The Colt-o-sphere is alive now that camp has begun. ColtPlay will now share some opinions.
Jeff Linkenbach has been shifted to guard, and will compete with Joe Reitz for a starting spot. This tells me a couple of things. The first is that the other four-fifths of the O-line are set, and that Grigson favorite Mike McGlynn will start at guard. It also tells me that Ben Ijalana is not in contention for a starting position, which is a bad thing. Either he’s not fully recovered from his injuries, or the new leadership do not think he’s as good as the guys who drafted him did. It also tells me the Colts feel good enough about their depth at tackle (don’t be surprised if former first-rounder George Foster makes a strong play for a roster spot), because they are moving an erstwhile starting tackle inside. And, when it comes to the O-line, that stuff’s all just on paper anyway. If the Colts see Linkenbach as their third-best tackle, he’ll be a backup tackle even if he’s starting at guard. But the most important thing this move indicates is that Linkenbach probably won’t make the team if he doesn’t win a starting spot inside.
Korey Lindsey had two picks on the first day. I don’t put much stock in statistical anomalies, especially when it comes to almost-accidents like NFL picks (and one of Lindsey’s interceptions was on a tip). Still, it brought him a great deal of attention from the coaches, which is a good thing. After the Colts traded for two corners and picked Lindsey up off waivers, things do not look good for any holdovers except Jerraud Powers. Kevin Thomas is currently running with the first-team, but his injury history and poor play in 2011 could put him in danger. The same goes for second-year man Chris Rucker, although I think they’ll give him every chance to win a spot based on his long-range potential. Lindsey offers little speed, but has some enviable man coverage skills.
Dwayne Allen outplayed Coby Fleener. I’m not surprised. Fleener may have the speed and the height, but Allen is the more reliable, more polished receiver. And he’s a better pass-blocker too. Look for Allen to start and pile up a ton of receptions, while Fleener plays a lot of snaps all over the field. Think of Allen as a Jason Witten-type, and Fleener as more of a Dustin Keller sort. Though I think Fleener will develop into a better player than Keller in time. You could also look at how the Lions use Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler, as an indication of how Allen and Fleener will coexist, although Fleener will see more playing time than Scheffler does.
Andrew Luck likes Austin Collie. A lot. Who wouldn’t? If he’s over his concussion problems, Collie is an outstanding receiver, who will draw less coverage than Reggie Wayne.
Vick Ballard looks good. I’m not surprised at all. All this talk of Delone Carter being the man mystifies me. As a rook, he had a 3.78-yard rushing average, didn’t catch the ball well, didn’t block well, had a fumbling problem and — perhaps most telling — failed to win the short-yardage job despite his size. He should be looking over his shoulder at Ballard, the same kind of back, and one who was more productive in college. Donald Brown will be the top back, Mewelde Moore with probably be the third-down back, so that doesn’t leave a lot more than the power role for anybody else. Ballard could well unseat Carter if he keeps those thighs churning.
LaVon Brazill looks good. Good, I had heard good things about him.
Tom Zbikowski is a leader. Again, not surprised. That’s what he was signed for.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Colts trade DT Ollie Ogbu for CB DJ Johnson
People talk about how desperate the Colts are at corner, but this deal really puts it into perspective. Since 2009, new colts CB DJ Johnson (6013/198/4.50c4.52pd) has been with seven NFL teams. Of course, a great deal of that is because he's been stashed on practice squads and teams needing corners because of injury or ineffectiveness have brought him in for a try.
Johnson has played a bit in the NFL, mostly on special teams and a bit as a defensive back. He's pretty good in play recognition, uses his height and size well and seems a little more comfortable to me in man than zone coverage. On the minus side, he's nowhere near quick and nifty enough to cover good slot guys, can whiff on tackles when he puts his head down (so forget about him as a safety) and has terrible hands.
If he's competing for a roster spot, it's more an indication that the Colts don't like what they have more than how much they like him.
To acquire Johnson, they gave up Ollie Ogbu, a 4-3 DT who lacked the strength and size to be a nose tackle and the quickness to be a 3-4 DE.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Colts sign DT Jason Shirley
Sorry to be late on this. The Colts must be more than a tad worried about Josh Chapman's availability because they signed another nose tackle. Jason Shirley (6051/329/5.02pd in 2008) has had something of a colorful past. He's been around (playing for the Bengals, the Seahawks and the Panthers before landing in Indy), played a little (he had 2.5 sacks for the Bengals before they switched him to guard) and he's been in trouble (served a month after a drunken hit-and-run incident).
Shirley offers little other than size and strength, and perhaps a little experience.
Shirley offers little other than size and strength, and perhaps a little experience.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Colts sign ILB Larry Lumpkin
Well, I guess ColtPlay was kind of right. The Browns did get Josh Gordon, and the Colts did get Larry Lumpkin, but who would have guessed the Browns would give up a second, or that the Colts could sit on their hands throughout the supplemental draft and still come away with the guy they wanted?
Lumpkin's a good prospect. He had impressive numbers at his recent workout (including a 4.69 forty under poor conditions, he's said to have run a 4.57 in the past), and was productive in college.
The concerns with him are immaturity and a lack of discipline. Jay Martin, his position coach at Alabama A&M (where Lumpkin started his collegiate career), pointed out that Lumpkin would be late for meetings and frequently miss practice, but was still a standout on the field. Lumpkin's coaches at Carson-Newman have said that he's matured and put that stuff behind him.
Let's hope, for the Colts' sake, that he has.
He'll land in a fairly shallow pool of inside linebackers. The top three (Pat Angerer, Kavell Conner and AJ Edds) seem to be set, the others at the position are far from it. Lumpkin would be wise to keep his head down, work hard, and show up early for everything.
Lumpkin's a good prospect. He had impressive numbers at his recent workout (including a 4.69 forty under poor conditions, he's said to have run a 4.57 in the past), and was productive in college.
The concerns with him are immaturity and a lack of discipline. Jay Martin, his position coach at Alabama A&M (where Lumpkin started his collegiate career), pointed out that Lumpkin would be late for meetings and frequently miss practice, but was still a standout on the field. Lumpkin's coaches at Carson-Newman have said that he's matured and put that stuff behind him.
Let's hope, for the Colts' sake, that he has.
He'll land in a fairly shallow pool of inside linebackers. The top three (Pat Angerer, Kavell Conner and AJ Edds) seem to be set, the others at the position are far from it. Lumpkin would be wise to keep his head down, work hard, and show up early for everything.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Supplemental draft revisited
The day before the supplemental draft, the Colts made room on their roster by cutting ILB Chris Galippo. That could well be because they expect to select someone.
I think TCU HB Ed Wesley is out after he ran 4.68-4.72 forties at his workout, which the Colts did not attend. Small backs need to be faster than that.
They did attend Baylor WR Josh Gordon's workout. He ran a 4.52, which is great for a big receiver. But there are other teams more desperate for receiver help (like Cleveland, for example), and he will probably merit a higher pick than the Colts are willing to part with. Besides, he's super-raw.
The dark horse here is Carson-Newman ILB Larry Lumpkin. He would fill a need (in fact, he'd be a better prospect than Galippo at the same position), and looks like a better prospect than Wesley and more likely to contribute right away than Gordon. He, if it's important, ran a 4.74.
If they selected Wesley (or any other the other prospects not mentioned), I'd be shocked. If they selected Gordon, I'd be mildly surprised. If they selected Lumpkin, less so.
Keep in mind, all unselected players are unrestricted free agents, so Lumpkin could end up as a Colt even if they do not select him in the supplemental.
I think TCU HB Ed Wesley is out after he ran 4.68-4.72 forties at his workout, which the Colts did not attend. Small backs need to be faster than that.
They did attend Baylor WR Josh Gordon's workout. He ran a 4.52, which is great for a big receiver. But there are other teams more desperate for receiver help (like Cleveland, for example), and he will probably merit a higher pick than the Colts are willing to part with. Besides, he's super-raw.
The dark horse here is Carson-Newman ILB Larry Lumpkin. He would fill a need (in fact, he'd be a better prospect than Galippo at the same position), and looks like a better prospect than Wesley and more likely to contribute right away than Gordon. He, if it's important, ran a 4.74.
If they selected Wesley (or any other the other prospects not mentioned), I'd be shocked. If they selected Gordon, I'd be mildly surprised. If they selected Lumpkin, less so.
Keep in mind, all unselected players are unrestricted free agents, so Lumpkin could end up as a Colt even if they do not select him in the supplemental.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Should the Colts do anything in the supplemental draft?
I'm usually leery when it comes to the supplemental draft, but I thought you might like a rundown of the guys available.
Ed Wesley HB TCU (5086/200/e4.45)
He's a small, but generally effective halfback whose best attribute for NFL purposes is his punt-return ability. Unlike many supplemental draft candidates, Wesley quit the team in order to earn money to help his ill mother, and there are no indications he's a character risk at all. But his size, lateral movement skills and lack of receiving experience stand in his way
2011 stats: 120-726-6 rushing, 6-82-0 receiving, 11-120-0 punt returns
2010 stats: 166-1,078-11 rushing, 8-62-0 receiving
2009 stats: 101-638-4 rushing, 8-170-3 receiving
Take a chance? Maybe. I don't see Wesley as being anything more than a change-of-pace back and return guy, but he could be a good one. I wouldn't spend anything more than a seventh-round pick on him, or a sixth if he tests through the roof.
Josh Gordon WR Utah (6026/220/e4.43)
Sure he looks the part, but he was kicked off Baylor after a drug arrest, and then left Utah for undisclosed reasons without ever playing a game. Sure there's upside, but Gordon is not just a major character risk but is incredibly raw and has not played competitively for more than a year.
2010 stats: 42-714-7 receiving 3-74-0 kick returns
2009 stats: 1-7-0 receiving, 4-65-0 kick returns
Take a chance? Probably not. While he has top potential and has been productive at a major college, he's very raw and his character troubles me.
Montez Robinson DE Georgia (6050/255/e4.60)Robinson is a lot like Gordon, but may be even more of a character risk and even more raw. He showed all the tools as a budding pass rusher before being kicked off the Bulldogs for domestic-abuse arrests.
2009 stats: 4 tackles, 1 assist, 2.5-11 TFL, 2.0-10 sacks, 2 hurries
Take a chance? No. I can see guys getting involved with drugs or shady agents or whatever because they are immature, but repeated domestic assaults? That's not who you want on your team.
Scott/Adrian/Adrin Haughton G Iowa State (6030/340/e5.35)
Haughton came to Iowa State as a defensive tackle, and shifted to offense and started at right tackle as a soph. He left the program after failing all his classes and wound up with the Orlando Predators of the Arena League. He has some skill and the Predators experience should help him, but he's still a real long shot. He's had injury issues as well.
Take a chance? Probably not. Seems a bit flaky to me, and does not appear to offer anything more than the prospects already in camp.
Adam Harris FB Syracuse (6020/248/e4.85)
Who cares? He's a fullback and they are not welcome in Indy.
Take a chance? Doesn't matter what I think, they won't.
Larry Lumpkin LB Carson-Newman (5113/234/e4.80)
Turfed from Robert Mathis' alma mater, Alabama A&M for academic reasons, Lumpkin looked very impressive at D2 Carson Newman. Still, to me, he has that just-not-quite-enough look that many D2 prospects have.
2011 stats: 62 tackles, 32 assists, 10.0-30 TFL, 0.5-10 sacks, 2 hurries, 2 passes defended
2010 stats: 23 tackles, 16 assists, 12.0-42 TFL, 4-33 sacks, 1 pass defended, 2 forced fumbles 1-45-0 fumble return
2009 stats: 17 tackles, 26 assists, 4.5-14 TFL, 0.5-2 sacks, 2 hurries, 4 passes defended
Take a chance? Maybe. A high-effort, productive player at a position that needs depth badly, Lumpkin would have to ace interviews as well as physical tests in order to be worth a seven-round pick.
Quaylon Ewing-Burton CB Boise State (5110/180/e4.50)
Played fairly well as a sophomore until he was totally schooled by TCU, but history of character problems dating back to high school have dull his already-dim prospect's sheen to a dull gray.
2011 stats: 16 tackles, 10 assists, 0.5-1 TFL, 2 passes defended
Take a chance? No. Not that impressive a prospect before his troubles brought him down, he's far less attractive now.
Houston Tuminello WR McMurry (5110/190/e4.60)
Tuminello is small and slow, but he can get open and catch at the college level. He quit the Louisiana Tech team near the start of his sophomore season and marketed his wares to a number of D3 schools before settling on McMurry. He did not set the world on fire there with just three catches. And they misspelled his name on their website.
2011 stats: 3-4-1 receiving
2009 stats: 10-79-1 receiving
2008 stats: 12-117-0 receiving
Take a chance? No. His track record screams immaturity, and his production has not impressed.
Ed Wesley HB TCU (5086/200/e4.45)
He's a small, but generally effective halfback whose best attribute for NFL purposes is his punt-return ability. Unlike many supplemental draft candidates, Wesley quit the team in order to earn money to help his ill mother, and there are no indications he's a character risk at all. But his size, lateral movement skills and lack of receiving experience stand in his way
2011 stats: 120-726-6 rushing, 6-82-0 receiving, 11-120-0 punt returns
2010 stats: 166-1,078-11 rushing, 8-62-0 receiving
2009 stats: 101-638-4 rushing, 8-170-3 receiving
Take a chance? Maybe. I don't see Wesley as being anything more than a change-of-pace back and return guy, but he could be a good one. I wouldn't spend anything more than a seventh-round pick on him, or a sixth if he tests through the roof.
Josh Gordon WR Utah (6026/220/e4.43)
Sure he looks the part, but he was kicked off Baylor after a drug arrest, and then left Utah for undisclosed reasons without ever playing a game. Sure there's upside, but Gordon is not just a major character risk but is incredibly raw and has not played competitively for more than a year.
2010 stats: 42-714-7 receiving 3-74-0 kick returns
2009 stats: 1-7-0 receiving, 4-65-0 kick returns
Take a chance? Probably not. While he has top potential and has been productive at a major college, he's very raw and his character troubles me.
Montez Robinson DE Georgia (6050/255/e4.60)Robinson is a lot like Gordon, but may be even more of a character risk and even more raw. He showed all the tools as a budding pass rusher before being kicked off the Bulldogs for domestic-abuse arrests.
2009 stats: 4 tackles, 1 assist, 2.5-11 TFL, 2.0-10 sacks, 2 hurries
Take a chance? No. I can see guys getting involved with drugs or shady agents or whatever because they are immature, but repeated domestic assaults? That's not who you want on your team.
Scott/Adrian/Adrin Haughton G Iowa State (6030/340/e5.35)
Haughton came to Iowa State as a defensive tackle, and shifted to offense and started at right tackle as a soph. He left the program after failing all his classes and wound up with the Orlando Predators of the Arena League. He has some skill and the Predators experience should help him, but he's still a real long shot. He's had injury issues as well.
Take a chance? Probably not. Seems a bit flaky to me, and does not appear to offer anything more than the prospects already in camp.
Adam Harris FB Syracuse (6020/248/e4.85)
Who cares? He's a fullback and they are not welcome in Indy.
Take a chance? Doesn't matter what I think, they won't.
Larry Lumpkin LB Carson-Newman (5113/234/e4.80)
Turfed from Robert Mathis' alma mater, Alabama A&M for academic reasons, Lumpkin looked very impressive at D2 Carson Newman. Still, to me, he has that just-not-quite-enough look that many D2 prospects have.
2011 stats: 62 tackles, 32 assists, 10.0-30 TFL, 0.5-10 sacks, 2 hurries, 2 passes defended
2010 stats: 23 tackles, 16 assists, 12.0-42 TFL, 4-33 sacks, 1 pass defended, 2 forced fumbles 1-45-0 fumble return
2009 stats: 17 tackles, 26 assists, 4.5-14 TFL, 0.5-2 sacks, 2 hurries, 4 passes defended
Take a chance? Maybe. A high-effort, productive player at a position that needs depth badly, Lumpkin would have to ace interviews as well as physical tests in order to be worth a seven-round pick.
Quaylon Ewing-Burton CB Boise State (5110/180/e4.50)
Played fairly well as a sophomore until he was totally schooled by TCU, but history of character problems dating back to high school have dull his already-dim prospect's sheen to a dull gray.
2011 stats: 16 tackles, 10 assists, 0.5-1 TFL, 2 passes defended
Take a chance? No. Not that impressive a prospect before his troubles brought him down, he's far less attractive now.
Houston Tuminello WR McMurry (5110/190/e4.60)
Tuminello is small and slow, but he can get open and catch at the college level. He quit the Louisiana Tech team near the start of his sophomore season and marketed his wares to a number of D3 schools before settling on McMurry. He did not set the world on fire there with just three catches. And they misspelled his name on their website.
2011 stats: 3-4-1 receiving
2009 stats: 10-79-1 receiving
2008 stats: 12-117-0 receiving
Take a chance? No. His track record screams immaturity, and his production has not impressed.
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