Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts CB PREVIEW: Will Charvarius Ward, Kenny Moore Form DOMINANT Duo?

Episode Date: July 1, 2025

The Indianapolis Colts invested heavily at cornerback this offseason, adding Charvarius Ward and Justin Walley to a group already featuring Kenny Moore II, Jaylon Jones, JuJu Brents, and Samuel Womack... III.What should the expectations for the group be in 2025? Become a Locked On Colts insider! Ask your burning questions and get prompt answers from someone who's around the team every day! Get special access from the locker room, practice field, and press box! JOIN HERE! Find and follow Locked On Colts on your favorite podcast platforms:🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-colts/📺YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdpxJspi1hMh5HL7ExpWOQLocked On NFL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft & More🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-nfl/ Follow Jake and Zach's written work on HorseshoeHuddle.com, and give them a follow on Twitter @JakeArthurNFL, @ZachHicks2, @LockedOnColts, and @ColtsOn_SI, as well on TikTok and Instagram! Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get $150 in BONUS BETS when your first $5 BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable free bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 The Indianapolis Colts revamped their cornerback room this offseason and they are set to have a big year under new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Let's get to it. You are Locked On Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Thank you all for tuning in and making us your first listen of the day. This daily podcast covering your Indianapolis Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.
Starting point is 00:00:36 Hello, everyone. My name is Zach Hicks, your resident film nerd of Horseshoe huddle dot com and my partner, Jake Arthur's, our credentialed boots on the ground for the site. We are trudging along through this dead period of the offseason guys, giving you our roster breakdown, going position by position, breaking down the top of the roster, the middle of the roster and the bottom of the roster. So you have a preview on every single player heading into training camp late July and August. We are on the corner back room today. So starting at the top, obviously
Starting point is 00:01:05 with the starters, we have three guys that we believe in quite a bit, which is much more than what we could say last year, Jake, when looking at this corner back room. Obviously, you have the big fish in Charvarius Ward at the very top. The Colts went out there, closed the deal for the first time on a big time free agent under Chris Ballard and handed out the biggest contract that Ballard has ever handed out in free agency. Kenny Moore returns for what is this his sixth year I think with the team six or seventh year. 2017 was his first so he's quite a bit into it. Yeah, one of the longest tenured Colts players on this team coming back for yet another season.
Starting point is 00:01:40 And then we have Jalen Jones in here with the starters we've been very vocal on this podcast all off season that is an open competition for that second starter spot. But for today's show, we're gonna have him as that locked in starter on the other side. But Jake, when you're looking at this starting group in the cornerback room, especially compared to last couple years with the Colts,
Starting point is 00:02:01 we gotta feel pretty good looking at this group. Yeah, it's kind of the inverse of the quarterback room where it's like two maligned players and it's like they have to have a quarterback so somebody's gotta win. But they actually have a ton of really good options at corner this year. I mean, you look at it, I mean, last year Samuel Womack wound up being their second boundary corner, but he's like your sixth corner right now Yeah, so that's I mean they're in really good shape right now Travarious Ward took an obvious step back last year after being an all-pro two years ago
Starting point is 00:02:34 Had you know some personal tragedies he was dealing with and he's been vocal about the fact that he was not in it mentally But he feels refreshed he feels this is a clean slate So even if he doesn't get back to like a pro level, he can give you above average play cornerback. Kenny Moore is about to step into a really significant role with Lou Anarumo. He's always been one of the cornerstones of this defense basically since 2018 when he became a full-time starter. But Louie Anarumo uses the heck out of the nickel position. This is going to be a very DB heavy defense overall and there's going to be a lot put on Kenny's plates. This should be pretty exciting
Starting point is 00:03:18 for him. And then Jalen Jones, you know, if he's your second outside starter, cool. He's been counted on to basically be the top outside corner two years in a row. And now doesn't have to do that. He can, you know, he can get some lumps and, you know, maybe people wish he wasn't out there all the time. If he's going up against, you know, the Jamar chases of the world and things like that. But now he's not going to be tasked with facing that top cornerback week after week.
Starting point is 00:03:46 Like he's going to be in a much more appropriate position if he is that starter. So they're, they're starting to group looks excellent because remember last year, this was the group we were screaming about. You're relying on too many injured guys. Uh, boom, Juju Brands gets hurt. Dallas flowers coming off and Achilles doesn't look good as cut by like Already by the midway point of the season. So it's a lot better position now than it was last year, right?
Starting point is 00:04:13 I mean at this point last year We were looking at saying okay Jalen Jones the one guy on the outside that you can kind of trust because he's a perfectly adequate player But perfectly adequate is your number one and only guy that you rely on is not winning formula in today's NFL, especially in how much of a passing game it is. And now Jalen Jones can slide in and be your second outside guy. And yeah, you say there could be some warts on the outside, and there certainly are some warts in Jalen Jones's game. But how many teams are looking at their cornerback to and saying like, Oh,
Starting point is 00:04:44 this is a superstar that can't do anything wrong. I think Jalen Jones's game, but how many teams are looking at their cornerback two and saying like, oh, this is a superstar that can't do anything wrong. I think Jalen Jones being a cornerback to on the outside is a perfect role for that's exactly where he can be the player that he can be. And you're not going to be overly critical of your quarterback too, because that's not your superstar player, not paying him to be a superstar, not expecting him to be a superstar. That's what you're paying paying Travarious Ward big money for. But last week, you know, we did the wide receiver episode or I did the wide receiver episode and I went over this wide
Starting point is 00:05:13 receiver room and said, like, hey, the Colts have this this group of guys who are just perfectly crafted to their roles. You don't really have this like top end, top five wide receiver, but you can maybe get that in the aggregate. And when I look at this cornerback room, obviously corners different from wide receiver in a lot of ways, but I kind of see a similar element there with this cornerback room where each guy is built for their specific role. You look at Charvarius Ward, you're going to be traveling with the number one receiver that his job is to take that number one wide receiver out
Starting point is 00:05:43 of the game and force offenses to go away from that top target. Kenny Moore is going to be that Swiss Army knife in the inside of the defense. He's going to get back to blitzing like he did under Matt Eberfluss. He's going to be that playmaker that we know and love him to be. He's going to rotate the deep safety snap sometimes. He's going to be all over the field like he was under Matt Eberfluss and during the peaks of his career. And then Jalen Jones, again, more off coverage, more away from top wide receivers, sit back in the zone, come up and make some plays on the ball underneath. I think these guys are crafted now to roles that fit them. Whereas last year it was like, yeah, we're going to put the best three guys on the field, but we're going to drop into cover three, we're going to drop into
Starting point is 00:06:24 cover four, everyone just get back and come up and tackle where this year, you know, guys are actually suited to the roles they're going to play and make some plays in the ball. So, you know, it's obviously different from the wide receiver room, but I do see a similar element where it's like, yeah, if Charvarius Ward is traveling with number one wide receivers, that's a great role for him. Kenny Moore, just being more of a Swiss army knife rather than being a static zone defender. I think that is more suited to him. And Jalen Jones getting away from number one wide receivers, getting into more off zone coverage
Starting point is 00:06:54 where he can come downhill and attack the ball. I think these are just great roles for these players and where you don't have a sauce gardener, you don't have a Pat Sertan. I think you have really good players in the aggregate when it comes to this Colts cornerback room. Yeah. And I like that you said these guys are like perfectly suited for what the expectations should be in this in this new system with Ward traveling with those number one receivers. The Colts are going to face a lot of really good receivers like week one
Starting point is 00:07:21 to get Tyree kill. No, Cortland Sutton is coming up. You're going to have Calvin Ridley twice a year. Brian Thomas Jr. like Nico Collins for God's sake. Nico Collins has killed them the last couple of years. Yes, exactly. No matter what the Colts have thrown at them. And Travarious Ward throughout his last few years,
Starting point is 00:07:38 like during his peak, has always ranked right up there near the top in like defended passes. This is a guy that is aggressive against the ball and it's going to take that mentality against this caliber receiver. So I think the Colts have done a nice job there. Kenny Moore, again, this is going to be an important role with Lou Anna Rummo. We saw last time that a coordinator was so outwardly expressive of needing big-time nickel play with Matt Eberfluss.
Starting point is 00:08:06 Kenny Moore was unbelievable. Like he was pretty good with Gus Bradley too, maybe not so much the first year. But Kenny Moore was unbelievable, earned the title of being the best slot defender in the NFL, got paid like it as well. So Louie Anarumo, a lot of importance there. He's gonna blitz him a lot as well. Like you mentioned, Mike Hilton was his nickel there and since he was number two in pass rushes for nickels last year,
Starting point is 00:08:32 number three the year before. Early in Kenny's career, that's one of the things he was known for, was being a really good pass rushing nickel. So I expect he'll get back to that. And then again, Jalen Jones, who knows? I mean, he's not been a guy that turns the ball over a lot, forces a lot of takeaways, but he's not been thrown at as much being the top corner, so to speak.
Starting point is 00:08:54 So, I mean, he's got good length and I mean, he's got adequate athleticism, I would say. So if he's getting the ball thrown at him more, maybe that creates more turnovers. He's able to do that more often. I mean, he could do it. He had the two in the Bears game. That's his only interceptions,
Starting point is 00:09:10 but I mean, he got two in a game. So that's another thing I would like to see from him. If I'm the coaches, I want to task him with taking the ball away a little more this year, just cause the amount of snaps he's played, you would hope to see that a little more. Yeah. I will say one thing about this
Starting point is 00:09:26 cornerback room too that intrigues me a lot is, last year with the Colts, and honestly in the whole Gus Bradley tenure, you can even go back to the Matt Eberflug's tenure as well, the Colts struggled at forcing incomplete passes. Both of those defenses were very much structured to where allow the offense to catch things underneath, we'll come up and make tackles, and that's fine. They can complete passes.
Starting point is 00:09:46 Louie and Rumo wants pass breakups. He wants zero yardage gain on passing plays to force longer third downs. Now when you look at this corner back room, Traverrius Ward at the heights of his career has forced 10 plus 15 plus even 20 plus pass breakups in the season. Jalen Jones last year was a highly disruptive outside corner when it came to forcing incomplete passes when he was targeted. And then Kenny Moore, again, getting him back to what he does well, I think can lead to him getting back to being a more pass breakup dominant type corner, maybe more turnovers as well come in his way like he did under Matt Eberfluss. So I think these guys are really well suited to the Luan Romomo system. There's a little bit of concern with Jalen Jones like being able to turn and run a little bit in the system. But that's why you have other players on the roster.
Starting point is 00:10:31 And that's a perfect segue to our second segment. We're going to talk about the guy competing with Jalen Jones on the outside and also some other key reserves that have a chance to make a name for themselves this offseason. Earn not only a roster spot, but some significant playing time. Do you ever wish that managing your money felt easier? Well, with Monarch Money, it can. Whether you're growing your savings or planning a big purchase,
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Starting point is 00:12:12 You know Justin Wally is obviously a guy we've talked a lot about but Samuel Womack as well became The starter for the Colts outside for the entire year essentially when Juju Brents got hurt last year so the Colts do have some juice in this second wave of corners. And I mean, it's, it's not, I mean, Juju Brents, obviously you're all, even if he does well this summer, you're always going to be waiting on that other shoe to drop. Unfortunately, uh, with his, his vast injury history, but when he's been on the field, he's been really good. He has that, that mentality you need in a corner to compete with even the best
Starting point is 00:12:48 guys. One of his best games he's had in the NFL was against Devante Adams and the Raiders. Uh, so Justin Wally is a guy who we both think might be competing for a starting role sooner rather than later. You know, by the end of the year, this could be a guy that's in the lineup as a fixture. Uh, Juju Brince again, was basically locked into that starting outside corner roll for two years until he got hurt. Uh, so the Colts have been willing to have him out there. And then again, Samuel Womack is a guy that could play inside and out.
Starting point is 00:13:20 Um, love having a guy like that in this depth area. That's kind of your TJ Carrie. Now, Carrie wasn't necessarily a guy you wanted to have out there as a mainstay, you know, in your defense playing 60, 70 snaps, but having him as a fallback option is awesome. Again, a guy that could play inside and out. I actually really like that comparison for Samuel. I've never even thought of that comparison. But like I think of how how I view Womack like intrinsically or whatever,
Starting point is 00:13:50 when I'm watching film and just like the vibes around him. Yeah, it is kind of similar to T.J. Kerry, where it's like, yeah, I know this guy is not an everyday starter in the NFL, but I love having him as a quarterback five or six. You know, maybe he's not a gunner. Like like maybe he's not like a perfect gun or anything like that But in terms of just having that depth there, especially with you do friends his injury history I like having a same old Mac, but when we're looking at these three role players here I think the door is wide open for any of these guys
Starting point is 00:14:19 I mean Justin Wally we presume is the favorite in this group to earn real defensive snaps in the regular season. But we do have to remind ourselves he is a rookie, and this is a defensive staff where, yes, they adore Justin Wally. They really love this player. But outside of Cam Taylor Britt, they really never played young players a ton in their first season with the Cincinnati Bengals. You look at all the complaints over what DJ Turner, I I think was their first round pick a couple years ago and how Little run he got a few decks. Oh Exhale Jordan battle it took a while for him to get some run on that defense So it takes a while under Lou Anna Rummo in his system to get some run as young players Unless you're a can Taylor bread. I I've been very
Starting point is 00:15:02 High on Justin Wally being that that version of a player for Andromo, but again, we can't count on players being the exact replicas of other players. So if there is a scenario where maybe Wally's not ready or maybe this staff doesn't want to trust him with too much in year one, then that opens the door for guys like Womack and Brents to come in and really seize the spot. And one thing I want to throw out to you, Jake, because I think you and I are going to be on different sides of this, just given on how we've talked to each other. If it came down to it with me between Sam Womack and Juju Brentz, I think I would personally lead Sam Womack in that cornerback room. I'm not completely giving up on
Starting point is 00:15:42 Juju Brentz, but when I look at what I want in this cornerback room, like I've already got a lot of size in Charvarius Ward and Jalen Jones and Justin Walley's got some decent sizes. Well, not great size, obviously not Juju Brentz size, but decent size. And I kind of just don't want another slower corner in the room, you know, especially when you're going to be doing more man and more just asking corners to do more difficult athletic stuff. And a guy with his injury history too. And like, I just saw more good out of Wulmac last year than what I've seen from Brent's in his career at this point. So personally, I would lean Wulmac also with the gunner experience too that Wulmac has. Like,
Starting point is 00:16:20 I just feel like to me, that's more of how I feel. But I feel like you'd probably go Brents in that situation. Surprisingly enough, no. I'm in my old age. I'm definitely starting to get with the availability is the best ability thing. And as much like you were one of the biggest champions for Juju Brents. Yeah, you loved him. And I mean, he was a really good player in the very small sample size, but not only during the season, has he not been healthy, but like throughout each offseason, he really hasn't been healthy. I mean, I think he's fine right now. But during it was even many camper OTAs missed a little bit of time with like a growing or something, just some sort of soft tissue or something. But it's like every little time this happens,
Starting point is 00:17:11 it just continues to compound and forms your opinion on these guys. And at the end of the day, like super talented guy who I think would be a great starting corner, if he could stay healthy, but it's hard for me to trust you to go out on that field. And, you know, we're let's say they don't have depth like they didn't last year until they had Sam Womack. That could have really screwed up a lot of things.
Starting point is 00:17:36 The cornerback room is not the biggest problem on that defense last year. But if Sam Womack would not have managed to be the player he was, they would have been totally screwed because Alice Flowers flowers was cooked like he couldn't do it. So again, I like Brent's better as a player, but I like Womack's versatility and availability a whole lot more. And again, both those guys can do some special teams, but Womack's been able to show it because he's been on the field. So believe it or not, I will go with Womack on that one as well.
Starting point is 00:18:06 Okay. Yeah, I thought because you talked a little bit higher about Brent's and I have this all season. I thought you were going to Brent's there. But, you know, this whole conversation might be moot because this might be the six corners they keep. They might keep the top three guys, keep the next three and then sneak a guy like Ballentine who we're going to talk about in our final segment onto the practice squad and just go with that group this season. So it might be a moot point and then, you know, if or when the Juju Brents injury happens, then Ballentine can make it as the sixth guy after that. But yeah, it's really interesting. I mean, I do feel a lot better about Womack and Brents being cornerback five or six as of right now than what it was last year where Brents was cornerback one slash two whatever whatever you wanted to have it as and
Starting point is 00:18:45 Then Womack was claimed and then a starter right away like after a game So I'm glad that we are talking about this as a depth problem rather than not even a depth problem like a depth conversation Compared to it being about the starters on the team. So that's one great thing I'm gonna talk about but yeah I mean It's nice to have the experience in terms of again a guy like a Womack or even the intrigue of a guy like Wally at the bottom of this depth chart. And then even Brent's like, yes, I am a little bit down on
Starting point is 00:19:14 him. I want this guy to stay healthy. But again, he's kind of like a lottery ticket at this point. Like you can just stash him this whole off season. And if he, someone clicks for me, he's able to stay healthy. The more the merrier, the more the merrier, you know, you can always use more bodies at outside corner I will say in particular about Lou Anna Rumo Compared to Gus Bradley, especially where Gus Bradley Primarily when he had a guy on the field He kept that guy on the field for the entire game when it came to outside corner and a rumor will rotate a little bit more do more when it came to outside corner. And Aruma will rotate a little bit more, do more three and four cornerback sets on the field.
Starting point is 00:19:47 So I do think we see a little bit more rotation this upcoming season. So that's where these guys can even factor in without an injury in front of them. And I think that could be a good way for these guys to get on the field and play some football this year. Yeah, could be. And again, if they keep six or seven,
Starting point is 00:20:04 like obviously I'm good with all those guys being there. It just you know, special teams is the ultimate X factor. But coming up guys, we're talking about the bubble. There are a couple guys here who make a lot of sense. And you know, there's at least one really surprising one on here, who could be all of them. So we'll talk about that in just a moment. surprising one on here who could be all of them. So we'll talk about that in just a moment. All right, Zach. So when we talk about the cornerback room, Corey Ballentine is like kind of usually the last guy we talk about, like even in my roster prediction, I put him in over Juju Brince, I think, when I did my most recent one after minicamp.
Starting point is 00:20:40 And it's not about the defense. It's not about him being a corner. It's about him being likely a core special teamer. But when you look at it, David Long is there to David Long and Corey Ballantine have somewhat comparable experience as defenders, but they're also core special teams guys. The Colts picked up long last summer as well about the same time as Womack and he played 100 special team snaps for them. So.
Starting point is 00:21:09 I don't think multiple of these bubble guys make it because you can't have 100 corners. So I don't think it's necessarily a layup that Valentine is your core special teams corner you put on there. It could be David Long. Yeah, it could be long. It could be Valentine or it could be Womack. You know, if we're talking about Womack being the sixth corner, I think that's going to be. Yeah, I think that's going to be the open competition. This all season is who can really take hold of that other gunner spot
Starting point is 00:21:33 alongside Ashton Doolin, because obviously Doolin is going to be one of the gunners on this team. But that other one, I think, is wide open. It could be any of these three corners. Maybe a safety can jump in there and take it. But I think it's going to be one of these three corners. So really that last roster spot is going to come down to which of these guys can prove that they can win that gunner spot.
Starting point is 00:21:53 Ballantine's done the most gunner work in the NFL among the three, but all three of them have experience doing it. And like you said, Jake, I mean, David Long has most experience with this special teams coach and with this special teams coordinator, so He does maybe have the inside edge when it comes to that Although Valentine does have the inside edge when it comes to Experience with the defensive staff him and Jerome Henderson overlapped in with the New York Giants for a little bit So yeah, I think this is gonna be a good battle for the final spot Like I would have put Valentine and long in the other section
Starting point is 00:22:24 But then we would have had nobody to talk about in this final segment. So we do have to separate it a little bit. But it never hurts having two guys who have played a lot of football. I mean, Valentine mostly special teams, but he's played a couple hundred defensive snaps. David Long has played a good chunk of defensive snaps. I think he's what behind the starters. He's probably got the most defensive snaps in the room. Maybe him and Womack are probably really close together when it comes to defensive snaps in their careers. But David Long's played a good amount of football in his career. So these are guys where even if they don't make your roster, if you can get them on the practice squad, it never hurts to have guys who have just
Starting point is 00:23:01 been on the football field during regular season action in your organization because guys get hurt. We saw last year Dallas flowers didn't get hurt, but was released. And Juju Brents got hurt and they had to call guys up. And that's how David Long got on the roster and, and how we stuck last year. So, you know, this isn't the NFL. Nobody stays healthy. It's good to have guys who have experience in the off season program. And maybe these guys can get to the practice squad or maybe went out a bottom of the roster
Starting point is 00:23:27 spot. Yeah. Because I mean, now at this point, we're talking about corners seven and eight. Like this is how you avoid a Bo Peek Key situation right here. But beyond these two, you know, Jonathan Edwards is a UDFA from is it Tulane? Tulane. Yep. Indiana State before that though, so. Okay. Local when it comes to Indiana State. I think he spent four years at Indiana State, jumped up to Tulane last year.
Starting point is 00:23:51 Nicole's loved the athletic traits that he has. I'm going to pretend I knew that as someone who's a mere like two hours away from Terrell. Yeah, he's I believe when you and I were talking about UDFAs who have a chance, he's another guy that has inside out flexibility, I believe when you and I were talking about UDF a, so we have a chance. He's another guy that has inside out flexibility. I believe, um, Alex Johnson is the last guy on the list. Now Johnson, just by virtue of guys ahead of him being unavailable during the spring program and just a lot of rotation did get some occasional run with the ones at twos.
Starting point is 00:24:23 Uh, no, that's not not gonna be part of the plan. It's just simply an opportunity for, you know, Ward wasn't a full go yet. I think Kenny missed some time. Jalen Jones missed some time. So they just needed some guys to play in certain roles. But he's pretty intriguing. I believe was a UDFA last year.
Starting point is 00:24:41 It's kind of a high weight speed guy. So, I mean, they could certainly do worse as like the ninth corner. So, I mean, he, he at least is a little bit interesting. Like he's got some traits that they can certainly try and work with. Um, there's considering I saw how they used him. I don't think there's really any throwaways on this on this group. Like I think it's a really, really solid group and about as good a one as Anna Rumo could have hoped for coming in his first year with the Colts after the Bengals, you know, systematically stripped away all of his good players as the time went on. Like they gave him a bunch of good players in his first couple of years, but then stopped resigning them after that.
Starting point is 00:25:27 So the Colts kind of given him the reverse treatment here. Yeah. I will say with this corner back room, I could see a very real scenario where again, Lou and a room though, he likes to rotate the corners a lot. He likes to have a lot of corners in the system. I think it could be those top six guys are the six guys who make the roster and these bottom bubble guys. I think two of these four make it to are the six guys who make the roster and these bottom bubble guys I think two of these four make it to the practice squad by the end of camp and and that's gonna be your
Starting point is 00:25:49 Cornerback room this offseason where if an injury happens one of these two guys who are on the practice squad gets called up to Be a special teamer and that'll be how the season goes along. So I think Alex Johnson and Jonathan and Jonathan Edwards they both Project very well as gunners. And the NFL, Edwards, fantastic high weight speed athlete. I think he played safety at Indiana State. Then he played a little bit more outside corner at Tulane. So the Colts do view him more as an outside corner. That's where they've had him this offseason.
Starting point is 00:26:18 But it's kind of like a Marvelletel type of experiment. We're going to see if this high, speed guy can last at outside corner. I don't think they have any thoughts of him being like a long time starter in the NFL, but you're gonna see what you can do with the height, weight, speed guide. And then Alex Johnson coming over with Jerome Henderson. Jerome Henderson, again, the DB coach with the Giants
Starting point is 00:26:39 last year, the Colts brought him over this off season. And again, another height, weight, speed guy out of college. So yeah, the Colts like these guys as gunners and they like the speed they bring and the experience that Long and Ballentine bring. I just think from this position group, from top to bottom, you're looking at a really well rounded position group like it doesn't have like it's not without its questions. There are certain questions in this group like does Traverrius
Starting point is 00:27:03 Ward get back to what he was? Does the second outside corner like really solidify himself this year whether that's Wally or Jones and can Juju Brandt stay healthy? Those are legit questions but this is kind of like a normal position group compared to how it was the last couple off seasons with the Colts where it's like oh my gosh is this undrafted free agent from the year before coming off a torn Achilles going to be at the starter on the outside? Or oh my gosh, this waiver wire guy is going to have to start in week two.
Starting point is 00:27:31 What the heck is going on with our season? That's really crazy what they did at corner. Right now we're looking at it like OK. Former all approach or various word big free agent signing starting on one side. Really good young corner starting on the other side.
Starting point is 00:27:43 Kenny more in the slide. Then we got some questions behind, but also some intrigue in Justin Wally, Sam Womack, like our TJ Carey. Like this is a real corner back room in Indianapolis for the first time in like three years, you know, with this team. So I like, when I'm looking at this from top to bottom, like, yeah, I keep like eight of these guys with the organization this year, six on the roster, two on the practice squad, one vet on the practice squad, one young guy on the practice squad. Like, I'm feeling pretty good about this cornerback room as of right now. And I don't think I could have said that about the last like three years with this team. No, I think last year the questions were, you know, the downside of questions were resulting in catastrophe.
Starting point is 00:28:26 Like if one or two of these guys goes down, they're screwed. Luckily, Samuel Womack was one of them didn't get hurt. Like look, I'm not saying that is terrible. But like say Juju Brentz plays the whole season. Do we think it's that big of an upgrade? Like is it that massive of a jump up? Like it was going to be at that corner back room regardless. It's just when Juju Brents went down.
Starting point is 00:28:47 If they didn't find Sam Womack on the waiver wire. I mean who it would have been David Long starting the whole season on the outside and and that's the thing now you look at it and they can afford to have a couple of entries like you don't want it. We don't want it right like David
Starting point is 00:29:03 Long had to play snaps last year, but he's now part of your third wave of corners We're talking about here where he belongs not like in the mix like he was last year So yeah, they're in a lot better spot and again, even if they have a couple injuries, it'll suck But I don't feel like they'll be totally screwed about it. Yeah, they can actually survive some things at corner this year were last year I mean even the group they were planning on going into the season with sounds like felt like they were treading water. You know, this year, like the guys that they were treading water with going into the season are like competing for cornerback five or six, you know, on the team. Like, that's normal. That's the way it should be. You know, so I like this cornerback room.
Starting point is 00:29:43 I think the Colts did a really good job of revamping it. Obviously at the, you know, at the neglect of other positions that we've already talked about or are going to talk about obviously in this series. But you know, at the end of the day, they did re up this, they did like change this cornerback room and they needed it with Luana Rumo. You know, you can't bring Luana Rumo over here and then give him the oft injured Juju Brentz and then Jalen Jones as his top guys on the outside you needed to bring in more help and they did so you can at least appreciate Chris Ballard for finally giving some corners to his defensive coordinator going forward but that is all we have for today we're gonna be back next time with was
Starting point is 00:30:18 it offensive lineman next Jake I think that's no we did that so we tight ends next I think tight ends next okay so tight ends our next positional preview. Make sure you guys are tuning into that. And thank you guys for making locked on culture. First listen today and every day for next listen, check out locked on NFL scouting as training camps get closer and moves are being made. Host Kyle Krabs and Joe Marino will give you the most will make you the most informed NFL fan this off season. Find lockeddown NFL scouting on YouTube, wherever you're listed to your podcast. And if you guys want to become a Lockdown Colts insider
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Starting point is 00:31:01 and we'll catch you guys back here tomorrow afternoon.

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