One of the biggest goals for Chris Ballard, Shane Steichen and the entire Colts organization heading into the 2025 season was to make sure they produced a football team that was physical, talented and hungry for success.
In creating competition at essentially every position, whether it was for a starting role or simply a spot on the 53-man roster, the Colts saw players like running back Tyler Goodson, tight end Will Mallory and safety Daniel Scott take advantage of every opportunity they had to prove themselves throughout the preseason.
"The biggest thing this offseason, we talked about creating an edge and being in great condition, and I think we did that throughout training camp," head coach Shane Steichen said Monday. "We had more than 400 more reps in team periods during training camp to be in great physical shape, along with the conditioning that our strength and conditioning staff has done with those guys."
Of course, the most notable competition was for the role of starting quarterback; Daniel Jones got the job over Anthony Richardson Sr., and a big factor in Jones earning the job was his ability to create, and feed into, that competitive environment Steichen has been looking for.
"He's been a pro from the day he walked in here," Steichen said. "The way he's worked, people have seen it throughout the building – his teammates, the coaches – and I think that adds to it. A guy that's always prepared and ready to roll, and the way he works, that creates an edge in itself."
Another integral part of the Colts' offense inspires that same kind of confidence in Steichen: Jonathan Taylor. The All-Pro running back had a standout 2024 season with 303 carries for 1,431 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, and Steichen said he's looking forward to another big year from Taylor in 2025.
"I think he's been consistent since he's been here," Steichen said. "I think it's the way he works, goes about his business, his home run ability that he has...the way he goes is how we go too, as an offense. So, I'm excited for his opportunity."
The one thing the Colts ran into during the preseason that hindered some of the competition was injuries; the secondary took the brunt of it, with rookies Justin Walley and Hunter Wohler sustaining season-ending injuries in camp, but many position groups saw at least one or two players sustain some kind of injury at some point in the preseason.
As the Colts' season opener against the Miami Dolphins draws closer, though, the majority those injuries are firmly in the rearview mirror.
"We feel good going into week one," Steichen said. "I think we'll be in real good shape with everybody."
And no matter who's out on the field come Sunday, it's clear Steichen believes in everyone he has on his roster.
"I'm confident in all our guys' abilities," he said. "I think these guys have got the right mindset going into this thing...I think everyone's ready to go, geared up for the season. Excited for the opportunity, any time you get a chance to go play in the National Football League, especially at home in front of our home crowd, I'm excited to see what our guys can do."
