In the offseason, Colts fans demanded new defensive tackles. Bill Polian listened (or coincidentally came to the same conclusion) and added three: former Colts starter Ed Johnson, second-rounder Fili Moala and fourth-rounder Terrance Taylor. Well, Johnson and Taylor have since been cut, and Moala is a bit player.
Of course, it’s too early to tell how good a rookie’s going to be, but just for fun, let’s take a look at the defensive tackles the Colts could have had. What if they had drafted a guy like Terrance Knighton (left)? The rookie defensive tackle choices were, by draft position:
1/9 BJ Raji (Green Bay)
7 games/0 starts, 9 tackles, 2 assists, 1 missed tackle, 1 sack, 0.5 tackle for loss
What he’s done: Out of position as the 3-4 team’s third end, Raji has stood up pretty well, and still looks like the Packers’ future at nose tackle. What he’d do for the Colts: Starting at the bottom of the DT pile, Raji would have fought for playing time in Indy, and may have emerged as a starter by now. Long-term potential: Great if he returns to NT
1/24 Peria Jerry (Atlanta)
2 games/0 starts, 1 assist
What he’s done: In the two games before he blew his knee out, Jerry showed some pass-rush skills, but was a pushover when it came to the running game. What he’d do for the Colts: Be part of the rotation, but not a major player. Long-term potential: Good, but could be a limited player
1/32 Ziggy Hood (Pittsburgh)
3 games/0 starts, 1 tackle, 2 assists, 1 missed tackle, 0.5 tackle for loss, 1 pass defensed
What he’s done: Pittsburgh is easing Hood into his pro career at 3-4 end, with uninspiring results thus far. What he’d do for the Colts: Pretty much what Moala has. Long-term potential: Good
2/40 Ron Brace (New England)
3 games/0 starts, 1 tackle
What he’s done: Raji’s backup at Boston College, Brace is still considered the Pats’ NT of the future, but he’s done very little in what few snaps he’s played. What he’d do for the Colts: Probably sit, and occasionally fill in for Antonio Johnson on first and second downs. Long-term potential: Good
2/56 Fili Moala (Indianapolis)
1 game/0 starts, 1 tackle
What he’s done: Not a lot. What he’d do for the Colts: Starting at the bottom of an unheralded, but surprisingly effective group, Moala has found snaps hard to come by. But he hasn’t earned any more than he’s gotten, looking somewhat lost, especially against the run. He will be under a great deal of scrutiny next year. Long-term potential: Good, but with some bust potential
2/62 Sen’Derrick Marks (Tennessee)
3 games/0 starts, 1 tackles, 1 pass defensed
What he’s done: Look a lot like Moala. What he’d do for the Colts: See entry for Moala. Long-term potential: Good
3/67 Alex Magee (Kansas City)
5 games/0 starts, 3 tackles, 3 missed tackles, 2 sacks
What he’s done: Another guy shifted to 3-4 end, Magee has been a pleasant surprise as a pass-rusher and a major liability against the run. He could easily earn a third-down specialist role in the NFL. What he’d do for the Colts: Play occasionally on passing downs, and do fairly well. Long-term potential: Good, but in a limited role
3/68 Jarron Gilbert (Chicago)
1 game/0 starts
What he’s done: Everybody loved him for jumping out of a pool on YouTube, but his NFL career has been less exciting so far. In a handful of snaps late in a blowout victory against Detroit, he didn’t look very strong or quick. Interestingly, he’s been shift to DE in a 4-3 defense. What he’d do for the Colts: Everyone knew he was raw, and the Colts likely would have put him in a spot similar to Keyunta Dawson’s – a run stopping end – and let him learn in practice. Long-term potential: Good, but he has a better-than-average bust potential
3/72 Terrance Knighton (Jacksonville)
10 games/10 starts, 18 tackles, 4 assists, 1 missed tackle, 0.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss
What he’s done: Everyone was sure this kid was raw, but he has torn out of the gates to be the league’s most productive rookie DT. Although he mounts only a modest pass-rush, he’s an elite run stopper already and has been a rock for the Jaguars’ defense. What he’d do for the Colts: Although he may not have been pressed into duty as quickly as he was in Jacksonville, the Colts likely would have recognized Knighton’s skills, and he would have been contributing on first and second downs right away. Long-term potential: Great, but in a limited role; he’d be a great 3-4 NT
3/81 Roy Miller (Tampa)
9 games/0 starts, 16 tackles, 3 assists, 2 sacks, 1 tackle for loss
What he’s done: The No. 3 DT on a poor team, Miller has alternated great plays with so-so ones, but shows up every day and makes blocking him difficult. Surprisingly, he’s been better against the pass than the run as a rookie because scouting reports predicted exactly the opposite. What he’d do for the Colts: Miller was considered a play right away guy with a modest upside, and that’s come true in Tampa. Although the chances of him developing into a big-time starter in Indy wouldn’t be great, he’d always fight for playing time. Long-term potential: Okay
3/93 Corvey Irvin (Carolina)
0 games/0 starts
What he’s done: Been placed on IR before the season started. What he’d do for the Colts: Likely the same. He could develop in the future, though; and projects as a third-down guy. Long-term potential: Okay
4/103 Darrell Scott (Saint Louis)
4 games/0 starts, 3 tackles
What he’s done: One of an astounding eight guys to play inside on the Rams’ horrible line (keep in mind that the best DT they have, Adam Carriker, is on IR), Scott has been one of the better ones, earning increased playing time. The rest of the season will go a long way toward determining if he’s a future starter or not. He’s shown good balance, but could get stronger. What he’d do for the Colts: While the Colts were not as desperate as the Rams at DT, Scott probably would have shown enough to get some snaps and distinguish himself. Long-term potential: Good
4/113 Vaughn Martin (San Diego)
1 games/0 starts, 1 tackle
What he’s done: The big kid from Canada is considered raw and is starting out at the bottom of the Chargers’ NT heap. He’s played a bit at DE as well, but looked better inside to me. What he’d do for the Colts: Sit, wait, learn. Long-term potential: Good
4/115 Sammie Lee Hill (Detroit)
6 games/6 starts, 6 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
What he’s done: the book on this enormous kid was supposed to be that he’d be raw and much better against the run than pass. The book was wrong. Hill earned a starting spot out of training camp and has been pretty competent, though streaky (great against the Vikings, horrible against the Rams) and better against the pass than run. If he can stay healthy, he could be a fixture for the Lions. What he’d do for the Colts: Probably sit and learn, but would eventually get a chance to develop and potentially start. Long-term potential: Great, if he keeps working hard and he has for the woebegone Lions
4/136 Terrance Taylor (Indianapolis)
0 games/0 starts
What he’s done: Nothing other than get cut. He later spent some time on the Panthers’ practice squad. What he’d do for the Colts: See above. Long-term potential: Terrible, he was considered a potential first rounder as a junior and is now out of football; he may get invited to a camp next season
6/205 RaShon Harris (Pittsburgh)
2 games
What he’s done: Made into a 3-4 end by the Steelers, they cut him before the season. He signed with Carolina, appeared in two games with no stats, and was cut. They signed him to their practice squad, and cut him again before he latched on with the Steelers again. What he’d do for the Colts: Likely be cut. Long-term potential: Not great
6/207 Myron Pryor (New England)
6 games/0 starts, 7 tackles, 1 assists, 0.5 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass defensed
What he’s done: Though drafted much later than Brace, Pryor has played far more and far better for the Pats. Probably too small to ever be a true NT, he’ll play when the Pats use four-man fronts or could have a future as a 3-4 end. What he’d do for the Colts: With his pass-rush skills (4 QB hits and 3 pressures in 131 rushes), he could well fight for third-down snaps, and eventually mount a case for a starting job. Long-term potential: Good, but limited
7/210 Vance Walker (Atlanta)
4 games/0 starts, 5 tackles, 1 assist, 0.5 tackles for loss, 1 pass defensed
What he’s done: After Jerry went down in Atlanta, Walker stepped into his spot as a rotational DT, and has looked very much the same – mounting an okay pass-rush, but getting blown off the ball on running plays. What he’d do for the Colts: Wouldn’t get many chances to play, but could be kept on to see if he has a future. Long-term potential: Decent
7/244 Rick Jean-Francois (San Francisco)
0 games/0 starts
What he’s done: Stayed on the roster, but has yet to see the field. What he’d do for the Colts: Probably get cut. Long-term potential: Okay, but I wouldn’t bet on him
UDFA Desmond Bryant (Oakland)
7 games/0 starts, 16 tackles, 1 assist
What he’s done: I’d like to say this Harvard grad has been a pleasant surprise for the Raiders, but he’s only been playing out of necessity, and has been thrown around as you’d expect. What he’d do for the Colts: He’d have a harder time making the team, let alone playing regularly. In all likelihood, the Colts would start him slowly as a base end who moves inside on passing downs. Long-term potential: Okay, but definitely would be better off on another team, and potentially at another position
UDFA Antonio Dixon (Philadelphia)
7 games/0 starts, 6 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack
What he’s done: Originally signed by the Redskins but cut before Game 1 because he was fat and out of shape. Dixon was signed by the Eagles and the light has appeared to come on for him. He has worked hard to become their No. 3 DT. Not only has he mounted some pass-rush, but he’s been surprisingly solid against the run. He even made the highlight reels a few days back when he blocked a Robbie Gould field-goal attempt to help the Eagles win 24-20 in a crucial game. Looks like a future starter if he keeps it up – that’s a big if. What he’d do for the Colts: Pretty much the same as the Redskins … or the Eagles. If the Colts coaches and players could motivate him the way the Eagles’ have, he’d be playing regularly. Long-term potential: Great, but with a big bust potential
Okay, the Colts had no real chance at Raji or Jerry. And Brace or Hood would have cost them halfback Donald Brown. Instead, Polian selected Moala and Taylor. Back then, ColtPlay leaned toward Miller and Pryor (probably a better pair for right now, although perhaps not for the long run). But while it’s way too early to tell, don’t you kind of wish the Colts had drafted Knighton or Hill instead of Moala, Pryor instead of Taylor, and signed Dixon as a free agent?
Or better yet, how about Sebastian Vollmer instead of Moala?
Of course, it’s too early to tell how good a rookie’s going to be, but just for fun, let’s take a look at the defensive tackles the Colts could have had. What if they had drafted a guy like Terrance Knighton (left)? The rookie defensive tackle choices were, by draft position:
1/9 BJ Raji (Green Bay)
7 games/0 starts, 9 tackles, 2 assists, 1 missed tackle, 1 sack, 0.5 tackle for loss
What he’s done: Out of position as the 3-4 team’s third end, Raji has stood up pretty well, and still looks like the Packers’ future at nose tackle. What he’d do for the Colts: Starting at the bottom of the DT pile, Raji would have fought for playing time in Indy, and may have emerged as a starter by now. Long-term potential: Great if he returns to NT
1/24 Peria Jerry (Atlanta)
2 games/0 starts, 1 assist
What he’s done: In the two games before he blew his knee out, Jerry showed some pass-rush skills, but was a pushover when it came to the running game. What he’d do for the Colts: Be part of the rotation, but not a major player. Long-term potential: Good, but could be a limited player
1/32 Ziggy Hood (Pittsburgh)
3 games/0 starts, 1 tackle, 2 assists, 1 missed tackle, 0.5 tackle for loss, 1 pass defensed
What he’s done: Pittsburgh is easing Hood into his pro career at 3-4 end, with uninspiring results thus far. What he’d do for the Colts: Pretty much what Moala has. Long-term potential: Good
2/40 Ron Brace (New England)
3 games/0 starts, 1 tackle
What he’s done: Raji’s backup at Boston College, Brace is still considered the Pats’ NT of the future, but he’s done very little in what few snaps he’s played. What he’d do for the Colts: Probably sit, and occasionally fill in for Antonio Johnson on first and second downs. Long-term potential: Good
2/56 Fili Moala (Indianapolis)
1 game/0 starts, 1 tackle
What he’s done: Not a lot. What he’d do for the Colts: Starting at the bottom of an unheralded, but surprisingly effective group, Moala has found snaps hard to come by. But he hasn’t earned any more than he’s gotten, looking somewhat lost, especially against the run. He will be under a great deal of scrutiny next year. Long-term potential: Good, but with some bust potential
2/62 Sen’Derrick Marks (Tennessee)
3 games/0 starts, 1 tackles, 1 pass defensed
What he’s done: Look a lot like Moala. What he’d do for the Colts: See entry for Moala. Long-term potential: Good
3/67 Alex Magee (Kansas City)
5 games/0 starts, 3 tackles, 3 missed tackles, 2 sacks
What he’s done: Another guy shifted to 3-4 end, Magee has been a pleasant surprise as a pass-rusher and a major liability against the run. He could easily earn a third-down specialist role in the NFL. What he’d do for the Colts: Play occasionally on passing downs, and do fairly well. Long-term potential: Good, but in a limited role
3/68 Jarron Gilbert (Chicago)
1 game/0 starts
What he’s done: Everybody loved him for jumping out of a pool on YouTube, but his NFL career has been less exciting so far. In a handful of snaps late in a blowout victory against Detroit, he didn’t look very strong or quick. Interestingly, he’s been shift to DE in a 4-3 defense. What he’d do for the Colts: Everyone knew he was raw, and the Colts likely would have put him in a spot similar to Keyunta Dawson’s – a run stopping end – and let him learn in practice. Long-term potential: Good, but he has a better-than-average bust potential
3/72 Terrance Knighton (Jacksonville)
10 games/10 starts, 18 tackles, 4 assists, 1 missed tackle, 0.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss
What he’s done: Everyone was sure this kid was raw, but he has torn out of the gates to be the league’s most productive rookie DT. Although he mounts only a modest pass-rush, he’s an elite run stopper already and has been a rock for the Jaguars’ defense. What he’d do for the Colts: Although he may not have been pressed into duty as quickly as he was in Jacksonville, the Colts likely would have recognized Knighton’s skills, and he would have been contributing on first and second downs right away. Long-term potential: Great, but in a limited role; he’d be a great 3-4 NT
3/81 Roy Miller (Tampa)
9 games/0 starts, 16 tackles, 3 assists, 2 sacks, 1 tackle for loss
What he’s done: The No. 3 DT on a poor team, Miller has alternated great plays with so-so ones, but shows up every day and makes blocking him difficult. Surprisingly, he’s been better against the pass than the run as a rookie because scouting reports predicted exactly the opposite. What he’d do for the Colts: Miller was considered a play right away guy with a modest upside, and that’s come true in Tampa. Although the chances of him developing into a big-time starter in Indy wouldn’t be great, he’d always fight for playing time. Long-term potential: Okay
3/93 Corvey Irvin (Carolina)
0 games/0 starts
What he’s done: Been placed on IR before the season started. What he’d do for the Colts: Likely the same. He could develop in the future, though; and projects as a third-down guy. Long-term potential: Okay
4/103 Darrell Scott (Saint Louis)
4 games/0 starts, 3 tackles
What he’s done: One of an astounding eight guys to play inside on the Rams’ horrible line (keep in mind that the best DT they have, Adam Carriker, is on IR), Scott has been one of the better ones, earning increased playing time. The rest of the season will go a long way toward determining if he’s a future starter or not. He’s shown good balance, but could get stronger. What he’d do for the Colts: While the Colts were not as desperate as the Rams at DT, Scott probably would have shown enough to get some snaps and distinguish himself. Long-term potential: Good
4/113 Vaughn Martin (San Diego)
1 games/0 starts, 1 tackle
What he’s done: The big kid from Canada is considered raw and is starting out at the bottom of the Chargers’ NT heap. He’s played a bit at DE as well, but looked better inside to me. What he’d do for the Colts: Sit, wait, learn. Long-term potential: Good
4/115 Sammie Lee Hill (Detroit)
6 games/6 starts, 6 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
What he’s done: the book on this enormous kid was supposed to be that he’d be raw and much better against the run than pass. The book was wrong. Hill earned a starting spot out of training camp and has been pretty competent, though streaky (great against the Vikings, horrible against the Rams) and better against the pass than run. If he can stay healthy, he could be a fixture for the Lions. What he’d do for the Colts: Probably sit and learn, but would eventually get a chance to develop and potentially start. Long-term potential: Great, if he keeps working hard and he has for the woebegone Lions
4/136 Terrance Taylor (Indianapolis)
0 games/0 starts
What he’s done: Nothing other than get cut. He later spent some time on the Panthers’ practice squad. What he’d do for the Colts: See above. Long-term potential: Terrible, he was considered a potential first rounder as a junior and is now out of football; he may get invited to a camp next season
6/205 RaShon Harris (Pittsburgh)
2 games
What he’s done: Made into a 3-4 end by the Steelers, they cut him before the season. He signed with Carolina, appeared in two games with no stats, and was cut. They signed him to their practice squad, and cut him again before he latched on with the Steelers again. What he’d do for the Colts: Likely be cut. Long-term potential: Not great
6/207 Myron Pryor (New England)
6 games/0 starts, 7 tackles, 1 assists, 0.5 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass defensed
What he’s done: Though drafted much later than Brace, Pryor has played far more and far better for the Pats. Probably too small to ever be a true NT, he’ll play when the Pats use four-man fronts or could have a future as a 3-4 end. What he’d do for the Colts: With his pass-rush skills (4 QB hits and 3 pressures in 131 rushes), he could well fight for third-down snaps, and eventually mount a case for a starting job. Long-term potential: Good, but limited
7/210 Vance Walker (Atlanta)
4 games/0 starts, 5 tackles, 1 assist, 0.5 tackles for loss, 1 pass defensed
What he’s done: After Jerry went down in Atlanta, Walker stepped into his spot as a rotational DT, and has looked very much the same – mounting an okay pass-rush, but getting blown off the ball on running plays. What he’d do for the Colts: Wouldn’t get many chances to play, but could be kept on to see if he has a future. Long-term potential: Decent
7/244 Rick Jean-Francois (San Francisco)
0 games/0 starts
What he’s done: Stayed on the roster, but has yet to see the field. What he’d do for the Colts: Probably get cut. Long-term potential: Okay, but I wouldn’t bet on him
UDFA Desmond Bryant (Oakland)
7 games/0 starts, 16 tackles, 1 assist
What he’s done: I’d like to say this Harvard grad has been a pleasant surprise for the Raiders, but he’s only been playing out of necessity, and has been thrown around as you’d expect. What he’d do for the Colts: He’d have a harder time making the team, let alone playing regularly. In all likelihood, the Colts would start him slowly as a base end who moves inside on passing downs. Long-term potential: Okay, but definitely would be better off on another team, and potentially at another position
UDFA Antonio Dixon (Philadelphia)
7 games/0 starts, 6 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack
What he’s done: Originally signed by the Redskins but cut before Game 1 because he was fat and out of shape. Dixon was signed by the Eagles and the light has appeared to come on for him. He has worked hard to become their No. 3 DT. Not only has he mounted some pass-rush, but he’s been surprisingly solid against the run. He even made the highlight reels a few days back when he blocked a Robbie Gould field-goal attempt to help the Eagles win 24-20 in a crucial game. Looks like a future starter if he keeps it up – that’s a big if. What he’d do for the Colts: Pretty much the same as the Redskins … or the Eagles. If the Colts coaches and players could motivate him the way the Eagles’ have, he’d be playing regularly. Long-term potential: Great, but with a big bust potential
Okay, the Colts had no real chance at Raji or Jerry. And Brace or Hood would have cost them halfback Donald Brown. Instead, Polian selected Moala and Taylor. Back then, ColtPlay leaned toward Miller and Pryor (probably a better pair for right now, although perhaps not for the long run). But while it’s way too early to tell, don’t you kind of wish the Colts had drafted Knighton or Hill instead of Moala, Pryor instead of Taylor, and signed Dixon as a free agent?
Or better yet, how about Sebastian Vollmer instead of Moala?
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