AFC Notes: Colts, Dolphins, Patriots

Colts

Colts defensive backs/safeties coach Alan Williams explained that the move to a 4-3 defensive scheme won’t have a major impact on the team’s coverage.

“The coverage isn’t that different, no matter if you’re in a 4-3 or a 3-4. Usually the coverage is fairly, pretty much the same,” Williams said, via Colts.com. “It’s the front that maybe that they do a little bit different. So I think most of the coverages that we’re doing, the guys have done before. It’s just maybe not as much; maybe not as multiple, varied. We’ll be into, ‘It’s not what you do; it’s how you do it.’ So we’re not as concerned with the different coverages as much as making sure that we’re playing hard, that we’re playing fast, that we’re running to the ball; we want to major in the basics.”

As for second-year CB Quincy Wilson, Williams believes he’ll be fine once he gets more experience.

“He’s into his playbook, he’s learning, he’s attentive in meetings. I remember Quincy coming out of Florida last year, and all the things that we thought he would be, he is those things,” Williams said. “Now, the one thing that he doesn’t have is a whole bunch of playing experience, but we plan on getting him those things once OTAs come along and we can go against our offense. So it’s a wait-and-see right now, but I think he’ll be just fine.”

Dolphins

• According to Joe Schad, the Dolphins are expected to have QB Ryan Tannehill (ACL), Raekwon McMillan (ACL) and Tony Lippett (Achilles) all available in some capacity for the start of OTAs next week.

Patriots

• Mike Reiss of ESPN reports that new Patriots DE Adrian Clayborn tweaked his quad during workouts this offseason and his workload has been scaled back as a result.
• According to Reiss, Clayborn’s injury could limit his availability for the start of OTAs this week.
• Regarding the Patriots’ somewhat surprising decision to cut 2017 third-round OL Antonio Garcia last week, Reiss says it was just a bad break for Garcia. Reiss adds that New England clearly didn’t think they have the time to see if Garcia could get back to his prior form after missing his rookie season due to blood clots in his lungs.
• Patriots OC Josh McDaniels said of seventh-round QB Danny Etling: “He played in a tough [conference, the SEC] and multiple offenses, so he’s had to learn multiple systems. He showed the ability to take care of the football and has some decent arm strength that you want to work with. He makes good decisions. He’s shown already to be a hard worker and a guy that’s eager to learn; it looks like he has good aptitude for that. A lot of good traits from him. Good size (6-foot-2½, 222 pounds).”