Cbz40
The Grand Poobah
- Messages
- 31,387
- Reaction score
- 39
[SIZE=+2]Former college star's chances with Colts rest on special teams
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]12:30 AM CDT on Sunday, August 10, 2008
[/SIZE]
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/columnists/mugs/mug_rgosselin.jpg
• E-mail
Mike Hart was one of the most prolific running backs ever to play high school or college football. But his immediate future in the NFL rests with his ability to play the game without the ball in his hands.
Hart was a four-year starter at Onondaga Central High School in upstate New York, setting national high school records for career touchdowns (204) and consecutive 100-yard rushing games (47).
Then Hart became a four-year starter at the University of Michigan, where he set school records for career rushing yards (5,040 yards) and 100-yard games (28).
But Hart will not be a walk-in starter with the defending AFC South champion Indianapolis Colts. Pro Bowler Joseph Addai has a hammerlock on that spot. Hart also won't be the backup. Former 1,000-yard rusher Dominic Rhodes fills that role.
Hart, a lowly sixth-round pick in April's NFL draft, is competing with an undrafted former Ivy Leaguer (Clifton Dawson) and an undrafted former Canadian Football League refugee (Kenton Keith) for the third and fourth running back spots on the Colts.
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/football/
Such backup roles are won in August on a player's ability to perform on special teams. Hart lacks the speed and experience to return kicks and punts. So if he is to be on the Colts' roster, it will be because of his ability to cover kicks on special teams.
If you don't start in the NFL, you must be able to tackle on the kicking downs.
And that will be new to Hart. Asked the last time he covered a kick, Hart thought about it for a few seconds, smiled, then guessed, "my freshman year in high school."
That would have been in 2001. Asked the last time he practiced on special teams, Hart was quicker with his response.
"The beginning of my freshman year at Michigan in pre-season camp," he said. "Once I got started on offense, I was there the rest of my career. When we were practicing special teams, I was on one knee, talking and having a good time."
Asked the last time he tackled anyone, Hart drew a blank.
"I hit people all the time," Hart said. "But tackling? I may have hit someone after an interception once."
AP
Mike Hart finished his Michigan career as the school's all-time leading rusher. View larger More photos Photo store
For the record, Michigan credited Hart with one tackle in his four seasons on campus, coming in 2005.
The Colts, like all NFL teams, conduct special teams-only practices during training camp. The team's stars and some of the coaches don't usually attend that session. But Hart is always there with his fellow rookies and backups. That would humble most All-America selections. But not Hart.
"I got drafted in the sixth round," Hart said. "That was humbling right there. This is an awakening, but I love football. I love playing. If this is how I'm going to get on the field, that's what I'm going to do.
"I'm going to do whatever I need to do to play and get in as many years as I can. If it's kickoff, it's kickoffs. If it's punt team, it's the punt team. Obviously I want to play running back, too. But my goal is to get in where you fit in."
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]12:30 AM CDT on Sunday, August 10, 2008
[/SIZE]
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/sports/columnists/mugs/mug_rgosselin.jpg
• E-mail
Mike Hart was one of the most prolific running backs ever to play high school or college football. But his immediate future in the NFL rests with his ability to play the game without the ball in his hands.
Hart was a four-year starter at Onondaga Central High School in upstate New York, setting national high school records for career touchdowns (204) and consecutive 100-yard rushing games (47).
Then Hart became a four-year starter at the University of Michigan, where he set school records for career rushing yards (5,040 yards) and 100-yard games (28).
But Hart will not be a walk-in starter with the defending AFC South champion Indianapolis Colts. Pro Bowler Joseph Addai has a hammerlock on that spot. Hart also won't be the backup. Former 1,000-yard rusher Dominic Rhodes fills that role.
Hart, a lowly sixth-round pick in April's NFL draft, is competing with an undrafted former Ivy Leaguer (Clifton Dawson) and an undrafted former Canadian Football League refugee (Kenton Keith) for the third and fourth running back spots on the Colts.
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/football/
Such backup roles are won in August on a player's ability to perform on special teams. Hart lacks the speed and experience to return kicks and punts. So if he is to be on the Colts' roster, it will be because of his ability to cover kicks on special teams.
If you don't start in the NFL, you must be able to tackle on the kicking downs.
And that will be new to Hart. Asked the last time he covered a kick, Hart thought about it for a few seconds, smiled, then guessed, "my freshman year in high school."
That would have been in 2001. Asked the last time he practiced on special teams, Hart was quicker with his response.
"The beginning of my freshman year at Michigan in pre-season camp," he said. "Once I got started on offense, I was there the rest of my career. When we were practicing special teams, I was on one knee, talking and having a good time."
Asked the last time he tackled anyone, Hart drew a blank.
"I hit people all the time," Hart said. "But tackling? I may have hit someone after an interception once."
Mike Hart finished his Michigan career as the school's all-time leading rusher. View larger More photos Photo store
For the record, Michigan credited Hart with one tackle in his four seasons on campus, coming in 2005.
The Colts, like all NFL teams, conduct special teams-only practices during training camp. The team's stars and some of the coaches don't usually attend that session. But Hart is always there with his fellow rookies and backups. That would humble most All-America selections. But not Hart.
"I got drafted in the sixth round," Hart said. "That was humbling right there. This is an awakening, but I love football. I love playing. If this is how I'm going to get on the field, that's what I'm going to do.
"I'm going to do whatever I need to do to play and get in as many years as I can. If it's kickoff, it's kickoffs. If it's punt team, it's the punt team. Obviously I want to play running back, too. But my goal is to get in where you fit in."