Julian Blackmon's athletic interception shows the ground he's covered to get here

INDIANAPOLIS -- Julian Blackmon rotated to a single-high safety, a throw-back to his old role. And then he spotted something that would set up the most athletic interception of his young career.

The Browns came out on 3rd-and-8 on their second drive with a bunch formation to the right against the Colts. Then they flipped a running back to that side. Only one defender was in the face of any of them, and Blackmon knew exactly what he was going to do.

Because that defender was Kenny Moore II, who happened to be his best friend.

"I give most of the credit to Kenny. He aborted his blitz," Blackmon said. "He saw a 4-by-1. Usually when we get unusual formations, the nickel is told to abort his blitz and try to make the play. Kenny gave me time. He bought me time to get over there so he couldn't dump it off quick."

Moore II dropped into the flats, making sure the Browns couldn't run a screen or rub route that would earn an easy first down.

Instead, the three wide receivers ran deeper routes all on that side of the field. As they progressed, Blackmon jolted from his perch in the middle of the field to chase the inside receiver on a deep flag. It was the kind of route that was supposed to place the free safety in a bind with all that grass and vertical movement.

But Blackmon moves with the speed that once made him a third-round pick out of Utah despite a freshly torn ACL in the team's bowl game. He exploded off the Achilles he tore during the 2021 season.

He moved so fast that he was able to float around the numbers once he got past the 50, controlling his movements and locking his eyes on the ball that released from Deshaun Watson's hand. He cut right in front of Browns receiver Marquis Goodwin to steal the interception before running out of bounds.

It's his fifth career pick and a highlight he'll remember for some time, mostly for the brotherhood that brought it together.

"Football is such a beautiful sport," he said. "There's 11 guys out there and 10 that you've got to count on other than you. Everything has to go together perfectly for me to get there."

The Colts would go on to lose 39-38 in a back-and-forth game with a pair of controversial penalties that kept Cleveland's final drive alive. But it was a showcase game for Blackmon, who nearly had a second pick when he dropped back in a zone and extended one hand out on a ball that he couldn't quite pull into his body.

It was just his seventh game at strong safety, the position he moved to this summer after spending his first three years at the free spot. The move allows him to play closer to the line of scrimmage, where his athletic skills can shine a little more.

"I love it," Blackmon said. "I felt like I wanted to get into a position where I could strain a little bit more. The coaches trusted me to do that, so it's been fun."

Related: Colts evaluating cornerback options following JuJu Brents' quad injury

The transition can come with some ups and downs, especially with so much changing around him. Moore and free safety Rodney Thomas II have been the two other constants, but the secondary could soon be on a sixth different cornerback to start on the outside. Second-round rookie JuJu Brents is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Saints with a quad injury, a league source told IndyStar.

The secondary has been fluctuating and young, with rookies like Brents and seventh-round pick Jaylon Jones starting on the outside. That's stressed the playmaking and the confidence projected from the safeties, and that's where Blackmon has always shined the most.

"It doesn't matter if we're winning 100-0 or losing 0-100; you can count on his energy level being the same, his fire being the same, his passion being the same," Thomas said. "That type of thing just elevates your game play and you want to do more for the guy beside you."

On Wednesday, Blackmon had the football he intercepted sitting in his locker stall. It's a token to his work back from the Achilles tear, through a position switch and a shifting secondary. He's in a contract year, so every moment he can create from here on out feels crucial.

"I just enjoy playing with my teammates and I enjoy the game of football," Blackmon said. "I hope it shows with my play."

Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts: Inside Julian Blackmon's athletic interception vs. Browns