Thursday, February 7, 2013

Just some thoughts

Don't be surprised if the Colts have a fullback next year. In Andrew Luck's senior year at Stanford (under current Colts' offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton), fullback Ryan Hewitt was a major contributor to the offense. The team's fourth-leading receiver (No. 1 Griff Whalen and No. 3 Coby Fleener are already Colts) with 34 catches for 282 yards and five touchdowns, Hewitt was also a strong block in both the running and passing games. He was never a big-time gainer on the ground, gaining just 67 yards on 22 carries, but he also scored seven touchdowns and has yet to be tackled behind the line of scrimmage in his college career.I say yet because Hewitt is headed back to Stanford for another year.

Before Hewitt, Luck shared the Cardinal backfield with Owen Marecic, now a member of the Cleveland Browns. While Marecic doesn't have ball skills anywhere near Hewitt's, he is a reliable blocker, adept at neutralizing blitzes.

Since the Colts pass protection is weak and Hamilton's offense often employs a blocking/outlet receiving fullback, they could well add one in the offseason. It's an ugly irony that the Colts had a Pro Bowl-quality fullback in Jerome Felton, and let him sign with Minnesota just a few weeks after Ryan Grigson took over as GM (in Grigson's defense, the Bruce Arians-led offense was far less fullback-friendly). Felton's an unrestricted free agent again this year, but it's very unlikely the Vikings will let him go after his excellent showing there. The other free agents are eight guys who can catch and not block, guys who can block but not catch or guys who can't do either.

There are some nice fullback prospects in the draft, but with picks as a premium this year, it's unlikely the team would use one on a fullback. Still, it may be worth a seventh-rounder to grab Wake Forest's Tommy Bohanon, if he falls that far.

Barring that, the Colts could extend the role of Robert Hughes, their incumbent fullback. He was gaining some momentum last year before a knee injury ended his season. He's still an unproven prospect at this point, and is not a thundering blocker, but he could develop -- or hold the spot until Hewitt comes out.

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On the subject of Stanfordians, expect to see the Colts give Griff Whalen every opportunity to win a role on offense. Luck's favorite target at as a senior at Stanford and in the 2012 preseason, despite a nagging foot injury, Whalen will be headed into a very familiar situation after spending his rookie year on injured reserve.

Every white receiver gets compared to Wes Welker these days, but with Whalen, it's actually apt. Small but strong, Whalen's not fast (forties between 4.55 and 4.62), but is very explosive and has incredible body control and balance.And his experience as a former halfback and punt returner will help him with the coaching staff's determination to wring more yards after the catch.

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Let's hope this second surgery helps Pat Angerer get over his broken foot better than the first one did. It was tough to watch him play through pain last year (especially because I have a broken foot that never healed correctly). When he's healthy, he's a real asset to the defense.

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Keep in mind when you're wondering who the Colts will sign in free agency is that player movement is not a simple process. Player usually need a reason or reasons to move, among them:

A big raise
This is very important, and with good players usually only happens when their original team finds itself in salary cap trouble.

Role on team
Nobody wants to go from star to spare part, but they love going the other way. Similarly, if a player is vital to a team, they will work harder to acquire or retain him.

A better team
Football players hate to lose and can usually tell if management isn't going to get them to the promised land soon.

Suitability
A player may want to move to a team that plays a scheme or a philosophy they feel well-suited to.

A better city
It's not as profound in football as it is in basketball or even baseball, but the chance for a young man to move from Cleveland to Miami is pretty strong. Some players want to get closer to home, others want excitement, still others want peace and quiet.

Familiarity
Sometimes a player may want to be reunited with a former coach or teammate.

I always apply those criteria to any potential free agent signee. Let's take Ryan Clady and Paul Kruger as examples.

A big raise
Clady: No, the Broncos are not in salary-cap trouble, and may even franchise him to keep him. Kruger: The Ravens aren't in desperate cap trouble yet, but will have to re-sign quarterback Joe Flacco and soon might be. The Colts could easily offer him more money than the Ravens could afford.

Role on team
Clady: Peyton Manning's blindside protector is no less an honor than Andrew Luck's blindside protector. The Broncos would be in big trouble if he left. Kruger: He would essentially have the same role on either the Ravens or the Colts. He could, however, be effectively replaced by 2012 second-rounder Courtney Upshaw in Baltimore.

A better team
Clady: the Broncos are very good and still improving. Kruger: The Ravens won the Super Bowl.

Suitability
Clady: He could play in any scheme. Kruger: Both defenses are essentially the same.

A better city
Clady: He's an easygoing California guy who seems to enjoy Denver, the team that drafted him. Kruger: Originally from Idaho and into outdoor sports, Kruger would probably not be swayed by moving to Indiana.

Familiarity
Clady: No real ties to Indy. Kruger: Would be reunited with several old coaches and players on the Colts.

So you can see why it's far more likely that the Colts could sign a guy like Kruger than a guy like Clady.

1 comment:

Roy said...

I am not sure about Kruger. I always am slightly suspicious of guys who have breakout seasons in contract years.

Clady would be too much to hope for.