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Colts secondary enters as one Saturday night, then leaves impression

Intro: With the return of safety LaRon Landry, the Colts starting secondary worked together for the first time in 2013. The unit forced a turnover and continues to impress their head coach.

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INDIANAPOLIS –The Colts starting secondary chose not to be announced individually on Saturday evening.

Instead, the four members of the defensive backfield came out of the tunnel together with the starting lineup intact for the first time this preseason.

The secondary played as one on Saturday night, helping the Colts defense pitch a shutout and give fans a glimpse of what the future could hold for a talented unit.

"The sky's the limit," cornerback Greg Toler said of the secondary. "If we just keep taking it one game at a time, there's no ceiling on how good we can be. We just try to take that in every game and be consistent."

Toler once again ignited the secondary by forcing another turnover.

Early in the second quarter, Toler stripped Browns wide receiver Greg Little and recovered the fumble which marked the second straight game the new Colts cornerback had a takeaway.

"I tell (Toler) all the time, he has the tools to be a great cornerback and I just keep telling him you got to believe in it," safety Antoine Bethea said. "Last week he had an interception, this week, forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He's doing some great things for us."

Following the Colts 27-6 win, Toler carried out the message the secondary showed during pregame introductions.

Any credit for the turnover was deflected, as Toler talked about the presence of LaRon Landry and Bethea making things easier for the Colts cornerbacks.

"With (Landry) and Antoine (Bethea), they take a lot off me. I know Vontae (Davis) would say the same thing. Just them two guys, they're helping out anyway they can. They pretty much let you play aggressive knowing that they're going to have your back."

Landry made his Colts debut on Saturday night and paired with Bethea in the secondary, the duo gives the defense two veteran, Pro Bowl safeties.

"We know he's a force on the field and being able to have him out there, gets that camaraderie with one another," Bethea said of his fellow safety. "I think it was big for us before our first game. Obviously, we play together in practice, but sometimes games are a little different.

"(Landry) did a great job out there today running around and hitting of course. It's going to be a fun year back there for us."

Since Colts GM Ryan Grigson and Chuck Pagano took over early in 2012, the secondary has been entirely rebuilt with the exception of Bethea and Joe Lefeged.

Pagano is a former defensive backs coach and he has high expectations for that unit in 2013.

"Our secondary has a chance with those four guys and Darius (Butler) at the nickel spot and the rest of the guys, Cassius (Vaughn) and Josh (Gordy) to be one of the best secondaries in the league. It's great to have those guys there."

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