Colts LB Anthony Walker: ‘We’re on the clock’
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Quick feet versus quick internet speeds.
This NFL offseason is unlike anything we’ve ever seen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Colts are keeping busy by trying to troubleshoot virtual training.
Colts linebacker Anthony Walker said his key to concentration is treating this time like a student would during e-learning.
He said, “When it comes to meetings. You want to be locked in as if we were in the building right now. So, no cellphones and we’re at meetings and all that stuff to have notebooks out, pays whatever it is, highlighters, whatever it is that you need. But just locking in, locking in and understanding that. Again, this is, this is still a job that I did the other day. We’re on the clock.”
The other thing Walker is trying to tackle is bonding with his team while they are thousands of miles apart.
“Man, good thing for social media. You know, the first thing after we got D.Buck was look at his Instagram, and then I shot him a text,” Walker added, “There’s no substitute and being there in person and going through those workout days and you know, those hard days at workout. So there is no replacing that.”
Deforest Buckner is just one of several new Pro-Bowler profiles available for stalking, because the Horseshoe stacked together four veterans this free-agency. But that caused a shuffle in the deck. New jersey all around, even for the Colts leading tackler.
“We all worked it out. We’ll keep that in house and how we handled that. But, definitely one of those guys that feel comfortable coming in. I mean obviously Buckner, he’s proven himself. We know that, you know, making, you know, the amount of money he’s making and stuff like that. He deserves to get whatever number he wants,” Walker joked.
He added, “I knew Justin (Houston) wasn’t going, you know, going easy as far as if he wasn’t getting number 50. And for me to switch numbers, again, whatever it takes for us to be successful on and off the field. So, yeah, it was fine. I mean, we all had the sacrifice often and it’s all done.”
Walker wouldn’t give any hints at what kind of bribes were made to get his No. 50, but regardless he will no longer wear that number. Instead, he’s taking No. 54 this season. Falling right beside his best bud on the roster, Darius Leonard. So, the NFL’s top linebacker duo will get a fresh look, but keep the same approach.
Walker said, “We’re growing, we’re learning. We have the pieces, we know we have to piece it all together, you know, started one in five, then we finished strong, then we started slow and play well during the middle of the season and whatever it is. So, we all got to piece it together and no, I think that’s where me and Derek has been talking about just piecing it all together, all three, you know, three areas on defense, D line linebackers in DBS and I will be a great defense.”