INDIANAPOLIS -- The start of the Indianapolis Colts training camp is less than three weeks away.
There's been plenty of hype -- and deservingly so - surrounding the additions the Colts made during the offseason. On the flip side of that, there's also several players -- and head coach -- who has plenty of pressure on them next season. It could because they're in their final year of contract, they've failed to live up to expectations or because they have a teammate breathing down their neck for their starting spot.
We started looking at the players with the most pressure prior to my vacation last week. Running back Vick Ballard and guard Donald Thomas were Nos. 10 and 9, respectively.
No. 8 DL Josh Chapman
2014 Stats: 21 tackles, including five for a loss, and one forced fumble
Why the pressure: Raise your hand if you remembered that Chapman was part of the Colts' heralded 2012 draft class that features Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton, Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen. Waiting. Waiting. And still waiting. Chapman didn't play his rookie season because of a knee problem and he started 15 of 16 games last season. But the stats don't scream starter for Chapman. He's got 36 tackles and no sacks in his three-year career. Chapman is not only headed into the final year of his rookie contract, but he's also got some competition for playing time at nose tackle. The Colts are high on Montori Hughes and they selected former Stanford Cardinal David Parry in the fifth round of this year's draft. Only two of three will players will likely play and Chapman is far from a lock to be a starter.
What he has to do: I'm sure you recall the problems the Colts have had stopping the run, especially against the New England Patriots, the past couple of seasons. Well it starts in the middle of the defensive line. Chapman has to be able to supply pressure up the middle, not only on the quarterback, but also to cause the opposing running back to stop in his tracks two or three yards behind the line of scrimmage. Do that and Chapman's spot in the rotation will be safe. Continue to struggle and Hughes and Parry will be waiting to take Chapman's snaps from him.
Quotable: "I think from our standpoint, there are three guys competing at that position right now with Chapman, Montori and David Parry. It's those three guys competing against each other right now." -- Colts defensive coordinator Greg Manusky
