Ranking Indianapolis Colts' Top 5 Sleepers to Watch in Camp
As the month of July rolls along, training camp grows ever closer.
The Indianapolis Colts' training camp begins on August 1, with the full team reporting that Saturday. The Colts have a lot to work through as the month progresses, preparing for the regular-season kickoff in September.
Once training camp and the preseason begin, we'll have plenty of new information to process, but until then, we'll be looking forward to training camp with much anticipation.
For the most part, the key players whom many are looking forward to seeing are well-known. Andre Johnson, Frank Gore and Trent Cole are all well-established figures who will draw many to Anderson, Indiana, for a sneak peek. Even Phillip Dorsett, the Colts' first-round pick, will generate a buzz.
But there are others who are not nearly as well-known that could play a vital part in the Colts' makeup this year. For these players, training camp will be the key for their 2015 projection. That's who we look at today: five sleepers for the Colts' training camp.
RB Dan Herron
1 of 5
There are several names in the Colts' backfield drawing massive interest for the 2015 season.
Frank Gore leads the way, obviously, with his potential to be the Colts' first legitimate lead back since Joseph Addai. Josh Robinson and his propensity for forcing missed tackles is an intriguing option for fans and fantasy owners heading into the preseason. Even Vick Ballard, who is attempting to return from consecutive season-ending leg injuries, has gotten attention.
Under the radar lies Dan Herron, the fourth-year back from Ohio State thrust into a starting role at the end of last season.
Herron left production on the field last season with dropped passes and average running skills. He also had some fumble issues that cost the Colts possessions.
Still, Herron is being overlooked.
While he's not an ideal starter, we know that Herron can both run and catch productively in this offense. He averaged over 99 yards from scrimmage per game in the playoffs last season. With Gore opting out of several OTAs, Herron took first-team reps, according to Kevin Bowen of Colts.com.
Watch Herron in the preseason to see if he continues to lock down his backup slot as a running back. Robinson has more upside, but he's a rookie. Herron has the potential to serve as a third-down back right away and potentially take over for Gore if necessary.
OLB Cam Johnson
2 of 5
We've talked a lot about Cam Johnson this offseason, and for good reason. His is one of the more intriguing situations on the team.
Johnson was a promising but raw pass-rusher when the San Francisco 49ers drafted him back in 2012, but he was traded for a late-round pick with the team's depth in early 2013. The Colts needed some pass rushing behind Robert Mathis, and Johnson at least provided some potential there.
After playing in 12 games in 2013 and getting some depth pass-rushing snaps, Johnson was seen as one of the potential pass-rushing specialists to produce in Robert Mathis' absence. Unfortunately, Johnson was placed on injured reserve just after Mathis' torn Achilles was reported, ending his shot at increased snaps.
Now, it seems Johnson may not even have a chance to make the roster if Mathis is healthy. With Mathis, Trent Cole, Bjoern Werner, Jonathan Newsome and Erik Walden, there seems to be little room for another outside linebacker.
But Johnson has drawn some attention from Bowen this offseason, and he could be a key factor in the final makeup of the roster's front seven, especially if Mathis opens the season on the physically unable to perform list.
He'll need to show up in training camp and the preseason, but Johnson has done so before.
TE Erik Swoope
3 of 5
The Colts have a pair of high-profile tight ends in Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener, but both of those players' contracts will expire next offseason, leaving the Colts to figure out how to fit them under the cap or find a contingency plan.
Enter Erik Swoope.
Swoope is an ex-basketball player from the University of Miami who spent all of last season acclimating to professional football. He's an interesting receiving tight end prospect, and he's caught the attention of media such as the Indianapolis Star's Stephen Holder during the offseason.
If Swoope continues to make plays when the pads come on, the Colts will likely be forced to keep him on the roster to protect against another team claiming him off the practice squad. Fortunately, there could be a roster spot open with the team's lack of a fullback on the roster.
Of course, Swoope is not a certainty by any means, but he could give the Colts extra options when Fleener's contract expires. The only way the team will know what it has is if it sees him in live action.
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DE Henry Anderson
4 of 5
Initially, the Henry Anderson draft pick was seen as a great steal for Indianapolis, as the Colts took the former Stanford player late in the third round.
But with OTAs and minicamp being without pads, it was difficult for Anderson to make an impact, as noted by the Indianapolis Star's Gregg Doyel. The former Cardinal was one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the nation last season, and he could be a huge difference-maker for the Colts in 2015.
First, however, he has to have a chance.
That'll come in training camp and the preseason, as he finally gets to go up against NFL linemen in a live setting.
Kendall Langford is the starter at 5-technique right now for Indianapolis, but if Anderson is anywhere near as disruptive as he was in college, he could push for significant playing time right away. With the Colts' lack of production from the defensive line last season, a penetrating defensive end could pay huge dividends in 2015.
ILB Nate Irving
5 of 5
One of the biggest things the Colts defense struggled with last season was inconsistent play from the inside linebacker position.
D'Qwell Jackson made the Pro Bowl as an alternate, but he was often a liability in coverage and received the acknowledgement mostly due to name recognition. Jerrell Freeman battled injuries throughout the year that limited his effectiveness, especially against the run. The two combined for terrible games against the New England Patriots in both the regular-season and postseason matchup.
Ideally, the two would be more consistent this season, especially Freeman if he is fully healthy. But that may not be a realistic expectation.
To bolster the linebacker depth and potentially push the starters for playing time, the Colts signed former Denver Broncos linebacker Nate Irving in free agency. Irving spent a large part of last season on the injured reserve list, but he started the eight games prior to his injury.
Though he isn't a coverage specialist by any means, Irving excels against the run and could be a potential replacement for Jackson or a part of short-yardage sub-packages.
At 26 years old, Irving represents a chance to get younger and quicker at the position, especially in regards to Jackson. Chuck Pagano told Kevin Bowen of Colts.com that Irving was ahead of schedule on his injury recovery, and he may be ready for training camp. If he is, keep an eye on him to see if he can push for playing time.
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