Colts RBs coach David Walker says Donald Brown is the team's starting tailback right now, but there will be a competition in training camp.
"Donald deserves to be the No. 1 right now as we go through offseason training," Walker said. "But we'll see how that unfolds as we get to camp and start hitting, playing against other people in the preseason. ... Everybody wants to be that guy, and we'll give everybody that opportunity to show us he can be that guy." Brown is only penciled in as the Colts' starter. He'll have to hold off Delone Carter, Darren Evans, and rookie Vick Ballard in August.
Donald Brown had chances under the previous Colts’ regime to earn a bigger role, but he landed himself in the doghouse. It’s too early to say the first-round pick from the team’s 2009 draft is not a good back. After all, he owns a 4.2-yard per carry average.
He’s at the head of the line now, in front of Delone Carter and rookie fifth-rounder Vick Ballard. Brown will need to show offensive coordinator Bruce Arians that he can reliably pick up a blitzer and contribute in pass protection.
But Chuck Pagano is going to be a coach who’s more reliant on the run, and I suspect he’ll give Brown a significant chance to show the Colts he can be decisive, which will maximize his chances to break off big runs and be the team’s lead back ESPN
