Rhodes, rookie Addai to share carries for Colts
Associated Press
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2429103
INDIANAPOLIS -- The loss of Edgerrin James and the lack of a premier running back as his replacement could alter the Indianapolis Colts offensive scheme, with two runners sharing the bulk of carries.
Little-used backup Dominic Rhodes heads into camp as the No. 1 back for Indianapolis, but first-round draft pick Joseph Addai will be brought into the offense quickly, beginning with three-day mini-camp starting Friday.
"He and Dominic will probably share time. At least, that's the way we see it now," said team president Bill Polian, who made the 214-pound rookie from LSU the first running back taken by the Colts in the first round since James in 1999.
"You wouldn't expect a rookie to step into a team like this ... a team that has been winning big," Polian said. "You'd expect him to play some but not have to carry the whole load. We've been spoiled here. We see this as a two-man position now."
When James was out in 2001, Rhodes established himself with Indianapolis, becoming the first undrafted rookie in NFL history to rush for at least 1,000 yards. After James returned, Rhodes played sparingly as his backup.
Now, with James off to Arizona as a free agent, Rhodes and Addai -- who had relatively few carries in college as part of an LSU offense loaded with runners -- should see increased workloads.
"My whole thing is when I get my opportunity, I need to take advantage of it," Addai said. "I don't know how the situation is going to be, but going into practices, I'll go in just trying to compete with everybody else and give 100 percent. At the end of the day, I'll feel good about that."
The mini-camp, coach Tony Dungy said, is not necessarily to establish the pecking order at any position.
"The big thing we're going to be with Joseph, and all of these guys, is just to get them information and get them comfortable with what we do, get them so they know what we do," Dungy said. "They're good enough players, all of them, once they know what's going on, they'll be able to let their light shine. ... We'll have a lot of time to get them ready."
The Colts drafted cornerback Tim Jennings of Georgia in the second round, linebacker Freddie Keiaho of San Diego State in the third round, offensive tackle Michael Toudouze of Texas Christian in the fifth round, offensive Charlie Johnson of Oklahoma State and defensive back Antoine Bethea of Howard in the sixth round and cornerback-kick returner T.J. Rushing of Stanford in the seventh round.
"It's a good group in a lot of ways," Dungy said. "We're always trying to increase our speed and our toughness, and I think we've done that."
The Colts picked late in each round -- thanks to their NFL-best 14-2 record last season -- but Polian was pleased with the way the draft unfolded.
"We'll see how it plays out the next nine months or so," he said. "I've always believed if you make the picks for the right reasons, your odds of success increase markedly. ... Let's face it, this business is not science, it's an art. We're happy with the guys we got, now we'll be aggressive in pursuing free agents."
Associated Press
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2429103
INDIANAPOLIS -- The loss of Edgerrin James and the lack of a premier running back as his replacement could alter the Indianapolis Colts offensive scheme, with two runners sharing the bulk of carries.
Little-used backup Dominic Rhodes heads into camp as the No. 1 back for Indianapolis, but first-round draft pick Joseph Addai will be brought into the offense quickly, beginning with three-day mini-camp starting Friday.
"He and Dominic will probably share time. At least, that's the way we see it now," said team president Bill Polian, who made the 214-pound rookie from LSU the first running back taken by the Colts in the first round since James in 1999.
"You wouldn't expect a rookie to step into a team like this ... a team that has been winning big," Polian said. "You'd expect him to play some but not have to carry the whole load. We've been spoiled here. We see this as a two-man position now."
When James was out in 2001, Rhodes established himself with Indianapolis, becoming the first undrafted rookie in NFL history to rush for at least 1,000 yards. After James returned, Rhodes played sparingly as his backup.
Now, with James off to Arizona as a free agent, Rhodes and Addai -- who had relatively few carries in college as part of an LSU offense loaded with runners -- should see increased workloads.
"My whole thing is when I get my opportunity, I need to take advantage of it," Addai said. "I don't know how the situation is going to be, but going into practices, I'll go in just trying to compete with everybody else and give 100 percent. At the end of the day, I'll feel good about that."
The mini-camp, coach Tony Dungy said, is not necessarily to establish the pecking order at any position.
"The big thing we're going to be with Joseph, and all of these guys, is just to get them information and get them comfortable with what we do, get them so they know what we do," Dungy said. "They're good enough players, all of them, once they know what's going on, they'll be able to let their light shine. ... We'll have a lot of time to get them ready."
The Colts drafted cornerback Tim Jennings of Georgia in the second round, linebacker Freddie Keiaho of San Diego State in the third round, offensive tackle Michael Toudouze of Texas Christian in the fifth round, offensive Charlie Johnson of Oklahoma State and defensive back Antoine Bethea of Howard in the sixth round and cornerback-kick returner T.J. Rushing of Stanford in the seventh round.
"It's a good group in a lot of ways," Dungy said. "We're always trying to increase our speed and our toughness, and I think we've done that."
The Colts picked late in each round -- thanks to their NFL-best 14-2 record last season -- but Polian was pleased with the way the draft unfolded.
"We'll see how it plays out the next nine months or so," he said. "I've always believed if you make the picks for the right reasons, your odds of success increase markedly. ... Let's face it, this business is not science, it's an art. We're happy with the guys we got, now we'll be aggressive in pursuing free agents."
