Published: August 07, 2009 11:59 pm         

This year, Wheeler getting his chance with Colts

TERRE HAUTE — If you’re looking for a candidate to become an emerging figure for the Indianapolis Colts this fall, the name of second-year linebacker Philip Wheeler shouldn’t be far down your list.

Limited almost entirely to special-teams duties last season, partly because of some training-camp injury difficulties, Wheeler — a four-year letterwinner at Georgia Tech who was the Colts’ third-round draft choice in 2008 — is being given a chance to earn a starting spot at strongside linebacker this year.

He won’t be hard to spot on the field, for several reasons.

For one thing, at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds he’s the biggest of the five candidates for the three linebacker spots.

For another, he has dreadlocks longer than any other Colt — yes, longer even than all-pro safety Bob Sanders. Now that Clint Session, last year’s strongside backer who has switched to the weak side this year, has shortened his own hair, Wheeler is the lone linebacker with that to distinguish himself too.

But the main reason Wheeler is expected to stand out is talent. The potential of the quick, rangy athlete is a big reason why all the changes were made, and he could give the Colts a dimension they haven’t had in a while at that spot.

But Wheeler, whose production last year was three tackles, plus 14 more stops on special teams, is taking nothing for granted.

“I’ve been having a good camp and learning a lot,” he said after the Colts’ afternoon practice on Friday. “Last year I got injured and couldn’t finish the whole camp.”

The addition of veteran defensive coordinator Larry Coyer to the coaching staff might be part of the reason for the shakeup of the linebacker corps and for a few subtle changes in defensive emphasis. More blitzes, perhaps, and certainly more pressure on the newest member of the starting lineup.

“I’ve got a new coordinator on my back, and there are a lot of higher expectations for me,” Wheeler said.

With Wheeler moving into the lineup and Session moving to the other side, veteran middle linebacker Gary Brackett could be the only Colts linebacker starting in the same position as a year ago when Indianapolis opens its regular season against Jacksonville on Sept. 13.

That’s not only an athletic group, but one with two veteran former starters, Tyjuan Hagler and Freddie Keiaho, in reserve. Another possibility at linebacker is Adam Seward, a five-year veteran picked up as a free agent after formerly playing with the Carolina Panthers and the only other Indianapolis linebacker comparable in size to Wheeler.

Thus Wheeler plays with a sense of urgency, despite currently being listed as a first-teamer.

“Whenever you’re at a starting position, it’s yours to lose,” he explained Friday, “and I have guys who are starters behind me.”

He doesn’t look at his size as giving him an advantage in trying to keep that starting spot either.

“Heightwise, I’m the tallest out there,” he said, “but those other guys play pretty big too. We just have a lot of depth.”

His philosophy, then, is simple, Wheeler summarized.

“I’ve got to play every game like it’s my last.”