Andrew Luck Impresses the Bears Defensive Unit
By Dave McKee
Aug 16, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano during a preseason NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Both Coaches agree on wanting to continue the joint practices in 2016
Colts head coach Chuck Pagano also spoke highly of the two-day event. He told reporters that he is open to scheduling the joint practices again in the future. Bears head coach John Fox also liked the idea. Pagano told Colts.com.
"“I would love to. It’s just great work and you get tired, like we said, of pounding on each other. You talk to Coach Fox and his staff and his players and they say the same thing. The message is the same when you talk to everybody. It’s a measuring stick for all of our guys to go against somebody else, different skill set, different pass rushers, different protectors, different runners, different wide receivers, all those kinds of things. Scheme-wise you’re seeing different concepts in all three phases, so there’s a ton of plusses. Again, you have a great group of guys working out there. I think coming off these two days, we’re all going to look back on it and say this was extremely beneficial to our development as a football team and they’re probably going to say the same thing. It’s too close to me. You’re two and half-hours or whatever it is. You’re too close not to do it. We play Cincinnati ever year in the preseason. It’s always the last game, so that makes it difficult to say we’re going to practice against you before the last game. It’s just not going to work out that way. So we’d love to do it and continue to.“"
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One might wonder as to why was this is such a beneficial scenario for both teams. Most would assume that the practices only benefit the Colts because they not have to travel. Aside from the obvious positives – facing other schemes and hitting players in another colored jersey – here are two main reasons why Indianapolis makes these joint practices easy for other teams agree on.
First, location plays a key factor in determining the likelihood of a sustained agreement between both teams. Chicago is only a 2 1/2 hour drive away from Indianapolis. The Bears coaching staff, trainers and management are used to traveling to Indianapolis every year for the NFL Combine so the surroundings are familiar. Secondly, Downtown Indy attractions also make it a worthwhile visit with so many great restaurants and hotels within a stroll of Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.