Hub Arkush: Trip to Indianapolis make or break for some

Keep in mind that for Indy, a few injuries, some underwhelming play by the new pieces or a poor showing by the defense – if combined with a settled Houston quarterback situation – could make things hot for the Colts. And there have been some issues that we have to do higher. It’s early (in the preseason). “It’s a good offense to get us ready for the season”.

Second-year offensive tackle Charles Leno Jr.’s strong training camp has earned him a big opportunity.

“You want to build confidence, but our goal is always the same”, Pagano said. “And also you additionally need to be environment friendly”. We’re disappointed that the outcome was what it was. “You have to get them evaluated as a result of you are going to should eliminate some excellent individuals (on the finish of coaching camp)”.

“There’s lots to wash up; there’s so much to work on”. You know you start getting to that 3rd game and trying to get into your game, in-season schedule. Counterpoint: The Colts’ offensive line was very shaky last season, and it doesn’t matter how good a quarterback is if he has no time to operate.

Ball started all 16 games at free safety for the Dallas Cowboys back in 2010 and 15 games at corner for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013.

If Ballard has one good preseason game, he is right back in the conversation for that roster spot. He confirmed some burst, made some good selections on the market.

By all accounts he has the physical tools to play the style of man-coverage that Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio prefers, but it’s risky to assume Ball will immediately hold down a starting gig when considering his somewhat limited history as a starter.

“It’s more intense than that”, Bears running back Matt Forte said, comparing a standard preseason game to the first of these two practices.

Carter recently scored four touchdowns in a training camp practice, and Moncrief had some flashes of brilliance as a rookie in 2014.

Gus Bradley has a lot of kids in Jacksonville, but he hopes those kids gel to become a winning team in 2015… “But there’s still a long way to go”. The Colts needed a reliable guy across from T.Y. Hilton while Donte Moncrief or rookie Phillip Dorsett continue to season. But he coughed up the football after making one reception in the first half.

Leno worked with the Bears’ first-team offense during the second of two joint practices with the Colts on Thursday at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. The teams then will face off in a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Chuck Pagano said the short traveling distance for both teams has him wanting to do it again next season. “It’s great competition and you get to see some different bodies”. These are different teams now, and that was years ago, however the Colts are fielding another burgeoning HoF QB in Luck, who is flanked by a deadly cast of receivers and an appreciable upgrade at RB.

“I thought they got after us, they won the day”, said Cutler of the NFL’s 19th-ranked scoring defense in 2014. “We want to be competitive, but you have to be smart about it”.

That’s just over a 10 percent jump, which should almost close the gap in receiving yards with last year’s corps, and the 153 remaining yards should make it happen with six more completions. This is the year his performance will grant him the recognition as the league’s premier quarterback and MVP. Simply put there are too many weapons on this team to be stopped and Luck is too good a quarterback not to find someone open.