INDIANAPOLIS – After a four-day weekend and a quiet physical return to work on Tuesday, the Colts picked up their OTA schedule on Wednesday.
OTA No. 4 for the Colts was open to the media.
Second-round pick Quincy Wilson was back to work, but the defense was without potential starters Vontae Davis, Malik Hooker, Clayton Geathers, Kendall Langford and David Parry.
Here's a look at three takeaways from Chuck Pagano meeting the media with the Colts having two and a half weeks left in their offseason program:
Chuck Pagano on having Quincy Wilson back to work:
"He's a smart football player. He asks the right questions.
"I don't think he's anywhere near the physical shape that he needs to be in. He understands that, so he's working extremely hard to not only get the mental part down, but get himself into football shape to where you can run and cover and play the position he has to play at a very high level."
Bowen's Analysis: The boot was off and Quincy Wilson returned to practice on Wednesday, receiving mostly second-team reps, with some first-team run sprinkled in. It's clear the Colts want to see Wilson pick it up from a physical shape standpoint. On Wednesday, we saw Wilson make more plays in coverage than he gave up.
With Davis out and Wilson getting back up to speed, the Colts had a cornerback duo of Rashaan Melvin and Chris Milton in the starting lineup. Chuck Pagano did say on Wednesday that Darius Butler will continue to work at safety, with the Colts liking Darryl Morris at the nickel cornerback position, along with youngsters Nate Hairston and Dante' Blackmon. The secondary continues to see plenty of shuffling this time of year.Chuck Pagano on any Andrew Luck update:
"He's doing well, rehabbing every single day. He's a coach out there on the field. He's in the meetings. He's doing everything but taking snaps, but he's taking every one from a mental standpoint."
Bowen's Analysis: Each of the last two weeks, Andrew Luck's first appearance at OTAs comes just before the start of team drills. Luck walks onto the practice field with no helmet in hand. It's time to take mental reps. Pagano continues to refrain from any specific update on a return date for Luck.
As far as the backup quarterback, Scott Tolzien has been the guy for the vast majority of first-team reps, with Luck sidelined. Pagano said no decision has been made on whether the Colts will carry three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster this fall. Will Luck's rehab play into that decision?Chuck Pagano on the offensive line:
"The offensive line is not solidified.
"We would love it to be, but it's not. Until we get the pads on and get to Training Camp, there's a lot to be determined."
Bowen's Analysis: Despite Pagano saying this, we saw a healthy offensive line use this bunch on Wednesday: LT-Anthony Castonzo, LG-Jack Mewhort, C-Ryan Kelly, RG-Joe Haeg and RT-Le'Raven Clark. Yes, nothing concrete is in place on the right side, but Haeg and Clark are the early favorites for those open jobs. Pagano says the Colts will be moving the line some over the final few weeks of the offseason program.
On the other side of the trenches, Pagano loves the depth for a new-look defensive line (four new free agents and a draft pick). Henry Anderson spoke on Wednesday about how he thinks the pass rushing will improve for the down linemen, with the unit utilizing some tweaks in technique this coming season.
The analysis from those producing content on Colts.com does not necessarily represent the thoughts of the Indianapolis Colts organization. Any conjecture, analysis or opinions formed by Colts.com content creators is not based on inside knowledge gained from team officials, players or staff.
