Veterans and rookies for the Indianapolis Colts will report for training camp on July 24th, with the first practice taking place on July 25th.
Between now and then I will be previewing the Colts’ 91-man roster with a look back at each player’s 2023 season, along with what’s ahead for 2024.
I’ll be going through the Colts’ roster alphabetically, so up next is safety Nick Cross. To stay up to date with our other previews, be sure to head over to Colts Wire.
2023 Season Review
Cross, a 2022 third-round pick by the Colts, played 292 snaps last season, with the majority of his playing time coming in those final weeks when he took over for a struggling Rodney Thomas.
Although it was a somewhat small sample size, Cross was a reliable tackler when on the field last season, missing just four of his 35 attempts, and he graded out well as a run defender by PFF’s metrics, ranking 13th among all safeties.
In coverage, Cross allowed three receptions on seven targets and held opponents to just 9.0 yards per catch, with one interception.
Cross was utilized more as a box defender during his rookie season in 2022 but made the move to free safety last season, a role that defensive coordinator Gus Bradley believes will suit his skill set better.
“I think Nick, we tried him at strong, and he can play strong,” said Bradley after the draft, “but I think even looking back at him at college, when he sees things top down, his comfort level and his speed picks up. He’s in a pretty good mindset now. It’ll just play out, and we will see what we come up with.”
2024 Season Preview
The free safety role next to Julian Blackmon is “wide open” this summer, as Bradley put it earlier this offseason. Throughout offseason programs, both Cross and Thomas have been sharing starting reps at that position.
This was a secondary as a whole last season that surrendered too many big plays, ranking in the bottom half of the NFL in explosive pass plays allowed and in the bottom third in yards per pass attempt.
While more playmaking at this position is also needed, at the end of the day, it is going to be day-to-day consistency that determines who will be starting alongside Blackmon this season.
“Like I said, sometimes the inconsistency,” said Bradley on the root of the issues last season. There was three or four games where we look back and say it just wasn’t us, and what was the culprit of it, explosive passes and things like that, whether it was a bust coverage here and there. But I think in those times, we’ve just got to make sure the young guys play at their highest level.”
The continuity of being in Bradley’s system for a third season, along with the experience Cross gained last season, will be valuable elements when it comes to a potential jump in his third NFL season.
“It’s pretty cool to see now,” said Bradley, “anytime that you have consistency, with players, coaches, it gives you a chance. Obviously, decisions have to be made, we all understand that part, but I think as players, if they can be in the system a couple of years into it gives them a chance to play faster.
“And now with the older guys starting to understand the system, you’re starting to see the accountability. Hey, this is how it needs to look rather than just the coaches showing them what it looks like, the players have an understanding of what it looks like.”
If there is one position group the Colts could still add to via free agency, it is safety. Not only to provide a boost in competition for Cross and Thomas, but with Daniel Scott out for the season, depth is a need as well.