August 2019 Camp Notes

QB Battles Edition

(Westfield)– Sunday marked my first opportunity to check out the sports complex the Colts call home this time of year. It meant getting to see Jacoby Brissett run the first team offense while Andrew Luck continues dealing with a strained calf. #12 has already been ruled out for this Thursday’s preseason opener against Buffalo so expect to see Brissett start. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them hold out their super-star QB the entire preseason to ensure there aren’t any setbacks.

Apparently a minor setback took place recently considering Andrew participated in a few practices this training camp. I say ‘setback’ because this is an injury that first popped up in late April. Reich said if there was a game that Sunday he’d be able to play. Fast forward three months later and he’s still not practicing. Colts fans should probably mentally prepare themselves to not see Luck this pre-season. It’s not worth the risk for an exhibition game. Yes, pre-season reps are important because it’s live game action. The reps in those games and even camp helps build chemistry specifically with the newer additions to the receiving core. But the QB who’ll turn 30 next month is a veteran in this league. My only concern is that this may lead another slow start that Colts fans are accustomed to seeing. Even the national media has huge a spotlight on the situation so it won’t hard to follow over the next four weeks.

The Colts have to feel good about the man who’s filling in for Luck while he’s sidelined. Jacoby Brissett played admirably in 2017 with a terrible roster winning only 4 games. It’s interesting to imagine what he can do with an upgrade in surrounding talent. Brissett was sacked a league high 50-some times behind a porous offensive line two seasons ago. Now Indianapolis has arguably the best offensive line in football.

Although much less athletic and mobile than Andrew, Jacoby brings above average arm strength and a ‘cheap’ rookie contract to the table. He’s set to make $2,000,000 in base salary entering the final year of the rookie contact that’s had an average salary of 850K. If he still has the desire to be a starter in this league, here’s another chance to display his talents to the rest of the league. Ballard said that he won’t trade Brissett just anywhere for picks; which is nice to see an executive look at a player as a person instead of a number. Regardless, it’d be hard to turn down a high 2nd-rounder on a guy who’s probably going to leave in free agency when his contract expires anyway. Nonetheless, a starting QB goes down early every year so I’m keeping an eye out for any potential suitors once the season begins.

After the first two quarterbacks on the roster, there are two relevant players that follow: Philip Walker and Chad Kelly. 5’11 Walker was the team’s practice squad QB last season. He was also cut and re-signed about 937 times as a causality for roster transactions. Props to the former Temple QB for handling his ego through the psychological duress of being fired and re-hired so many times. I think the coaches like Walker skillset because he can simulate (to a degree) other QB’s like Russell Wilson that have a similar playing style. But the real question comes down to if Walker can be a legitimate No. 2 QB that’s an injury away from being the starter. This scenario isn’t that unlikely considering Luck and Brissett’s current individual situations.

The man trying to take Walker’s job is Chad Kelly former Mr. Irrelevant (the tongue-in-cheek title given to the final pick of the draft). Unfortunately, there’s more to write about regarding his off-field situation than on-field. IF he makes the roster, he is set to serve a 2-game suspension stemming from an arrest while with the Denver Broncos. His arrest made national news. Kelly apparently wandered into someone’s Colorado home late at night which led to Elway releasing him from the team. Kelly’s also reportedly told a night club bouncer while at Ole Miss that was going to return with his AK-47 and “spray” the place. He also left Clemson afer feuding with the coaching staff.

Chad Kelly doesn’t really sound like the player the Colts are looking for. Especially considering the young culture they’re building that is naturally susceptible to poor influences. In the end, everyone deserves a second chance. Or third. Or fourth or whatever; regardless this may be his last shot to show he belongs in the league. Yesterday on Query & Schultz, Frank Reich paused when asked if his relationship to Jim Kelly played a part in bringing him in. Then he gave an honest answer that most had already assumed that their relationship did indeed play a role. Reich backed up Chad’s uncle in Buffalo for almost a decade. When it comes down to final cuts, the 2 game suspension has to weigh heavily on coaches minds. Time will tell if Kelly is worth the headache.