With OTA's wrapping up this past week, mandatory minicamp this week and training camp just around the corner, the Colts' coaches and staff have had good opportunities to get a look at some of the team's key talent and their off-season progression. For the Colts in particular, this is a very crucial time as the team has many question marks surrounding some of their personnel.
Although the future is seemingly set and certain in some positions (i.e quarterback), there are several areas and players who's success and future could be impacted with the success of their off-season performances. There are five players in particular who are going to be expected to step up and do great things this season for the team, and who need to start impressing coaches during these minicamps.
5. TE Dwayne Allen
Allen had a fairly impressive rookie campaign: playing in every game, catching 45 balls for 521 yards and three touchdowns. In 2013, Allen's season was cut short after he suffered a season-ending injury in the first game during his one and only catch of the season (a touchdown by the way). The Colts' other tight end, Coby Fleener, stepped up in his absence and had a solid season. The team likes both tight ends a lot, drafting them in the second and third rounds of the 2012 draft, and it is expected that they are both to be featured members of offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton's offense (ala Gronkowski and Hernandez in New England a couple years ago). It is important for Allen to come off his injury strong and get back to and exceed his rookie season productivity.
4. NT Josh Chapman
Drafted in the fifth-round in 2012, fresh off a BCS Championship victory with the Crimson Tide, Chapman missed his entire rookie season with injuries. He was back and healthy for the team in 2013, but only played a supporting role as a back up to veteran nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin. Franklin left in free agency, leaving the position wide open. Chapman has tons of potential and is the most likely candidate to fill the spot, but has not had many opportunities to show it in game situations. The team is pretty high on Chapman, but with only 15 tackles to his name he has a lot to prove if he wants to be the anchor of the defensive line.
3. OLB Bjoern Werner
The German-born Werner was the team's first-round pick in 2013. The 2012 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Werner had a relatively quiet rookie year on his way to only 14 tackles and 2.5 sacks playing behind NFL sack leader Robert Mathis. However, following Mathis' four game suspension for violating NFL substance abuse policies, Werner is going to have to step up into the starting position. Werner will have to improve his game stopping the run and especially the passing game as the team goes against Peyton Manning and Nick Foles in the season's first two weeks.
2. C Khaled Holmes
Holmes has been a point of much intrigue since he arrived last year. Drafted in the fourth-round out of USC, it seemed apparent to all that he would have a shot to replace Samson Satele at center going into training camp. Something must have happened to concern coaches. Holmes didn't only not win the job, but even when Satele missed significant time during the season, he was never called upon to fill in. GM Ryan Grigson and coach Chuck Pagano have since voiced their support of Holmes as the starter since Satele's release, but the verdict is still out. Andrew Luck would benefit from having a center he can consistently rely on, much like Peyton Manning and Jeff Saturday back in the day. It is imperative that Holmes puts last season behind him and start performing at the top of his game.
1. RB Trent Richardson
The trade for Trent Richardson was highly publicized last season. At the time, many considered it to be a home-run move, making the team an instant Super Bowl contender. That wasn't really the case. In his 14 games with the team, Richardson only racked up 458 yards and three touchdowns, all the while averaging only 2.9 yards per carry. Many criticized Richardson for seeking contact and missing wholes made by his offensive line. This season, both Vick Ballard and Ahmad Bradshaw are returning and healthy and Richardson seems to be primed to be the leader of a three-headed running back attack. Although these two will help take some of the pressure off Richardson, it is more important that he assert himself as "the guy", rather than "One of Three". He must improve his vision and speed during his time with the team, and prove that he was indeed worth the first-round pick the Colts spent on him.