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August 20, 2010

CAMP SCENE: Colts not concerned by 0-2 preseason mark

Tom James Tribune-Star Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS — Yes, the Indianapolis Colts suffered yet another preseason loss Thursday night. This time it was the Buffalo Bills posting a 34-21 win over the Colts at Toronto’s Rogers Centre.

While Indianapolis has now posted a 9-22 preseason record since 2004, coach Jim Caldwell isn’t all that concerned. And for good reason. The Colts have registered 12 wins over seven straight seasons, won six AFC South titles, and played in two Super Bowls.

Winning in August doesn’t necessarily translate into a successful regular season. For the Colts, the preseason is strictly a time for evaluation for both the coaching staff and the player personnel department.

Coach Caldwell and his assistants use the preseason to take a long look at the team’s rookies — both draft picks and undrafted free agents — as well as veteran backups who usually don’t get a chance to play. Every now and then, an unheralded player or two — such as running back Devin Moore and defensive end John Chick — will have a chance to make a name for themselves.

Moore, who grew up in Indianapolis and attended Cardinal Ritter High School, continues to impress as a backup running back. He may have earned more work as a potential kickoff and punt returner after his performance in the Buffalo game (four kickoffs for a 32.3 yard average, two punt returns for a 25.5 yard average — including a 49-yard return — and six carries for 26 yards).

“He performed well. He gave us a bit of a lift in our return game, both on kickoff returns and punts. You could really see him coming along, even in practice,” Caldwell said Friday. “He typically shows that he has very good field awareness. Excellent vision. And he’s got speed. We’ve got a couple more [preseason] games to go yet, but we certainly like the way he’s trending at this point.”

The affable Moore led his high school team to the state finals at the RCA Dome a few years ago. There’s a better than even chance that he could find himself working at Lucas Oil Stadium this fall.

“It’s one of those things where we get a chance to look at them in practice, even during our [organized team activities]. And you could see that he had a bit of a spark,” Caldwell said, but added that there’s still much more evaluation to be done during the preseason.

“Much like anything else, he has real good potential. But one game does not necessarily a season make. But I do think he’s headed in the right director. He’s got some ability. He’s one of those guys who has some dual return ability.”

Chick, meanwhile, started against San Francisco (in place of defensive end Dwight Freeney) and saw extensive work against the Bills. Colts team president Bill Polian remarked last week that the former Canadian Football League “Defensive Player of the Year” has a real shot at making Indianapolis’ 53-man regular season roster.

“We wanted to get a third pass rusher [with the addition of first-round draft pick Jerry Hughes],” Polian said during an appearance before an Anderson audience. “Jerry Hughes is going to be a good player. John Chick will make the team. We may have found four now.”

• Game week — While next week’s game at Green Bay is still considered a preseason matchup on the schedule, the Colts are treating the trip to Lambeau Field as a tune-up for the real thing.

The team will practice today and tomorrow, treating the workouts as regular season Monday and Wednesday sessions. Indianapolis will play the Packers Thursday (8 p.m.).

While the third preseason game is when the No. 1 offensive and defensive units usually get the most work, no decision has been made as to how long Peyton Manning and the rest of regulars will be on the field.

“This week is the week in which we will focus in on our opponent, much like we would do just in terms of our game-week preparation. The difference is that we don’t have [as much video] to take a look at. They play [Saturday] evening and we’ll get that when it comes in,” Caldwell explained.

“It will probably be late, late [Saturday night] when we get it or early in the morning Sunday. Our Sunday will be like our Wednesday practice and then so on and so forth leading up to game time.”

• No word on injuries — Rookie cornerback Jordan Hemby was injured in the first quarter of the Buffalo game and didn’t return. There was no word Friday on Hemby or any other player hurt Thursday night.

“It’s tough to tell right now. We’ve got some bumps and bruises here and there. We’ll know better [later Friday or today]. Guys will check in and we’ll get a real good look. We do an early review right after the game, but it’ll take you a day or two to get everything ironed out to see where you are,” the Colts coach said.

• Sanders plays okay — Strong safety Bob Sanders got his first extended playing time of the preseason against the Bills. He missed most of last season with a torn bicep.

“He got his feet wet. It was good to see him back out there. I think he ran around well. I think for his first time out, he did okay. His standards are pretty high. But I do think he did all right for his first time out,” Caldwell said.

Sanders was unofficially credited with two solo tackles in the Buffalo game.

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Masked man: Indiana State's Justin Gant (5) passes to a cutting player Saturday at Hulman Center.

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SPT 021112 GANT MASKED.jpg

Masked man: Indiana State's Justin Gant (5) passes to a cutting player Saturday at Hulman Center.

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