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August 12, 2008

Camp Scene: Colts sharp in preparation for Atlanta

By Tom James

TERRE HAUTE — While the Indianapolis Colts haven’t played all that terribly in their first two preseason games, the team’s focus hasn’t been quite up to the standards set by Tony Dungy and his coaching staff. Indianapolis will take a 0-2 record into Saturday night’s game with Atlanta at the Georgia Dome (7:30 p.m., WTTV-Channel 4).

That may have begun to change Tuesday, however, as Dungy saw some sharper work during both of the day’s workouts.

“I thought a little sharper, a little more energy than we had last Tuesday,” the Colts’ coach said afterward. “But, overall, a good day. And we got some good work done.”

Dungy liked the enthusiasm and aggressiveness showed by his team during individual and team periods.

“You’d rather have it that way,” Dungy explained. “I talked to them, actually [Monday], when we came back in [from the morning practice] about our practice maybe not as sharp and crisp last week as we needed it. I think there just was a little more focus [Tuesday]. But it was good. Good work.”

• • •

• Big hit — Strong-side linebacker Clint Session, who returned to practice this week after sitting out a few days with a calf injury, looked like he was trying to make up for lost time Tuesday.

The second-year pro faced off against running back Joseph Addai in a one-on-one blitz pickup drill during the morning workout. While Addai is one of the NFL’s best pass-blocking runners, the former University of Pittsburgh standout scored one for the defense.

Session charged Addai and eventually knocked him over and to the ground. A rematch later in the session — set up by running backs coach Gene Huey — ended in a draw.

“He [Huey] wanted me to do it again, so I just went ahead and did it again,” Session said later. “It’s a lot a fun. Joseph is a Pro Bowl guy, so you get confidence out of that. You’re going against a Pro Bowl guy and you’ve got a chance to beat him. It makes you feel comfortable when you go into a game.”

Dungy said the drill is designed more to help the running backs with their pass-blocking technique than it is to help the linebackers.

“We don’t really blitz a lot [as a defense], so that’s probably the only time [the Colts’ linebackers] get to come is in practice,” he said. “We’re a team that just doesn’t bring our linebackers much. They all want to do it [the drill] and they enjoy doing it. And it gets competitive with the backs and it’s been good work for us.

“That’s why we do the drill. Really more for the backs than for our linebackers. But the backs have to learn how to do it [pass block]. It’s important to us in [pass] protection and we’ve been blessed. We’ve had a lot of backs who have been good at it.”

• Where’s the heat? — Weather-wise, it’s been a rather mild three weeks of training camp for the Colts so far.

Temperatures have reached the high 80s, with a couple of days in the 90s. But for the most part, cooler has been the norm rather than the exception.

“We had a couple of days [of hot weather], but maybe not what we’re used to,” the Colts’ coach said this week. “But all-in-all, we’ve had good work. Probably with the [training camp] 80-man [roster] limit and the extra time that we’re here, it’s probably good that it hasn’t been overly hot.”

While the players obviously relish the lack of high temperatures and humidity, most coaches would prefer to practice in a little hotter climate.

“I like a few days of hot weather just to see who can fight through it. It was a good camp from a player’s point of view, so I’m fine with it,” Dungy added.

• Roster moves — Running back Clifton Dawson cleared waivers and was re-signed by the Colts. Indianapolis placed linebacker Dedrick Harrington on the waived/injured list. Rookie placekicker Adam Crossett, meanwhile, remains with the team.

Indianapolis also claimed former Houston Texans linebacker Marcus Richardson on Tuesday. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Richardson played collegiately at Troy.

• Injury update — Dungy announced Tuesday that second-year cornerback Michael Coe will be placed on injured reserve and will be lost for the remainder of the 2008 season. Coe had surgery on his left knee last week.

“We looked at it and wanted to hold off as long as we could, but realistically he’s going to be two months into the season. So going with 52 guys [on the regular-season roster] didn’t seem feasible. We had some injuries at some other spots we needed to shore up,” the Colts’ coach explained.

“It’s tough, tough for Mike because he did a great job rehabbing his shoulder, was doing well and just kind of had a freak injury that ruined his year. But he’ll bounce back. He’ll be fine.”

In other news, running back Kenton Keith missed both of Tuesday’s practices. Keith suffered a hip injury during Monday’s special-teams workout.

Defensive end Josh Thomas (groin), middle linebacker Victor Worsley (hamstring) and rookie defensive end Curtis Johnson (quad) also sat out Tuesday.

Rookie middle linebacker Philip Wheeler, who underwent knee surgery last week, has started his rehab work and could possibly return to practice in a couple of weeks.

“Philip’s doing fine,” Dungy said. “He’s started his rehab process. He’s off his crutches and we’re hopeful for [his return in time for the] Buffalo week [Aug. 24]. If not, [the] Cincinnati week [Aug. 28].”



Tom James can be reached by e-mail at TJames1475@aol.com.

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