INDIANAPOLIS – The typical horn indicating the end of practice hadn't blown yet on Thursday morning, but Chuck Pagano was already calling his two units together.
Ah, yes, the climatic end to minicamp coming from the right leg of a tryout kicker.
Sam Irwin-Hill, an Australian native, and normally a punter/kickoff specialist, knocked home his second field goal attempt setting off a 'school's out' type of celebration from the Colts.
With that kick, the Colts eight-week offseason program, capped by a three-day minicamp, was over.
Here are some takeaways from Minicamp Day Three:
Day Three Minicamp Notes
- Players who were held out of minicamp on Thursday included: DE-Henry Anderson, DT-Arthur Jones, RB-Frank Gore, ILB-Edwin Jackson, OLB-Curt Maggitt, WR-Donte Moncrief, ILB-Antonio Morrison, CB-Patrick Robinson, WR-Chester Rogers, CB-D'Joun Smith and OG-Hugh Thornton. Again, with injured players this time of year, any little nick or bruise is taken very serious. No reason to push guys in May/June.
- Ryan Grigson spoke at the start of Thursday's practice and reiterated that D'Joun Smith had a setback in his knee injury rehab. The Colts have consulted multiple people in the medical field who believe Smith will be ready for Training Camp. Smith did not participate in OTAs or minicamp.
- During the little bit of teamwork we saw on Thursday, Vontae Davis and Jacoby Brissett each made plays of their own, during red-zone work. With Donte Moncrief out this offseason, Dorsett has benefitted from extended first-team reps. Dorsett is clearly a guy to watch on offense this season.
- With a banged up cornerback group on Thursday, Tevin Mitchel saw first-team run. Mitchel is a name to watch in camp with the cornerback depth wide open going into Anderson.
- Grigson was also asked about the possibility of the Colts adding a veteran free agent this time of year. You don't often see additions in June/July and the Colts likely won't be in the market for one, given their cap situation.
- Expect both Hugh Thornton and Donte Moncrief to be ready to go when Training Camp starts in Anderson. Neither player participated in the team's offseason program.
Chuck Pagano on evaluating players this time of year:
"You don't find some of the things you really need to know until Training Camp starts."
Bowen's Analysis: July 26. That is the date when the Colts players will return to work for the 2016 season. Training Camp in Anderson will start earlier this season with five preseason games on the slate.
Pagano knows that the real evaluation comes in Anderson (thanks to full pads), but this time of year was critical with the installation of a new offense and defense. The players didn't leave the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center empty handed on Thursday. Playbooks on iPads and a strength and conditioning model for the next 47 days have been mapped out for the 90-man roster.Andrew Luck on his work the past eight weeks:
"Physically and mentally I feel like I have gotten better as a quarterback, better as a thrower, better at understanding this offense."
Bowen's Analysis: The media watched the Colts work on six different occasions this offseason. Andrew Luck was participating out there each and every time. There's been no sign of any lingering injury problems for Luck this offseason.
Luck said he will work with Ryan Kelly during the upcoming down time, trying to further build that relationship. Also on the agenda for Luck is the anticipation of getting a new contract done. Luck's comments Thursday about his upcoming contract was as followed: "I know I'm a Colt and I know I'm going to do the best job for this team, no matter what the situation is. It's not going to weigh on me."Ryan Grigson on cornerback D'Joun Smith:
"He's just not quite there. What we are trying to do is to give him the best chance to be at 100 percent for camp."
Bowen's Analysis: The 2015 draft class has several promising pieces but the Colts are still waiting to see what they have in Smith. A third-round pick in 2015, Smith battled injuries all throughout his rookie season and that limited him to little game action.
Heading into Anderson, the Colts will probably rely on the veteran trio of Vontae Davis, Patrick Robinson and Darius Butler. After those three, there are plenty of reps to be had. If an injury did occur to one of those top three guys, this team's fourth corner would all of a sudden play a major, major role.
