AFC Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Texans

Colts

Colts QBs coach Marcus Brady said the strength of their offensive line will allow them to pass when defenses “stack the box” and give longer development for plays. 

“Well, it just gives you that much more confidence as a quarterback, and then as a coach and as a playcaller,” said Brady, via Andrew Walker of the team’s official site. “You feel like you can open up your offense in every aspect; obviously we could just pound the ball, run the ball, because no matter if they stack the box we’ve got guys that are gonna move people and open up holes for the dynamic backs that we have. And then the protection aspect, it’s like, ‘OK, well, if they’re stacking the box, we know we can drop back and throw it, and we’re gonna feel protected, we’re gonna feel safe in that pocket.’ And if it’s a play that’s gonna take a little bit longer to develop, but you still have that confidence, so it just gives you that confidence in that offensive side of the ball.”

As for Colts’ fourth-round QB Jacob Eason, Brady believes the rookie “has the physical tools” with his arm strength and size but must continue learning their offensive system 

“Well definitely he has the physical tools — a starting point. Obviously the big arm, the size. So, yes, definitely he has that. The No. 1 thing going from college to the pros is just how much information he’s able to just take in, because our playbook is much bigger than what he had in Washington in college. And so digesting our offense, our system, and then just the detail of each play, because we do more checks — if we’re not getting the right look, we’ll get us to this play; if they’re bringing pressure here, get us to this play. And so he’s learning all of that, so not only learning it, now he’s gotta process it. And we can’t see that yet until he gets on the field, so it’s that, ‘Can he take what he’s learning in the classroom, recognize it when he steps out the huddle, and then process it and make the change in the matter of time before the play clock hits?’ How quickly is that process and speed, and then how quickly is it processing post-snap when he’s in the pocket taking his drop? So there’s a lot of just time that it’s gonna take him, but he’s doing a great job with what he’s been asked to do now; he’s learning and asking questions and picking it up.”

• NFL Media’s Marc Sessler picks Colts OT Braden Smith as his breakout candidate to make their first Pro Bowl in 2020. 

Jaguars

• ESPN’s Mike DiRocco lists Jaguars DE Dawuane Smoot as a veteran player in danger of being cut this preseason. 
• While Smoot had six sacks last season, DiRocco says he didn’t do much up until this year and Jacksonville is deep enough on the defensive line he could fall behind. 

Texans

• Per Lucas Albach of the Louisville Courier-Journal, Texans WR Kenny Stills was one of 87 protesters who were arrested for felony charges Tuesday in Louisville. 
• Stills was with the group protesting at the house of Kentucky’s attorney general regarding the lack of charges for police officers who shot and killed Breonna Taylor while she was sleeping in her home in March. 
• The veteran receiver along was charged with intimidating a participant in the legal process, which is a felony, and was also charged with two misdemeanors for disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. Other protesters received similar charges.