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Indianapolis Colts Notes, Quotes

by Sports Xchange


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Updated: July 2, 2009, 10:20 PM EDT
--Coach Jim Caldwell's transition from assistant coach to head coach went about as expected. At least, that's what he says now after putting the Colts through their offseason workouts.

"Every day in this league is a real challenge. There are so many adjustments you have to make particularly, from an injury standpoint. Day in day out, you may leave one day and have a pretty balanced and stacked depth at any position, and the following day it may be just the opposite due to injuries or what have you," he said. "So those adjustments are some that we have to make and make on a daily basis and sometimes make quickly. So that has been a bit of a challenge. Not anything that we didn't anticipate overall."

--Getting offensive assistants Tom Moore and Howard Mudd to remain with the team for the 2009 season was a major objective for Caldwell this past spring.

"The big thing is continuity, No. 1. No. 2 is that they are two outstanding football coaches. They have done a great job within this system, and those would be two of the primary reasons. Obviously, I've had an opportunity to work closely with them over the past few years. I know their value and input. It's something that we all benefit from. We certainly would like to have them back," he said.

--Having OG Ryan Lilja back on the practice field, and returning to the starting lineup, will be important in as the Colts look to get their running game back to where it was a couple of seasons ago.

"It really makes all of us feel a lot better, adding the experience we have in the interior, plus if we can stay healthy, I think that is very important. One of the things I think you can't discount is the fact that last year we had so much upheaval upfront we had to play a lot of younger guys a little bit sooner than we anticipated," Caldwell said.

"Well, you go through some tough times doing that, but when you have a chance to look back on it, like at his point in time for us, we have a lot of young guys who have some good, valuable experience because they've been in the middle of it. They've had to make the adjustments, and when you couple that with the veterans we have coming back healthy again, I think it really should make for a strong unit."

--Lilja said recently that he learned a lot about himself while sitting out the 2008 season due to multiple knee surgeries.

"I've come to grips with what can happen after football. I've done a lot of soul searching. You don't take it for granted anymore, and maybe I did before. I learned my lesson," he said. "I'm having a blast out there just running around practicing, getting in the huddle and hitting guys and moving around. It's 10 times better than sitting in an ice tub or working with the therapist on your knee all day."

--S Bob Sanders likes what he's seen of the way new defensive coordinator Larry Coyer is handling things so far.

"We're excited to have him here. (He's added) a lot of different wrinkles for us. Good thing is he'll move us around a little bit more. We're excited. Everything has not been installed yet, but from what he said there's a lot of good things that we haven't done, which is good. It opens up everyone's game," Sanders said.

"There are some things that we are doing a little bit different, (but) a lot of things are the same. The terminology has changed a little bit. I think once (training) camp comes around we'll know a little bit more on what I'll be doing and some of the other safeties."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Some of the guys will probably get out there and work on their own, but there won't be any coaches involved with any on-field activities. The guys continue to throw and catch and continue to hone their skills. That's important because they can't just put it down right now and start up again come August 2. So they will continue to work and build on what we've already established." -- Caldwell on what the Colts will be doing between the end of spring workouts and the start of training camp.

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