Indianapolis
Colts

Colts Team Report

Updated: May 25, 2012 04:22 EST

Just because Dallas Clark is now in Tampa Bay and Jacob Tamme has moved on to Denver doesn't mean that the tight end position has become any less important to the Indianapolis Colts offense.

Far from it. With Bruce Arians now directing the offense as coordinator, tight end remains an integral part of the team's game plan.

That much was proven during last month's National Football League draft when Indianapolis added a pair of talented rookies -- Stanford's Coby Fleener and Clemson's Dwayne Allen -- in the second and third rounds. The Colts have also signed street free agents Kyle Miller, Dominique Jones and Andre Smith.

Fleener and Allen, though, are the immediate future and both figure to see plenty of playing time during the 2012 season. Arians was a big proponent of using two tight ends on a regular basis when he was in charge of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense.

"Adding Dwayne (Allen) and Coby (Fleener) has really changed the environment in the (locker) room. They understand that to be very good players in this league, the body of work has to be put in now to get ready to play on Sunday," tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts said.

"It's been a joy to me because they've accepted everything we've talked about. They look forward to getting better each day. It's not a ready-made product. I've encouraged them from our very first meeting that what they've done collegiately was great, but this is a different deal. You come in and you have to command the respect of veterans. To do that is to come to work every day and make the plays you are supposed to make."

Roberts knows all about playing the tight end position in the NFL. An eighth-round pick by Kansas City in 1988, he played five seasons in the league with the Chiefs (1988-90) and Dallas (1991-93). He's also served as an assistant with Tampa Bay for three seasons before arriving in Indianapolis.

Just how the Colts plan to make the best use of Fleener and Allen remains to be seen. Both are big, athletic and physical receivers. But to label one as a receiving tight end and the other as a blocking tight end misses the point.

Arians wants to move them around the field, much like how New England has used multi-talented Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in recent seasons.

"They are going to be in the backfield blocking, on the line of scrimmage blocking or split out running routes," Roberts explained.

"It's not a sense of who the blocker is or who the receiver is. They've both had success at both roles. These guys want to be thought of as football players, tight ends that want to do both when asked to do both."

--Colts coach Chuck Pagano on whether he's noticed any restrictions on OTA workouts due to new CBA rules: "Not really, other than it's a shorter period and they don't allow you as many practices. They use to allow you 14, now you get 10. Time constraints are the same. We're getting done what we need to get done."

--Defensive ends turned outside linebackers Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are continuing to make progress in learning how to play in a 3-4 defensive package.

"I think they're doing great. First and foremost, they've bought in. That's a testament to them as men and as professionals. A lot of guys doing what they've being doing in a certain scheme for a long period of time. I've seen guys just be hardheaded about it. They've been awesome," Pagano said.

"To see Robert Mathis run with (tight end) Fleener (Coby) on a wheel route and break up a pass in the end zone, we all got excited when that happened. They said it was going to be something of a struggle for those guys, (but) they're doing a great job overall."

--The Colts will have a full squad minicamp beginning on June 12.

"It's going to be great obviously to have the whole squad. (We'll) finish up with a mandatory minicamp and have another minicamp for the rookies. It will be tremendous," Pagano said.

"We've got to get some guys back too. We've got some guys dinged up, some receivers that have got a few nicks and bumps, bruises, little pulls here and there. We'll get everybody back and get to full strength by that last mandatory minicamp. It will be great."

--Former offensive coordinator and current quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen on working with rookie quarterback Andrew Luck: "I've really been impressed with him. He initiates and those are the things you look for in a guy (like that). He reached out to the veteran guys and those guys have reached out to him. He's responded. Even well before the draft, once the decision was made, he was already brainstorming how he's supposed to handle this odd hand. We knew this was coming.

"The interesting thing with the way the rules are set is that you have so much time with him before you draft him and the unique thing with having the first pick was that we could get started early. So we got started early loading him down, knowing there was going to be a dead period where we weren't able to talk to him afterward."

--Wide receiver Reggie Wayne has spent more time with the Colts during this year's OTA sessions than he usually does. Of course, with a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback to work with, that's not surprising.

"There is a lot of new learning. For a guy like Reggie, he's been in the same stance, in the same side, on the same number of that stadium for 11 or 12 years now. So he's got some stuff to learn like all of us who have been here for a while," Christensen said.

"There is a lot to learn, we need him here, he's been here, he knows it, he's a pro and he recognizes it. He's done a good job coming in. He comes in, gets overloaded, takes his stuff home, studies and then I get texts from him all the time. He stays up with it and he's a pro."

--Offensive line coach Harold Goodwin on how the line is progressing with projected starters Anthony Castanzo (left tackle) and Ben Ijalana (guard) sitting out OTA workouts as they nurse previous injuries.

"The rest of the guys are all workers and smart, especially the older guys. (Center) Samson's (Satele) been great, good leader in the middle making all the calls for the offensive line. (He's) a little anxious at times. Sometimes he wants to make the call for the quarterback," Goodwin said.

"Mike McGlynn is a huge leader in the room, powerful player, smart football player. Of course Winston Justice, we have a flexible guy who can play right tackle or play left tackle. I'm really pleased with those three guys we signed this offseason."

--Defensive line coach Gary Emanuel on the progress being made by returning defensive linemen Fili Moala and Drake Nevis: "Drake and Fili both are progressing. They are getting better each time out. They are really improving their technique. They do a great job of picking up the scheme and working hard at the scheme to understand it. I'm extremely pleased with what they're giving us."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Keep throwing stuff at them. Keep building on the playbook. We felt like we got a ton of work done. Today we did a backup situation where the offense had to get off the goal line and the defense is trying to score to force a three-and-out. So, again, we've thrown a lot of material at them. We're challenging them both physically and mentally, we're getting a ton of plays. We're getting a ton of work. I'm really pleased with where we're at." -- Colts coach Chuck Pagano on how the first two weeks of OTA practices are progressing.

The Colts' player personnel department has certainly been busy in recent days. The rapid-fire roster moves began last Thursday (May 17) when the team signed undrafted free-agent quarterback David Legree and waived tight end Brody Eldridge.

Legree (6-4, 225) began his collegiate career at Syracuse before transferring to Hampton University at the conclusion of the 2008 campaign. In two seasons with Indianapolis, Eldridge, a fifth-round draft pick in 2010, saw action in 27 games and totaled 14 receptions for 84 yards. He was subsequently awarded to the Rams.

A day later, Indianapolis claimed guard Zane Taylor off waivers from Philadelphia and waived guard Matt Murphy, who was claimed by Cincinnati.

Taylor (6-2, 309) was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jets on July 28, 2011. He has spent time on both the Tampa Bay and Philadelphia practice squads. Murphy was signed to the Colts practice squad on September 28, 2011.

And on Wednesday, the team signed linebacker Jerry Brown, released linebacker Brandon Peguese and then acquired cornerback Cassius Vaughn in a trade with Denver in exchange for fullback Chris Gronkowski.

Vaughn (5-11, 195) is entering his third NFL season. In 22 career games (three starts), he has totaled 22 tackles (18 solo), one interception, four passes broken up and three fumble recoveries. Vaughn also has recorded nine career returns for a 37.2 average and one touchdown.

"Cassius is a young cornerback who brings game experience at his position, proven kickoff return ability and pure speed to the Colts," general manager Ryan Grigson said. "He's a player who can really run and when you turn on the film you instantly recognize his athletic ability and speed.

"He's a guy who has not hit his ceiling as a player yet and we saw some really encouraging things on tape that led us to the trade. I think it's a win-win for both clubs because the Broncos are getting a quality football player, person and a heck of a fullback in Chris Gronkowski."

MEDICAL WATCH

--QB Chandler Harnish, the Colts' seventh-round draft pick, missed the first week of OTA workouts after spraining his right knee while working out. The initial prognosis indicated that Harnish would be sidelined for several weeks. But he returned for the second week of OTA practice sessions.

"He's shown his toughness, his perseverance and his resiliency. He's a really tough kid. We thought it was going to be a little bit longer, obviously," coach Chuck Pagano said. "We didn't anticipate it. It's great having him out there, he's doing a tremendous job."

FRANCHISE PLAYER: DE Robert Mathis (tendered at $10.605 million, quickly signed a new contract).

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:

--LB Kevin Bentley was a late-season addition who joined the team due to injuries at linebacker. The jury is out as to whether he will be asked back for the 2012 season.

--DE Tyler Brayton is another possibility to return if he can find a role in the team's new 3-4 defensive alignment. Brayton was also signed in training camp last year and was a very capable backup.

--QB Kerry Collins came out of retirement to play for Indianapolis early last season when it was apparent that Peyton Manning wouldn't be available. After struggling in his comeback with consistency and concussions, Collins is expected to go back into retirement.

--DT Eric Foster, when healthy, has been one of Indianapolis' most effective and active defensive linemen. Undersized, he has outstanding quickness and speed to the football. Whether he figures into the Colts' new 3-4 defensive package is the question mark.

--OG Jamey Richard is a former Colts draft pick who was released and then brought back to the team last year due to injuries along the offensive line. He can play center and guard.

--LB Ernie Sims did a really nice job when he had a chance to play last season. Signed in training camp after bouncing around several other NFL teams, Sims' availability helped a struggling Colts defense. He might be back in 2012.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)

--TE Anthony Hill (not tendered as RFA) was a backup who saw very limited playing time with the Colts in 2011, primarily late in the season. Questionable as to whether he will be back for 2012.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.

DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED

--DT Josh Chapman (5/136): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--RB Vick Ballard (5/170): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--WR LaVon Brazill (6/206): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--G Justin Anderson (7/208): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--LB Tim Fugger (7/214): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--QB Chandler Harnish (7/253): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

--DE Robert Mathis: Franchise FA; $31M/4 yrs, $15M SB.

--WR Reggie Wayne: UFA; $17.5M/3 yrs, $7.5M guaranteed.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

--WR Donnie Avery: UFA Titans; terms unknown.

--CB Cassius Vaughn (trade Broncos).

--OT Winston Justice (trade Eagles).

--RB Deji Karim (waivers Jaguars).

--OG Mike McGlynn: UFA Bengals; terms unknown.

--DT Brandon McKinney: UFA Ravens; 2 yrs, terms unknown.

--DE Cory Redding: UFA Ravens; $10.5M/3 yrs.

--C Samson Satele: UFA Raiders; $10.8/3 yrs, $5M guaranteed.

--QB Drew Stanton (trade Jets).

--S Tom Zbikowski: UFA Ravens; $5.5M/3 yrs.

PLAYERS LOST

--RB Joseph Addai (released).

--DE Jamaal Anderson: UFA Bengals; terms unknown.

--LB Gary Brackett (released/post-June 1 designation).

--S Stevie Brown: Not tendered as ERFA/Giants; $540,000/1 yr.

--S Melvin Bullitt (released).

--TE Dallas Clark (released).

--G/T Ryan Diem (UFA; retired).

--LB Zac Diles (released).

--TE Brody Eldridge (released).

--FB Jerome Felton: UFA Vikings; $700,000/1 yr.

--WR Pierre Garcon: UFA Redskins; $42.5M/5 yrs, $21.5M guaranteed.

--WR Anthony Gonzalez: UFA Patriots; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--FB Chris Gronkowski (traded Broncos).

--CB Jacob Lacey: Not tendered as RFA/Lions; terms unknown.

--QB Peyton Manning (released/failed physical).

--OT Quinn Ojinnaka: UFA Rams; $700,000/1 yr.

--QB Dan Orlovsky: UFA Buccaneers; terms unknown.

--QB Curtis Painter (released).

--OG Mike Pollak: UFA Panthers; $765,000/1 yr, $65,000 SB.

--C Jeff Saturday: UFA Packers; $7.75M/2 yrs.

--TE Jacob Tamme: UFA Broncos; $9M/3 yrs, $3.5M guaranteed.

--OG Jaimie Thomas (released).

--LB Philip Wheeler: UFA Raiders; 1 yr, terms unknown.

--WR Blair White (released/failed physical).