58 Gary Brackett
Numbers: 5110/237/4.75e in 03
2008 stats: 12 GP/12 GS (8-4 MLB), 62 TK, 51 AT, 1-1 TFL, 2 QBH, 2 PBU, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1-5 PEN
2008 preseason stats: 3 GP/3 GS, 4 TK, 2 AT, 0.5-0.5 TFL
Status: Signed through 2009
There’s very little to write about Brackett that Colts fans don’t already know. He’s a tackling machine tailor-made for the Colts defense. He plays against the run with quiet efficiency, and is one of the NFL’s best at his position in zone coverage. He does everything, even the little things, right and leaves everything on the field on every play.
That said, he can get caught up in the wrestling matches inside and erased fairly easily. He’s getting older, he’s one of the most highly paid Colts, and he’s an unrestricted free agent after next season.
Although history indicates the Colts let linebackers go when they get too expensive, I think that’s only true of the outside guys. Brackett is too important to the team, both from a physical standpoint (his production would be hard to replace) and from the emotional. Brackett was named captain of the defense, and is one of the most admired of all Colts players. A loyal sort, he’d also probably sign in Indy for less than his market value. Besides, there does not appear to be an in-house candidate to replace him (but more on that later).
52 Buster Davis
Numbers: 5093/239/4.64c4.74pd in 07
2008 stats: 4 GP/3 GS (3-0 MLB), 16 TK, 10 AT, 1-5 PEN
2008 preseason stats: 4 GP/1 GS 9 TK, 2 AT, 3 STT with Detroit Lions
Status: Signed through 2009
One of the most relentlessly hyped college players in recent memory, Davis has been a washout so far in his pro career. His story is an object lesson in projecting college production into the pros.
Drafted in the third round by the Cardinals in 2007, he was cut before the season started. They didn’t attempt to sign him to the practice squad, but a few days later, the linebacker-poor Lions did. They promoted him to the active roster for the last game of their 2007 season, and he played on specials, returning an onside kick one yard.
The Lions — yes, the Lions who would later go 0-16 — cut him and the injury-riddled Colts picked him up. When an injury stuck Brackett, the Colts started Davis in his place. At the time, some said it was a slap in the face to veteran No. 4 linebacker Tyjuan Hagler, but if I recall correctly, he was fighting injuries of his own. The Colts went 3-0 with Davis in the middle, but it was more in spite of him than because of him. He was benched in two of those three games (weakside starter Freddy Keiaho slid over to the middle, with ailing Hagler taking his spot) and played sparingly in the playoff game, making no impact.
Though not a bad tackler technically and plenty quick, Davis looked lost in play recognition and was a dud in coverage. He took some pretty strange angles in the running game and spent an alarming amount of time on the ground. I have a theory as to why Davis is not a good pro linebacker, besides the mental aspect. He seems to me to be top heavy. He has a great big upper body on legs that are much thinner than you’d expect. That makes it hard for him to change direction quickly because his feet move in one direction and inertia carries his upper half in another.
It would appear that Davis has failed his audition at middle linebacker and, since he really doesn’t offer much on special teams, I’d be surprised if he’s invited back. He could well have a future in the NFL, but it doesn’t look like it will happen in Indianapolis.
Mike Okwo
Numbers: 5113, 232/4.70c4.65pd in 07
2008 stats: None
2008 preseason stats: 3 GP/0 GS, 5 TK, 1 PBU
Another short, stocky linebacker taken in the same third round as Davis, Okwo was also a surprise cut by the team that selected him, although Okwo at least got a year on injured reserve before the Bears got rid of him.
I remember his well from college where he was the best player on a bad Stanford defense. Although he was very blockable, he showed good instincts and zip, he generally knew where the ball was, kept square and was a competent, if not frightening, tackler. He was rarely asked to do anything strenuous in coverage and showed little as a blitzer. I thought he had NFL potential, but was surprised he was drafted as high as he was.
What Okwo offers as an NFL linebacker remains to be seen, and I wouldn’t hold my breath for him to develop. But in his first two seasons with the Cardinal, he was something of a special-teams demon, getting downfield quickly and specializing in blocking kicks. It’s likely that particular skill would transfer well to the NFL. Despite the fact that the Colts have been very weak on special teams in recent years, I’m not sure they would devote a roster spot for such a player. Of course, if he showed he could play a little linebacker, things could be different.
How this affects the draft and free agency
I think Davis’s chances of taking over for Brackett any time soon are close to nil, and Okwo’s are only slightly less remote.
So to understand how things will work out inside, you have to pay attention to how things work outside. Weakside starter Keiaho — who probably could start and be okay for the Colts inside — is likely to leave as a free agent after this season. And Hagler, who also has some ability to play inside, will probably be gone before the 2009 season starts.
That would lead to two realistic scenarios: either Jordan Senn takes over Keiaho’s spot, or Clint Session slides over from the strongside and Philip Wheeler takes his spot.
Of course Wheeler could also be in the mix at middle linebacker (after all, he played better inside than outside at Georgia Tech), but I wouldn’t count on it. While Wheeler has undeniable skills, I think he’s better suited to an outside position in the Colts’ complicated defense. He just doesn’t have the quick, analytical mind Brackett possesses — and the Colts have come to depend on.
So right now the cupboard is bare for middle linebacker depth, and the Colts would still like to find someone with a chance to eventually take over for Brackett. Almost certainly, that means the draft. But it should be kept in mind that such linebackers are rare. Brackett himself was an undrafted walk-on at Rutgers who wasn’t mentioned in any draft guide or site that I ever saw, so the Colts could go just about anywhere to find his replacement.
One middle linebacker who has show great football smarts and coverage abilities is Miami of Ohio’s Joey Hudson. If he’s over his shoulder injury, he could be an interesting pick.
Linebackers selected by the Colts since Polian took over
2008 Third round Philip Wheeler
2007 Fourth round Clint Session
2006 Third round Freddie Keiaho
2005 Fifth round Tyjuan Hagler
2004 Third round Gilbert Gardner
2004 Fourth round Kendyll Pope
2003 Fifth round Keyon Whiteside
2003 Sixth round Cato June
2002 Fourth round David Thorton
2000 First round Rob Morris
2000 Second round Marcus Washington
1999 Second round Mike Peterson
1998 Fifth round Antony Jordan
Note: Tony Dungy brought the Cover-2 defense to Indy in 2002, and the Colts have not drafted a linebacker in the first or second round since.
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