Big Daddy Kane
Footballguy
LINK
Posted on Tue, Aug. 10, 2004
June off to impressive start in bid to win Colts starting LB job
MICHAEL MAROT
Associated Press
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Cato June used offseason practices to show Indianapolis Colts coaches could be a starting linebacker in the NFL. The real test, coaches knew, would come during training camp.
After one week, June is getting high marks.
The first time he put on pads at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, June picked off a pass from Peyton Manning and then lost his helmet when he made a crunching hit on running back Dominic Rhodes. Since then, June has been progressing like a speeding train - making plays, making impressions, making it look easy.
"What he's saying is that it's my job and you've got to take it away," linebackers coach Mike Murphy said.
June isn't leaving anything to chance.
He takes on ball carriers aggressively, eludes blockers with his speed, defends receivers with the coverage skills he learned playing in Michigan's secondary, and, yes, he likes to trash talk.
A year ago, June seemed an unlikely candidate to start. The Colts drafted him in the sixth round, figuring they could convert June from a college safety. Many teams considered him too small at 6-feet and a generously listed 227 pounds to take on blockers and stay healthy.
The Colts believed he could be a perfect in coach Tony Dungy's defense, which favors speed over size, instincts over hits.
"Fortunately, for me, I am in a situation where you don't have to be a big guy," June said. "You can run around and make plays."
June figured he fit the mold and after 14 training camp practices, Dungy is impressed with what he's seen.
"If one guy stands out in this camp so far, it's probably been Cato," Dungy said. "He's really played well."
June is still learning about playing closer to the line of scrimmage and making quicker reads, and it's sometimes been a difficult transition.
As a rookie, playing time was sparse. June appeared in 11 games last year, primarily on special teams, and produced just 11 tackles. His on-the-job training program consisted mostly of film study and veterans, like Marcus Washington and Rob Morris, teaching him the nuances of the game.
When Washington signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins in March, the Colts needed a replacement. Their plan became to move David Thornton to Washington's strong side linebacker position and plug June in on the weak side.
"I was excited they had confidence in me that I could make it happen," June said. "At the same time, I knew I had a lot of work to do."
The early results have been encouraging.
Colts coaches expected June to wage a spirited training camp battle with Keyon Whiteside, another second-year player. But the battle has been mostly one-sided.
June has worked extensively with the starting defense and his big hits and big plays have gained the attention of teammates and coaches, while Whiteside has been relegated to working primarily with the backups.
"Cato came in and did very, very well during the mini-camps and summer school, but those were in shorts," Murphy said. "We wanted to see how he'd do when we put the pads on, and thus far, he's done very well."
The next challenge comes Saturday at San Diego when June starts his first game.
He is confident there will be no drop-off in front of a crowd he expects will include a large contingent of his family and friends.
"I need to put confidence in the coaches' minds that I can make this happen," he said. "It's not good enough to say you're almost there. You have to make plays."
Posted on Tue, Aug. 10, 2004
June off to impressive start in bid to win Colts starting LB job
MICHAEL MAROT
Associated Press
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Cato June used offseason practices to show Indianapolis Colts coaches could be a starting linebacker in the NFL. The real test, coaches knew, would come during training camp.
After one week, June is getting high marks.
The first time he put on pads at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, June picked off a pass from Peyton Manning and then lost his helmet when he made a crunching hit on running back Dominic Rhodes. Since then, June has been progressing like a speeding train - making plays, making impressions, making it look easy.
"What he's saying is that it's my job and you've got to take it away," linebackers coach Mike Murphy said.
June isn't leaving anything to chance.
He takes on ball carriers aggressively, eludes blockers with his speed, defends receivers with the coverage skills he learned playing in Michigan's secondary, and, yes, he likes to trash talk.
A year ago, June seemed an unlikely candidate to start. The Colts drafted him in the sixth round, figuring they could convert June from a college safety. Many teams considered him too small at 6-feet and a generously listed 227 pounds to take on blockers and stay healthy.
The Colts believed he could be a perfect in coach Tony Dungy's defense, which favors speed over size, instincts over hits.
"Fortunately, for me, I am in a situation where you don't have to be a big guy," June said. "You can run around and make plays."
June figured he fit the mold and after 14 training camp practices, Dungy is impressed with what he's seen.
"If one guy stands out in this camp so far, it's probably been Cato," Dungy said. "He's really played well."
June is still learning about playing closer to the line of scrimmage and making quicker reads, and it's sometimes been a difficult transition.
As a rookie, playing time was sparse. June appeared in 11 games last year, primarily on special teams, and produced just 11 tackles. His on-the-job training program consisted mostly of film study and veterans, like Marcus Washington and Rob Morris, teaching him the nuances of the game.
When Washington signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins in March, the Colts needed a replacement. Their plan became to move David Thornton to Washington's strong side linebacker position and plug June in on the weak side.
"I was excited they had confidence in me that I could make it happen," June said. "At the same time, I knew I had a lot of work to do."
The early results have been encouraging.
Colts coaches expected June to wage a spirited training camp battle with Keyon Whiteside, another second-year player. But the battle has been mostly one-sided.
June has worked extensively with the starting defense and his big hits and big plays have gained the attention of teammates and coaches, while Whiteside has been relegated to working primarily with the backups.
"Cato came in and did very, very well during the mini-camps and summer school, but those were in shorts," Murphy said. "We wanted to see how he'd do when we put the pads on, and thus far, he's done very well."
The next challenge comes Saturday at San Diego when June starts his first game.
He is confident there will be no drop-off in front of a crowd he expects will include a large contingent of his family and friends.
"I need to put confidence in the coaches' minds that I can make this happen," he said. "It's not good enough to say you're almost there. You have to make plays."
~ confused
First, it was Mike Peterson, then Thornton, and NOW CATO JUNE. 
Second, I don't really give two craps in a coffee can alongside a river how talented the guy is or big the guys is, if Dungy is going to play him at WLB and wants to give the kid a shot, then in any IDP league, June needs to be drafted b/c of the above history with the Colts. And the WLB always outpoints the SLB in most defensive schemes, including the Colts' and Dungy's units. Duh. 
Third, I just love listening to my league mates ask "who is he?" every year I scoop up a LB year in and year out. Not that I necessarily draft them, most of the time it is an immediate pick up on the WW after the game that backs up my hunch they could get some steady points in IDP leagues.I was the first to grab Barton, Hartwell, Barnett, Joey Porter, Thornton, Jamie Sharper in each of the last couple years when either through injuries or free agency departures these few above stepped up into the lime light. I'm telling you take CATO JUNE as the 3rd LB on your squad. He had 5 solos his last preseason game. He's being given all chances to win the job, and the fact that he is the projected starter in Dungy's scheme warrants the 3rd LB attention.Today, I grabbed him in Round 18 in a 12 team, 21 round draft, H to H, where we start 1 DB, 1 LB or DL and Flex IDP (any position). Cato will be my back up after I Selected Bulluck and Arrington (thanks for signing the freaking contract that allows you to be sold by the Player's Assoc). 
