A challenge for UDFAs
This will be even more challenging for the undrafted rookie free agents who joined the team a few months ago in hopes of cracking the roster. The Colts will reduce the 90-man roster to 80 players by Aug. 16 and then once again to the typical 53-man roster before the season.
Reich understands it will be a tough challenge for the UDFAs at camp.
“I think without question the more reps you can see of a guy, the better. We all think we are pretty good evaluators in this building so naturally I think we feel confident we’re going to be able to figure out who it is that should make our team and who is going to help us the most,” Reich said. “But realistically, does it hurt them? Yeah, realistically it does hurt them a little bit.”
Even so, Reich and the coaching staff will try to make the practices as game-like as possible to give everyone a fair shot.
“Right now we have a plan, if all things work out which it looks like they are working with Pete (Ward) and Chris – just going through all the details there – we will go down to Lucas Oil (Stadium) twice to kind of get that routine. We will try to make those practices as game-like as we can as well,” said Reich.