TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Observations on the 2003 Indianapolis Colts from training camp practices:

	Edgerrin James had just 989 yards rushing and three TDs last season.

1. Here's Edgerrin James's improvement from a year ago: During last year's camp, James had the first three elusive steps at the line of scrimmage to gain yards, but he didn't have the explosion in his reconstructed left knee to break many long runs. Now, the explosion has returned. On one play, James, wearing his college No. 5 for fun, made a powerful fake to his left and shot to the open field on his right, making defensive tackle Larry Tripplett miss badly on the play. James seems to be gliding more than a year ago and extending his stride in the open field, which should get him back at least to the 1,300-yard level if he stays healthy.

2. The most interesting battle in camp is at right tackle. Adam Meadows has been a starter and valuable part of the offense for the past seven years, but he could be losing his job to converted tackle Ryan Diem, a guard a year ago. Meadows is running with the first team for now, but Diem is the favorite to win the job. Meadows is in the next to last year of his contract and his cap number next year jumps to $8.735 million. Meadows is a winner, but Diem is the future. The question is when does the future take over?

3. Nick Harper, a former Canadian Football League cornerback, is running first team with the Colts on the other side of veteran Walt Harris. Harper, a nickel corner for the Colts the past two years, moved ahead of David Macklin, who had only one interception in 15 starts last season. Harper tended to make more big plays while on the field. Second-year cornerback Joseph Jefferson will make a run at the starting job. The Colts also like third-round choice Donald Strickland for the future.

4. Colts coaches predict defensive end Dwight Freeney could have a monster year. As a rookie who only started half of his games, Freeney exploded in the second half of the season to finish with 13 sacks and a team-high 36 pressures. His best move is swinging around the outside and beating left tackles, but he has worked enough on his strength that he can occasionally bull rush with his arms extended and slip to the inside. A sleeper to watch in the nickel pass rush is 235-pound fifth-round choice Robert Mathis. His game is quickness.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.