Bryce Boettcher has spent only a short time in Colts training camp, but he’s already making it impossible to ignore him.
Indianapolis entered camp with a couple of rookie defenders drawing the most attention, and for good reason. CJ Allen and A.J.
Haulcy are both expected to start in Week 1 of the new NFL season. Boettcher, though, is the name that keeps pushing into the conversation even though he wasn’t supposed to be in this kind of position so quickly.
The former Oregon linebacker has looked ready from the start of summer. His work during OTAs and minicamp already suggested he could handle the jump, and the first days of camp have only strengthened that impression.
Now the real issue is competition. Boettcher is battling six-year veteran Akeem Davis-Gaither for the job, and Davis-Gaither has a clear edge in two important areas: his experience and his history with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo from their years together with the Cincinnati Bengals.
That background matters. So does the fact that Davis-Gaither has six seasons of NFL experience while Boettcher is still trying to prove he belongs right away. But Boettcher isn’t backing down, and he’s done enough this offseason to show he can play with the pros.
Anarumo’s recent comments backed that up. The Colts defensive coordinator drew a vivid comparison while describing the rookie’s style.
"Another young guy who is learning," said Anarumo,"but I think he is very intentional about what he does. You hear about boxers where they're heavy-handed.
He's a heavy-handed guy. When he hits you, you can feel it.
I think he'll continue to shine when the pads come up."
Colts linebackers coach James Bettcher offered a similar read, calling Boettcher’s game "fast, violent, (and) physical."
That’s the kind of profile that keeps a coaching staff interested. The bigger question is whether the Colts want that energy in a starting role immediately, or whether the smarter move is to let a veteran handle the job while Boettcher keeps developing.
If Boettcher does win it, Indianapolis would be rolling out two rookie linebackers, with Allen alongside him. That decision would land with Anarumo and Shane Steichen.
For now, Boettcher has done the important part: he’s given the Colts a reason to keep looking his way.
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