INDIANAPOLIS —
With a bye this weekend, the Indianapolis Colts went through a short week of practice before taking a long four-day weekend.
Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano put the Colts through workouts Tuesday and Wednesday before allowing the team to scatter across the country.
Players are due back Sunday evening as Pagano and his coaching staff hope to hit the ground running heading into Indianapolis’ Oct. 7 home game with Green Bay.
The plan going into the bye week was to get back to basics during the practice sessions.
Indianapolis is coming off a disappointing 22-17 home-field loss to AFC South rival Jacksonville last Sunday, giving the team a 1-2 record going into the matchup with the Packers.
“You just have to play better technique and fundamentals. Going into this bye week, [that was] our major emphasis. [We came in Tuesday] and [watched] the film, make the corrections,” the Colts’ coach explained.
“[We had] a longer individual period and [addressed] the areas that need to be addressed. From a fundamental and technique standpoint, if we just play smarter and do some things differently here and there across the board — every position, offense, defense and special teams — we’ll find a way to win those [close] games.”
Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck is facing his first NFL bye week. He wasn’t pleased with his performance against the Jaguars on Sunday and intends to spend his time watching tapes of Indianapolis’ first three games.
“The position I’m in, you’ve got to watch film still. I don’t think I’ve earned the right to take five days completely off. I’ll make sure to relax a little,” Luck said.
“In talking to [quarterbacks coach] Clyde [Christensen] ) and [veteran backup QB] Drew [Stanton], you realize it is a long season and you want to make sure you are fresh throughout the whole thing.”
Pagano had planned to get away during the bye-week break, then he decided to stay close to the team’s offices.
“I had some [plans]. I canceled them, to be honest with you,” he said, adding that he talked to the team about being smart with the time while they’re away over the weekend.
“That’ll be the major theme to make sure everybody gets back safe and sound.”
• Christensen likes what he sees — Christensen, the veteran Colts assistant coach who was the team’s offensive coordinator the last two seasons, says he likes the progress that he’s seen from Luck through the first three games.
“[He] responds very well to instruction. Doesn’t make the same mistake twice. Once told, [he] tends to get on top of it,” Christensen said Wednesday. He wants Luck to relax a little bit over the bye break.
“Some guys, you want to hit the books. I think he’s better off getting away. It’s a long haul [over the course of a 16-game regular season].”
• Angerer practices — Inside linebacker Pat Angerer, who has been sidelined since fracturing his right foot in the Colts’ preseason opener with St. Louis, dressed and went through a light workout Wednesday.
Angerer is hopeful of being available to start against Green Bay on Oct. 7 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Former Canadian Football League standout Jerrell Freeman has done a nice job of filling in. The two are expected to rotate at one inside linebacking spot next to Kavell Conner when Angerer returns to the lineup.
• Other injury updates — Cornerback Vontae Davis was spotted wearing a walking boot on his right foot Wednesday. Davis sprained his right ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game with Jacksonville. His status for the Packers’ game has not been determined.
Outside linebacker Dwight Freeney and offensive guard Joe Reitz were both scheduled to see light practice Tuesday and Wednesday. Freeney was hurt in the team’s regular-season opener at Chicago and has been sidelined for the first three games. Reitz, meanwhile, has nursed a sore knee since the start of training camp. He recently underwent minor surgery on the knee.
Pagano remains hopeful that Freeney and Reitz will be able to play against Green Bay.
• Butler learning — Should Davis and cornerback Justin King (groin) be unable to play against the Packers, recently acquired cornerback Darius Butler may be forced into the lineup quicker than expected.
Butler, drafted by New England in 2009, thinks coming in during the bye week will give him some extra time to pick up the Colts’ defensive scheme.
“I’m sure it will help me out mentally, getting the hang of things, getting used to the scheme and program. Physically, I want to get out there,” he said.
“I had enough bye weeks this year. I would like to get out there this Sunday, but it’ll be good to get used to the new surroundings.”
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Pagano gives Colts 4 days off
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Seeking elite status
Many stages are set in the long-running drama that is the Indianapolis 500.
The 97th running on the famed oval today has the potential to provide a new four-time champion in Helio Castroneves or Dario Franchitti.
A win for either driver would tie them for the all-time lead in the Indy 500 as A.J. Foyt (1961, ’64, ’67, ’77), Al Unser 1970-71, ’78, ’87) and Rick Mears (1979, ’84, 88, ’91) are atop that mountain with four wins a piece.
While Castroveneves starts in the middle of row three, he and his team won the pit stop competition on Carb Day. The last time Castroneves won the pit stop competition, he won his third Indy 500.
“The field is so close and we have at least 20 cars that are capable to win this race,” Castroneves said. “My previous win, it was actually won on that as well. We were able to execute in the right time and they were able to put me in a very good opportunity to execute.” -
Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. -
Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
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Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
As the 2013 NFL draft gets underway tonight at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the Indianapolis Colts are continuing their wait-and-see stance in regard to the first-round pick.
The draft begins at 8 p.m. — televised by the NFL Network and ESPN — with the Kansas City Chiefs making the night’s first selection. Teams will have 10 minutes to make their decisions during the first round. Indianapolis will have the 24th overall pick in the first round.
There will be only one round tonight. The second and third rounds are scheduled for Friday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with seven minutes allotted per pick in the second round and five minutes allowed in the third. The final four rounds are slated to begin at noon Saturday with four minutes between selections.
As it stands now, Indianapolis does not have a second-round pick. It was traded to Miami last fall in exchange for veteran cornerback Vontae Davis. But second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has nut ruled out the possibility of trading down from the first round if the Colts aren’t satisfied with the players available. -
Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
The Indianapolis Colts’ roster moves just keep coming.
While the Colts haven’t yet added that big-name wide receiver that team owner Jim Irsay hinted at in tweets over the weekend, Indianapolis has addressed one area on offense.
Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had agreed Monday night to be the Colts’ primary back-up to second-year starter Andrew Luck. He officially signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the team Tuesday morning.
“We are very pleased to announce the signing of Matt Hasselbeck,” general manager Ryan Grigson said in a prepared statement. “His body of work, intangibles, and extensive league experience speak for themselves. Those factors, plus his familiarity with our offensive scheme, will make him a great asset to our team and its vision as we move forward.” -
Colts introduce free-agent signees
What the Indianapolis Colts accomplished last season — posting an 11-5 record and earning an AFC wild-card berth with a young team plus having that kind of success without its head coach on the sidelines for 12 games — didn’t go unnoticed by players around the NFL.
That was especially true for the five veteran free agents who were added to the Colts’ roster Tuesday. Offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus (Detroit), cornerback Greg Toler (Arizona), outside linebacker Erik Walden (Green Bay), offensive guard Donald Thomas (New England) and linebacker Lawrence Sidbury (Atlanta) admitted as much Wednesday.
“I felt like this would be the best fit for me at this point in my career. I really liked what I saw was happening with the program here and the way things have taken shape. I feel like we have a really great team here and it’s on the rise. I really wanted to be a part of that,” Thomas said during a teleconference interview with the Colts’ media. -
Indianapolis franchises punter McAfee
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“He’s huge. He’s a major priority in free agency. Obviously, we’ve reached out and are working to get Pat re-signed,” Pagano said during the National Football Scouting Combine. “We saw what he did for us last year. He’s a great weapon, not only kickoffs and touchbacks. -
Colts' Pagano back to full work schedule at combine
Back and ready to go.
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Many Colts point to that loss in the third week of the season. Indianapolis led 14-3 at the half and were ahead 14-13 after three quarters of play.
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