The cleaning crew in the University of Maryland football facility would come in during late nights expecting to find a mostly empty building as janitors went about their work.
But there often would be a straggler in their way as they tried to prepare the facility for the next day. Safety Nick Cross would regularly be posted up in a meeting room, eyes glued to a screen, analyzing hours of film long after everyone else was gone.
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But even if you hadn’t known this about the Colts’ third-round pick, it becomes evident when watching him play. Had Cross not dedicated himself to intense film study, his uncanny speed and hitting ability would have often been wasted because he would be unable to anticipate where the ball is going.
“Studying tape lets you gain confidence in your ability,” Cross said during the Colts’ weekend rookie minicamp. “I think I had pretty good athletic ability from the jump, but when you combine that with mental aptitude and being able to master the technique, you go out there and play free and play with confidence because you know what you’re doing. You can go out there and let loose.”
All indications are that Cross, a finance major who registered a blazing-fast 4.34-second 40-yard dash, is a worker. Case in point: On his first night as a Colt, Cross had but one request of defensive backs coach Ron Milus.
“I’ve been on him about trying to get me the playbook early,” Cross said. “The night I got drafted, I asked for the playbook. To be able to study that and study route concepts and get a feel for the quarterback I’m playing, I’m able to let (instincts) take over.”
The Colts have the potential for a very deep group of safeties. It remains to be seen whether Cross makes a run at a starting job this season, but don’t bet against him. In fact, the Colts view him as one of their picks most likely to challenge for a starting role in 2022. With starting free safety Julian Blackmon coming back from a ruptured Achilles tendon and with the accumulating injuries of strong safety Khari Willis, there could be opportunities.
Cross’ speed and hitting ability make him a unique fit for the Colts’ new scheme. Indianapolis will often play with a single-safety setup, and Cross spent significant time as Maryland’s single safety in the Terps’ defensive system. He can also play strong safety, giving the Colts the versatility they seek from the position.
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Don’t discount Cross’ massive upside, either. He’s won’t turn 21 until September and entered the draft after his true junior season.
“I think I’m just scratching the surface,” Cross said. “I started playing safety as a junior in high school. So, in five years, I feel like I’m barely scratching the surface. I feel like with the coaches here and the players here, they can keep pushing me to the next level.”
Meanwhile, sounds like the Colts’ cleaning crew should get used to seeing a lot of Cross around Indianapolis’ facility.
Above the rim
The Colts’ emphasis on targeting size in their pass catchers was obvious during the draft, and rookie camp offered a taste of why the team finds such players attractive.
You could be forgiven for mistaking the Colts’ offensive huddle for a basketball squad at times over the weekend, what with players like 6-3 receiver Alec Pierce (second round), 6-7 tight end Jelani Woods (third round) and 6-5 tight end Drew Ogletree (sixth round) taking the field for the first time.
“A lot of big bodies out there, especially with the tight ends we brought in,” Pierce said. “I haven’t met the vets yet, but I know they’re all big guys. It’s a big receiver room and big tight end room. Good red zone matchups.”
Said Ogletree: “I was always the biggest guy on the field, but having Jelani right next to me and looking up at him, it’s like, ‘Oh, man.’ I think it’s great. We have a lot of advantages and a lot of mismatches.”
And the Colts didn’t let all that size go to waste over the weekend. Pierce was a featured target in the red zone during team drills Saturday, making two eye-opening touchdown catches that each displayed his ability to use his long frame to his advantage.
Pierce combines that size with impressive body control that helps him snatch balls out of the air and, as he displayed multiple times, keep his feet in bounds on perimeter throws in the red zone.
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“It becomes basketball down there,” he said of the red zone. “You have to go up and high-point the ball, rebound the ball.
“I think definitely my ability to go up and make contested catches, to go up over people, is definitely one of my strong suits. … Being able to go up and make tough catches and twist your body, and really make a huge catch radius, the quarterback’s able to throw the ball wherever and you can make the play. You’re kind of always open that way.”
The Colts’ preference for elite size among their pass catchers was obvious long ago. But the team really doubled down on that approach in this draft. This group of rookies will soon join the veterans in offseason workouts. There, they will be introduced to other big-bodied targets like Michael Pittman Jr. (6-4), Mo Alie-Cox (6-7), Michael Strachan (6-5) and Dezmon Patmon (6-4).
And, more than anything, they’ll be available to quarterback Matt Ryan.
“You’ve got to play to your strengths,” head coach Frank Reich said. “That’s the thing about a big man — you can always create a mismatch and always create leverage by your length.
“Then when you get an accurate passer to take advantage of that, it can be a big playmaking advantage.”
Undrafted free-agent watch
If there’s one spot on the roster where an undrafted free agent might be able to land a roster spot, it could be running back.
No, some long-shot rookie isn’t about to take Jonathan Taylor’s job or leapfrog Nyheim Hines on the depth chart. But the Colts had just three running backs on their active roster prior to the draft. As a result, they added three undrafted prospects after the draft.
Max Borghi of Washington State, D’Vonte Price of Florida International and CJ Verdell of Oregon will compete with No. 3 back Deon Jackson, who made it to the active roster last season after also arriving as a college free agent.
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The Colts were rather impressed with Jackson last season, promoting him to the active roster and waiving veteran Jordan Wilkins because of Jackson’s performance in practice. But competition is always lurking.
Borghi scored 32 career touchdowns in college and averaged 5.8 yards per carry for a pass-heavy program. Price averaged six yards per carry during his career and has extensive experience on special teams. Verdell began his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons before battling injuries the past two years.
Keep an eye on the running backs in training camp.
(Photo of Alec Pierce: Zach Bolinger / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
