Colts camp observations: Defense holds Joe Burrow, Bengals offense scoreless

CINCINNATI — Bengals star Joe Burrow had at least four chances to put the ball into the end zone against the Indianapolis defense during joint practices on Tuesday.

Cincinnati never got the ball across the goal line.

Not even in the 10 snaps the Bengals took in the red zone. Burrow picked up his fair share of completions, finishing 14 of 18 on the day, but nearly all were short throws; starting Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones picked him off twice and the Bengals couldn’t pick up first downs when given a chance to move the ball.

“The two-minute, the competition, the move-the-ball was good,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said. “Our defense obviously held them there.”

The Colts defense was dominant in the two-minute drill.

Defensive linemen Tyquan Lewis and Kwity Paye combined to sack Burrow on first down, linebacker E.J. Speed made a quick tackle on a short throw to Zack Moss on second down, safety Nick Cross batted away a throw over the middle on third down and then Paye ended the scenario, ripping around Cincinnati right tackle Trent Brown for another sack.

But that was far from the only highlight.

The Indianapolis defense started making plays early. Rookie defensive end Laiatu Latu ripped off the right side for a “sack” to start Cincinnati’s 11-on-11 period and forced another pressure a couple of snaps later.

The Colts began to dominate in the red zone.

Middle linebacker Zaire Franklin came free on a blitz and might have sacked Burrow in a real game. Burrow threw off his back foot, floating the ball into the arms of Jones. DeForest Buckner blew up a run play on the next snap, Speed crashed down on a short route, Grover Stewart made another tackle-for-loss and then Julian Blackmon broke up a pass in the end zone to finish off the first five plays.

Cincinnati’s second chance was more of the same.

Kenny Moore II made a quick tackle on a short throw, Franklin and Speed combined to stop two runs—including one on a huge push from the 2-yard line—and Jones dove in front of a last-ditch pass, adamant that he’d picked off Burrow again.

The only time Cincinnati came close to a score was when Burrow found Jermaine Burton near the goal line after Burton beat cornerback Dallis Flowers, but the referees ruled Flowers’ tackle short of the end zone.

Safety dance

The Colts are still searching for the right mix at safety.

After playing Nick Cross at free safety for long stretches of last week’s joint practices against Arizona, Indianapolis played Cross at strong safety and Julian Blackmon at free safety for half the snaps on Tuesday, but the Colts also played Blackmon at strong safety and Rodney Thomas II at free safety the rest of the time.

“We’re looking at all those things,” Steichen said. “That rotation back there with those guys — Nick Cross and Rodney and Ronnie (Harrison Jr.), Trevor Denbow and Julian—we’re looking at all that stuff right now. The guy that makes the most plays here (will win).”

Indianapolis might also try to capitalize on all of this shifting and changing by playing the two safeties interchangeably.

“If you’re in a single-high safety look, you might have a motion where someone rotates back to the middle and becomes the free,” Steichen said. “That’s within the frame of the defense. Those guys have to be ready to play in the box and the deep third.”

Just about everybody made plays against the Bengals.

Blackmon, the team’s lone lock at safety, had a handful of tackles and a pass breakup. Cross had a pair of pass breakups, including one with the first team and one with the second. Thomas largely wasn’t tested deep by Cincinnati’s offense.

Harrison, who briefly was given a chance to play strong safety earlier in camp, picked off Bengals backup Logan Woodside halfway through practice.

From the sounds of it, the competition might go down to the wire.

“We’ve got another week and a half before we start this thing off,” Steichen said. “We’ll make that decision when it needs to be made.”

Rookie rising

Fifth-round linebacker Jaylon Carlies was forced to miss more than a week due to a hip injury.

But it looks like he’s picked right up where he left off. Carlies, the Missouri safety the Colts are converting into an NFL linebacker due to his size, was back in the lineup as the team’s third linebacker next to Franklin and Speed on Tuesday.

Carlies made his name early in training camp by making plays on passes, but he made a handful of plays in the run game against Cincinnati, a significant development for a rookie who could have a defensive role when the real games begin.

Injury report

Third-year tight end Jelani Woods is expected to undergo surgery, and he will miss significant time due to the toe injury suffered against Arizona on Saturday night.

Jelani Woods injury update: Colts tight end will miss significant time due to toe injury

Woods, wide receiver Josh Downs (high ankle sprain), cornerback JuJu Brents (nose), center Tanor Bortolini (toe), running back Trey Sermon (hamstring), defensive end Titus Leo and linebacker Liam Anderson did not practice.

Wide receiver Ashton Dulin returned to practice for the first time in a couple of weeks after dealing with a hamstring injury.

Quick hitters

The second-team defense allowed the Bengals to get in range for a field-goal attempt during its two-minute drill, but Cincinnati's kicker hooked it wide left. ... Backup cornerback Darrell Baker Jr., who has consistently played with the second team, struggled against Cincinnati. Baker was flagged for pass interference on one of the few deep balls the Bengals attempted, and he gave up at least three catches. … Dayo Odeyingbo was impressive in both 1-on-1 and 2-on-2 pass rush drills, repeatedly using his speed and explosiveness to get into the backfield. … Rookie nickel Micah Abraham broke up at least one pass in minimal action with the third team.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts camp: Defense holds Joe Burrow, Bengals offense scoreless