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TERRE HAUTE -
They turned out in the thousands on a cloudless yet slightly muggy night in Terre Haute. The jerseys, the drill, and for the most part, the players were about the same as their last night workout nearly twelve months earlier.
A practice of a few hours under the setting sun and eventually floodlights gave the indication that the transition from Tony Dungy to Jim Caldwell may feature small to no changes at all.
Too bad many weren't there for the day's first practice, when the new coach threw in a wrinkle of his own.
"It was literally what we call kinda our 30-30 plays," said Caldwell of the format for his morning session that lasted just over an hour at Cook Stadium. "We get 60 plays run, 30 offense, 30 defensively."
Read: Reggie Wayne's Camp Change: Dump Truck
All held with the first units of each side of the ball, with the players going though their plays without contact, with just jerseys, helmets and shorts. A simple change, but one of the first truly visible adjustments made to practice since the beginning of camp.
"It really gives us the chance to play the game from a mental standpoint," said Caldwell of the new practice. "Also getting our alignments and our assignments down as well."
"A majority of the game is played before the ball is snapped so that's what that period is certainly focused on."
Read: Caldwell Holds First Hitting Camp Practice on Tuesday
While Caldwell didn't say how many times a practice like this one would be held, he did talk about Saturday's practice, which will be a "mock game" with the team practicing things like coming out of the locker room for pre-game warm ups, how different groups are substituted in before the action on the field begins.
"We'll try to play it as close to a real game as we can in spurts," said Caldwell of Saturday's scrimmage. "So they can get a chance to feel the flow of the game, the change of pace of the game, sudden changes, things of that nature."
Read: More Colts Coverage
During the game, each side will be scored based on a point system which is to be determined, thought the coach did offer a few hints on Wednesday.
"It's probably weighted a little bit more toward the defense," said Caldwell.
A practice of a few hours under the setting sun and eventually floodlights gave the indication that the transition from Tony Dungy to Jim Caldwell may feature small to no changes at all.
Too bad many weren't there for the day's first practice, when the new coach threw in a wrinkle of his own.
"It was literally what we call kinda our 30-30 plays," said Caldwell of the format for his morning session that lasted just over an hour at Cook Stadium. "We get 60 plays run, 30 offense, 30 defensively."
Read: Reggie Wayne's Camp Change: Dump Truck
All held with the first units of each side of the ball, with the players going though their plays without contact, with just jerseys, helmets and shorts. A simple change, but one of the first truly visible adjustments made to practice since the beginning of camp.
"It really gives us the chance to play the game from a mental standpoint," said Caldwell of the new practice. "Also getting our alignments and our assignments down as well."
"A majority of the game is played before the ball is snapped so that's what that period is certainly focused on."
Read: Caldwell Holds First Hitting Camp Practice on Tuesday
While Caldwell didn't say how many times a practice like this one would be held, he did talk about Saturday's practice, which will be a "mock game" with the team practicing things like coming out of the locker room for pre-game warm ups, how different groups are substituted in before the action on the field begins.
"We'll try to play it as close to a real game as we can in spurts," said Caldwell of Saturday's scrimmage. "So they can get a chance to feel the flow of the game, the change of pace of the game, sudden changes, things of that nature."
Read: More Colts Coverage
During the game, each side will be scored based on a point system which is to be determined, thought the coach did offer a few hints on Wednesday.
"It's probably weighted a little bit more toward the defense," said Caldwell.
