Clayton Geathers wasn’t at the level where he was ready to replace veterans Dwight Lowery or Mike Adams in the starting lineup at safety as a rookie last season. But Geathers was too good to leave on the sideline all season on a defense that wasn’t very good. So the Colts used him as a dime or fifth linebacker because he’s athletic enough to play up in the box and defend tight ends in pass coverage.
@MikeWellsNFL What are your thoughts of having Clayton Geathers move into a LB role like Mark Barron or Deone Buchanon?
— Ethan Callahan (@destroid67) June 10, 2016
Mike Wells: I recently asked coach Chuck Pagano about using Geathers in that role again at times, especially if rookie T.J. Green is this year’s version of Geathers where he’s too talented to leave on the sideline. Pagano didn’t sound like that’s in the plans at the moment.
“Our inside backers are doing a nice job,” Pagano said. “With a healthy Sio (Moore) and a healthy Nate (Irving) and a healthy Josh (McNary), we have athletic guys at the linebacker spot that can run and fulfill that dime position in our sub packages. There’s really not a need right now.”
Geathers started two games last season when Adams was out injured and he finished with 34 tackles and a fumble recovery. He'll start with Adams at safety next season, and early reviews so far are that he’s been very comfortable back there.
“Clayton is doing a great job and he’s communicating really well back there with Mike,” Geathers said. “He doesn’t make mental errors. He’s a very conscientious guy and he’s a talented guy. He’s gotten himself in really good shape, looks faster, looks rangier, twitchier. He’s making nice plays.”
