NFL Nation reporter Mike Wells assesses which rookies on the Colts could earn a starting berth this season.
Why Clayton Geathers could start: The safety position opposite of Mike Adams lacked consistency last season between Sergio Brown and LaRon Landry. Both players are gone and the Colts signed veteran Dwight Lowery during the offseason.
Lowery is the frontrunner because of his experience, but he’s far from a lock to keep the job. He has started every game but one that he’s been available in the last three seasons, including all 15 games he played with the Atlanta Falcons last season.
The Colts need as much experience as possible on a defense that has yet to play well on a consistent basis under coach Chuck Pagano the past three seasons.
The coaching staff raved about Geathers’ ability to grasp the system so quickly during offseason workouts after being taken in the fourth round of the draft. A key for playing safety in Pagano's system is the ability to be interchangeable by playing both safety positions.
“He’s going to be one of those guys that in today’s football you can play inside as a dime (linebacker) and get faster, get more speed on the field and matchup with the tight ends that we’ve got to cover now, the backs out of the backfield and things like that,” Pagano said. “He’s going to contribute, not only on defense, but he should be an outstanding special teamer as well.”
