Connect with us

Indianapolis, IN

Does Re-Signing Mo Alie-Cox Impact Colts’ Draft Strategy?

Published

on

Does Re-Signing Mo Alie-Cox Impact Colts’ Draft Strategy?


The 2025 NFL Draft may be less than two weeks away, but the Indianapolis Colts are still adding to the team through free agency by bringing back a familiar face.

The Colts announced Thursday they had re-signed tight end Mo Alie-Cox after the veteran tested free agency for the first time in his career. Alie-Cox returns to the Colts on a one-year, $2.2 million deal, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.

Alie-Cox has been a staple of the Colts since he signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2017 NFL Draft. After not playing football since high school, the former college basketball player continued to work on his game and has been the Colts TE1 since Jack Doyle retired after the 2021 season. Alie-Cox has tallied 114 catches for 1,433 yards and 15 touchdowns in eight seasons with Indy.

Advertisement

With Alie-Cox back in the fold for a ninth year, should that change the Colts’ plans to take a tight end in the first couple of rounds of the draft? Absolutely not.

Colts’ head coach Shane Steichen detailed what the Colts are looking for at the tight end position last week at the NFL Annual Owners Meeting.

“You gotta be multiple in the pass game,” Steichen said. “Obviously you would love the guy that can block. I think those guys, it’s hard to find the true blocking tight ends anymore, but a guy that can battle in the run game is good. Great hands, can come in and out of the breaks, big and strong after the catch as well. There’s a lot of good ones in this draft. It’ll be interesting.”

What happens next for the Colts? Don’t miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our free newsletter and get breaking Colts news delivered to your inbox daily!

Alie-Cox brings back stellar blocking ability to help open up holes in the run game for Jonathan Taylor. He can also be a red zone threat at 6-5 and 267 pounds. But he is not a difference-maker, only pulling in 12 catches for 147 yards and a touchdown last season.

Advertisement
Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox makes a catch against Tennessee Titans safety Quandre Diggs.

Tennessee Titans safety Quandre Diggs (28) tackles Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox (81) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. / Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

And a difference-maker at the tight end position is what the Colts’ offense desperately needs. Statistically, Indy’s tight ends were the second-least-productive unit in the NFL in 2024. 25 tight ends across the league had more receiving yards by themselves than the 467 yards that the entirety of the Colts’ tight ends produced.

The other tight ends on the Colts’ roster cannot be counted on to increase their production, either. Drew Ogletree falls in the mold of Alie-Cox, a solid blocker but offers little as a receiver. Will Mallory is strictly a receiving threat but only caught four passes a season ago. Jelani Woods was thought to have tremendous upside, but he has not played in a game in over two years due to injury.

Despite bringing back Alie-Cox, the Colts are expected to take a tight end early in this year’s draft. With Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland considered top 10 prospects in the class, a tight end may come as early as Indy’s first-round pick at No.14. LSU’s Mason Taylor could be an option in a trade back in Round 1 or early in Round 2.

Alie-Cox provides flexibility for the Colts at the position, meaning Indy is not pigeonholed into taking a certain style of player at tight end if the value does not fit. However, you can expect the Colts to take a tight end sooner rather than later on draft weekend as they look for a difference-maker who can take their offense to the next level.

Recommended Articles





Source link

Advertisement

Indianapolis, IN

State police arrest man in connection with two Monument Circle attacks

Published

on

State police arrest man in connection with two Monument Circle attacks


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana State Police have arrested a man in connection with two attacks, including one deadly, near Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis earlier this month.

29-year-old Michael Willis is facing two counts of attempted murder. Police say that the attacks happened on June 19 and June 26, both happening on N Senate Ave. near Monument Circle.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by News 8, on June 19, Willis was walking in the area near Monument Circle around 2 a.m. when he approached a person laying down and repeatedly stomped on them. Police say that this first victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition.

The first victim died on Sunday due to their injuries sustained from Willis’s attack, documents say.

Advertisement

Police also say that on June 26, Willis attacked a different person at the same location near Monument Circle. Police believe that the second victim was repeatedly kicked and stomped on while they were lying down as well. This second attack also took place around 2 a.m.

Indiana State Police detectives shared surveillance photos of Willis from the attacks with other police agencies in an attempt to identify him. Police say Willis was identified by a Greensborough Police Sergeant after Willis had asked the sergeant to use his cell phone.

Police then approached Willis and detained him. Police say that when Willis was detained, he was wearing the same clothes that were seen in the surveillance footage of both attacks. Officers also noticed blood on Willis’s socks.

In an interview with detectives about the July 26 attack, Willis at first said that he was only “nudging” the victim. Police say that according to Willis, he was trying to wake the victim up because he was concerned about them.

Later in the interview, Willis admitted to attacking both victims. Willis said that he was frustrated that he had been homeless and unemployed for around the past 6 months. According to police, Willis also said that the people in the area were “mean and rude” to him.

Advertisement

Police say that Willis told detectives that he was the only person involved in these attacks.

Willis is currently in custody of the Marion County Jail.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Indianapolis, IN

Where to find cooling stations in central Indiana

Published

on

Where to find cooling stations in central Indiana


INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana is under a heat advisory with temperatures in the 90s throughout the week.

Many cooling centers will open throughout the state for those that need to find relief from the heat. Hoosiers looking to find cooling centers in their area can contact Indiana 211. To learn more, call 211 or (866) 211-9966.

Avaliable cooling centers can also be found by clicking here.

Marion County

For those living in Indianapolis, Indy Parks has several cooling centers across the city.

Advertisement

Those Cooling Centers are:

  • Broad Ripple Park Family Center 
  • Brookside Park Family Center
  • Christian Park Family Center
  • Frederick Douglass Park Family Center
  • Garfield Park Burrello Family Center
  • Krannert Park Family Center
  • Grassy Creek Environmental Education Center
  • Pride Park Family Center 
  • Rhodius Park Family Center
  • Riverside Park Family Center
  • Stanley Strader Park Family Center
  • Washington Park Family Center
  • Windsor Park Family Center 
  • Watkins Park Family Center
  • Thatcher Park Family Center

For addresses and hours of operations of these cooling centers, click here.

Beech Grove will also have two cooling Centers for residents starting Monday, June 29. Those hours and locations are:

  • Beech Grove Senior Center, 602 Main St
    • 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
  • Hornet Park Community Center, 5245 Hornet Ave
    • 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday

Other Central Indiana Cooling Centers

For addresses and hour of operations of cooling centers below, click here.

Marion

  • St. Martin Community Center
  • Grant County Family YMCA
  • Grant County Rescue Mission

Kokomo

  • The Kokomo Rescue Mission
  • The Excel Center in Kokomo

Peru

  • Community Resource Center
  • Miami County Courthouse
  • Miami County Health Department
  • Miami County YMCA
  • Peru City Hall
  • Peru Public Library
  • Peru Schools Administration Building



Source link

Continue Reading

Indianapolis, IN

Heat Advisory and Warning for central Indiana

Published

on

Heat Advisory and Warning for central Indiana


INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — The National Weather Service out of Indianapolis has issued a Heat Advisory for all of Central Indiana and a High Heat Warning for parts of northern Indiana. The Advisory and Warning will go into effect at 12 PM on Monday and will run through 8 PM Thursday.

WRTV

A Heat Advisory means that temperatures in the 90s with dew points in the 70s, will lead to Heat Index values reaching 106. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.

Stay cool:
Drink plenty of fluids, check up on relatives and neighbors, and stay in an air-conditioned room when possible. If outside for extended periods of time, make sure to take frequent breaks in the shade as much as you can.

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending