Thursday, March 20, 2008

Some speculation, some news

To help with your mock drafts, here's an anotated depth chart (unsigned but tendered restricted free agents included in italics)

QB Manning Sorgi Betts
The top two are set in stone; Betts may get some competition to be a late cut/practice squad candidate, but it'll probably come after the draft
RB Addai Keith Lawton Dawson Hairston
Addai is the starter; Keith can run, but can't catch or block; Lawton is a fan fave with some real FB skills; look for a draft pick here
WR Harrison Wayne Gonzalez Aromashodu Hall Shelton Jones Roby
Top three are stars, but Harrison is near (or at) the end of the line; the others are unknown quantities — a tough, sure-handed slot guy would be a boon
TE Clark Utecht Fletcher Robinson Herold
Clark's a star, but better in the slot than tight; Utecht's good, but is also as good as gone, Fletch can catch but not block; reinforcements are due
T Ugoh Diem Johnson Federkeil Toudouze Hilliard
Ugoh and Diem are talents but neither is durable; Johnson seems over his head outside; others are long shots
C/G Saturday Lilja Gandy Ross Elgin Esera
Saturday still awesome, but will be 33 when the season starts and an unrestricted free agent after it ends; Lilja is a quality starter, nothing more; Gandy's adequate; Ross and Elgin have potential, but not that much
DE Freeney Mathis Thomas Charleston Ishola Milan
Top two set in stone; Thomas a quality No. 3; Charleston had up-and-down season, but showed flashes; others are projects
DT Brock Johnson Pitcock Dawson Reid Bradley
Top three are under-rated and productive, watch for Pitcock to come up big this year; Dawson is too small (254 pounds) to play very often; I'm not as fond of Reid as most Colts fans are
OLB Keiaho Hagler Session Guzman Nande
I'm a huge fan of the top four (keep an eye on Guzman), but neither of the top two are at all durable; you'll see at least one significant new face here
ILB Brackett Worsley Shotwell
Brackett makes it all work, but needs a backup/heir apparent
CB Jackson Hayden Jennings Hughes Rushing Coe Ratliff
Loads of talent, but no clear-cut stars; Jennings and Hughes could just as easily start as Jackson and Hayden; Hayden and Ratliff not signed for 2009, but Hayden likely to be retained
S Sanders Bethea Giordano Bullitt Condren Smith
Starters are awesome, and Giordano not that far behind (re-signing him should be a priority); others are prospects of varying stripes
K Vinatieri Andrus
Vinatieri a star, but aging; Andrus has a strong leg, little else
P Smith Stanley
Smith a star, but may be slowing (real value is as a holder); Stanley has NFL experience; where's Reggie Hodges? I liked him, thought he was Smith's replacement in waiting
LS Snow
Not exactly flawless, but he's done a good enough job for eight seasons now ...

Also of note, the Colts sent a delegation to Syracuse's pro day. A lousy team in 2007 indeed, but one that has yielded Marvin Harrison, Dwight Freeney and Josh Thomas in the past. The current prospects there include Jameel McClain (6006, 249, 4.74) a stumpy DE who had 14.5 TFL and 9.5 sacks as a junior, but most NFL teams project as an ILB; Dowayne Davis (5113, 202, 4.46), a raw strong safety with hitting pop and experience at all four secondary spots; and Joe Fields (6002, 205, e4.60), a former quarterback and basketball player who would up at free safety — a real leader type with athleticism, he lacks experience and speed. McClain might cost a seventh-rounder, but the others should go undrafted.

And the Colts worked out another player, New Mexico State tight end Paul Cleaver. Originally a safety, Cleaver (6035, 243, 4.63) switched to tight end midway through his soph year, catching 16-226-2. He followed that with a breakout 50-684-4 as a junior, but slumped a little to 33-388-0 as a senior, mainly due to a deep ankle sprain. A big tough kid blessed with smooth moves and natural hands, Cleaver can play tight end, H-back and even fullback in a pinch. He's not a strong in-line blocker, but is shows a great understanding of the passing game and an ability to get open, despite really still learning the position. Don't be surprised if he is selected in the sixth or seventh round.

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