WESTFIELD, Ind. – It could have been easily overlooked as safeties not named Julian Blackmon made a couple of highlight plays in the red zone, Kwity Paye bore through Anthony Richardson’s protection for a sack during 11-on-11 work and the middle of the o-line opened a hole that Richardson squirted through and somersaulted into the end for a touchdown.
The crowd that braved oppressive heat Monday afternoon at Grand Park Sports Campus cheered.
Then there was the Indianapolis Colts’ tight end-and-sometimes-extra-offensive tackle.
We’re talking about Mo Alie-Cox.
On one play in team drills, he lined up just off the right side of the line, hesitated briefly after the snap, leaked to his left and secured a shovel pass from Richardson for a TD.
Yes, the crowd cheered. And Alie-Cox bounced up and the smile inside his helmet was evident.
"I’m happy when I get the ball," he said after practice. "They don’t really call on me much in the passing game, but when they do, I just try to make something happen."
"I try to make the most of my opportunities."
It’s hard to imagine anyone making more of an opportunity.
From accomplished power forward at Virginia Commonwealth to unsigned draft pick/tight end prospect in April 2017 to one of the longest-tenured Colts heading into the 2024 season.
"Yep, and I’m only 30," Alie-Cox said as he builds toward his eighth season with Indy. "I tell these dudes all the time, 'Since the first day I got here, there’s only two dudes that are still here. I signed before the draft. It’s Luke (Rhodes) and Ryan Kelly'."
"I tell ‘em, 'Y’all don’t understand. I’ve seen this whole building change'."
Since his arrival as a wide-eyed wannabe in ’17, he’s experienced:
- Four head or interim coaches.
- Eleven different starting quarterbacks.
- The uniqueness and staying power of Jack Doyle.
- The uniqueness and flameout of the Eric Ebron era.
Mo Alie-Cox is still standing at 6'5", 267 pounds and is the undeniable leader of a deep tight ends room.
"A pro's pro," offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. "The way he handles his preparation, his body, sort of the daily process of going into practice. Blocks at a high level, but he’s not just a blocking tight end."
"Mo’s been a really good player around here for a long time. Mo’s still a really good player."
At the risk of sounding crass, it’s worth asking Alie-Cox:
How have you lasted this long?
He didn’t hesitate.
"Work ethic, great example for everybody how to carry yourself and do your job and I’ve got a unique skillset in the run game," Alie-Cox said. "I’m not a tackle, but they ask me to do a lot of tackle responsibilities."
Go back and watch video from Jonathan Taylor’s historic 2021 season. You know, the NFL-leading and club-record 1,811 rushing yards and 18 rushing TDs.
You’ll notice Alie-Cox and Doyle doing a ton of the dirty work at the point of attack.
The Colts have relied on their tight ends to be focal points in the run game.
“We know if we can run the ball well, everything is possible,’’ Alie-Cox said. “We take pride in that in our room.
“If we do that well, we know it opens up the whole offense.’’
He expects the roles of tight ends to remain prominent with coach Shane Steichen and Cooter, and the return of Richardson. It’s a room that includes Alie-Cox, Will Mallory, Kylen Granson, Jelani Woods, Drew Ogletree, Jordan Murray and Eric Tomlinson.
“Shane just does a good job of putting us all in position where we all can play on Sunday and we can all be successful,’’ Alie-Cox said. “He draws it up well.’’
Alie-Cox’s recognizable bottom line is modest: 102 receptions, 1,286 yards and 14 touchdowns in 91 games. His breakout games include five catches for 111 yards in week 2 of 2020 against the Minnesota Vikings and six catches for 85 yards and two TDs against the Tennessee Titans in week 4 of 2022.
And let’s not forget his first career TD: a nifty one-handed 26-yarder against the Raiders in ’18.
“Like I said, I’m happy when I get the ball,’’ he said. “I just know my main role in this offense is to make the run game go. Whatever comes in the pass game, comes.
“It’s not like I can’t run routes. We have guys who do it better: Will, Granson. That’ s not my forte, but when called upon, I can also do it. That adds another factor in the room.’’
And let’s not underestimate Alie-Cox’s availability. Since establishing himself as a key player in the tight end room in 2019, he’s missed one game . . . and none the last three seasons.
“You can’t make the club in the tub,’’ he said with a laugh. “I tell the guys, ‘If you’re not healthy, they can’t put you out there. They don’t see what you can do.’’’
So, Alie-Cox’s eighth training camp unfolds with most of his snaps requiring force in the run game with the starting offense with an occasional opportunity in the passing game.
“In this offense, the tight end is used in a lot of different says and with AR back, it just opens up the whole playbook,’’ he said. “Last year we didn’t really play with our whole playbook because all of the QB run stuff was cut out once he got hurt.
“You see in camp we have all our options in. Today, I caught the shovel for a touchdown and things like that. Those weren’t plays we ran last year. This year, the whole playbook is open. The whole offense can eat.
“With AR being back, Shane can get even more creative.’’
That creativity almost certainly will include Alie-Cox. He’s heading into the final year of his three-year, $17.55 million contract, and the reps he’s logging with the No. 1 offense only seem to crystalize his value to the Colts.
Alie-Cox’s long-term goal to build at least a 10-year career.
“After 10,’’ he said, “play it by ear.’’
He’s reached this point of his career by surviving those anxious early years and adhering to a “day-to-day’’ approach.
As that undrafted rookie, Alie-Cox didn’t envision being on the field on this over-heated Monday.
"Back then, you’re worried every day," he said. "If something bad happens, you’re like, 'Damn, I’m gonna get cut'."
He was able to move past whatever mistakes he made and move on to the next play, the next game, then the next season. He’s sharing that mindset with his tight ends colleagues.
"I just took it one day at a time and I saw that transition I made from young guy to elder statesmen in the room and trying to help these young guys come along," he said.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.