The Indianapolis Colts are less than a week into training camp, and a handful of rookies are coming on strong already. The Colts' two most notable rookies on defense are CJ Allen and A.J. Haulcy, who are both expected to start at their positions in Week 1 of the new NFL season, and that's no surprise.
What might be a surprise is another rookie who didn't get drafted with the intention or expectation of being ready to start right away. Still, Bryce Boettcher is doing everything he can to give the appearance that he's a capable starter in the NFL anyway. At least, these first days of training camp are certainly showing it.
Then again, Boettcher isn't just coming on now; his participation at the Colts OTAs and minicamp earlier in the summer proved the former Oregon Duck linebacker was close to being NFL-ready already.
Indianapolis Colts' DC Lou Anarumo likens rookie Bryce Boettcher to a boxer
It's just a matter of position competition and whether he can beat out the other guy. If you ask Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Boettcher is shining regardless, but will shine even brighter soon.
That "other guy" Boettcher is competing with is six-year veteran Akeem Davis-Gaither, who has two advantages over the rookie. One, Davis-Gaither's history and familiarity playing under Anarumo for several seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals is key.
Two, his experience, which obviously far outweighs Boettcher's, is six years of NFL-ready experience compared to coming out of college NFL-ready.
Davis-Gaither could win the job based on experience alone, but Boettcher doesn't appear to want to wave the white flag just yet. Even if Boettcher falls behind Davis-Gaither when it's all said and done, Boettcher should still see plenty of snaps this season; his offseason work has shown he can play with the professionals.
What Anarumo recently said about Boettcher further points in that direction, after the veteran coordinator compared Boettcher's playing style to another type of athlete, but one who specializes in a much different sort of punch.
"Another young guy who is learning," said Anarumo, "but I think he is very intentional about what he does. You hear about boxers where they're heavy-handed. He's a heavy-handed guy. When he hits you, you can feel it. I think he'll continue to shine when the pads come up."
To back up Anarumo's statement, Colts' linebackers coach James Bettcher described Boettcher's game as "fast, violent, (and) physical." To summarize, Boettcher clearly has the right motor, but the question is whether that motor would be best utilized by watching and learning from a seasoned veteran to start.
Suppose Boettcher won the starting job over Davis-Gaither; then the Colts would be starting two rookies at linebacker, Allen included. Whether that would be the wise choice is something for Anarumo and Shane Steichen to decide. In any case, Boettcher is giving his coaches every reason to believe in him; just how far can he sway their decision-making, though?
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