Rodney McLeod brings leadership to unproven Colts safety group: 'He's the ultimate pro'

WESTFIELD — Rodney McLeod doesn’t like to talk about his Super Bowl ring.

It comes up occasionally between the veteran safety and his new Colts teammates, but McLeod tries not to focus on it. He wants the Colts to forge their own identity as they try to rebound from a disappointing end of the 2021 season and get back to the playoffs.

McLeod signed with Indianapolis over the offseason after a decade with the Rams and Eagles to play strong safety, the position with the most responsibility in on-field communication in new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s system. But his leadership responsibility goes beyond the field as he guides a young safety group.

“I’ve been the OG in the room for a little bit, my time back in Philly,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to also learn from a lot of guys before I was placed in that position. I’ve learned a lot, and obviously I’m now in that position to be able to help and guide others.”

McLeod buzzed around the defensive backfield during scrimmages at the Colts’ joint practices with the Lions, communicating with the linebackers and directing other defensive backs before the snap. He’s played all over the field throughout his career, spending the majority of his time at free safety, but has also lining up at corner and nickelback at times.

“He’s the ultimate pro, and that’s on and off the field,” said coach Frank Reich, who overlapped with McLeod in Philadelphia. “He brings a competitiveness on the field, the way he practices every day, his mentality. He’s a great team player. He’s a leader. I like that intensity and the leadership that he brings as much as anything.”

McLeod, 32, is the elder statesman of a safety room that includes third-year pro Julian Blackmon and rookie Nick Cross, who will compete with McLeod for playing time and is a product of the same Maryland high school.

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An emphasis for McLeod among his position group, and an area of growth he’s seen since training camp began, is playmaking: making the big plays that can swing a game. The Colts are established in other position groups with Pro Bowlers DeForest Buckner and Shaquille Leonard at tackle and linebacker respectively, and newly-signed cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year with the Patriots.

Safety is one of the Colts’ least experienced position groups. McLeod will look to bring a much-needed veteran presence. He’s encouraged with what he’s seen so far. He calls it a tight-knit, competitive group, one that is willing to learn from McLeod and understands its responsibility as the last line of defense on a team with high aspirations.

“When you see them on tape, man, you see JB (Blackmon) flashing on tape, getting his hands on a lot of passes,” McLeod said. “Same thing with Nick and the rest of the group as well, so I see us being playmakers and knowing, we talk about it all the time as a secondary, in order for this defense to go as far as we want to, we have to play well each and every week.

“Everybody’s got great talent and been doing good thus far.”

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts safety Rodney McLeod looks to guide inexperienced safety room