ANDERSON – The final horn of the Colts 2014 Training Camp in Anderson blew just before noon on Wednesday.
It was a very light practice for the Colts as they prepare for their preseason home opener on Saturday night against the New York Giants (2-0)
Here are three takeaways from Wednesday's practice:
PRACTICE TAKEAWAYS
- It's always a secret on how, and when, Chuck Pagano will end the final day of Training Camp. For the third straight year, the special teams unit was involved in the final play at Anderson University.
Pagano called the defense and offense together before splitting the two groups to form a bit of a tunnel. At the top of the tunnel, standing on the goal line, was special teams coach Tom McMahon. About 60 yards away from McMahon was the punt jugs machine. In order for camp to end early, McMahon or assistant special teams coach Brant Boyer would have to catch the punt. McMahon fielded the hanging punt like a seasoned vet. Players mobbed the Colts special teams coach and in less than an hour later the parking lot was deserted.
- The major news coming out of Wednesday's abbreviated practice was who would be in the lineup on Saturday night. Pagano said both LaRon Landry and Vontae Davis will make their preseason debuts against the Giants.
Communication and conditioning were the two words that Pagano used in talking about the importance in seeing Davis and Landry running with the starting secondary. If the Colts defense has a couple of drives less than 4 or 5 plays, I would expect that would be the end of the nights for Davis and Landry.
- Offensively, it looks like the Colts starters will play nearly the entire first quarter, depending on the success of their drives. In each of the last two preseasons, Andrew Luck has played into the second quarter during the second preseason game. It will be interesting to watch how long the Giants starters play as this will be their third preseason game of 2014 (they played in the Hall of Fame game).
INJURY REPORT/ROSTER MOVES
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The following players did not participate in Wednesday's practice: Khaled Holmes (ankle), Xavier Nixon (knee), Josh McNary, Jack Mewhort (knee), Andrew Jackson (hamstring), Ulrick John (leg), Delano Howell (neck), T.Y. Hilton, Davin Meggett, Jerrell Freeman (thumb), LaRon Landry and Vontae Davis (boot on his left foot for a sore toe).
PAGANO QUOTEWORTHY
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Chuck Pagano on what he wants to see out of LaRon Landry and Vontae Davis on Saturday night:
"You always worry about conditioning and how many plays they're going to get. If we have an eight, 10-play drive, you hope you don't have that, but see how they are from a conditioning standpoint. A mental standpoint, see where they're at from a communication standpoint. How they run around, how they tackle, how they cover, all those things that you see in practice, but practice is practice so we want to see it in a real game."
PLAYER QUOTE OF THE DAY
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Andrew Luck on if it's a fair statement to say the offense has been successful in the red zone this camp:
"I guess. I'm sure the defense would say that they've been successful as well in the red zone but it has been one of the focuses and I think we have made strides. I definitely think there is progress. We're better today than we were day one of camp in the red zone, which is good."
PLAYER TWEET OF THE DAY
It's been real training camp. I sure am going to miss you. pic.twitter.com/A1mkglYFBK — Matthew Hasselbeck (@Hasselbeck) August 13, 2014
YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA QUIZ
Since 2012, T.Y. Hilton is tied for third in the NFL with five touchdowns of 50-plus yards. Who are the only players with more?
ANSWER: A.J. Green has seven and Adrian Peterson has six.
TODAY'S TRIVIA QUIZ
Robert Mathis holds the club record with 27 career multiple-sack games. Only three other Colts have as many as 10. Who are they? See the next Colts Camp Notebook (coming Monday) for the answer.
PRACTICE ATTENDANCE: 625. TOTAL FOR CAMP: 34,088
WEATHER REPORT
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It was a stark contrast from the weather experienced on Tuesday. Sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s greeted the players for the final practice on Wednesday morning.
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CAMP SCHEDULE
The Colts had their final practice of the 2014 Training Camp on Wednesday morning. This closes the Anderson portion of Training Camp with the team now returning to their Indianapolis facility for the remainder of camp.
