Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Bill Polian and that pesky defensive tackle problem

A look at the defensive tackle drafted by Bill Polian. It won’t boost the confidence of most Colts fans hoping to get an immediate starter in the 2011 draft.

2010
7/238 Ricardo Mathews 8G/0GS* Too early to call, but one tackle as a rookie does not impress

2009
2/56 Fili Moala 26G/17GS* Was awful as a rookie, impressive as a soph
4/136 Terrance Taylor 0G/0GS Swing and a miss, never made it out of training camp

2008
None

2007
3/98 Quinn Pitcock 9G/1GS Promising as a rookie, he quit football to play World of Warcraft; his comeback fizzled

2006
None

2005
None

2004
None

2003
None

2002
2/42 Larry Tripplett 92G/62GS (60G/30GS with Colts) Not a bad player, but one the Colts often sought to replace
6/182 David Pugh 4G/1GS Notable for recording more penalties than tackles in his short career

2001
None

2000
4/122 Josh Williams 73G/48GS Something of a whipping boy for Colts fans, he was adequate at best
7/235 Rob Renes 0G/0GS A back injury derailed his career

1999
None

1998
None

1997
None

1996
3/88 JC Price 0G/0GS One of Polian’s worst picks ever
7/234 Kerry Hicks 2G/0GS Nothing special

1995
6/188 Steve Strahan 0G/0GS The wrong Strahan

1993
2/55 John Parrella 172G/111GS (10G/0GS with Bills) Polian’s Bills gave up on him right away, but he had a great career with the Chargers

1992
2/55 James Patton 13G/0GS An awful, awful pick; Joel Steed, one of the best nose tackles in NFL history, was taken just a few picks later

1991
None

1990
7/181 Fred DeRiggi 2G/0GS Nobody special
10/265 Mike Lodish 166G/31GS (74G/12GS with Bills) A decent player, certainly worth a tenth-round pick

1989
9/249 Pat Rabold 0G/0GS Didn’t make it out of training camp

1988
8/213 Jeff Wright 98G/67GS Good player, a bargain
11/289 Pete Curkendall 0G/0GS Just another guy

1987
8/209 Bruce Mesner 11G/0GS Just another guy
12/311 Joe McGrail 2G/0GS Just another guy

1986
10/251 Guy Teafatiller 3G/2GS Could have been something, but injuries ended his career
11/278 Tony Garbarczyk 2G/0GS@DE (0G/0GS with Bills) Just another guy

First rounders
None
Polian has gone on record as saying that stud defensive tackles are only ever available in the first few picks of the draft, but when he has had such picks, he has used them on other positions

Second rounders
2/42 Larry Tripplett 92G/62GS (60G/30GS with Colts)
2/55 John Parrella 172G/111GS (10G/0GS with Bills)
2/55 James Patton 13G/0GS
2/56 Fili Moala 26G/17GS*
None of these guys were stars, but he has uncovered some players – usually undersized

Third rounders
3/88 JC Price 0G/0GS
3/98 Quinn Pitcock 9G/1GS
Pitcock had a future, but blew it

Fourth rounders
4/122 Josh Williams 73G/48GS
4/136 Terrance Taylor 0G/0GS
Williams was not better than okay; Taylor – a rare, fat nose tackle type – was a bomb

Fifth rounders
None
I wonder why, guess it just never happened

Sixth rounders
6/182 David Pugh 4G/1GS
6/188 Steve Strahan 0G/0GS
Nothing special here

Seventh rounders
7/181 Fred DeRiggi 2G/0GS
7/234 Kerry Hicks 2G/0GS
7/235 Rob Renes 0G/0GS
7/238 Ricardo Mathews 8G/0GS*
Or here

Eighth to twelfth rounders
8/209 Bruce Mesner 11G/0GS
8/213 Jeff Wright 98G/67GS
9/249 Pat Rabold 0G/0GS
10/251 Guy Teafatiller 3G/2GS
10/265 Mike Lodish 166G/31GS (74G/12GS with Bills)
11/278 Tony Garbarczyk 2G/0GS@DE (0G/0GS with Bills)
11/289 Pete Curkendall 0G/0GS
12/311 Joe McGrail 2G/0GS
A few surprises; of course, these guys would all be undrafted free agents now

If his history is any indication, Polian may look for a defensive tackle in the second round, but will more likely hope to find a winning raffle ticket on the fourth day of the draft or in the undrafted free agent frenzy.

*still active


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