Colts training camp preview: Defensive backs

We finish off our preview of the defense by looking in the secondary, where there were a lot of new faces added.

The defensive backs played fairly well last season for the Colts. They were usually in the right position and didn’t allow too many big plays. In fact early in the year, they were part of the reason the team was able to stay afloat. But some changes could be coming.

Kenny Moore, Pierre Desir, and Clayton Geathers all re-signed in the offseason. They all will have their starting spots; Geathers at strong safety, Desir at outside corner, and Moore at slot corner. But Geathers does have to fight for his spot and show that he can stay healthy.

He has to fight because he has some good players behind him. Matthias Farley is one of those guys. Farley makes plays when he’s out on the field. He is going to push Geathers in training camp, as will rookie Khari Willis. Geathers is only on a one-year deal, so he needs to play well.

Malik Hooker is the other guaranteed starter at free safety. That leaves one outside corner spot up for grabs. That will be a battle between Quincy Wilson, Nate Hariston, and rookie Rock Ya-Sin. To me, it is really between Wilson and Sin, with other rookie Marvell Tell possibly seeing some time.

Wilson hasn’t played up to his second round draft status from 2017, although he did play well in the back half of last season. He should be the favorite to keep that outside spot. Ya-Sin should push him very hard though, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him win it.

For depth purposes, the secondary got a lot better. Hairson, Ya-Sin, Tell, Jalen Collins, and Chris Milton all are capable backups at corner. Farley is a great backup to Geathers, and George Odum played well in spots last year backing up Hooker.

Building depth is what Chris Ballard wanted to do with the whole team. He’s done a good job of it with the defensive backs. It’ll be interesting to see who comes out as the last corner standing for that starting spot.