Four training camp practices in and with an off day on Sunday before the pads come on, how would Shane Steichen evaluate the play of Indianapolis Colts’ rookie tight end Tyler Warren up to this point in the early stages of training camp?
“It’s been solid. Really solid,” Steichen said after Saturday’s practice. “I said this when we drafted him too, I think he’s just got a great feel for the game. A really good feel, great hands, understands football.
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“I think he’s going to make a good impact for us this year. But we’re working day by day to get better there, with him and everybody. It’s been good though.”
After what was referred to as a relatively quiet first day, Warren has quickly been a key figure in the Colts‘ passing game over the last few practices.
His reliability as a pass-catcher, hauling in tight window throws or off-target passes, has been on display, and was one of the many aspects of his game that drew the Colts to him during the pre-draft process.
Warren’s hands, coupled with his size and athleticism, makes him, in particular, a real threat over the middle of the field on those short to intermediate routes, where he is a difficult matchup.
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However, while Warren’s impact on the passing game is already on display, his true impact on the overall offense won’t be recognized until the pads come on.
Along with his pass-catching abilities, Warren is versatile, able to line up across the formation, and is a very capable blocker. That do-it-all presence at tight end adds some unpredictability to an offense, with him able to fill a variety of roles.
“We haven’t even seen him in pads, which I think is going to be a real strength of his,” offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. “When he gets to play football in pads, the extra elements of his game are going to come alive.”
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts training camp: Shane Steichen on Tyler Warren’s first week