Tag: rodney thomas

Colts’ DC Gus Bradley explains what he’s looking for at free safety

When speaking with the media after Saturday’s training camp practice, Colts’ DC Gus Bradley explained what he is looking for at free safety.

The battle for the starting free safety role is one of the more important and intriguing positional battles taking place this summer at Colts’ training camp.

When it comes to what defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is looking for from that group, it comes down to one word: Trust.

“I mean, we could talk about you’ve got to be a good eraser, tackler, and all that, but it really comes down to trust,” Bradley said on Saturday. “You know, do the guys in front of you, do they look back, and do they trust that you have the skill set to get it done, and can you get it done? And that breeds confidence.

“They love all the guys back there competing, but really, you’re looking for the respect of the whole unit, and that’s just by making plays.”

Competing for this playing time includes Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas. Last season, it was Thomas who started for much of the season, but after struggling with missed tackles and contributing to the big play issues the Colts faced, surrendering 21.2 yards per catch, it was Cross who took over as the starter during those last few games.

Cross, a 2022 third-round pick by the Colts, initially began his NFL career more so as a strong safety, but Bradley believes his skill set will translate well to the free safety role.

“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.”

Cross and Thomas were taking the starting free safety reps during OTAs and minicamp, with from the sounds of it, Cross having the early advantage. However, through two training camp practices, a new name has been added to the mix in Ronnie Harrison.

Harrison has spent most of his career up to this point as a box safety, and made the transition to linebacker in 2023 while with the Colts. However, at a position where the Colts are in need of more playmaking, Bradley wants to give Harrison a chance to carve out a role.

“Well, for us, when Ronnie gets in there,” said Bradley, “it seems like something good happens, whether he’s playing linebacker, he’s playing strong safety, and so we thought, you know what, we’ve got this competition going on back there.

“I mean, something good does happen, let’s take a look at it. Does he have the skill set needed to play that and give him an opportunity to compete with the rest of them.”

Safety is certainly a position that the Colts could justify adding to in free agency, where Justin Simmons is still available. But as GM Chris Ballard told reporters on Wednesday, he first wants to see how the competition at this position unfolds before deciding whether or not to make an addition.

Will Fries and Rodney Thomas among highest earners in performance pay distributions

Colts’ Will Fries and Rodney Thomas were among the highest earners from 2023 in performance pay distribution. Here is what you need to know.

Guard Will Fries and safety Rodney Thomas ranked in the top 25 of all NFL players from the 2023 season in performance based pay distributions.

Fries received $810,961, the 12-highest pay out, and Thomas received $769,445, the 18th-most.

In short, performance based pay distributions began with the 2002 Collective Bargaining Agreement and created a fund to pay additional dollars to players playing on a smaller deal but who also saw extensive playing time.

For the 2023 season, that pool of money totaled $393.8 million and is distributed equally among the 32 teams.

Every player who sees playing time is eligible for this program, but salary and playing time are the two key factors in determining who gets an actual payout. You can read more about how pay is determined here, but in short, a lower salary coupled with a high amount of snaps means more opportunity for a player to collect from this program.

Fries would play 1,125 snaps at right guard for the Colts last season. According to PFF, he would allow four sacks and 30 pressures. He would rank 20th among all guards in pass-blocking efficiency and 30th out of 54 guards in run-blocking grade.

As a collective offensive line unit, the Colts ranked sixth in pass-blocking efficiency and 10th in yards per rush with 4.3.

Thomas would play 962 defensive snaps for the Colts in 2023, with the bulk of them coming at free safety. Overall, he made 33 of his 43 tackle attempts and held opponents to 12 receptions on 20 targets but did surrender over 21 yards per catch. Thomas would come away with two interceptions and two pass breakups.

Presumably, Thomas will be competing this summer with Nick Cross for the starting free safety role. The safety position remains a big need that the Colts still have to address as they look to cut down on the number of explosive plays allowed.

These performance based distribution payments to the players do not count towards the Colts’ salary cap and are instead considered a benefit.

Biggest surprises from Colts’ 2023 season

The biggest surprises from the Colts’ 2023 season.

The Indianapolis Colts are preparing for a vital offseason that can help further the development of a young roster, but there were plenty of surprises that hit the organization in 2023.

From the turnaround of the offensive line under Tony Sparano to the release of Shaquille Leonard, here are the biggest surprises from the 2023 season for the Colts.

Colts’ top needs entering 2024 offseason

Taking a look at the top needs for the Colts entering the 2024 offseason.

With the 2023 season officially over for the Indianapolis Colts, they are officially in offseason mode.

As 2024 begins, Indianapolis will look to add to its roster and strengthen some perceived weaknesses through free agency, trades and the NFL draft.

With that being said, here are some of the top needs for Indianapolis moving forward:

Stock up, stock down as Colts enter Week 18

Stock report for the Colts’ going into Week 18.

The Indianapolis Colts (9-7) came away with a 23-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders (7-9) in Week 17, giving themselves a chance to make the playoffs if they’re victorious during the regular-season finale.

Though the Colts held the lead from the opening drive of the game, there were a few moments in which the Raiders appeared to be mounting a comeback. However, Indy was able to hold onto the lead despite not scoring a touchdown in the second half.

Now, it’s time to take a look at whose stock was impacted from the team’s largest loss of the season.

When taking stock of a player’s performance, it’s best to be fluid. A player’s stock will fall and rise throughout the season so none of this is set in stone. However, it is important to take note of the narratives and storylines taking place as the campaign progresses.

A player’s stock can be impacted by factors such as their performance or the type of snaps they receive during the games.

Here’s a look at the stock report for the Colts following the Week 17 win:

Colts vs. Bears: 6 things to know in preseason Week 2

Here are six things to know entering the preseason Week 2 matchup.

The Indianapolis Colts host Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 19, for their second preseason game.

After hosting two joint practices with the Bears this week, the team will continue the battle on familiar turf against the squad led by Matt Eberflus.

Here are the six things to know for Week 2 of the preseason:

 

5 most underrated Colts players entering 2023

Don’t sleep on these underrated Colts players.

With the 2022 season ending with a 4-12-1 record, the Indianapolis Colts need a significant shift in the cultural makeup of the team.

This will require several of the team’s veterans to make an impact early and often, including players who may have flown a bit under the radar during a tumultuous 2022 season.

If the team wishes to remain competitive, they will need all the help they can get.

Here are the five most underrated Colts entering 2023:

Damar Hamlin showed love to high school teammate Rodney Thomas after his sweet INT celebration

What an absolutely heartwarming moment for two old friends.

Damar Hamlin’s ongoing recovery after a terrifying on-field collapse from cardiac arrest saw lots of special moments honoring him on Sunday.

With Hamlin watching, his Buffalo Bills began their matchup with the New England Patriots with an incredible Nyheim Hines kickoff return TD. Then, after Bills receiver John Brown scored a late touchdown of his own, he gave the ball to Buffalo athletic trainer Denny Kellington, who performed life-saving CPR on Hamlin on the field on Monday night.

But in another game, the Indianapolis Colts’ Rodney Thomas — who played high school football with Hamlin in their native Pennsylvania — found his own unique way to celebrate his former teammate. After Thomas picked Davis Mills in a thrilling barnburner between Indy and the Houston Texans, he took the ball to pose at a specially marked No. 3 (Hamlin’s jersey number) at the 30-yard line.

It was a beautiful way for Thomas to pay tribute to an old friend:

Here was how Hamlin reacted to his friend’s gesture:

In a challenging and scary situation, Hamlin seems to fortunately be getting better by the day. And we’re sure he really appreciated Thomas’s gestures and any of the other displays showing support for the Bills player.

Stock report from Colts’ 12-9 win over Broncos

Here is the stock report from the Colts’ 12-9 win over the Broncos in Week 5.

The Indianapolis Colts (2-2-1) came away with a 12-9 road win over the Denver Broncos (2-3) on Thursday night, remaining undefeated against the AFC West through the early season.

It wasn’t a fun game to watch from an offensive perspective. The Colts offensive line continues to struggle while quarterback Matt Ryan also made some costly decisions. The defense showed up in a big way, though, from the pass rush to the run defense en route to an overtime win.

Between performance and usage, we can gather a lot of information about a player’s stock. While we know the stock for the big-name players like Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr., it’s the other pieces on the roster whose stock is likely to change the most throughout the season.

It’s important to remember that the stock report is fluid. A player whose stock fell in one week can rise the following week, and vice versa. It’s more about spotting trends and potential for the future based on what we saw in the game that week.

Here’s the stock report for the Colts after the Week 5 win:

Studs and duds from Colts’ 12-9 win over Broncos

Studs and duds from the Colts’ 12-9 win over the Broncos in Week 5.

Despite failing to find the end zone for the entire game, the Indianapolis Colts (2-2-1) found themselves on the victorious side of a 12-9 win over the Denver Broncos (2-3) on Thursday night.

This game was sloppier than a steak at Truffoni’s when the Dangerous Nights Crew would get together.

But somehow, someway, the Colts found themselves in the win column for the second time this season despite not scoring a touchdown. The defense put on an immaculate performance while the offense continues to be the Achilles heel of the roster.

Here’s a look at the studs and duds for the Colts in Week 5: