By Tom James, The Sports Xchange
INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis first-year defensive coordinator Ted Monachino says that the Colts defense remains a work in progress.
“To be able to say this is what our defense is going to look like right now, we can’t,” he said. “Right now, as we sit here today, that’s what our defense looks like. Three weeks from now, we don’t know how that’s going to look.”
Monachino is waiting on the return of defensive end Kendall Langford (knee), defensive tackle Henry Anderson (knee), safety Clayton Geathers (foot) and defensive tackle Art Jones (foot rehab from 2015 plus four-game PED suspension to begin 2016 season).
“We won’t know how those guys plug in until they’re back,” he said. “I know some will be back sooner than others. We know what they are when they’re healthy. We can predict what impact what they’ll have on our defense.
“But we can’t really say what we’ll look like when they trot out there until they trot out there with them as a group.”
–Monachino knows the Ravens well. He was Baltimore’s outside linebackers coach for two seasons (2010-11) and the linebackers coach for four years (2012-15). He worked with Pagano for two years in Baltimore.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for those people in Baltimore. That was a great situation for me and enjoyed every minute of my time there,” Monachino said. “I have a great deal of respect for [the Ravens] defensive staff specifically.
“My relationship with [Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh] was one of great respect. I look forward to the challenge that they will present. And their offense will present a great, great challenge to our defense.”
–After being a pregame scratch at Buffalo last week, quarterback Andrew Luck is now slated to make his 2016 preseason debut Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium against Baltimore. Luck is expected to start against the Ravens and play about a quarter. He may stay in the game until midway through the second quarter. Just how long Luck plays will be decided Saturday night.
–Outside linebacker Robert Mathis is also scheduled to make his first 2016 preseason start this week’s Mathis was held out of the Bills game and saw limited practice time on Thursday. He has been dealing with a sore hamstring the last couple of weeks.
–Inside linebacker Sio Moore will sit out the Baltimore game as he recovers from a hamstring injury that he suffered against the Bills last week. Moore is sidelined indefinitely with the injury. He may not be available to play in the Colts’ Sept. 11 season opener with Detroit.
–Cornerback Darius Butler will not play against the Ravens. Butler will get some rest due to a hamstring issue. The injury is not considered to be serious. Butler may be available for the Colts’ Aug. 27 home game with Philadelphia.
