ANDERSON, Ind. — ANDERSON – The Indianapolis Colts’ arrival in Anderson for training camp was conducted quietly Sunday. Players arrived at their dorm rooms with a minimum of fanfare. Media interviews were conducted in the lawn just outside the Mansfield Apartments building that is housing the press and the two who were made available were head coach Jim Caldwell and quarterback Peyton Manning.
Anderson Mayor Kris Ockomon was on hand to personally welcome both Caldwell and Manning to the city. Manning’s only training camp in Anderson
was his rookie season.
“I do not remember much of that camp at all,” said Manning. “Bill (Colts President Polian) and I drove up together. It was such a whirlwind. Maybe it’s an indication that I’m getting old that I can’t recall my first one.”
He had no opinion formed yet about the facilities at Anderson University.
“I just drove up here this morning and then came out here to talk to you,” Manning said. “But I’m sure the organization wouldn’t have moved us to Anderson for training camp if Anderson couldn’t take care of our needs. It will be a great camp I’m sure.”
Injuries from a year ago to players like safety Bob Sanders, defensive lineman Dwight Freeney and wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez were quickly a topic of conversation.
“I expect all of those guys who were on the bubble with their injuries will be ready to go when we start practice (today),” said Caldwell. “When we saw Sanders he was moving well and was quick.”
Generally the team that lost the previous Super Bowl, as the Colts did in February to the New Orleans Saints, hasn’t fared well the following season. Caldwell said he did consult some coaches in the off-season who had faced that but didn’t specifically relate what advice they might have given him.
“I don’t think that will be a problem for us,” said Caldwell. “This team has always been excellent at compartmentalizing things. By temperament you can’t tell whether they won or lost after a game. Not everyone handles things the way we do.”
Caldwell expects to see very little change in camp even though the site moved from Terre Haute to Anderson.
“Every year we tweak things a little bit,” he said. “But I came up here to see the facilities in Anderson before today. What a great job Anderson University has done for us in getting ready.”
He has no doubt that the camp will not only get the team ready for the season, but also answer a few questions along the way.
“I don’t think we have any single area where the competition is greater than another,” said Caldwell. “There will be a lot of great competition. We will either be building depth or developing a starter.”
He did acknowledge that the starting quarterback job probably wasn’t up for grabs. “Peyton is kind of a special situation,” said Campbell. “When you have him with that kind of work ethic it trickles down through all of the players.”
The first practice of camp takes place today beginning at 8:30 a.m. There will be two practices today, the second one at 3:30.
