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
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