Expectations for Colts rookies need to be tempered

All of the rookies look great right now in training camp. But we all need to realize that no real games have been played yet.

Training camp is underway and it’s the rookies’ first time to show off for fans in a Colts uniform. The Colts have a lot of them, and they are all playing their hardest right now. Most of them have looked pretty good, but we still need to temper how good they’ve looked.

Rock Ya-Sin had two interceptions during practice yesterday. Both of them looked good, and Ya-Sin looks like he could start from day one. But it’s still training camp. Parris Campbell had a great tip-toe catch in the back of the end zone yesterday. But it’s still training camp.

Everyone thought the same thing about Phillip Dorsett in 2015 and Bjoern Werner in 2013. Rookies look good early in camp because they are only competing against their own guys and aren’t thrown into a direct game setting. Most practices aren’t in pads.

The best indicator will be the first preseason game, which is August 8th. They have a week and a half to get themselves together and ready. That is when we will get a good indication of just how good these players can be. Training camp definitely gives us a sense, but it’s not everything.

There are definitely still things we can take away from camp. We just have to take them with a grain of salt. I firmly believe both Campbell and Ya-Sin will be great players in the NFL. But what they do in training camp isn’t the end-all be-all.