Add Three More

Here are some more undrafted free agents on the roster:

Trevor Anderson DE Michigan State
Numbers: 5115/241 4.67 forty, 17 reps, 37-inch vertical, 10’7 broad jump, 4.44 shuttle, 6.92 three cone
2009 stats: 12 tackles, 33 assists, 7.5-32 TFL, 4.0-21 sacks
Extremely undersized pass-rush end with determination, surprising leg drive and a nonstop motor; needs to work on technique to have even a faint shot

Jordan Hemby CB North Carolina
Numbers: 5107/190 1.52 ten, 2.53 twenty, 4.48 forty, 19 reps, 36-inch vertical, 9’11 broad jump
2009 stats: 9 tackles, 3 assists
Former walk-on had much of his college career hampered by injuries, but exploded to be the Tar Heels’ best DB as a junior in 2008, but again succumbed to injuries in 2009; hard-hitter will have to make his mark on specials

Gregg Peat G Oregon State
Numbers: 6035/299 1.73 ten, 2.96 twenty, 5.26 forty, 23 reps, 32.5-inch vertical, 8’6 broad jump, 4.86 shuttle, 7.53 three cone
2009 stats: 13 starts
Undersized and somewhat stiff inside prospect gets by on grit, determination, toughness and intelligence; landed with the right team

Depth Chart

I've cobbled together a crude version of a depth chart (keep in mind it's how I think they'll enter mini-camp, not how they'll come out of it):

QB
18 Manning, Peyton
07 Painter, Curtis
16 Willy, Drew
00 Hiller, Tim
RB
29 Addai, Joseph
31 Brown, Donald
32 Hart, Mike
45 Moore, Devin
00 James, Javarris
00 James Brandon
WR
87 Wayne, Reggie
11 Gonzalez, Anthony
17 Collie, Austin
85 Garcon, Pierre
12 Hall, Roy
83 Matthews, John
10 Smith, Taj
14 Giguere, Sam
13 Guice, Dudley
00 White, Blair
TE
44 Clark, Dallas
47 Robinson, Gijon
81 Eldridge, Brody
86 Santi, Tom
84 Tamme, Jacob
46 Cloherty, Colin
80 Petrowski, Jamie
T
71 Diem, Ryan
74 Johnson, Charlie
79 Terry, Adam
67 Ugoh, Tony
76 Cadogan, Gerald
00 Linkenbach, Jeff
00 Tyshovnytsky, Andrew
G
66 DeVan, Kyle
62 Alleman, Andy
78 Pollak, Mike
65 McClendon, Jacques
73 Thomas, Jaimie
C
63 Saturday, Jeff
61 Richard, Jamey
DE
93 Freeney, Dwight
98 Mathis, Robert
92 Hughes, Jerry
96 Dawson, Keyunta
91 Mathews, Ricardo
94 Baldwin, Ervin
60 Hardie, Rudolph
72 Skolnitsky, J.D.
97 Chick, John
DT
99 Johnson, Antonio
90 Muir, Daniel
68 Foster, Eric
95 Moala, Fili
69 Gill, John
75 King, Mitch
OLB
55 Session, Clint
50 Wheeler, Philip
51 Angerer, Pat
53 Conner, Kavell
52 Glenn, Cody
57 Renkart, Brandon
ILB
58 Brackett, Gary
59 Humber, Ramon
00 Tuihalamaka, Vuna
CB
26 Hayden, Kelvin
25 Powers, Jerraud
27 Lacey, Jacob
20 Thomas, Kevin
34 Lambert, Terrail
28 Fisher, Ray
00 Turner, Thad
00 King, Brandon
S
21 Sanders, Bob
41 Bethea, Antoine
33 Bullitt, Melvin
40 Silva, Jamie
00 Newton, Mike
00 Caldwell, David
00 McClesky, Donye
K
04 Vinatieri, Adam
00 Swenson, Brett
P
01 McAfee, Pat
LS
48 Snow, Justin

One more free agent to add

Donye McClesky SS Indiana State
Numbers: 5110/209 1.63 ten, 2.43 twenty, 4.43 forty, 18 reps, 36-inch vertical, 9'10 broad jump, 4.53 shuttle, 7.36 three cone
2009 stats: 46 tackles, 46 assists, 3.0-19 TFL, 1-12 sacks, 2-2-0 intercptions, 1 PBU
Powerful but straight-linish safety prospect who'll get a try on specials

Post-draft Comments

While the net is abuzz with the Colts’ so-called failure to grab a top left tackle prospect in the draft, I’m actually in agreement with those Colts fans and commentators who point out that there were no great prospects available when they picked and were better off going with what they had.

I have a persistent thought that tells me they would prefer to open the season with free-agent acquisition Adam Terry at left tackle unless reluctant dragon Tony Ugoh can reclaim the spot with conviction. If either of those scenarios were to happen, it would allow Charlie Johnson to move inside and reclaim his natural left guard spot, and still allow him to kick back outside should Terry get injured again and/or Ugoh fail again.

Don’t laugh at the Terry scenario. On those occasions he started for the Ravens, he was more than competent. When it comes to overall talent, he is by far the Colts’ best option at the position, but he has to show that he can stay healthy.

If Charlie Johnson is inside, it solidifies one guard spot, which is crucial. Then the options at right guard would include incumbent Kyle DeVan, former starter Mike Pollak, free-agent signee Andy Alleman, rookie Jacques McLendon and holdovers Jaimie Thomas and Jamey Richard. It’s a lot easier to see one starter arise from that group than two.

If I had to look into my crystal ball, I’d say the opening day starters from left to right will be Terry-Johnson-Saturday-DeVan-Diem; they cut Pollak, Thomas and Ugoh, keep Alleman, McClendon and Richard as inside reserves and one of the rookie tackles Jeff Linkenbach or Andrew Tyshovnytsky outside, although Johnson would actually be the top reserve at both tackle positions with Alleman filling in at left guard if necessary.

***

Lots of people are drinking the Polian Kool-Aid when it comes to Pat Angerer being strictly Gary Brackett’s backup and heir apparent and not a challenger to Phillip Wheeler’s strongside position. Here are a few points to keep in mind:

• Brackett just signed a five-year contract
• Brackett is not old for the position, and is playing at a high level
• Wheeler twice lost his starting spot last year to since-departed Tyjuan Hagler, and was clearly the weakest link in the Colts’ LB corps last season
• Angerer is as NFL-ready as he’ll ever be and has limited upside
• Angerer’s best spot in the Larry Coyer defense is probably the strongside
• As a fifth-year senior last year, Angerer is not a young prospect
• Fili Moala notwithstanding, Polian doesn’t draft guys in the second round expecting them to sit
• Polian lies

***

I already said I liked the Jerry Hughes pick and I still do very much. Remember when the Giants went to the Super Bowl with a four-man, all end rushline they used on third downs? I could see the Colts starting Mathis-Mookie-Muir-Freeney, then going Mathis-Foster-Freeney-Hughes on third down. I’ve seen Freeney slide inside a few times in preseason, but not often in the regular season. Could be scary.

***

As interesting as all the other positional battles will be, they pale next to the return specialist. I’ve said this before, that returning kicks and returning punts are two very different tasks that are best suited to different kinds of players (look at it this way, Eric Dickerson would be my perfect idea of a kick returner, while Barry Sanders would be the prototype punt returner). But, alas, the Colts don’t usually think that way and would rather have one guy (make that one roster spot) handle both jobs. Fine, let’s look at the primary candidates' college stats:

Ray Fisher 18-650-2 (36.11) KR/6-59-0 (9.83) PR
Brandon James 112-2,718-1 (24.27) KR/117-1,371-4 (11.72) PR
Devin Moore 61-1,246-1 (20.43) KR/0-0-0 (--) PR

Personally, I like James for the job and I also like his (almost) Percy Harvin-like abilities on offense. Fisher’s KR average is gaudy, but remember, all but one of his returns came in one year. He has some ability as a tackler, but it’s more likely they would come in handy on special teams than on defense. It’d be great if they could keep both Fisher for kicks and James for punts, but I think the final decision will come down to who holds onto the ball best in camp and preseason.

***

Speaking of precious, precious roster spots, it looks like Drew Willy and Tim Hiller will fight for the No. 3 quarterback spot, but it may be moot as the Colts look like they’ll keep just two quarterbacks.

The Undrafteds

Here’s ColtPlay’s look at the first set of undrafted free agents, I’m sure there’ll be more to come:
Javarris James HB Miami
Numbers: 6002/214/4.59, 4.24 shuttle, 7.07 3-cone, 36-inch vertical, 32-inch arms, 9 5/8-inch hands
2009 stats: 103-409-6 rushing, 13-85-0 receiving
Yeah, Edgerrin’s little cousin. Makes coaches’ hearts break because he does everything well and is a hard worker and a good kid who appears to lack the athleticism to be special.

Brandon James HB Florida
Numbers: 5072/186 14 reps
2009 stats: 20-109-0 rushing, 24-215-1 receiving, 33-244-0 punt returning, 29-756-1 kick returning
Too small and fragile to be a real halfback, this James has a legitimate shot at being a return specialist and occasional offensive contributor on offense if he can show some toughness, durability and the ability to keep his ego in check

Blair White WR Michigan State
Numbers: 6022/209 1.50 ten, 2.60 twenty, 4.49 forty, 18 reps, 33.5-inch vertical, 6.69 3 cone, 4.03 shuttle
2009 stats: 70-990-9 receiving, 1-27-0 punt returning
I’m actually surprised this guy wasn’t drafted. He won’t set the world on fire, but can run routes, catch the ball, has some shiftiness and will play on special teams. This guy could surprise.

Tim Hiller QB Western Michigan
Numbers: 6040/229 1.65 ten, 2.78 twenty, 4.97 forty, 18 reps, 32.5-inch vertical, 9’10” broad jump, 4.54 shuttle, 7.10 three cone
2009 stats: 514-319-3,249-23-13 passing, 39-(-101)-0 rushing, 0-(-5)-0 receiving
From the waist up, he’s a perfect quarterback, but below that he reminds me of the old Kids in the Hall character M. Piedlourd (Mr. Heavyfoot), Hiller can’t sense the rush and doesn’t have the feet to do anything about it if he did, he could be effective as an NFL No. 3 if he has limited exposure

David Caldwell SS William & Mary
Numbers: 5104/212 1.52 ten, 2.60 twenty, 4.58 forty, 24 reps, 39.5-inch vertical, 10’10” broad jump, 4.07 shuttle, 6.69 three cone
2009 stats: 41 tackles, 17 assists, 2.0-13 TFL, 1.0-12 sacks, 3 PBU, 1-0-0 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble, 2-29-0 kick returning
Outstanding athlete was very productive at small school, a former halfback, he also played corner and was William & Mary’s primary kick returner before concentrating on safety as a senior, smart, hard-working kid could make it on specials

Mike Newton FS Buffalo
Numbers: 5101/197 1.50pd ten, 2.55pd twenty, 4.48pd forty, 9 reps, 10’0 broad jump, 4.09 shuttle, 6.94 3 cone
2009 stats: 52 tackles, 33 assists, 1.0-22 TFL, 2-30-0 interceptions, 8 PBU, 1-24-0 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble
Had this guy on one of my mocks; gifted, hard-hitting safety who needs to learn more about coverage and play diagnosis before he can contribute on defense in the NFL

Thad Turner CB Ohio
Numbers: 5103/188 1.56 ten, 2.62 twenty, 4.51 forty, 14 reps, 41-inch vertical, 10’3” broad jump, 4.26 shuttle, 7.20 three cone
2009 stats: 34 tackles, 26 assists, 0.5-2 TFL, 1-4-0 interceptions, 6 PBU
Aggressive, hard-hitting corner isn’t the most fluid guy around but excels in the short-area press and could succeed on specials

Jeff Linkenbach T Cincinnati
Numbers: 6062/312 5.10 forty, 22 reps, 27.5-inch vertical, 8’2” broad jump, 7.69 three cone
2009 stats: 14 starts
Here’s another guy I had on a mock or two; experienced, effective starter who doesn’t have natural feet or bull strength, but managed to stonewalls lots of big-name pass rushers in college. And when you consider how immobile Tony Pike was and how high-powered their offense was, that’s quite a feat. Personally, I have no idea how Linkenbach went undrafted – with coaching and conditioning he has an outside chance to become an NFL starter

Brett Swenson K Michigan State
Numbers: 5076/180
2009 stats: 19-22 on field goals, 44-45 on extra points, 66-4,087-7 on kickoffs
He was actually the top kicker on my list for the Colts. He won’t help you on kickoffs or placements over 50 yards, but the Colts have McAfee for that. Deadly accurate and with a rare level of concentration under pressure, Swenson is a rare talent.

Vuna Tuihalamaka LB Arizona
Numbers: 6011/230 1.61 ten, 2.74 twenty, 4.70 forty, 18 reps, 33.5-inch vertical, 9’4 broad jump, 4.64 shuttle, 7.25 three cone
2009 stats: 45 tackles, 27 assists, 5.5-19 TFL, 1-0-0 interceptions, 3 PBU
The Colts bring in a guy like this every year: An undersized tackling machine who could be the next Gary Brackett or could be the next Mike Tuailiili.

A couple of late adds:

Brandon King CB Purdue
Numbers: 5096/195 1.59 ten, 2.62 twenty, 4.59 forty, 23 reps, 9'11 broad jump, 4.28 shuttle, 6.87 three cone
2009 stats: 25 tackles, 5 assists, 2.0-14 TFL, 3-25-0 interceptions, 5 PBU, 1-0-0 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble
Stout corner has great skills, but lacks height and long speed; could work better at free safety.

Andrew Tyshovnytsky T Fordham
Numbers: 6041/317 1.68 ten, 2.81 twenty, 4.91 forty, 33 reps, 28-inch vertical, 9'2 broad jump, 4.83 shuttle, 7.99 three cone
2009 stats: 11 starts
Exceptionally athletic tackle prospect who protected John Skelton's blindside; will need extensive coaching, but has a shot

Day Three

The fourth round also gave the Colts a player at a position many expected, but the name was not a familiar one. It should be noted that the Detroit Lions traded in front of the Colts to draft Miami’s Jason Fox, a left tackle prospect many Colts fans liked. So no matter what guard Jacques McClendon does in his career, it will always be measured against Fox’s. Here are the numbers:

6026/324
4.96pd forty
37 reps

Good: Started 26 games for elite program ... A massively strong man with decent athleticism ... first step has major pop ... hard worker ... has football intelligence and is very alert ... once benched 645 pounds, a team record ... Academic All-SEC twice despite majoring in economics ... former defensive lineman, also played basketball and shot put

Bad: Needs to work on pass-blocking especially ability to mirror and slide ... foot quickness is not great ... is not great at pulling or blocking downfield ... can fall out of shape

Overall: McClendon is a powerhouse whose success in the NFL will be determined by two things: a) his ability to improve his footwork in pass pro, and b) his commitment to keeping his weight down. There is significant potential for him to be a bust, but he worked hard in school academically and on the field, so he has a good chance of making it.

How he fits: Right now, the Colts have a muddied situation at guard, but McClendon will start at the bottom and have to sit and learn and earn the coaches trust before he sees any playing time.

Reminds me of: Keydrick Vincent

By the fifth round, Colts fan had given up on their quest for a left tackle and were looking elsewhere. But few could have predicted the Colts would have selected Brody Eldridge, a guy who played mostly tight end, but also at H-back, center, guard and fullback for the Sooners. Here are the numbers:

6046/261
4.75c/4.70pd forty
9’4”pd broad jump
26 reps
32.5-inch arms
9 5/8-inch hands

Good: Very strong, especially in his hands and arms ... stays low ... can destroy smaller players both inline and on the move ... great balance ... finishes his blocks ... fearless ... plays hard with a good motor ... leadership ability ... versatile, quick learner

Bad: Poor hands ... average straight-line speed for a tight end with little explosion ... not agile ... can overextend as a blocker ... not the best first step ... not all that durable

Overall: Eldridge is one of the best blocking tight ends to come around in years, and can also play full back or any of the middle three offensive line positions and could develop into a starter at any of the five positions, especially if he adds weight)

How he fits: Some have opined that the Colts will convert Eldridge to an offensive lineman, but they gave him a jersey with 81 on it, so they think he’s a tight end, at least for now. The Colts lay with two tight ends about 35 percent of the time, but aside from star Dallas Clark, they have gotten precious little production from any of them. Eldridge will never be a star receiver (or even an adequate one), but can help the offense as a blocker from a variety of positions, especially in motion. I would not at all be surprised if he plays a significant role as a rookie.

Reminds me of: Brandon Manumaleuna

To kick off the three seventh round picks, the Colts selected Cincinnati’s Ricardo Mathews, an undersized defensive tackle who the Colts project at end. Here are the numbers:

6025/294
1.69pd ten
2.85pd twenty
4.95pd forty
4.51pd shuttle
7.30 three-cone
31.5pd-inch vertical
9’6”pd broad jump
26 reps

Good: Very athletic for a defensive lineman, fluid and agile ... Good technique as a run stopper ... Quick first step ... nice lateral mobility ... productive senior season with 12.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks ... strong for his size, likes the rough stuff in the trenches ... penetrates, likes to cause problems for blockers ... seems like a good, hard working kid ... played better in big games ... smart

Bad: Very small for defensive tackle, very short for defensive end ... did very little of note until senior season ... can be handled by one man ... needs pass-rush moves

Overall: Looking more like a 3-4 end than anything else, Mathews could make it in the NFL as a situational player if he works hard to prove his senior season wasn’t just a case of being in the right place at the right time.

How he fits: While Hughes is being groomed to take over for Freeney or Mathis, Mathews will be given an opportunity to play the Raheem Brock role – a competent backup both inside and out and a situations run stopping end.

Reminds me of: Mike DeVito

Later in the seventh, the Colts picked a guys lots of people described as a Colts-type player, Clemson OLB Kavell Conner. Here are the numbers:

6004/242
1.55c ten
2.59c twenty
4.59c forty
4.60c shuttle
7.36c three-cone
33.5c-inch vertical
9’2”c broad jump
24 reps
32 ¾-inch arms
9 1/2-inch hands

Good: Very productive at big-time program ... strong tackler ... big hitter ... great range, can tackle sideline to sideline ... tough ... self-made player through hard work and determination ... very durable ... has blitzer potential ... very smart ... definite leadership potential

Bad: Short ... can be blocked out of a play, not a natural shedder ... not overly instinctive ... can take bad angles ... not fluid in man coverage, not quick in his drops in zone

Overall: Conner has lots of tools, but his lack of instincts and coverage will limit him as a pro. In all likelihood, he will be a career backup and special-teams contributor

How he fits: The Colts love guys like Conner and his attitude will take him a long way, but I don’t ever see him as a starter

Reminds me of: Vinny Ciurciu

The last pick was Indiana defensive back Ray Fisher, who may be the answer to the Colts return-specialist woes. Here are the numbers:

5082/171
4.32pd forty
38-inch vertical
10’2 broad jump

Good: Exceptional athlete ... blazing speed ... former WR with great hands, good ball tracking skills ... very fluid and agile ... very productive returner in college ... instinctive runner ... has played basketball and track

Bad: Tiny ... has had just one year’s experience on defense ... can get caught up in traffic ... easy to bring down ... may not be durable

Overall: Fisher is unlikely to make any impact in the NFL as a defensive back, but could be an exceptional return man and perhaps gunner

How he fits: The Colts will give him every opportunity to be their primary return specialist

Reminds me of: Eric Weems

Tomorrow, the undrafteds

Colts take LB Angerer, CB Thomas

Iowa’s Pat Angerer was a bit of a surprise as the Colts’ second-round pick. Here are the numbers:

6002/235
1.63c/1.58pd ten
2.70c/2.72pd twenty
4.71c/4.64pd forty
4.29c/4.23pd shuttle
7.04 three-cone
35c/39pd-inch vertical
9’2”c/9’3”pd broad jump
26 reps
30.5-inch arms
9 1/8-inch hands

Good: Run-through-a-wall dedication ... reads and diagnoses plays quickly, won’t be fooled ... not straight-line fast, but football fast, pursues sideline-to-sideline and closes quickly ... quick into zone drops and able to locate ball and receiver quickly ... will be a demon on special teams ... fights his way through blocks ... wasn’t ask to blitz often, but can; is too much for most halfbacks to handle

Bad: Not an explosive tackler ... gets absorbed in junk ... not durable ... on the ground too often ... not agile or fluid in coverage

Overall: Angerer is like a miniaturized version of the prototype linebacker. He does everything right, but is limited by his size. He’ll need to be protected by a four-man front, or he may never be better than a nickel ’backer and special teams captain

How he fits: Angerer wouldn’t make it on most teams, but is in the right place in Indy. Although likely the heir apparent in the middle, he’s most likely to begin as a swing backup and could perhaps supplant Phillip Wheeler, who has not really established himself on the strong side. The Colts do not expect second-round picks to sit for long.

Reminds me of: Rocky McIntosh

Lots of mocks – including ColtPlay’s – had the Colts getting a corner in the third round, but I don’t think any thought it would be Kevin Thomas. Here are the numbers:

6000/192
1.52c/1.52pd ten
2.50c/2.52pd twenty
4.41c/4.45pd forty
4.18 shuttle
6.82 three-cone
34.5c/32.5pd-inch vertical
10’6” broad jump
19 reps

Good: Tall and fast ... great first step ... excellent at play diagnosis, and willing to support ... very fluid in zone coverage, almost as good in man ... very good at tracking the ball in the air ... keeps his body between the ball and the man ... uses long arms very well ... decent hands ... has cornerback mentality

Bad: Injury-prone ... not strong in press coverage ... not a strong tackler ... still a bit raw ... not great in recovery

Overall: Thomas is a rare athlete who is just beginning to unlock the football player within. If he’s over his injuries, he could have long-term starting potential.

How he fits: Begins the season as the No. 4 corner behind Kelvin Hayden, Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacy and will have to fight his way up.

Reminds me of: A taller Jabari Greer

Still need a return man and a prospect at left tackle.

Welcome to Coltland, Mr. Hughes

I like the Jerry Hughes pick a lot and not just because it makes me one-for-one on my mock.

Here are the numbers:

6016/255
1.63 ten
2.63 twenty
4.69 forty
4.15 shuttle
6.99 three-cone
34.5-inch vertical
9’10” broad jump
26 reps
33-inch arms, 9 3/4-inch hands

Good: Awesome motor ... natural pass-rusher ... explosive first step ... very productive (15 sacks in ’08 and 11.5 in ’09) at big-time program ... stays low and is better at holding his ground than he gets credit for ... takes good angles ... agile (a former halfback) ... will help on special teams ... well liked and respected ... on track to get his degree ... very good in pursuit ... effective tackler ... has coverage experience and good hands (three career picks at TCU) ... leadership ability ... extremely durable

Bad: Smaller than you’d like at end, even for the Colts, and won’t get much bigger without losing what makes him special ... trusts his outside spin too much and takes himself out of some plays ... can be tricked by play action and, especially, draws ... can be blindsided ... needs to vary his moves ... not a natural in coverage ... needs to use his hands better when it comes to shedding

Overall: Aside from size, all of his faults could be well improved with coaching and experience. Keep in mind he was a halfback just four years ago. And what he brings to the table can’t be taught. He’ll need the right environment, but has sky-high potential.

How he fits: He has enough skill to walk in and contribute as a pass-rusher right away, but will learn to be a more complete end under the tutelage of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.

Reminds me of: Trent Cole

Who did I have for tonight? Oh yeah, Veldheer and Verner. That would be nice.

Stay tuned.

About last night ...

Sorry about abandoning the live feed. Dinner was just too awesome. If you really care about my opinion, here’s what I think of the first round.

1 St. Louis Rams Sam Bradford QB Oklahoma
Really their only choice. They had no QB, there were none on the trade or free agent horizons, Tebow’s a project and Clausen’s a jerk

2 Detroit Lions Ndamukong Suh DT Nebraska
He’s a hair lighter than I prefer, but has extraordinary potential

3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Gerald McCoy DT Oklahoma
Almost as good as Suh, fills a need

4 Washington Redskins Trent Williams T Oklahoma
Another pick for an obvious need, but I’m not sure he’s better than Okung

5 Kansas City Chiefs Eric Berry S Tennessee
Interesting. There is no doubt Berry is a good player and the Chiefs’ safeties are subpar, but I thought they had other, more pressing needs

6 Seattle Seahawks Russell Okung T Oklahoma State
Looks like he walks in and starts for a decade

7 Cleveland Browns Joe Haden CB Florida
Haden’s NFL readiness could move newly acquired Sheldon Brown to free safety making both positions better, or they could get Taylor Mays and have three starting-quality corners and a safety

8 Oakland Raiders Rolando McClain ILB Alabama
They always surprise me; but he's a very good player apparently will help them transition to 3-4

9 Buffalo Bills C.J. Spiller HB Clemson
Don’t get me wrong, I like Spiller, but who’s the QB? The LT? The “other” WR? The TE? They already have two 1,000-yard rushers on their roster, so why add him? I feel sorry for him

10 Jacksonville Jaguars Tyson Alualu DT California
Fail

11 San Francisco 49ers (from Chicago via Denver) Anthony Davis T Rutgers
Nice; with Martz gone and some real protection, now Alex Smith will develop

12 San Diego Chargers (from Miami) Ryan Mathews HB Fresno State
They needed a back, but is he the guy? And did trading up hinder their ability to get the NT they need even more?

13 Philadelphia Eagles (from San Francisco via Denver) Brandon Graham DE Michigan
Good pick, they really needed him

14 Seattle Seahawks (from Denver) Earl Thomas S Texas
Bad secondary gets better, wonder how Taylor Mays feels about his old coach grabbing Thomas

15 New York Giants Jason Pierre-Paul DE South Florida
They live and die by the rush, and rolled the dice on this talented underachiever

16 Tennessee Titans Derrick Morgan DE Georgia Tech
Need pick, looks to have the stuff

17 San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina) Mike Iupati G Idaho
Wow, Smith and Frank Gore must be delighted

18 Pittsburgh Steelers Maurkice Pouncey C Florida
Did what they had to do

19 Atlanta Falcons Sean Weatherspoon OLB Missouri
Nice addition to rapidly improving defense

20 Houston Texans Kareem Jackson CB Alabama
You knew they’d get a CB or a HB here, and they can get a quality big back tonight

21 Cincinnati Bengals Jermaine Gresham TE Oklahoma
I really thought Dez had found a home in the Midwest for a moment, but this actually makes more sense

22 Denver Broncos (from New England) Demaryius Thomas WR Georgia Tech
I wouldn’t worry about his route-running if they keep the same offense; they needed a big, imposing wideout and he looks the part

23 Green Bay Packers Bryan Bulaga T Iowa
Fell into their laps; will start for a decade at least

24 Dallas Cowboys (from Philadelphia via Denver and New England) Dez Bryant WR Oklahoma State
Ah, controversy thy name is Jerry (and not Langton), should work out though

25 Denver Broncos (from Baltimore) Tim Tebow QB Florida
What’s life without risk? I admire them for this pick; heck, he’s already better than Brady Quinn

26 Arizona Cardinals Dan Williams DT Tennessee
Just like Bulaga: Great player at need position falls to them by sheer luck, like all NTs, though, you have to keep your eyes on his belly

27 New England Patriots (from Dallas) Devin McCourty CB Rutgers
Makes sense for them, he’ll work out fine, starts on specials where they need him

28 Miami Dolphins (from San Diego) Jared Odrick DE Penn State
Not a bad player at all for a 3-4 end, but where will he play with Starks, Langford and Merling all ahead of him at end? And where’s the NT?

29 New York Jets Kyle Wilson CB Boise State
Good player, from North Jersey, helps at nickel or if Antonio Cromartie runs into trouble

30 Detroit Lions (from Minnesota) Jahvid Best HB California
Awesome pick, they are really putting something together there

31 Indianapolis Colts Jerry Hughes DE TCU
More on him later

32 New Orleans Saints Patrick Robinson CB Florida State
Like him, like the pick

It's here!

So is everyone excited? I'm making porchetta! And it's draft day.

Looks like the NFL spent about $2 million on that ad narrated by Chris Cooper.

I'd be flipped out if No. 1 isn't Bradford. They only have Null, Reilly and Feeley. The only other option is to trade the pick and select Clausen or McCoy. He's smilin'.

Okay, one down. I like Bradford there. He's a tall accurate passer. Didn't play in a pro-style offense and has durability concerns, but he's the guy.

So now my son's beloved Lions are up. Suh makes sense, I like McCoy too. I don't like those OT rumors. Backus is still good enough and the acquisition of OG Sims makes it even less likely.

It's Suh. Looks like the Millen era really is over in Motown.

Bucs. McCoy? Hops so, I'd be three for three.

Taking a break for dinner.

It is Gerald McBoingBoing. Great pick. Great guy.

Now comes the hard one. I'm going with Trent Williams.

My Son and I ...

... both have first-round projections. I tried hard, but I think he'll beat me badly.

Pre-Draft Note

I'm a Tebow fan. Not or the Colts, mind you, but if I were the GM of a bad or middling team, I'd trade down to the bottom half of the first and build my offense around him. He's only spectacular in a college-style offense? Fine, run one.

Updating the Eric Foster situation

Colts president Bill Polian has decided that since the police are not pressing charges against Foster, the Colts will not discipline him either.

While I hope he's innocent, I don't think people make those kinds of claims even when there is a potential for financial gain very often.

At this point, at least, it doesn't look like he needs replacing. But the situation bears watching.

Dreaming

Things I’d like from the draft, but almost certainly won’t get:

A quarterback with real upside, like Fordham’s John Skelton

A quarterback with excellent athletic ability who can confound defenses from a variety of positions and run the scout team for when the Colts play against a running quarterback or a team that employs the wildcat formation, like Appalachian State’s Armanti Edwards

A big, bruising halfback, like Wayne State’s Joique Bell

A real fullback, like Maryland’s Cory Jackson

A tight end who’s not a pumped-up flanker or converted fullback, like Kansas State’s Jerod Mastrud

A two-gap defensive tackle, like Central Florida’s Torrell Troup

A truly blazing return man, like Lousiana State’s Trindon Holliday

Foster

Like a lot of Colts fans, I’m really bummed out by the Eric Foster situation.

Keep in mind that this is the team that once cut Ed Johnson for a joint. If indeed this is a truthful accusation, I expect Foster to be an ex-Colt.

Unfortunately, Foster was the Colts’ most effective defensive tackle last year, and would definitely need replacing.

Latest mock

1/31 Jerry Hughes DE TCU
(6016/255/4.65c) 32 TK, 26 AT, 16.5-78 TFL, 11.5-72 SK, 6 PBU, 2 FF, 1-0-0 FR
Why: He's a great pass-rushing prospect and a good kid

2/63 Jared Veldheer T Hillsdale
(6081/312/5.06c)
Why: Just look at him!

3/94 Alterraun Verner CB UCLA
(5101/189/4.52c) 51 TK, 21 AT, 5-7 TFL, 5-158-1 INT, 4 PBU, 1-0-1 FR
Why: Awesome, awesome kid who's a great athlete and a productive corner.

4/129 Chris DeGeare G Wake Forest
(6035/325/5.12c)
Why: Another good guy who brings size and technique

5/162 Deji Karim HB Southern Illinois
(5085/209/4.40pd) 240-1,694-18 RU, 17-212-1 REC, 14-433-1 KR
Strong little back and a legitimate retun specialist.

7/238 Damaso Munoz OLB Rutgers
(5105/221/4.49pd) 36 TK, 45 AT, 8.5-29 TFL, 3-12 SK, 2-35-0 INT, 2 FF, 4-0-0 FR, 1-35-1 KR
Many teams see him as a safety, but I like him as an OLB.

7/240 Mike Caussin TE James Madison
(6052/252/4.77pd) 25-438-4 REC, 5-59-0 KR
You knew I'd have a small-school guy on here, besides he's a great guy.

7/246 Cornelius Brown CB UTEP
(5107/198/4.59c/4.46pd) 31 TK, 10 AT, 2-6 TFL, 16 PBU, 1 FF, 2-49-0 KR
Awesome movement skills and his nickname is "cornbread."

Update

The big news in Coltland these days is probably the release of Chad Simpson. I was surprised. Say what you will about him as a returner. While his boom-or-bust style didn’t always endear him to fans, at least he caught the ball, and his numbers certainly weren’t bad (47-1,087-1 last season for a 23.13 average, 53-1,242-1 career for 23.43). But I liked him as an extra halfback.

Considering the injury histories of Joseph Addai, Donald Brown and Mike Hart, it makes sense to have a capable fourth halfback. To cut Simpson in favour of Hart mystifies me. Over the last two years, the pair played about the same amount, but check out their numbers:

Rushing
Simpson: 30-147-3 (4.90 average)
Hart: 28-79-1 (2.82)

Receiving
Simpson 6-31-1 (5.20)
Hart 6-72-0 (12.00)

But keep in mind that Hart had the luxury of playing most of his snaps in blowouts with Manning at the wheel, while Simpson played most of his in the hard times when Curtis Painter was leading the team. People tell me hart is a better blocker and special-teamer, but I don’t see it. If he has an edge in either case, I’d say it’s too slight to be worthwhile.

So, in my opinion, the Colts cut a superior halfback and serviceable returner with 4.40 speed for an inferior halfback with no return ability and a 4.69 forty before he shredded his ACL.

Fine. But the Colts still need a fourth halfback. I know they like Southern Illinois’ Deji Karim, and could also be interested in Kentucky’s Alphonso Smith, but it’s a total crap shoot to see if those guys are better than Simpson or not.

• Daniel Muir and Melvin Bullitt signed their one-year tenders. That means they are on probation for their jobs. I know lots of fans are nuts about both of these guys, but Muir was only so-so last year and has a history of injuries, while Bullitt was really exposed in coverage. Don’t be surprised if potential replacements are drafted for either or both.

Mocking the mockers (including me)

Here at ColtPlay, we like to look at what other people are saying. So here’s a collection of what most of the internet draft predictors have decided the Colts would pick. Perhaps notable by their absence are The Sporting News and ESPN. That’s because they both charge for their info and I don’t want to let their cats out of their bags. They’re always wrong, anyway, so you’re not missing much. So without them, here’s what we have.

About.com Jared Odrick DT Penn State
CBS Sports’ Chad Reuter Brandon Graham DE Michigan
CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco Maurkice Pouncey C Florida
CBS Sports’ Rob Rang Charles Brown T USC
CDS Draft Brandon LaFell WR LSU
ColtPlay Devin McCourty CB Rutgers
Draft Board Insider Maurkice Pouncey C Florida
Draft Countdown Charles Brown T USC
Draft Huddle Charles Brown T USC
Draft King Maurkice Pouncey C Florida
Draft Zoo Jerry Hughes DE TCU
DraftDaddy.com Charles Brown T USC
DrafTek Charles Brown T USC
DraftSite Kyle Wilson CB Boise State
East Coast Sports News Brian Price DT UCLA
Fantasy Football Jungle Maurkice Pouncey C Florida
Fantasy Football Xtreme Donovan Warren CB Michigan
Football Jabber Roger Saffold T Indiana
Football’s Future Brian Price DT UCLA
Football’s Future Brian Price DT UCLA
FOX Sports’ Peter Schrager Brian Price DT UCLA
GBNReport Maurkice Pouncey C Florida
KFFL Jared Odrick DT Penn State
Mocking The Draft Maurkice Pouncey C Florida
MyNFLDraft Brian Price DT UCLA
National Football Post Roger Saffold T Indiana
NESN Roger Saffold T Indiana
New Era Scouting Bruce Campbell T Maryland
New NFL Draft Mike Iupati G Idaho
NFL Draft 101 Kareem Jackson CB Alabama
NFL Draft Blitz Devin McCourty CB Rutgers
NFL Draft Dog Sean Weatherspoon OLB Missouri
NFL News and Rumors Daryl Washington ILB TCU
NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks Patrick Robinson CB Florida State
NFL.com’s Pat Kirwan Devin McCourty CB Rutgers
NFL.com's Charles Davis Maurkice Pouncey C Florida
Pro Football Weekly Roger Saffold T Indiana
ProFootballTalk Maurkice Pouncey C Florida
Redzone Report Jared Odrick DT Penn State
RotoTimes’ Ted Carlson Brian Price DT UCLA
Saturdays2Sundays Jared Odrick DT Penn State
Scout.com’s Chris Steuber Jared Odrick DT Penn State
Scout's Notebook Bruce Campbell T Maryland
SI.com’s Don Banks Brian Price DT UCLA
Sideline Scouting Brian Price DT UCLA
Sunday Kickoff Brian Price DT UCLA
The Draft Matters Maurkice Pouncey C Florida
Walter Football Roger Saffold T Indiana
Weller and Bryan Sean Weatherspoon OLB Missouri

I’ll save you the counting, and add my take:

9 DT Price
Very productive, but sloppy and raw. Doesn’t look strong enough to distinguish himself at the NFL level right away. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Okay with it.

8 C Pouncey
Could use a few more degrees of dedication to the game, but otherwise a great prospect. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Pretty darn happy.

5 T Brown
Ugh. I hate to say it, but he looks like a potential bust to me. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Wondering if Polian’s lost it.

5 DT Odrick
Another skinny college DT who’d be better off as a 3-4 end. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Wishing they hadn’t.

5 T Saffold
Looked great in the Senior Bowl, but was inconsistent before that. Will develop, but lacks killer instinct as run blocker. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Okay with it.

4 CB McCourty
He already plays like a Colts’ DB, and could easily grab the return job. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Delighted.

2 OLB Weatherspoon
Very good college ’backer who’s smaller than NFL standards and not all that tough seeming. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Meh.

2 T Campbell
Great pass blocker who lacks bite in the run game, is that really what the Colts want? If they drafted him first, I’d be: Okay with it.

1 CB Wilson
Great college corner who may not be tough and strong enough in the run game. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Wondering if they have changed their defense as radically as all that.

1 CB Warren
A great athlete at corner who needs to learn and use more technique and aggressiveness to succeed. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Wondering if he’ll ever be better than a fourth corner.

1 WR LaFell
A strong and talented college star at WR who lacks speed and explosiveness. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Wondering if the NFL is allowing the Colts to play with two balls at once.

1 DE Graham
Wow. A great college DE and a great kid. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Wondering how he fell so far in the draft.

1 DE Hughes
A much-hyped pass-rusher whose so-so first step may translate to a tough time in the NFL. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Hoping he's a better prospect than I once thought.

1 G Iupati
A college guard who can also play tackle, he seems capable of Pro Bowl play at either position. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Surprised he wasn’t selected a dozen picks earlier.

1 CB Jackson
A pretty solid college CB who may not have the explosiveness to be an NFL star. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Wondering if they saw something I didn’t.

1 ILB Washington
This guy’s a great athlete who lacks instincts and size. And he might not have Colts-type character. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Hoping they didn’t.

1 CB Robinson
Personally, I love this kid; not just as a corner, but as a return man as well. If they drafted him first, I’d be: Pretty impressed.

So, if you agree with the media, the Colts will grab Price or Pouncey. But before you put all your mock draft eggs in one basket, keep in mind that not a single one of those experts (including ColtPlay) correctly predicted that the Colts would draft Donald Brown in the first round. And only one of them had the Colts drafting a halfback first (and that was Ohio State’s Beanie Wells).

So in honor of that record of ineptitude by us draft predictors, and the Colts’ ability to surprise us all, I’m changing my guess from McCourty to Virginia Tech Jason Worilds. Wait, nobody has him yet, do they?

Draft month begins

Some of the things I’ve been thinking about this time of year:

• My last year’s draft prediction would have worked out okay for the Colts:

1/27 Hakeem Nicks WR North Carolina (6006/212/4.51c) picked Giants
Great first season (47-790-6 on just 71 targets), and sky-high upside

2/61 Eben Britton T Arizona (6060/309/5.14c) picked by Jaguars
That pesky left tackle-of-the-future problem would have been solved

3/92 Myron Pryor DT Kentucky (6002/319/5.03c) picked by Patriots
Certainly not a star performer, but a good run defender and contributor

4/127 Stephen McGee QB Texas A&M (6027/225/4.61c) picked by Cowboys
Okay, he didn’t play, but he’s still a heck of a lot more inspiring than Painter

4/136 Gerald McRath ILB Southern Mississippi (6017/231/4.49c) picked by Titans
Not exactly Brian Cushing, but had a decent rookie season and is likely to start in 2010; a force on kickoff coverage

5/165 Joe Burnett CB/RS Central Florida (5093/192/4.58c) picked by Steelers
Didn’t play a lot on defense, but looked okay when he did; did not mount a real claim for the kick return job in Pittsburgh

6/201 Tyrell Sutton HB Northwestern (5080/211/4.68c4.64pd) picked by Packers
Cut by Green Bay, then claimed by Carolina. Shifted from halfback to fullback and gave the Panthers a powerful short-yardage guy at either position, he’s also a plus blocker and went a very respectable 14-302-0 when pressed into duty as a kick returner

7/236 Dudley Guice Jr. WR Northwestern State (6024/209/4.40pd) signed by Titans
Cut by the Titans, he’s a Colt now

• With Tom Moore sidelined, I wonder if there is any chance of a real, actual fullback creeping his way onto the Colts’ roster. As it is now, the Colts’ offensive personnel resembles that of one of those run-and-shoot teams that were all the rage in the 80s. The reason they died out is that they piled up lots of yards, but failed repeatedly on short yardage and in the red zone. Which, of course, are the Colts’ problems. In the Moore era, when a fullback was needed, they would either motion in a tight end or a wide receiver (I even saw Brandon Stokley in there!) or borrow a lineman from the defense. And, of course, it has seen little success.

If they do decide they need a fullback, he could be on the roster. Cody Glenn started his career at Nebraska, but was shifted to linebacker as a senior. He saw a few snaps there last season, but was not that impressive. Although they could groom him, I’d much rather see them draft a guy like Maryland’s Cory Jackson or Boise State’s Richie Brockel. Not only would it be a boost for the anemic running game, but it could improve blitz pickup, provide another dump-off option and strengthen special teams.

• I have this unusual feeling that the Colts might draft a cornerback in the first round. I’m not sure I’d do it myself, but I can’t shake the feeling.

• Lots of mock drafts – even those by Colts fans – are predicting that they will call Charles Brown’s name in the first round. I have to ask those people if they are absolutely unfamiliar with the concept of Tony Ugoh. Brown is eerily reminiscent of Ugoh in every way, although I think Ugoh has a much stronger upper body. Brown certainly looks like a left tackle in workouts, but less so on game film. Why is he so unpolished after spending his college career in a pro-style offense with great coaches at Southern Cal? Will he ever care enough to be what a team needs him to be? I could be very, very wrong, but I’d play it safe and steer well clear of Brown.

• My mock, so far

1/31 Devin McCourty CB Rutgers
2/63 Corey Wooten DE Northwestern
3/94 Jason Fox T Miami
4/129 Stevenson Sylvester OLB Utah
5/162 Clay Harbor TE Southwest Missouri
7/238 Jeff Linkenbach T Cincinnati
7/240 Sam Scott OLB West Chester
7/246 Josh Gordy CB Central Michigan