Tag: training camp preview

2020 Colts training camp preview: RB Marlon Mack

Will Mack keep the RB1 role?

The Indianapolis Colts are hoping to return from their summer break on July 28 for training camp, barring any changes. We will be previewing the majority of the roster as the summer progresses.

Name: Marlon Mack
Position: RB
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 210
Age: 24
Free Agent Year: 2021

Background

A fourth-round pick with the Colts in 2017, Mack has been the starter in the backfield for the last two seasons. He has been an efficient running back working behind the elite offensive line for the Colts and while he has dealt with some injuries, he’s been a dependable back since taking over as the starter.

Over his last 26 games, Mack has taken 442 for 1,999 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. Over a 16-game pace, that comes out to 272 carries for 1,230 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 4.52 yards per attempt.

With Mack, the biggest question mark has been health as he’s had a run-in with some kind of injury in each season since entering the league.

Expected Role

There is a lot of talk about Jonathan Taylor taking over the backfield, and rightfully so, but Mack isn’t going to just disappear. He’s been electric and efficient over the last two seasons and the Colts truly believe in the 1a-1b split that the backfield is headed for.

Mack will still be very much involved into the game plan for the Colts and it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if he gets the benefit of the doubt as the starter on early downs to begin the season.

2020 Outlook

Mack has a lot to prove this season. While we don’t know for sure what the split will be between him and Taylor, the USF product will certainly have a role. Mack is still viewed as a major part of the offense even though the Colts traded up for Taylor in the second round.

It will be interesting to see how the Colts use Mack in 2020. Being in a contract year, the Colts might try to get as much as they can out of him before he hits the market—that’s if they have no inclination of re-signing him.

Regardless, Mack should still be viewed as an efficient and electric back. He and Taylor will form a strong duo at the top of the backfield, giving the Colts a nasty 1-2 punch behind Philip Rivers.

Bottom Line

The backfield is an interesting topic of discussion for the Colts. Mack has plenty of experience working as the starter, but he will relinquish some of that work to Taylor. How much remains to be seen, but Mack won’t simply disappear from the game plan in 2020.

2020 Colts training camp preview: QB Chad Kelly

Can Chad Kelly win the QB3 role?

The Indianapolis Colts are hoping to return from their summer break on July 28 for training camp, barring any changes. We will be previewing the majority of the roster as the summer progresses.

Name: Chad Kelly
Position: QB
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 216
Age: 26
Free Agent Year: 2021

Background

Kelly joined the Colts quarterback room during the 2019 offseason following a tryout he went through after the draft. After his stint with the Denver Broncos didn’t go as planned thanks to off-field issues and character concerns, Kelly got another chance with Indy.

The “Mr. Irrelevant” of the 2017 NFL Draft has proven to the Colts thus far that he can stay out of trouble off the field. This is evident both in the words they’ve used and the fact that he’s still on the team—the front office has made it clear what kind of short leash he’s on.

Kelly had a solid preseason with the Colts during the 2019 campaign but spent the season on the practice squad.

Expected Role

Kelly will be competing with rookie Jacob Eason, who was taken in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. With Philip Rivers and Jacoby Brissett already entrenched as the starter and backup, respectively, Kelly and Eason will be battling it out for the QB3 role.

2020 Outlook

The first thing Kelly has to make sure of is that he stays out of trouble off the field. If he can do that, he at least has a shot to take the competition with Eason down to the wire during training camp and the preseason.

That being said, if the Colts have to choose between Kelly and Eason, the decision should be pretty easy. The rookie in Eason has a much higher ceiling in the NFL than Kelly does, which is ultimately what it will likely come down to when the roster cuts are made.

Bottom Line

With the Colts more than likely keeping three quarterbacks on the active roster, it will be interesting to see if they keep Kelly around on the practice squad. Regardless, he will be fighting for his NFL career this preseason, especially with their being no guarantees for another chance around the league.

2020 Colts training camp preview: QB Jacob Eason

Previewing the rookie QB ahead of training camp.

The Indianapolis Colts are hoping to return from their summer break on July 28 for training camp, barring any changes. We will be previewing the majority of the roster as the summer progresses.

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Name: Jacob Eason
Position: QB
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 231
Age: 22
Free Agent Year: 2024

Background

After the Colts signed Philip Rivers to a one-year deal in free agency and made it clear they weren’t going to ship away Jacoby Brissett, they made a move during the draft to bring in a big-armed rookie to develop in the room behind those two.

Enter Eason, who arrives in Indy with elite size and the arm talent to make every throw from the pocket. The Colts selected him in the fourth round out of Washington, which is solid value considering most mock drafts had him pegged as a Day 2 pick.

Expected Role

Eason will be competing for the QB3 role behind Rivers and Brissett. He will be going against preseason hero Chad Kelly for the role and should be viewed as the favorite. If he comes out on top during that competition, the Colts are more than likely going to keep him on the active roster, which means they will be carrying three quarterbacks.

2020 Outlook

While his current traits are intriguing, Eason is far from a finished product. The Colts are likely focusing on his footwork, timing and anticipation and going through his progressions while he adjusts to life as an NFL rookie. Eason won’t see the field for the Colts unless both Rivers and Brissett go down during the season.

The Colts have a lot of faith in developing Eason, who has a very high ceiling. He has worked hard since being drafted and has impressed the coaching staff thus far through the early portion of the offseason.

But he is still a year or two away from seeing the playing field.

Bottom Line

Eason arrives in Indy as a high ceiling prospect but one that needs a lot of work. If he continues to work hard and hone his craft, he has a chance. But for the 2020 season, he will be doing a lot more watching and learning than actually playing.

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2020 Colts training camp preview: QB Jacoby Brissett

Previewing the backup QB before training camp.

The Indianapolis Colts are hoping to return from their summer break on July 28 for training camp, barring any changes. We will be previewing the majority of the roster as the summer progresses.

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Name: Jacoby Brissett
Position: QB
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 238
Age: 27
Free Agency Year: 2021

Background

Brissett was thrust into a starting role following the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck just three weeks ahead of the 2019 regular season. Though the Colts had confidence the offense wouldn’t skip a beat, they were sorely disappointed.

So much so that the front office went out and signed veteran Philip Rivers to a one-year deal worth $25 million to replace Brissett as the starter. There was speculation the Colts could move on from Brissett via trade this offseason, but the team made it clear they are keeping him through the final year of his current contract.

Brissett finished the 2019 season completing 60.9% of his passes for 2,942 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Expected Role

Brissett’s role for the 2020 season is clear. He will be the backup behind Rivers ready to step in if they need him to. There won’t be a competition at training camp as the roles in the quarterback room are already set.

2020 Outlook

While this might sound a bit harsh, the Colts are hoping they won’t have to lean on Brissett for many meaningful snaps during the 2020 season. Because if they do, that means something happened to Rivers and it means the offense would be in danger of falling backwards as it did in 2019.

A team captain and a leader on the field and in the community, Brissett will continue to hold his role in the locker room. However, he won’t be playing much if all goes according to plan for Indy.

Bottom Line

Brissett is a great backup quarterback to have. Though he failed to elevate the offense when he was the starter, he’s an intelligent player and a respected leader in the locker room. Those are strong traits to have as the backup quarterback, but the plan is for him to work behind Rivers for what could be his final season with the Colts.

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2020 Colts training camp preview: QB Philip Rivers

Previewing the new QB1 before training camp.

The Indianapolis Colts are hoping to return from their summer break on July 28 for training camp, barring any changes. We will be previewing the majority of the roster as the summer progresses.

Name: Philip Rivers
Position: QB
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 228
Age: 38
Experience: 17 seasons

Background

After spending the first 16 years of his career as the starting quarterback for the Chargers, the two parties mutually parted ways this offseason. In need of a quarterback after Jacoby Brissett’s disappointing 2019 season, the Colts signed Rivers to a one-year deal worth $25 million.

Both Rivers and the Colts have stated they hope this will be more than a one-year stint, but the NFL is unpredictable and it is best to cross that bridge when they get to it. Rivers has been a gun-slinger for most of his career and his coming off of a 2019 season in which he completed 66% of his passes for 4,615 yards, 23 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

Expected Role

Rivers was signed to be the starting quarterback. If things go according to plan, he will start every game under center without missing any games. Even though the Colts are holding on to Brissett as the backup, they are going fully ahead with Rivers as the commander of the offense.

2020 Outlook

Through an offseason that has been a peculiar one for the league, Rivers will have to find a way to make the transition into the Colts offense without having the benefit of setting the foundation during the spring workouts. Fortunately for him, the offense run by Frank Reich and Nick Sirianni is one that Rivers is well-versed in.

Several coaches have stated that Rivers already knows the majority of the offense and that the biggest aspect he needs refinement in is the terminology. This will be important as Rivers is coming off of a down season in 2019. His 20 interceptions and 3.9% interception rate are both tied for the second-highest marks of his career.

With an elite offensive line, a run game that should be more explosive and some strong weapons in the passing game all around, Rivers has the opportunity to return to form in 2020. The only question is whether 2019 will be considered an outlier or a trend.

Bottom Line

The Colts made it clear they are trying to take advantage of the win-now window they have in front of them given the state of the roster. How far they will go in 2020 depends a lot on the 38-year-old arm of Rivers.