INDIANAPOLIS — If you were wondering how the Colts perceive their inexperienced secondary, look at their actions this offseason, or lack thereof.
With the offseason program nearing its conclusion, the Colts have demonstrated a clear desire to run it back with their secondary, believing in internal improvement at both cornerback and safety.
Yes, the Colts might still add a veteran to the group before training camp begins (July 24th), but they have been solid in their current lineups at cornerback and safety, avoiding any spring insurance at either position.
Cornerback has received the most public notice for his lack of moves.
The Colts have routinely praised JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones’ second-year progress, emphasizing why they picked each of those players.
“They’re long, rangy guys that are physical when they get up and press,” Shane Steichen describes his young cornerbacks. “They have good vision. I adore those guys. The room has good competition.Going into training camp will be huge for all of those guys.”
“I believe the skillset, length, and pace are important factors for us. Now it’s all about consistency. Who will step forward and take the next step as a corner? We are really pleased with Kenny (Moore II) and the contributions he makes. We believe in Kenny and his steadiness. With those other people, it’s play in, play out; who can play at the level we want to play at?”
Moore II is the clear stalwart coming out of the spring, serving as an outside corner in the base defense (2 corners on the field) and then sliding inside in the nickel package (3 corners).
Brents, who has only focused on staying fit after injuries limited him to 9 games (8 starts) as a rookie, will most likely flank him. Jones, the second starting outside corner in that nickel package, appears to have had a good rookie season as a seventh-round choice, starting 10 games.
Jones and Dallis Flowers are most likely a competition to watch at Grand Park. Flowers had a healthy spring, which was impressive given that he ruptured his Achilles last October. Remember, Flowers was a starter in 2023 until sustaining a season-ending injury.
One might easily argue that safety raises more problems than cornerback.
The return of the ever-important Julian Blackmon is big. However, you cannot disregard Blackmon’s injury history.
Nick Cross, who is exiting the spring as the favorite to start at free safety, is next to Blackmon. Cross has struggled to earn the faith of the coaching staff as he enters his third year, having started only four games in his previous two seasons.
After Daniel Scott suffered a season-ending ruptured Achilles last month, Cross is followed by a combination of Ronnie Harrison and Rodney Thomas II.
Following the injury, Steichen was questioned if the Colts would make a move at safety, considering the staff’s strong support for Scott into 20224.
“We’re always looking at stuff,” the head coach explained. “We’re always looking.”
So far, it appears that the Colts have done all possible with one of the most inexperienced position groups on their roster.
Will the persistent belief in this growth win out once camp begins?
