Colts Camp Battles, Part I: Cornerback and Back-Up QB Competitions

As the Colts roster shakes out and free agency winds down, thoughts begin to turn to training camp and the expected competitions in Anderson this year. So far, the free agent losses that will have the most impact are linebacker Clint Session and cornerback Kelvin Hayden. Both Hayden and Session were starters for much of the past couple years, and so at those positions, a new player or two will have to step up in 2011.

The Colts have been highly effective at promoting from within since Bill Polian became GM in 1998. It is likely that at least a few unknowns will break into the regular rotation in 2011.

The back-up QB job is another position that the Colts are not entirely satisfied with, and their recent signings of Dan Orlovsky from the Houston Texans and Nate Davis from the San Francisco 49ers show that they would like to have some competition for that spot this year.

This slideshow is the first part of an examination of the most compelling potential training camp battles. It will take a look at the back-up QB position and the cornerback situation and will explore who is likely to emerge from the pack. Colts Camp Battles, Part II will come later this week and will examine the linebackers, running backs and defensive linemen currently on the roster and attempt to forecast the strongest possible group that may emerge at the end of preseason. 

The Right to Hold a Clipboard for Manning Is Still Up for Grabs

It would be truly terrifying to ponder the possibility of a season-ending injury to Peyton Manning. So I won't. Instead, let's hope that whomever wins the Colts back-up quarterback competition is only achieving the right to stand on the sidelines with a clipboard during games. The back-up's work will be with the second team in practice, and he'll never see the field during the regular season or playoffs. If he does, the Colts will be in trouble.

Below is a short run down of the strengths and weaknesses of the current QBs on the Colts roster and a prediction for who will win the job.

Nate Davis: Since entering the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers in 2009, Ball State product Davis showed off his athleticism, but never really gained traction with the team. A fifth round draft pick, Davis was considered to be a raw talent, but one who had the potential to develop into something special. In six preseason games with the 'Niners, Davis completed 52 of 93 pass attempts for 615 yards. He was cut and then added to the practice squad in 2010 after ex-coach Mike Singletary brought in Troy Smith to be the No. 3 QB for the team.  

Davis never showed that he was able to put in the work to understand opposing teams' defenses and to make good progressions. He does have the ability to make plays if the offense breaks down. He is quick and agile and can sling the ball with the best of them.

Curtis Painter: Another product of an Indiana university, Purdue grad Painter has gained the ire of Colts fans in his short two year tenure as back-up QB. The disastrous last two games in the nearly perfect 2009 season showed that Curtis Painter is not ready to take the reins if Manning's neck injury does happen to keep him off the field at any point in 2011. His career passing rating from the two games in which he played in 2009 is 9.8. Yes, it is actually 9.8. He hasn't fared much better in preseason against opposing teams' second and third string guys, either. He has only completed 55.7 percent of his passes and has a 1 to 6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. 

By this point, all that I can see that he has going for him is the fact that he knows the Colts offense very well and has most likely developed at least some sort of rapport with second team receivers. He was a fairly effective QB in college, with good accuracy and an adequate pocket presence. 

Mike Hartline: 2011 undrafted free agent Mike Hartline is the newcomer in the back-up QB mix. He is a big armed gunner out of Kentucky who has an arrest for public intoxication on his record. His footwork is poor, and he sometimes makes bad decisions. Despite these disadvantages, he does have the ability to sling the ball well with good accuracy and can make plays due to his size and athleticism.  

Dan Orlovsky: Much-maligned Orlovsky might be best known for running out of the back of his own end zone during his first career start in 2008 as a Detroit Lion. That ill-fated 0-16 season featured many ignominious moments, but Orlovsky's gaffe may have been the worst. The two-point margin of victory for the Minnesota Vikings in that game can be attributed to the safety that he caused.

Despite this bad mark on his record, Orlovsky, a six-year veteran out of UConn, has an accurate arm and has been around long enough to be fairly adept at reading defenses. Most recently the Houston Texans No. 3 QB, Orlovsky has the most experience and is the most respected QB around the league of the four potential back-ups. 

The Bottom Line: This competition may be as diverting during the preseason as the infamous battle between Quinn Gray and Jared Lorenzen in 2008. Expect Curtis Painter to ultimately win out, though. The Colts like consistency, and there must be some reason that Painter has stuck around this long despite his woeful showings in actual game situations.

Cornerback Situation Is Muddled with Kelvin Hayden out of the Picture

The somewhat surprising cut of cornerback Kelvin Hayden means that there is now a hole in the defensive backfield for the Colts. Due primarily to injuries, Hayden's production declined steadily since 2007. Hayden's big contract was cumbersome for the Colts, and they obviously felt that they could get along without his services. Hayden was a known commodity who was effective when healthy, though.

After Jerraud Powers (who has proven himself as an upper-tier cornerback who is only getting better), there is a big drop-off in talent with the remaining CBs on the roster. There is a strong possibility that the Colts will sign a couple more guys to compete in training camp, but let's take a look at who the Colts currently have on the roster and who may emerge as a replacement for Hayden.

Cornelius Brown: When Brown saw action in a few games last year, many Colts fans scratched their heads in perplexity. He was an undrafted free agent who somehow stuck around long enough to see action when injuries decimated the Colts defense. He was a solid contributor in spot work, however, and with a year of experience under his belt, he may have the upside to make it into the rotation as a nickel cornerback.

Jacob Lacey: Undrafted free agent success story Jacob Lacey took a few steps back in his sophomore season with the Colts. He was exposed in coverage more often last year than in 2009 and doesn't have good enough speed to keep with the top receivers in the league. He does have grit and good hands at the line, though, and has proven his mettle against slot receivers. Lacey seems to be positioned well to at least get into the regular rotation as a situational cornerback in 2011.

Jordan Hemby: Hemby's young career as a Colt has been marred by injury. He tore his ACL in a preseason game against the Bills last August and didn't see the field at all last year. After showing promise with seven interceptions in his senior season with North Carolina in 2009, Hemby was on track to be a good third-down back for the Colts. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and compete for a roster spot in 2011.

Terrence Johnson: Relative unknown Terrence Johnson was a late-season pick-up for the Colts last year. Hailing from a small school in Pennsylvania, Johnson seems to be a serial practice squad guy. It is unlikely that he'll earn a spot on the roster this year.

Mike Newton: Practice squad stand-by and occasional special teamer Mike Newton doesn't look like the type who will rise up to get into the cornerback rotation for the Colts. He will probably be more than happy to find himself as a good contributor in coverage on special teams.

Chris Rucker: A sixth round draft pick out of Michigan State this year, Chris Rucker has the size, speed and hands to become a starter in the NFL. He will need to keep his nose clean, though. A sketchy record with the law diminishes excitement about his prospects, but it is clear that he has the physical tools to be a factor for the Colts at cornerback.

Kevin Thomas: Thomas is a former third round pick who seems to be as fragile as Jessica Simpson's ego. He has been injured for most of his career, but the Colts seem to be willing to give him another chance this year. I expect that he'll remain true to form and get injured in training camp and quietly slip off the team. Some guys (see Mike Hart as Exhibit A) just can't stay healthy long enough to make a career of it in the NFL.

Justin Tryon: Former Washington Redskin Justin Tryon was a revelation for the Colts after Hayden was injured early in the season. He is not only a solid cover corner, but he also can return kicks with some degree of efficiency. Tryon is more consistent than Jacob Lacey and has a better feel for keeping with receivers than anyone else on the team not named Jerraud Powers. Expect Tryon to be even better in his second year as a Colt.

Bottom Line: The top cornerbacks (after Powers) seem to be Lacey, Tryon, Rucker and Brown. Of that foursome, Tryon has the most experience. Rucker has the biggest upside, with Brown close at his heels in that category. Lacey is the steady contributor who has probably already shown us his ceiling. With those thoughts in mind, look for Tryon to win the number two cornerback job for the first part of the season, but for Rucker to come on as the stronger cornerback by the end of the year. Lacey and Brown will probably platoon as the situational nickel backs in 2011.

Preview for Colts Camp Battles, Part II

With Joseph Addai back in the fold, the running back situation seems to be stabilized for 2011. After Addai, however, there are lots of questions. Delone Carter out of Syracuse is a draft pick already in the mix and the Colts recently signed two undrafted free agents to augment Carter. Donald Brown and Javarris James look to have some competition heading in to training camp. I'll break down the pros and cons of each running back on the roster in Part II.

The frequently-gashed Colts defensive line is another squad with a few intriguing storylines for training camp. I'll hash through the various players along the line who will be trying to prove something in Anderson this August with Part II.

The departure of the hard-hitting Clint Session to the Jacksonville Jaguars really hurts the linebacking corps. How with the remaining 'backers stack up during training camp this year? Part II will hazard a few answers to that question.

Check it out in a few days!