman (3), Jackson, Pierce, McKenzie, Evan Hull (short touchdown), and Granson.
— Gardner Minshew was 10-of-16 (62.5%) with completions to Ogletree (3), McKenzie (2), Hull (2), Strachan, Funk, and Dulin. He nearly threw an interception for a second consecutive day, but Toliver couldn't hold onto the tipped ball. During his two-minute drill, Minshew completed 5-of-8 passes (62.5%), had a couple of scrambles, and the drive ended in a field goal attempt by Gay from about 43 yards out that went wide right.
— The center-quarterback exchanges out of shotgun were a bit of an issue on Thursday, as Wesley French went high to Minshew twice, and Richardson dropped a Ryan Kelly snap, as it appeared he was thinking ahead to what he was about to do before securing the snap.
— Quarterback Sam Ehlinger had an efficient period during the short red zone portion of 11-on-11s, finding tight end Pharaoh Brown and Case on short touchdowns.
— The primary theoretical first-unit offensive players were as follows: Anthony Richardson (QB), Deon Jackson (RB), Michael Pittman Jr. (WR), Alec Pierce (WR), Mo Alie-Cox (TE), Kylen Granson (TE), Bernhard Raimann (LT), Quenton Nelson (LG), Ryan Kelly (C), Will Fries (RG), and Braden Smith (RT). Evan Hull (RB), Josh Downs (WR), Isaiah McKenzie (WR), Ashton Dulin (WR), and Drew Ogletree (TE) all got some reps as well.
— The second-unit line featured Arlington Hambright (LT), Carter O'Donnell (LG), Wesley French (C), Danny Pinter (RG), and Blake Freeland (RT). The third group was Matthew Vanderslice (LT), Carter O'Donnell (LG), Dakoda Shepley (C), Danny Pinter (RG), and Dan Skipper (RT).
— Some rookies made some impressive plays, including a play by Downs where the ball was bobbling to the ground between him and the defender and he caught it while landing on the ground. Mallory also made a one-handed catch during 11s in front of Lammons before turning upfield for more yardage. Scott also had a short rush touchdown from a few yards out.
— Rodgers had a nifty little catch during position drills on his first day with the Colts.
DEFENSE
— The primary theoretical first-unit defensive players were as follows: Dayo Odeyingbo (DE), DeForest Buckner (DT), Grover Stewart (DT), Kwity Paye (DE), Zaire Franklin (LB), Grant Stuard (LB), Kenny Moore II (NCB), Dallis Flowers (CB), Darrell Baker Jr. (CB), Rodney Thomas II (FS), and Nick Cross (SS). Stuard, Segun Olubi, and JoJo Domann all saw increased reps with Speed out, and McTelvin Agim saw extra work with the 1s following Buckner's exit.
— The second-unit defense is starting to take shape over the last week. Players who appear to receive the majority of the reps are as follows: Titus Leo (DE), Taven Bryan (DT), McTelvin Agim (DT), Khalid Kareem (DE), JoJo Dommann (LB), Grant Stuard (LB), Segun Olubi (LB), Tony Brown (NCB), Darius Rush (CB), Jaylon Jones (CB), Henry Black (S), and Marcel Dabo (SS).
— Baker continues to stack positive days, today picking off Richardson during 11-on-11s. Richardson tried to make an aggressive throw on an in-cutting route for Pierce, but Baker was right there to make the play. He's easily been one of the Colts' biggest winners of camp, taking advantage of playing with the first unit while Brents and Rush have nursed injuries.
— Another player who is stacking good days is defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad, who has plenty of starting experience in the NFL (34 career starts) but is showing out against the Colts' second and third-team offensive lines. On Thursday, he blew up a run by Hull in the backfield.
SPECIAL TEAMS
— The special teams focused primarily on kickoffs today with McKenzie, Downs, and Case receiving reps as the returners.
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