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Indianapolis Colts: D’Joun Smith Getting Huge Reps in Training Camp

By Kyle Nishida

Feb 23, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Florida Atlantic defensive back D'Joun Smith catches a pass in a work out drill during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Florida Atlantic defensive back D'Joun Smith catches a pass in a work out drill during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Indianapolis Colts needed to temporarily shuffle their defensive secondary due to the injuries of Clayton Geathers and T.J. Green. Cornerback D’Joun Smith has been given a huge opportunity because of this recent formation change.

No team ever wants to deal with injuries, but injuries create opportunities for other players on the roster to succeed. Smith has received significant reps at the nickel cornerback due to the Colts’ safety injuries.

Normally, the nickel cornerback position is occupied by Darius Butler. However, Butler has temporarily moved to safety due to the Geathers and Green injuries. As a result, Smith is getting a chance to show the coaching staff what he has learned following a disappointing 2015 season.

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Last year, Smith struggled in training camp and battled a knee injury throughout the preseason and the regular season. He had a minimal effect on the Colts’ season.

The Colts’ still have high expectations for their 2015 third round pick. Earlier this offseason, general manager Ryan Grigson said he believes Smith will compete for the nickel cornerback spot.

It is difficult to determine how Smith has performed in training camp so far. However, defensive coordinator Ted Monachino believes he has seen daily growth from second-year defensive back.

"“I think what you see out of D’Joun is you see him growing daily, you see with reps he gets better and better. You also see some rustiness because of his offseason and what he went through from an injury standpoint. But it’s great to get those guys reps because we know that he’s a good football player and we know that he’s a good corner and we know he’s an NFL-caliber corner that we can play winning football with. So all the reps we can get him, those are better.”"

Smith’s time as the primary nickel cornerback may not last much longer because rookie safety T.J. Green will return to practice soon. As a result, the Colts may move Butler back to the nickel cornerback spot.

However, if Smith continues his growth, the Colts could eventually be confident enough to keep Butler at safety and play Smith at cornerback.

Also, Geathers may not be ready by Week 1 of the 2016 regular season, which means Butler will need need to take reps at safety even with Green healthy. This means Smith could still get some quality reps in meaningful team sessions.

Injuries are hard to deal with sometimes, and the Indianapolis Colts are trying their best to overcome their current ones. They often utilize the “next man up” mantra to address these situations.

Next: Colts: Starters to Play in First Preseason Game

With Butler changing positions to fix the Colts’ safety problem, it is Smith’s turn to step up. Hopefully, he can continue his development in camp and be a solid contributor for the team during the season.

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