There is a competition unfolding during training camp between rookie receiver AD Mitchell and third-year receiver Alec Pierce for the starting boundary position opposite of Michael Pittman.
Through five training camp practices, Shane Steichen has had Mitchell and Pierce rotating in and out with the starting offense.
“I think it’s great,” said Steichen of the competition. “We’re rotating those guys in there with the ones and they’re competing, and that’s what it’s all about, is competition, right? It’s getting better every day and going from there.”
According to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan , for both Mitchell and Pierce it has been a relatively quiet start to training camp, although each player has made some splash plays as of late.
During Sunday’s practice, Mitchell caught a 20-yard pass from Joe Flacco. Then on Wednesday, Pierce had what Bowen called his best practice of training camp, highlighted by a downfield reception from Flacco. Pierce made a second catch on a comeback route during 7-on-7s as well.
“He is as consistent as they come,” said Jim Bob Cooter after practice about Pierce. “His work ethic. His work habits. His pre-practice habits. … He had a great shot at a few (catches) today, and he went out and made some huge plays.”
Joel Erickson of the Indy Star has been keeping a close eye on this competition and noted that Pierce has nine catches in 11-on-11, with four of them coming from Anthony Richardson, while Mitchell has five receptions with two coming from Richardson.
ESPN’s Stephen Holder said that Pierce has been the more impactful of the two in 11-on-11s so far. Of course, there is still a lot of time left.
The addition of Mitchell brings a new level of explosiveness to the offense with 4.34 speed, that allows him to win downfield, and when coupled with his route running, can create opportunities for Mitchell to impact all levels of the field.
“Just explosiveness,” said Steichen on what he’s seen from Mitchell. “Kind of similar things we saw in the spring from him winning the one-on-one matchups with any young player, learning the system. But you can see the explosive ability, the one-on-one winners that he’s had. We got to continue that.”
However, as a rookie, Mitchell is going to experience a learning curve like most young players do–and that is perhaps the advantage Pierce has, entering his third NFL season and second season in Steichen’s system.
Although Pierce has been a primary deep threat during his career, he wants to showcase this summer that he has the versatility to run a greater variety of routes.
“Definitely more versatility,” said Pierce on what he wants this season. “I want to be able to do more things, run more routes, get open on different types of routes.”
Last season, nearly 96 percent of the Colts’ snaps came with three or fewer receivers on the field. So if that trend is going to continue, there isn’t much opportunity for both Mitchell and Pierce to see snaps together.
Now, the Colts could pick and choose on when either player is on the field based on the situation and their skill sets–it’s not as if whoever is the odd man out in this competition won’t have a role.
However, my guess is the player who can showcase the most consistency and well-rounded skill set–able to impact the game in different ways–will have the best change of lining up opposite of Pittman Week 1.
“High tides raise all ships,” Pierce said after training camp practice Sunday. “It’s all about the competitive spirit. So if you’re pushing each other, the better everyone is around you, it’s basically going to bring everyone’s play up and it’s going to elevate the room as a whole. It’s just a phenomenal thing for the room as a whole.”
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