INDIANAPOLIS —
Things get interesting when the coaching staff is still learning the names of the players at this portion of the season.
But due to a rash of injuries, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, the Indianapolis Colts keep adding players. And some of the newcomers may actually see a considerable amount of playing time Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
“Whoever can get some snaps will get some. Some don’t need them. I wouldn’t think [outside linebacker] Robert [Mathis] would need any snaps to play on Sunday,” interim coach/offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said.
“We’ll wait to see how that goes as the week progresses but they are making really nice progress and the doctors have not ruled them out yet.”
Mathis has been sidelined for the past two weeks with a sprained knee. The Colts are also missing defensive end Cory Redding (knee), defensive tackle Fili Moala (knee), and cornerback Vontae Davis (ankle). Davis, though, might return to the starting lineup this week.
Outside linebacker Dwight Freeney, meanwhile, is still nursing a sprained ankle that he initially hurt in the team’s season-opening loss to Chicago. Freeney returned to the lineup two weeks ago against Green Bay and played last week against the New York Jets. But he’s still not 100 percent.
With such a turnover in talent, putting together a consistent performance on defense hasn’t been easy. Indianapolis struggled to stop the Jets’ running game last week and will be tested against by Cleveland rookie running back Trent Richardson.
“It’s a credit to the [Colts] coaching staff to do what they’re doing. Our backup defensive line right now has a cumulative, after today, 10 practices. So that’s a lot of new [players],” Arians said.
“[Defensive line] coach [Gary] Emanuel is earning his paycheck and he’s doing a heck of a job. We’ll see how it goes. We might get fortunate enough to get a couple guys back and [the backups] won’t have to play. But we’ll get ready for them to play and we’ll see how it goes.”
With Mathis questionable and Freeney not at full speed, getting a consistent pass rush on Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden will be tough to accomplish.
“You either have to create pass rush. [Outside linebacker] Jerry [Hughes], the inside pressure or rush blitz them. First of all, you’ve got to stop the run or you’re never going to get to that situation,” the Colts assistant coach said.
“So we’ve got to stop the run and then apply pressure, whether it be three, four, five [players]. You can apply pressure with good coverage and just great effort.”
And how important will it be for the Indianapolis defense to get after Weeden this week?
“Any time you can do that, you obviously make them uncomfortable, especially a young one. Getting them to move out of the pocket or move around. Most young quarterbacks are going to keep their eyes where the reads are and telegraph some things,” Arians said.
“So if you can make them uncomfortable, it obviously helps disrupt their accuracy. Hit them and it helps a lot more to get their feet moving.”
The goal for this week in practice is to try and get a consistent effort across the board.
“The challenge is the difference in the faces learning, the guys having to move to different jobs. If we put our 11 guys that we started with out there, it wouldn’t be much of a challenge. We’d be a pretty good football team. Right now, all we’re thinking about is getting to 3-3 [on the season],” he said.
“If we can get to 3-3, we’ll be with half the teams in this league going into the stretch. It’s not about being young. Most of these guys have played a college football season, so they’re not young anymore. The guys who just showed up, they’re young. But we’ll play with them and I’m sure they’ll give us great effort and everything that they’ve got in this football game.”
I I I
n Roster moves — The Colts’ personnel department has been busy this week. Indianapolis waived rookie quarterback Chandler Harnish and outside linebacker Jerry Brown from the active roster Tuesday evening. Tight end Dominque Jones was also waived from the practice squad.
Indianapolis also signed tight end Weslye Saunders (Steelers) and defensive end Lawrence Guy (Packers). Both Saunders, who played for Arians in Pittsburgh, and Guy could end up playing considerable minutes in Sunday. Harnish will most likely be signed to the Colts’ practice squad if he clears waivers.
n Injury list — Running back Donald Brown (knee), cornerback Darius Butler (shoulder), nose tackle Martin Tevaseu (ankle), Redding, Moala, Freeney and Mathis did not practice Wednesday.
Inside linebacker Pat Angerer (foot), offensive guard Joe Reitz (knee) and offensive tackle Winston Justice (ankle) all saw limited work. Davis fully participated in the workout.
“Still out are Donald Brown and Fili Moala. Everyone else will be questionable, day-to-day, at this point in time,” Arians said. “Guys are making really good progress and we’ll see how practice goes to see what the list looks like for the rest of the week.”
Inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman, who left last week’s game with the Jets with an apparent concussion-type injury, has been cleared. Freeman practiced Wednesday and is expected to start against the Browns. Inside linebacker Moise Fokou, meanwhile, also practiced and should also be back for the Cleveland game. He hurt his ankle against the Jets.
Sports
Injuries have newcomers seeing time for Colts this weekend
- Sports
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IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands in his team pit box as he waits for the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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Top guns, again
For the sixth time in his Indy career Friday, three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves won the Pit Stop Challenge on Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
Indiana State’s baseball was out of pitching, and after a loss to Wichita State on Thursday, the Sycamores were out of second-chances too at the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. What the Sycamores weren’t out of was heart, guts and clutch performances from some unlikely sources. But in the end, Friday’s elimination game rematch against the Shockers was a sampling of ISU’s season overall — the Sycamores were out of luck.
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Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
Having already claimed Terre Haute North Sectional and Greencastle Regional championships in girls high school tennis, Terre Haute South will try to add a semistate title to its 2013 list of accomplishments today as the Braves battle No. 25-ranked Greenwood.
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Coach adds regional host to job description
John Hayes has been a familiar face at high school baseball games this spring as he always is, enjoying the games but also looking for players who can help his Wayne Newton Post 346 American Legion team that will start its summer season shortly.
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Prep roundup: South Vermillion reaches baseball sectional final
South Vermillion built an early 7-0 lead late Thursday night, then held off Owen Valley by a 10-4 score to advance to the championship game of the Class 3A West Vigo Sectional for high school baseball.
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Metro Sports: Chalk up No. 5 for Liz Evans
Senior Liz Evans capped the top career in Rose-Hulman athletics history with her fifth national championship and eighth All-American award at Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday.
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Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman have punched their tickets to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore., with their Friday efforts in the 2013 NCAA East Preliminary at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
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West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
High school baseball sectional games between West Vigo and Edgewood have had a tendency to be unpredictable over the years, but the Vikings and Mustangs outdid themselves in that area Thursday evening — and Thursday night.
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
Terre Haute North had three winners, Terre Haute South two, and the Patriots and Braves finished second and third respectively at the Evansville Regional for boys track on Thursday at Evansville Central.
Hurdlers Cam Stewart and Cole Seward and discus thrower Lee Davis were the winners for North, enabling the Patriots to finish with 60 points to 59 for the Braves.
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Top guns, again
- Local Interest
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
Rose-Hulman senior Liz Evans earned her fifth career NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year honor, according to results released Wednesday by the U.S. Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association.
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees. -
Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain
The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
- High School
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Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
Having already claimed Terre Haute North Sectional and Greencastle Regional championships in girls high school tennis, Terre Haute South will try to add a semistate title to its 2013 list of accomplishments today as the Braves battle No. 25-ranked Greenwood.
- Prep roundup: South Vermillion reaches baseball sectional final
- West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
- BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
- PREP ROUNDUP: Martinsville adavances in Class 4A THS Sectional
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- College
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
Indiana State’s baseball was out of pitching, and after a loss to Wichita State on Thursday, the Sycamores were out of second-chances too at the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. What the Sycamores weren’t out of was heart, guts and clutch performances from some unlikely sources. But in the end, Friday’s elimination game rematch against the Shockers was a sampling of ISU’s season overall — the Sycamores were out of luck.
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Metro Sports: Chalk up No. 5 for Liz Evans
Senior Liz Evans capped the top career in Rose-Hulman athletics history with her fifth national championship and eighth All-American award at Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday.
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Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
Three Indiana State seniors and a freshman have punched their tickets to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships in two weeks at Eugene, Ore., with their Friday efforts in the 2013 NCAA East Preliminary at Aggie Stadium on the campus of North Carolina A&T.
-
Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
Actually, he did far better than he ever has previously in an ISU uniform, but while Kuhlman’s gutty pitching effort spoke volumes, ISU’s bats remained ominously silent. -
Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
Indiana State’s Wednesday morning wish list probably read something like this: a dominant complete game effort from starting pitcher Devin Moore, near-immaculate defense to support him, and a steady diet of clutch situational hitting from lineup spots one to nine.
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
- Sports Columns
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
Sunday promises to be a super day in Indianapolis.
It’s the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 followed by Indiana vs. Miami in the third game of the National Basketball Association playoffs. - TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Shooters compete to fight cancer
- TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
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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
- Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
- Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
- Colts introduce free-agent signees
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Terre Haute Rex
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Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
- Rex out of playoffs
- Rex mix, match their way to win
- Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
- Colts
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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' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
- Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Werner at top of game
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Auto Racing
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IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands in his team pit box as he waits for the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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Top guns, again
For the sixth time in his Indy career Friday, three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves won the Pit Stop Challenge on Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
- Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
- TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
- Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
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Top guns, again
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Phil Jackson on leadership: 'You have to follow your intuitive nature'
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