NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Here are five observations from the Colts' training camp.

Camp Classic Moment

Covering the Colts for three seasons in the mid-80s produced some memorable times from the team's training camp at Anderson (Ind.) College (now a university), and some unforgettable characters as well. I'm partial to two guys who are still friends of mine, if not friends of each other anymore: coach Ron Meyer and personnel director Jack Bushofsky. Every day between practices, Meyer would convene the media in the commons area of an old dormitory and discuss the workouts, roster moves, injuries. More a CEO coach than a hands-on mentor, Meyer was a hoot. The guy never sweated and, if he knew the television cameras were going to be there, he'd often shower and change into non-coaching gear to tape interviews. In those days, there was little roster stability, the Colts importing and exporting players almost every day. Meyer had a stock phrase for when he cut a veteran player, and the media played into it. Asked what he told the player when he released him, Meyer would unfailingly say: "I shook his hand, thanked him for his contribution to the team and wished him well." We'd ask it, he'd say it, we'd all get a hoot. Bushofsky, now the personnel director for the Carolina Panthers, was a workaholic who rose daily between 4:30 and 5 a.m. Sometimes, if you had stayed the night in the dorm, and were out early for a jog, you'd see him walking the campus. The strike year of 1987 was a particularly trying year -- but also an impressive one -- for the personnel chief. Everyone knew a work stoppage loomed, and he was intrepid in keeping in touch with players the Colts had released, apprising them that they likely would be back in a few weeks to play in the so-called "replacement games." One of my media colleagues wrote that Bushofsky was spearheading the team's replacement planning efforts and, thus, a nickname, "Spearhead," was born. There were some great moments at Anderson with media friends John Bansch, Tom Reitman and Bob Lamey, all good guys. And Colts owner Jim Irsay and public relations director Craig Kelley remain two of my closest friends in the business. The Colts are a lot better team now, but it's hard to imagine their training camp is more fun than it was 15 years ago. — Len Pasquarelli

1. Is it possible that, in his fourth season, Peyton Manning can be even better than in the first three years? Yep, could be. During two days of workouts with the Titans, he was incredibly sharp for such an early juncture of training camp. Manning has the uncanny knack for putting nearly every throw in the precise spot it needs to be. Watch him for a few days and you gain a real appreciation for his accuracy. You rarely see a receiver have to stretch for a ball or go high and leave himself vulnerable to a shot in the back from the safeties. "The ball," said Pro Bowl wide receiver Marvin Harrison, "is right on the numbers 99 percent of the time." Manning made some eye-opening throws on deep slants into closing double coverage that left the Titans defensive backs mumbling a few times. One aside, though, Peyton: Lose that facial hair, man, particularly that scraggly shrubbery hanging from your chin. A final Peyton family observation: Younger brother Eli, who will start at the University of Mississippi this year and who attended the Friday practices against the Titans, has bulked up considerably during the offseason. He's not so scrawny anymore, and his physical maturation mirrors that of Peyton at the same age. We won't step out on a limb yet and predict there will be a third Manning to play quarterback in the NFL. But given his comeback performance in the Music City Bowl last season, Eli has the potential to play at the next level.

2. When they talk about dominating defensive tackles in the NFL, no one mentions the name of Ellis Johnson, but the Colts seventh-year veteran continues to be one of the truly productive interior players in the league and the cornerstone for the Indianapolis front four. But Johnson has been fighting a spate of injuries lately and already is sitting out time in camp. That's not a good sign, since the Indianapolis front four has no surplus of talent. The Colts remain one of the league's smallest teams upfront and did little during the offseason, save for signing former New York Giants blue-collar starter Christian Peter, to address the situation. Right end Chad Bratzke might be the best-known of the starting foursome, but he's not the $5 million-a-year player the Colts thought he was when they signed him as a free agent in 1999, and his sacks tend to come in bunches and primarily in the RCA Dome on turf. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio might again have to outscheme opponents to compensate for the shortcomings on the front line.

3. The offensive line is just as nondescript as its defensive counterparts, but offers a graphic example of how good a unit can be if continuity is maintained. Indianapolis will start the same five blockers for a second year in a row and four of the five will be starters for a third consecutive season. That's no small feat in this era of free agency where, over the past three seasons, just 15 teams have returned the same starting line from the previous season. The three interior players -- center Jeff Saturday and guards Larry Moore and Steve McKinney -- are just hard-working grunts. They are lovable lunchpail-type blockers and none of them likely will ever be in a Pro Bowl game, but they get the job done. Tackles Tarik Glenn and Adam Meadows are much better than advertised but don't get a lot of recognition, either. Although he has battled some weight problems at times, Glenn has become a solid pass protector. Meadows is undersized for the right side but plays with good leverage and is expert at taking good angles. The unit certainly benefits from Manning's quick release and the fact the Colts star simply doesn't take many sacks. And Manning's ballhandling (he might be the best play-fake quarterback since Boomer Esiason retired) doesn't hurt, either, since it forces defensive linemen to hesitate before charging into the defensive backfield. To say that Manning is the sole reason for the success of the Indianapolis line, however, would be to diminish its collective value.

4. Despite some privately mixed reviews from wide receiver teammates, first-round draft choice Reggie Wayne of the University of Miami looks like he will be another productive weapon for Manning. The Colts were criticized for selecting Wayne with the 30th overall pick, including by some people in their own locker room, because of the team's crying need for defensive help. But the wide receivers who have attempted to complement Harrison the past few seasons -- Jerome Pathon, E.G. Green and Terrence Wilkins -- haven't really taken full advantage of the single coverage they predominately work against. Wayne isn't particularly fast and, in reality, is probably a lifetime 4.5-second guy in the 40. He is quick enough in and out of his breaks, though, to create just enough separation, runs precise routes and catches everything even remotely near him. Wayne was used as the No. 3 receiver during the workouts with the Titans, worked almost exclusively out of the slot, and made at least four terrific grabs against tight coverage from the Tennessee cornerbacks. People overlook the fact Wayne had more career receptions at Miami than teammate and fellow first-round choice Santana Moss. Is he as electrifying or will he make as many big plays as Moss. No and no. But for the last couple years, coach Jim Mora has not be enamored of the production from the No. 2 receiver spot, so Wayne is apt top get every opportunity to eventually earn a starting job. One other rookie to watch is second-round choice Idrees Bashir, who already has settled in as the starting free safety. Bashir is big and rangy, will probably make some rookie coverage mistakes, but adds much-needed speed in the secondary.

5. Although the players don't talk much about it, at least for attribution, there is some implicit pressure this season to advance to the next level. People tend to forget this is still a relatively young team, especially at the skill positions, but the expectations are set very high. Indianapolis is a team that has been thrust into the national consciousness, primarily because of Manning and offensive buddies Harrison and Edgerrin James, but has to overcome the perception it is a flawed outfit incapable of advancing deep into the playoffs. There is much made of the fact that coach Jim Mora is 0-6 in the playoffs with the Saints and the Colts. Some have suggested that, should Indianapolis fail again this season, the 66-year-old Mora could be in some trouble, but that is just idle speculation. A playoff win is overdue, though, for one of the league's best coaches. A couple of them might help satisfy the critics who feel the Colts are as overdue as their coach.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.