Colts Camp Battles, Part III: Wide Receivers and Linebackers

So far we've taken a look at the camp battles for the defensive tackle, cornerback, back-up QB and running back spots on the Colts roster. This slideshow will showcase the linebackers and wide receivers. It will future-cast for the guys who are most likely to play important roles for the Colts in 2011. 

The linebacking situation is fairly murky with Clint Session out of the picture. He was a steady producer at weak side 'backer. Now that he's with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Colts need to find a replacement for him. It seemed that Kavell Conner had the inside track for the spot, with Pat Angerer taking over on the strong side. Gary Brackett will, of course, hold down the middle linebacker position. Conner injured his finger early in camp, however, so he may find himself lower on the depth chart if he can't heal up quickly.

The Colts added free agent Ernie Sims to the linebacker mix, and so far he has been impressive at camp, with some hard hits and good reads. We may see a starting three of Sims, Brackett and Angerer emerge.

The wide receiving situation seems to be a glut of riches, although with the injury plague last year, that strength quickly turned into a liability. Austin Collie and Anthony Gonzalez both seem to be fine so far this year, so the competition for the last few roster spots may be even more fierce.

Let's see how the roster may shake out as the Colts emerge from Anderson in a few weeks, ready for another playoff push.   

A Mix of Veterans and Young Guys to Compete for Linebacker Spots

The Colts will no doubt miss the hard-hitting Clint Session at weak-side linebacker in 2011. As they have often done in the Polian era, they let a high-performing 'backer go with the expectation that someone else will step up to replace him. Gary Brackett has been the only linebacker in recent memory to have been signed to a long-term deal after finding success.

The biggest new addition heading into camp is Ernie Sims, a 2006 first round pick of the Detroit Lions, who played for the Eagles last year. We'll start with an analysis of Sims and then move through the rest of the 'backers on the roster.

Ernie Sims- Sims has the same body-type and playing style as Session. He is smallish, but is fast and he hits well when he's able to close on a ball carrier. He isn't much of a ball-hawk for interceptions, as that's not really his forte. Going into camp, it looked to be a two-man battle between Sims and Kavell Conner for the starting position. With Conner's recent injury, however, Sims has an opening that he's likely to exploit.

Kavell Conner- A seventh round draft pick for the Colts in 2010, Conner was thrust into the starting lineup as injuries took their toll last year. He performed fairly well on the weak side and showed that he had the potential to be a David Thornton-type player for the Colts. Conner can also play "sam" linebacker and has shown good toughness and closing speed. Similar to Sims, he is not going to be a great coverage guy, but he has shown that he can make plays sideline-to-sideline. He needs to work on his tackling form, as he was one of the primary culprits in the rash of broken tackles that plagued the team in 2010.

Philip Wheeler- A fourth year linebacker out of Georgia Tech, Wheeler had the opportunity to prove himself in 2010 as a starting-quality player. He was inconsistent throughout the season, with some missed reads and missed tackles that cost the team. Wheeler is good at rushing the passer, however, and his strength enables him to get past blockers. With another year under his belt, he may be in a better position to try to fend off Pat Angerer for the starting position.

Pat Angerer- Angerer, the Colts second round selection last year, performed well as a starter in the final ten games of last season. He spent lots of time at "mike" when Brackett went down, but he also played a few games as "sam." With Brackett healthy, Angerer is competing with Wheeler for the starting "sam" job. While his natural position is middle linebacker, Angerer has the physical tools and play-reading ability to be successful on the other side of Brackett.  

Chris Colasanti- A mediocre player on a mediocre team last year, Colasanti doesn't have the look of a linebacker who will stick around. The linebackers for Penn State (which have often been a strong spot for the team in the past) were wretched last year, and Colasanti never distinguished himself amidst that sorry crew. This rookie free agent is unlikely to be a success story for the Colts, but having him around to find out what he can do certainly can't hurt.

Gary Brackett- With a great nose for the ball, good instincts and a solid mind for the game, Brackett is the unquestioned leader of the defense. Brackett's measurables have never looked that great, which is why he went undrafted out of Rutgers in 2003. He makes up for his fire-hydrant physique with smarts and sneaky athleticism. Brackett has a nice number of big plays to his name, and his performance in the clutch is a major reason for his success over the years.

Cody Glenn- Glenn is a key special teams guy for the Colts. His energy and tackling ability in coverage make him a valuable piece for the team. A fifth round pick of the Washington Redskins in 2009, Glenn hasn't developed his technique or coverage skills enough to push for a regular job in the linebacking rotation. The Colts will be more than happy if he continues to produce as a special teamer, though.

Adrian Moten- A light-weight prospect out of Maryland, Moten is a free agent signing who has a good chance to make the team. He is solid in coverage (something that the now-departed Tyjuan Hagler was asked to do in nickel situations last year) and he reads defenses well. He is too small to consistently rush the passer or make it through good blockers, but if he's able to beef up some and improve his strength, he could be great find for the Colts.

Kerry Neal- Neal filled a number of roles for the Fighting Irish during his college career, but he never really honed his skills in one particular position. As a free agent signee with raw skills, Neal is most likely trying to make the team as a special teamer. It's possible that he could show enough in coverage situations that he ends up on the roster or the practice squad.  

Recommendations for 2011: The best starting combination seems to be Sims, Brackett and Angerer, with Wheeler and Conner as the key back-ups. I think Conner still has a chance to beat out Sims, but his hand injury will prevent him from making that move. Angerer seems to be a more complete player than Wheeler, so look for him as the primary "sam" 'backer in 2011. Glenn and Moten are likely to be key special teams guys this year. I don't see Colasanti sticking around and Neal seems to be a borderline player who may make the practice squad. Even with Session's departure, there is reason for hope that the linebackers will be a more complete unit in 2011. Sims seems like a great addition, and Angerer now has a good rookie season behind him. If Brackett can stay healthy, the linebackers may surprise people with their proficiency this season.

Wide Receivers Hope to Gel in 2011

The Colts don't expect to need to dip into their fourth or fifth options at wide receiver in 2011 like they did in 2010. Brandon James (of all people) saw playing time last year! Undrafted free agent Blair White was one unlikely success story who did emerge out of the rash of injuries to starters. The top four receivers- Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie and Anthony Gonzalez- all seem to be ready to make an impact in 2011. That leaves just a few positions for the remaining players to compete for. Let's find out how these guys might stack up this year. 

Chris Brooks- Brooks bounced back and forth from being on the active roster to being cut to being on the practice squad last year. The second year player out of Nebraska is a raw talent who doesn't seem likely to see the field much. He's not especially fast and doesn't run polished routes. He'll probably be an early cut for the Colts. 

Austin Collie- Collie runs precise routes, has fantastic hands and finds seams down the middle with alacrity. Had he not been dinged by concussions twice last year, Collie would have been the best receiver not named Reggie Wayne on the team. Although not a burner, Collie is the kind of reliable slot receiver that the Colts love. He figures to play a solid role on the team in 2011.

Anthony Gonzalez- A fifth year former first-rounder, Gonzalez showed that he had the ability to be a strong contributor in his first two years in the league. However, 2009 and 2010 were extremely disappointing for the ex-Buckeye stand-out. In both years injuries sidelined him before the season truly got under way. Gonzalez spent the lockout training in Columbus at his old stomping grounds, and he has reported that he feels stronger and more ready for the season than at any point in his pro career. It can't be a bad thing to have too many options at receiver for Peyton Manning, and Gonzalez has the look of a superb number three receiver on the outside and a good number two if he's able to beat out Pierre Garcon. Gonzalez will be a free agent next year, so there is no doubt that he will be trying to prove his worth this year.

Blair White- Michigan State product Blair White burst onto the scene last year and performed well as a replacement for injured receivers Gonzalez and Collie. His speed and ability to separate are suspect, but he has good hands and runs clean routes. He can be lethal against slower linebackers and uses his size well. He's not a starter kind of guy, but should be on the team again as a fifth option and a good replacement in the case of injuries.   

Pierre Garcon- A seventh round draft pick out of Division III powerhouse Mount Union in 2008, Pierre Garcon exploded in 2009 as yet another hidden gem of a find for Bill Polian. He dropped 13 of the 85 catchable balls thrown his way in 2010, and his propensity to drop the football is maddening to Colts fans. Strong, fast and charismatic, Garcon is a deep threat who complements Reggie Wayne very nicely on the other side of the field. He has shown great big play potential, including a jaw-dropping run down and forced fumble on an Ed Reed interception in a 2009 divisional playoff game against the Ravens. On that play, Reed intercepted Manning's pass and headed down the sideline the other way. Garcon collected himself and streaked after him, caught him from behind and knocked the ball away from him. It was a truly astonishing feat of athleticism and chutzpah. Let's hope Garcon has more of those types of plays in him for 2011.

David Gilreath- A free agent signee from Wisconsin, Gilreath has soft hands and a good knack for route-running. He has performed well in camp so far, and seems to be in the mix as a potential kick returner. He has the skills to be a serviceable slot receiver, so look for him to show well in camp and make the team as a special teams guy. 

Kole Heckendorf- A marginal player who has bounced around the league since coming in with Green Bay as an undrafted free agent in 2009, Heckendorf will be hard-pressed to make the practice squad, let alone the regular roster. Heckendorf was injured in a recent scrimmage, making the probability that he'll find himself on the team even lower.

Joe Horn- Horn is a solid route-runner with good speed. An undrafted free agent out of Division II Ashland this year, Horn has showed up to camp with a drive to make the team. Reports are positive so far, with his play on special teams and as a receiver both exemplary. Although on the smaller side at 5-11, Horn could find a job as a returner or coverage guy and has shown enough as a receiver that he could beat out a guy like Taj Smith for a spot on the roster.

Larrone Moore- A speedy receiver out of Delaware State, Moore is in the mix for the kick return job. The other Moore (Devin) seems to have the inside track for that job, however. Devin Moore is even faster and has a bigger potential upside as a running back with good hands. It seems unlikely that Larrone Moore will show enough to find a spot on the team, or even the practice squad. Look for Moore as an early cut for the Colts. 

Taj Smith- Since coming into the league as a marginal prospect in 2009, Smith has been primarily a practice squad fiend for the Colts. Injuries forced him into a special teams role mid-season last year, and he made a splash in a game against the Dallas Cowboys with a blocked punt and recovery in the end-zone. His success on that play may have contributed to his over-exuberance on a Steve Weatherford punt during a game in the playoffs that led to a penalty and a continued drive for the Jets. He is a tall, physical receiver whose routes aren't very crisp at this point in his career. He should be able to hang on as a special teamer. His drive and athleticism make him a valuable piece for a mostly uninspiring special teams squad.  

Reggie Wayne- Wayne is clearly the best receiver on the team and is in the upper echelon of receivers in the NFL. He has good speed, amazing hands and can play in the middle of the field or can push it as a deep threat. He gets off the line well and can battle off smaller cornerbacks for the ball. Wayne always draws opposing teams' best corners, yet he has still been able to distinguish himself as a perennial Pro Bowler. Although on the verge of losing a step, Wayne is still the most feared Colts receiver due to his all-around excellence. 

Recommendations: Wayne and Garcon are primed to be the starting outside receivers, with Collie as the go-to slot guy. That leaves Gonzalez as a steady number four who has the potential to step in as number 2 if Garcon's tendency to drop passes gets worse or if Collie has lingering effects from his concussions. Of the remaining players, White and Smith should be hold-overs, with Gilreath and Horn sticking around either for special teams or on the practice squad. Moore, Heckendorf and Brooks will probably be the odd men out.

With Gonzalez healthy, the receiving corps seems to be as strong as it has been since 2008. Look for good things in 2011. 

Colts Camp Battles, Part IV to Examine the Compelling Remaining Competitions

Now that we've looked at the running backs, back-up QBs, wide receivers, linebackers, cornerbacks and defensive tackles, there are only a few positions that still deserve some exploration. The remaining spots are: kickers, safeties, defensive ends and offensive line.

With Adam Vinatieri, Justin Snow (long-snapper extraordinaire) and Pat McAfee well-entrenched as the kicking crew, it wouldn't be very useful to put them under a microscope. Defensive end also seems to be fairly well-established, with Mathis and Freeney as the unquestioned rushers off the end and Jerry Hughes as a young, high draft pick who has shown promise. The other guys in the mix are competing for special teams jobs or jack-of-all-trades defensive line back-up duties.

That leaves us with the next Camp Battle slideshow as an examination of the safeties and offensive line. Both of these squads are in a state of flux, with two highly-touted draft picks as potential contributors along the O-line and with uncertainly at back-up safety behind Melvin Bullitt and Antoine Bethea. Look for Colts Camp Battles, Part IV: Safeties and O-line later this week!