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2011-11-07T18:42:00.001-05:00

Shuffling the PS

2011-09-29T19:08:00.006-04:00

The roster shuffling continued all the way down to the practice squad. Out are Mike Hartline – a quarterback who really needs time to develop, which the Colts don’t have – and linebacker Caleb Campbell – the soldier everyone wanted to see succeed. And in are Cal wide receiver Jeremy Ross and guard Matt Murphy.

The book on Ross is that he’s a great athlete who really hasn’t translated it to the field. The primary culprits are his hands (he’s a double catcher) and, to little surprise, his routes. More impressive, though, are his skills as a returner, which may come into use now that Joe Lefeged may be starting at safety. His career numbers at Cal were 57-764-3 (13.41) receiving, 25-201-2 (8.04) rushing, 41-851-0 (20.76) kick returns and 31-471-1 (15.19) punt returns. Signed by the Patriots, he looked overwhelmed as a receiver (2-6-0 on five targets), but pretty good returning kicks (3-68-0) and especially punts (4-37-0 with no fair catches). The kid can obviously run and jump, but can he catch?

His numbers (all from his pro day):

Height: 5117, Weight: 209, 10-yard dash: 1.50, 20-yard dash: 2.53, 40-yard dash: 4.44, Bench press: 22pd, Vertical jump: 39.0, High jump: 9’7, 20-yard shuttle: 4.19, 3-cone drill: 7.20

Nice kid, well spoken, has a degree from Cal.

Murphy was a four-year left tackle and team captain at UNLV and had athleticism a lot of teams liked but didn’t draft. Short for the position, most teams projected him inside at guard or perhaps even center. He signed with the Falcons, but didn’t show enough as a run blocker to make the team. With solid technique, he could develop into a player – he certainly has the drive. But he could stand to add more muscle.

His numbers (all from his pro day):

Height: 6037, Weight: 304, 10-yard dash: 1.82, 20-yard dash: 3.00, 40-yard dash: 5.14, Bench press: 25pd, Vertical jump: 33.0, High jump: 9’4, 20-yard shuttle: 4.73, 3-cone drill: 7.56

Three out, three in ... wait, Tryon?

2011-09-29T10:27:00.002-04:00

Okay, so we have Gary Brackett, Melvin Bullitt and Justin Tryon out, while Dan Orlovsky, AJ Edds and Jermale Hines are all in. I already spoke about Orlovsky, so here’s some info on Edds and Hines.

Lots of people were excited about Edds before the 2010 draft after a great career alongside Pat Angerer at Iowa, saying he looked like a potential starter down the road. But it didn’t work out with either the Dolphins, who picked him in the fourth round but gave up on him, or the Patriots. Edds didn’t play badly, just wasn’t spectacular.

Granted, both the Fish and the Pats ask their outside linebackers than the Colts do, but Edds needs significant improvement at play recognition before he can play for anyone on defense in the NFL. Right now, he’s an extra body/special teamer, but he could start showing up on defense if injuries mount.

His combine/pro day numbers:

Height: 6035, Weight: 246, 10-yard dash: 1.60c/1.63pd, 20-yard dash: 2.64c/2.75pd, 40-yard dash: 4.62c/4.67pd, Bench press: 16c/18pd, Vertical jump: 33.0c/35.5pd, High jump: 9’9c/10’0pd, 20-yard shuttle: 4.28c/4.41pd, 3-cone drill: 7.19c/7.40pd

Also to note – Edds is a Greenwood, Indiana, native and pronounces his last name as though it rhymes with “seeds.”

Hines played both free and strong safety at the Ohio State University and was a fifth-round pick of the Rams. They cut him after he failed to play a down in their first three games. The book on him is that he’s very Bullitt-like, playing more like a linebacker than a true safety. He’s not quick in zone coverage and just not at all suited to man. That makes me think he’s headed toward special teams and not much more.

His combine/pro day numbers (which are remarkably similar to Edds’):

Height: 6011, Weight: 219, 10-yard dash: 1.62c/1.56pd, 20-yard dash: 2.63c/2.63pd, 40-yard dash: 4.61c/4.59pd, Bench press: 19c/--pd, Vertical jump: 31.0c/--pd, High jump: --c/9’6pd, 20-yard shuttle: 4.21c/--pd, 3-cone drill: 6.90c/--pd

Brackett and Bullitt went IR for obvious reasons. Brackett’s effectiveness has been flagging in recent years and the Colts are set and satisfied with Angerer as their Mike for years to come. With a contract calling for $5 million next year and $6.6 million for 2013 and again in 2014, I think it’s safe to say we have seen the last of the man from Rutgers in a Colts’ uniform. Bullitt demanded a long-term contract in the offseason, got a three-year deal, played very poorly and could also be done in Indy. I don’t have the details of his contract handy, but I’m pretty sure cutting him after the season would not cripple the team.

As for Tryon, who knows? He didn’t make much money, played well when he got a chance and they traded to get him in the first place. There’s a Twitter controversy brewing, but it’s all just so much political-speak, I can’t be bothered to follow it. I think his absence weakens the team – unless there’s something we’re not being told.

Oh, and Bob Sanders is on IR again. Looks like he's about done.

With Joe Pisarcik retired, Colts settle for Dan Orlovsky

2011-09-28T10:12:00.002-04:00

It’s not too surprising the Colts re-signed Dan Orlovsky in the wake of Kerry Collins’ injury, but what I found interesting was the fact that they made him compete against ex-Chief Brodie Croyle for the contract. Croyle is definitely a better pure passer than Orlovsky and probably a more able field general, but his Bob Sanders-like history of injuries and abject unfamiliarity with the Colts’ offense would seem to make his a very, very long shot at best. It doesn’t show much confidence in Dan the Would-be Man.

But why should they have much confidence in him? Weak-armed (though generally accurate on short passes), Orlovsky is not a quick decision maker, can’t make time for himself in the pocket and doesn’t seem to inspire his teammates. Kicking around the league since 2005, Orlovsky has played in 13 games, starting seven and recording a perfect 0-7 record. His actual passing stats haven’t been terrible (272-150-1,679-8-8/71.2), but that has been inflated by throwing mainly safe, short and ultimately ineffective passes. Do I even have to bring up the Jaren Allen incident?

In preseason, the Colts gave Orlovsky every opportunity to wrest the pseudo-starting job away from Curtis Painter. But in 54 attempts, he completed just 25 and played so well they signed Collins, named Painter the No. 2 guy and stashed young Brian Hartline (no great shakes as a prospect himself) on the practice squad, letting Orlovsky walk.

Kind of makes you wonder what Nate Davis is up to these days.

Some thoughts after the Steelers game

2011-09-27T15:21:00.008-04:00

• Yes, Curtis Painter did look marginally better than Kerry Collins. But that’s like comparing sewage systems in war-torn developing nations. Jim Irsay said not to expect to see Peyton Manning this season; then clarified, tweeting that he’s still holding out hope and that’s why Manning’s not on the IR. I’d like to reiterate my opinion that he should be on the retired list.

• Against the Steelers was the best I have ever seen Joseph Addai play. He did his best to pull the offense behind him, and nearly pulled out a win. Of course, he still didn’t break anything longer than 11 yards and wasn’t really part of the passing game. But I did notice that they used him on short yardage, which is sort of an anti-endorsement for Delone Carter, who was supposed to take that role. Still no carries for Godamnit Donald, but he did look awful on special teams, if that counts.

• Did you see how Pierre Garçon clicked with Painter once he came in? I thought it was interesting that Reggie Wayne was a big Painter supporter earlier, and now it seems Garçon is on board as well. Austin Collie still doesn’t look back to normal to me. The tight ends looked great as blockers, less so as receivers.

• I thought the o-line improved. The Steelers threw everything at them and they did a decent job in pass pro. And they are much better than last year’s unit at run blocking. Look at it this way, Anthony Castonzo can learn to be a better pass blocker, but Charlie Johnson and Co. will never get more sand in their pants as run blockers. I certainly don’t miss Kyle DeVan, who was pressed into started duty for the Eagles against the Giants and looked totally overwhelmed. When it came to the Steelers game, veteran center Jeff Saturday – that master of leverage and angles – in particular looked like a monster. And he was facing Casey Hampton.

• Maybe it was because he was facing Jonathan Scott, but Dwight Freeney looked phenomenal. And Robert Mathis also had a good day as a rusher, facing rookie Marcus Gilbert. I just hope that stupid mega-stunt is put to rest. It takes far too long to develop. The rest of the D-line? Drake Nevis looked quick, but not all that strong. Eric Foster did nothing good that I noticed. Props to Jamaal Anderson for breaking tackles, though. He looked like a tight end.

• Love, love, love Pat Angerer. He still falls for even the simplest offensive rouses, but is everywhere and knows how to tackle. I have to praise his pal Kavell Conner as well. I’ve always liked him as a chase guy, but he showed a little forward momentum against the Steelers as well. If only his coverage would improve. Some Colts fans think he’s just keeping the seat warm until Ernie Sims comes back from injury, but I’m not sure if Sims would be an upgrade. From what I've seen, he's more name than game.

• As is well known, David Caldwell was horribly burned on Mike Wallace’s long TD, and really didn’t look all that good in any aspect of the game. He started in place of injured safety Melvin Bullitt, but was outplayed by rookie free agent Joe Lefeged, who has also earned a spot as the team’s primary kick returner. Still not sure why Justin Tryon and Kevin Thomas are not playing.

• Pat McAfee has ridiculous leg power, ridiculous.

Another in our rare and occasional installments of ColtPlay

2011-09-21T16:20:00.002-04:00

You have probably noticed that I take long hiatuses from ColtPlay for time to time. There are three primary reasons for this: a) As a full-time dad, author and freelancer, I’m a busy guy and can’t devote too much time to things that don’t help the kids, sell books or make money; b) the other Colts-related blogs (like StampedeBlue) do a great job of coverage; and c) the Bill Polian-Peyton Manning Colts have been kind of boring to talk about. The lockout certainly didn’t help, either.

But now that the players are back and the Colts suck and Manning is out and Polian is under fire, I may just tap out a few more words.

Here are some things I think:

• Manning should retire. Football is football, your neck is your neck. It’s not worth risking life in a wheelchair for another Super Bowl. I know every NFL player does that on every play, but their risk is actually statistically quite slight. Manning’s isn’t any longer.

• Of course Anthony Castonzo is having trouble with speed rushers. He is a rookie who had his learning curve disrupted by the lockout. I still think he blossoms into a top-of-the-line left tackle. Jeff Linkenbach on the other side is a different story.

• Austin Collie had the best hands in the NFL before his concussion problems. This year, he has caught three of the 13 passes headed his way. Sure, Kerry Collins is no Manning, but 23.07 percent is ridiculous compared to his previous standards.

• Newcomer of the year so far? Jamaal Anderson. The former first rounder who couldn’t catch a break in Atlanta is looking very much like a solid two-way defender for the Colts.

• I’m not sure Gary Brackett is the Colts’ best middle linebacker anymore.

• Melvin Bullitt is awful in coverage – why am I the only Colts fan who can admit that?

• Stevie Brown, the latest signee, is a box safety with limited coverage skills. Just like Bullitt. They cut rookie halfback Darren Evans to sign him. Evans was inactive for both of the first two games and now finds himself on the practice squad.

Crystal ballin'

2011-05-18T21:38:00.006-04:00

My guesses at who’ll start at which positions for the Colts on opening day in 2011. That is, if the season ever starts (and, of course, barring injury).

QB Peyton Manning

Sure he’s a free agent. And I’m a soccer fan.

RB Joseph Addai

But he’s just keeping the seat warm; Delone Carter will take over as the lead back before too long

WR1/SE Reggie Wayne

Reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated

WR2/FL Pierre Garçon

Should bounce back after mildly disappointing 2010 season

WR3/SB Austin Collie

If he’s healthy he’s a major weapon – if not, look for Blair White to leapfrog Anthony Gonzalez for this spot

TE Dallas Clark

No question, even though Jacob Tamme was very impressive filling in last season

H-B/FB Brody Eldridge

I’m sure lots of people would like to see Tamme here, but with all the questions on the offensive line, the team needs blocking more than yet another short- to medium-range receiver

LT Anthony Castonzo

He’s everything you think he is, but rookie tackles almost always struggle at first

LG Charlie Johnson

Back at his natural position, Charlie helps out Castonzo

C Jeff Saturday

One last hurrah before this position turns to chaos

RG Ben Ijalana

This could just be an audition for his future at tackle, or it could be his home in the NFL

RT Jeff Linkenbach (above)

Forget his horrible games at guard, he graded out as the Colts’ best tackle in 2010 in my book

RDE Dwight Freeney

Doesn’t appear to be slowing down

RDT Drake Nevis

Going out on a limb here as it usually takes rookie defensive tackles a while to get their feet wet, but the Colts seem fed up with the alternatives – Anthony Johnson, Daniel Muir and Eric Foster

LDT Fili Moala

Looks like he gets it after a pretty good second season

LDE Robert Mathis

See RDE

RLB Clint Session

This spot is conditional; even if Session re-signs, he’ll have to fight off hard-charging soph Kavell Conner

MLB Gary Brackett

One more season before he makes way for Pat Angerer

LLB Pat Angerer

The future in the middle is too good to keep off the field now

RCB Jerraud Powers

A proven commodity

LCB Kelvin Hayden

Gets No. 1 spot on rep, previous seasons but could find himself in trouble if he falters or gets hurt

3rdCB Justin Tryon

Excellent but undersized cover man should excel against slots

SS Melvin Bullitt

He’s not the obvious answer everyone thinks he is – even if he re-signs, he’ll have to fight off youngsters David Caldwell and Brandon King

FS Antoine Bethea

Ever the stalwart

Armyoftwoairsoft said: “Moore always reminded me of the grand old guy who everybody loved too much to tell that he was repeating the same stories. Peyton has absorbed all of Moore’s offense and will have enough clout to keep the parts that he likes. Time for some new ideas.”

I could not agree more.

Mrcrayz888 said: ‘Moore’s offense hasn't been able to operate effectively in the past few years because of a lack of running game threat and a lack of a down-field threat (Harrison's fall off, Garçon’s shoddy hands, lack of pass pro time). Hopefully, with increased talent along the O-line we’ll see some of that come back. Got a few ideas of possible write-ups since we’re in lock-out mode. Love your analysis! Mike Pollak – chances he’s a better NFL OC than he's been at OG? Jacques McClendon – chances he challenges for a starting OG spot this season, or did that go out the window with the drafting of Ijalana? Jaimie Thomas – in the mix at OG or failed project? Joe Reitz – activated late because they believe in his talent or just cause they wanted another healthy OT (even though Link and Toudouze clearly were there for a reason)?”

1) Pollak at center? Yeah, that was his college position, but he has not shown enough functional strength to be a player at any o-line position. Maybe we’ll see something this season, but it looks like the clock is running out on him.

2) Ijalana’s presence certainly makes things tougher for McClendon et al, but don’t count him out. He played fairly well as a short-yardage tight end last season. The problem with McClendon is that he’s slow footed and may never be an NFL quality pass blocker at any position. Ijalana is a rookie from a relatively small school and only ever played tackle in college. If he’s not ready, and Charlie isn’t signed it’s not out of the question McClendon could have a bigger role – even as a short-term starter.

3) Thomas is a very similar player to McClendon, maybe a bit quicker but not as strong. He’s farther back experience-wise, though, so it’ll be harder for him to make a starting bid.

4) Bit of both with Reitz. They needed any warm body at OT, but they also liked him, having scouted him before the draft. He’s an athlete to be sure, but is he a football player? That remains to be seen, but it’ll be fun to watch him in camp.

No Moore of that guy

2011-05-14T20:31:00.001-04:00

Readers of ColtPlay and my previous Colt-oriented spoutings-off will know I’ve never been aTom Moore guy. I always found his offenses predictable, archaic and prone to break down in pressure situations. The fact is, the Colts rode Peyton Manning’s right arm since the day he pulled a jersey over his head and in all likelihood would have put up similar, if not better, numbers in any modern(-ish) offensive scheme.

People say Moore is a great guy; I don’t doubt it, and I wish him the best. But I’m also glad there’s a chance that the new offensive co-ordinator will tailor the attack to his personnel better, adjust when unforeseen circumstances (like Manning’s aching bursa sac or Tony Ugoh’s abject, almost historic, failure at left tackle) affect the personnel, bring some unpredictability to the attack and have a short-yardage and goal-line package that doesn’t look like Mouse Davis’Rick Astley-era run-and-shoot.

Clyde Christensen is his replacement. I mean, Christensen was officially the OC in 2010, but it was still Moore’s offense. Expect changes to be slight again this year as the Colts take great pride in continuity and have no desire to alienate their veterans with a whole new system.

Christenson’s only other experience as the top offensive guy happened in 2001 when he was OC under Tony Dungy in Tampa. The Bucs went 9-7 and had the 15th-ranked offense. It was kind of a hard-luck season with a past-his-prime "bad" Brad Johnson (who was never that great anyway) at quarterback. Halfback Warrick Dunn suffered an injury that robbed him, and the running game, of any quickness. But Christensen, to his credit, did adjust his offense to exploit the talents of Mike Alstott, an altogether very different back, going 7-4 after a 2-3 start. Although the Bucs went 12-4 and won the Super Bowl the next season under Jon Gruden’s staff, it should be noted that the offense (under Bill Muir, who was at one point a Coltsdefensive coordinator) actually fell statistically and finished 18th in the league.

It was an offense that would not be unfamiliar to Colts fans with many multiple-receiver and two-tight end formations, but it was also one that saw the use of an actually fullback (Jameel Cook, memba him?) and the odd trick play.

So what do I see in 2011? More of the same basic Moore-style offense, but perhaps an added ability to bring different looks in situations that require them, and maybe a surprise or two.

***

So Drake Nevis says he weighs 308. Great. But don’t expect him to play any differently than he did at LSU. And the same reasons he was 294 at the Combine will make him 294 on game day. Heck, I thought he’d be closer to 285.

***

Ben Ijalana said that the Colts spoke with him about playing guard as a rookie. Many would assume that it means they will be giving Ryan Diem one last shot, so that the Colts would in all likelihood line up Diem-Ijalana-Saturday-Charlie-Castonzo to make a veteran-rookie sandwich. Believe all the hype about Castonzo, but he’ll need help as a rookie (they all do), so expect to seeBrody Eldridge play a lot of snaps, particularly as the big rook gets his feet wet.

But it may not actually be Diem on the right side. Jeff Linkenbach had some tough times as a rookie last year – particularly when he started at right guard against the Bengals in Week 10 – but when he played tackle, he did not do badly at all. I’d direct all doubters to Week 14 against the Titans when he started at left tackle and played much better than Charlie ever did at that position, and especially the Wild Card loss to the Jets. You may not want to look at the game tape again, but in that game, Linkenbach started at right tackle and, for my money, graded out as the Colts best o-lineman.

***

Chris Rucker is staying at corner. I thought so.

Is there a safety in these numbers?

2011-05-10T17:53:00.002-04:00

Every Colts fan can recall the horror they felt when they saw Aaron Francisco run out there to start the playoff game against the Jets. It’s unlikely that will ever occur again, but who will be the Colts’ strong safety next season? Bob Sanders is a Charger, Melvin Bullitt is unsigned, Jamie Silva is unsigned and on crutches and the draft didn’t bring in any obvious contenders. Here’s a look at the men who would be the Colts’ strong safety.

23 Al Afalava

Height: 5107, weight: 207, 40-yard dash: 4.47, 20-yard dash: 2.57, 10-yard dash: 1.52, Bench press: 25, vertical jump: 40, long jump: 10’5, shuttle: 4.07, three-cone: 6.60

2010 stats: 3 special-teams tackles, 1 special-teams assist in four games with the Colts

Comments: A former sixth-round draft pick of the Bears, Afalava started a few games there but was cut and became a Colt. Considered a big run stopper who has problems with coverage, he is better known as a special teamer than a safety.

Did he know the shame of being on the roster when the Colts started Aaron Francisco against the Jets?: Yes

Contract status: Unsigned

Chance of starting for the Colts on Sept. 11th: Slim

30 David Caldwell

Height: 5105, weight: 212, 40-yard dash: 4.58, 20-yard dash: 2.60, 10-yard dash: 1.52, Bench press: 24, vertical jump: 39 1/2, long jump: 10’10, shuttle: 4.07, three-cone: 6.69

2010 stats: None (no preseason stats)

Comments: This promising small school prospect missed his entire rookie season to injury. He certainly has the athleticism to make noise at the position, and his college production was phenomenal.

Did he know the shame of being on the roster when the Colts started Aaron Francisco against the Jets?: No

Contract status: Signed through 2012

Chance of starting for the Colts on Sept. 11th: Not bad

33 Melvin Bullitt

Height: 6011, weight: 201, 40-yard dash: 4.48, 20-yard dash: 2.55, 10-yard dash: 1.50, Bench press: 15, vertical jump: 40 1/2, long jump: 10’5, shuttle: 3.97, three-cone: 6.90

2010 stats: 10 tackles, 3 assists, 1 special-teams tackle, 1-0-0 interception, 1 pass defensed, 1 special-teams assist in four games/three starts with the Colts

Comments: A former college linebacker and undrafted free agent, Bullitt has been pressed into starting duty for long stretches due to the spotty durability of Bob Sanders. While his six interceptions in 48 career games has made him a favorite among Colts fans, he’s far from an elite player in either pass defense or run stopping. His demands for a long-term contract are unlikely to have endeared him to management, but his career with the Colts makes him the favorite to start.

Did he know the shame of being on the roster when the Colts started Aaron Francisco against the Jets?: No

Contract status: Unsigned

Chance of starting for the Colts on Sept. 11th: Likely

35 Ken Hamlin

Height: 6024, weight: 209, 40-yard dash: 4.61, 20-yard dash: 2.71, 10-yard dash: 1.59, Bench press: 16, vertical jump: 33, long jump: 9’9, shuttle: 3.92, three-cone: 6.80

2010 stats: 1 tackle, 2 assists, 1-0-0 interception, 1-0-0 fumble recovery in seven games with the Ravens, no stats in two games with the Colts

Comments: A former second-round pick and Pro Bowler, Hamlin is at the very end of a career marred and shorted by severe injuries including a fractured skull. Although his intellect and experience put him in the right place to make a play when he can get there, his speed is a thing of the past and any lengthy amount of playing time would expose him as a liability, especially in coverage.

Did he know the shame of being on the roster when the Colts started Aaron Francisco against the Jets?: Yes

Contract status: Unsigned

Chance of starting for the Colts on Sept. 11th: Very slim

37 Brandon King

Height: 5096, weight: 195, 40-yard dash: 4.59, 20-yard dash: 2.62, 10-yard dash: 1.59, Bench press: 23, vertical jump: 36, long jump: 9’11, shuttle: 4.28, three-cone: 6.87

2010 stats: 1 special-teams tackle in four games with the Colts

Comments: An undrafted cornerback who played one year of safety in college, the Colts moved him back to safety out of necessity when injuries piled up. There was a lot of hype early in the season about him potentially starting for the Colts at safety after a fairly impressive preseason, but he played almost entirely on special teams before going on injured reserve.

Did he know the shame of being on the roster when the Colts started Aaron Francisco against the Jets?: No

Contract status: Signed through 2012

Chance of starting for the Colts on Sept. 11th: Not bad

38 Mike Newton

Height: 5101, weight: 197, 40-yard dash: 4.48, 20-yard dash: 2.55, 10-yard dash: 1.50, Bench press: 9, vertical jump: 41, long jump: 10’0, shuttle: 4.09, three-cone: 6.94

2010 stats: 1 assist, 3 special-teams tackles, 1 special-teams assist in 12 games with the Colts

Comments: A very good athlete who was very raw after playing in the Mid-American conference, Newton played primarily on special teams.

Did he know the shame of being on the roster when the Colts started Aaron Francisco against the Jets?: Yes

Contract status: Unsigned

Chance of starting for the Colts on Sept. 11th: Slim

40 Jamie Silva

Height: 5106, weight: 204, 40-yard dash: 4.79, 20-yard dash: 2.72, 10-yard dash: 1.58, Bench press: DNP, vertical jump: 32, long jump: 9’0, shuttle: 4.50, three-cone: 6.86

2010 stats: None

Comments: The book on Silva was that he was a great college player who was just too slow for the NFL. But in limited appearances on both special teams and defense, he has graded out very well. Still, depending on him for extended periods, let alone as a starter, is inviting disaster. Besides, his rehab is not going well and it’s unlikely he would be available on Opening Day.

Did he know the shame of being on the roster when the Colts started Aaron Francisco against the Jets?:

Contract status: Unsigned

Chance of starting for the Colts on Sept. 11th: Very slim

49 Chip Vaughn

Height: 6013, weight: 221, 40-yard dash: 4.42, 20-yard dash: 2.57, 10-yard dash: 1.49, Bench press: 21, vertical jump: 37, long jump: 10’5, shuttle: 4.12, three-cone: 7.03

2010 stats: 1 special-teams tackle in three games with the Colts

Comments: Much-heralded as a big-play guy at Wake Forest, Vaughn was drafted by the Saints in the fourth round of the 2009 draft. He missed his rookie season due to injury and was a final cut the following season. He was picked up and dropped by the Eagles before landing with the Colts and playing a little bit on special teams. The book on him is that he’s a good run stuffer, but not much of a coverage guy and one who can be faked easily.

Did he know the shame of being on the roster when the Colts started Aaron Francisco against the Jets?:

Contract status: Signed though 2011

Chance of starting for the Colts on Sept. 11th: Slim

• “Bill Polian” asked my opinion of Wisconsin QB Scott Tolzien, indicating he believed him to be a better prospect than Curtis Painter. Well, to tell the truth Tolzein reminds me of the man Painter replaced, fellow Wisconsin alum Jim Sorgi. Smart but athletically limited, Tolzein looks like a career backup in the NFL. But that, of course, means I think he’s already way ahead of Painter.

• Blue MD suggested some undrafted free agents, here are my takes on them:

DeAndre McDaniel SS Clemson: Interesting prospect, there are serious holes in his game but there’s also a lot to work with. But keep in mind that his arrest and suspension came from beating up his girlfriend, not backing into a parked car in a 7-11 parking lot. His 4.67 forty didn’t impress me either. I’d probably pass on him.

Deunta Williams FS North Carolina: A hot-and-cold player who can hit and cover, but makes some bad reads, takes some poor angles and can be fooled. With good coaching he might blossom. His suspension doesn’t bother me (he seems like a decent kid), but his leg injury sure does. Could be a guy you stash on the practice squad if his health checks out.

Dom DeCicco SS Pittsburgh: Great athlete, tough guy, big hitter but is absolutely lost in coverage. He could, as Blue MD suggests be converted to a weakside ’backer, but looks more like a career special teamer and blitz/short-yardage specialist. Worth a look? Sure. Worth a roster spot? I don’t know.

Cedric Thornton DT Southern Arkansas: To tell you the truth, I have seen very little of this guy. He was tremendous in 2009, but was limited by injuries and constant double-teaming in 2010. He’s very raw, even when you consider him a D2 prospect, but has potential. Looks like another practice squad guy you hope develops.

Weslye Saunders TE South Carolina: No thanks, kid’s a brat, won’t work out with the Colts.

I'm a stat geek and proud of it

2011-05-06T17:36:00.007-04:00

So Bill Polian is telling all us “stat geeks” that the Colts running game has been quietly effective. Uh huh. If that’s the case, then why did he spend two firsts, a fourth and a sixth on halfbacks and a first, three seconds (one of which cost a first), a fifth, two sixths and two sevenths on offensive linemen in the last five drafts when the defense has been pretty lacking in talent? I’m not even gonna get started on his pulling Dominic Rhodes out of whatever museum of tired old halfbacks he was on display in. I get his point that people are misinterpreting the stats and that the running game is just there to set up and augment the run – but it’s not doing it nearly as well as it should.

• Speaking of halfbacks, it’s a position that seems to be a flux. I know the Colts will invite Joseph Addai back, but there is no way they will offer him a long-term contract. Not only is he not worth it, but they just don’t do that. His return in 2011 is i think better than 50-50, and the longer the lockout goes on the better it is, but I think you won’t see him in Indy in 2012 or beyond. Same with dammit Donald Brown. Not only has he been a spectacular failure as a blocker, but he hasn’t done much as a runner. He’s a pretty decent receiver, but adds nothing as a return man. He has one year to turn it around, but I don’t see it happening. After that, there’s Mike Hart, a free agent unlikely to be re-signed, Javarris James, a decent spare part, and Devin Moore, who is a halfback in name only (it would surprise me if this not-too-durable return specialist saw a dozen snaps on offense in any given season). Which means a lot is expected from fourth-round pick Delone Carter. I hope he’s up to it.

• That reminds me of my worries in the return game. The Colts tried a number of people at the position with little success. Moore and Justin Tryon returned kicks adequately, but neither was special, Moore doesn’t seem durable and Tryon will be busy as the Colts’ slot corner. On punts, the Colts used Jerraud Powers and Blair White with similarly unspectacular results. Powers is a starting corner and White, though sure handed, is no burner. The draft added no return prospects, so expect the Colts to shop for undrafted and street free agents. Recent rule changes have reduced the draft value of kick returners (but not punt returners), so there are more than a few available. Here are some I like:

Phillip Livas (left)

WR Louisiana Tech 5073/179/4.43

2010 return stats: 35-862-1 (24.63) on kicks, 12-186-1 (15.50) on punts

Career return stats: 107-2,758-4 (25.78) on kicks, 43-587-4 (13.65) on punts

Comment: A tiny slot receiver who will need to return kicks and/or punts to get a pay packet playing football, sees the end zone

Shaky Smithson

WR Utah 5110/202/4.65

2010 return stats: 21-507-0 (24.14) on kicks, 30-572-2 (19.07) on punts

Career return stats: 43-1,050-0 (24.42) on kicks, 43-695-2 (16.16) on punts

Comment: He’s not straight-line fast, but has electric moves and incredible balance. His forty time and lack of experience on offense kept him from being drafted.

Derrick Locke

HB Kentucky 5082/188/4.37

2010 return stats: 15-395-0 (26.33) on kicks, 1-8-0 (8.00) on punts

Career return stats: 54-1,464-2 (27.11) on kicks, 1-8-0 (8.00) on punts

Comment: Undersized and oft-injured halfback is a blazer who had a great deal of collegiate success returning kicks and should be able to handle punts.

Leon Berry

WR Mississippi State 6001/205/e4.52

2010 return stats: 14-375-1 (26.79) on kicks, 0-0-0 (0.00) on punts

Career return stats: 52-1,390-2 (26.73) on kicks, 9-69-0 (7.67) on punts

Comment: Limited receiving prospect, but a bona fide returner if he can stay healthy

Jock Sanders

WR West Virginia 5061/181/4.50

2010 return stats: 12-299-0 (24.92) on kicks, 8-86-0 (10.75) on punts

Career return stats: 22-515-0 (23.41) on kicks, 31-281-0 (9.06) on punts

Comment: Incredibly quick but tiny receiver will have to make his NFL living as a returner

Ricardo Lockette

WR Fort Valley State 6021/211/4.34

2010 return stats: 10-214-0 (21.40) on kicks, 0-0-0 (0.00) on punts

Career return stats: 18-436-1 (24.22) on kicks, 0-0-0 (0.00) on punts

Comment: Lightning-fast track star has little football experience and once tested positive for high testosterone levels

• Sports Illustrated’s Andrew Perloff predicts that the Colts will draft Miami safety Ray Ray Armstrong with the No. 25 pick in the 2012 first round. Makes sense. Playoff run, no Super Bowl. Desperately seeking a run stopper, and Armstrong looks to come out after his junior season.

• Day 1 offensive line? From right to left, my guess is Charlie-Ijalana-Saturday-DeVan-Castonzo. But Devan’s name is written in pencil. Lightly. And I have a back-up eraser.

• Everybody in the media loves the Colts’ draft class. That worries me.

• Mrcrayz888 points out that the Colts have lots of strong safety prospects under contract or a phone call away. He's right, of course, but I'm not sold on any of them.

Perception vs. reality

2011-05-03T14:28:00.002-04:00

Quarterback

What the media said: It’s time to find Peyton Manning’s replacement.

What happened: The Colts kicked the tires on some major prospects like Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick (remember, they had also worked out Mark Sanchez back in ’09), but didn’t enter the ridiculously inflated quarterback draft market. Rather than spend a high draft pick, the Colts went without.

What’s next: They’ll invite a camp arm or two, but they will have to survive with Curtis Painter as Manning’s backup for one more year, and find Manning’s heir apparent when he’s closer to necessary.

Runningback

What the media said: What? Joseph Addai, Donald Brown and Mike Hart? That’s enviable depth that is.

What happened: Actually, since both Addai and Hart are free agents and Brown sucks, this was a need position. The Colts drafted Syracuse’s Delone Carter in the fourth round.

What’s next: Now that I’m over my shock and childish rage that the Colts drafted Carter instead of a speed back, I’m pretty down with the plan. The Colts haven’t had a truly tough inside runner in years and Carter will change that. Though he offers almost no breakaway threat, I would be surprised if he ends up getting more carries than any other Colts back in 2011, even if Addai is re-signed. There’s a lot of BenJarvus Green-Ellis in this kid, the Colts just need a Danny Woodhead to go with him.

Receivers

What the media said: Reggie Wayne is ancient! Injuries! Contracts! Need this now!

What happened: In fact, the Colts are quite deep here, but could definitely have used a home run threat. None fell to them and other needs had to be filled, so it didn’t happen.

What’s next: The Colts go to war with Wayne, Pierre Garçon, Austin Collie, Blair White, Taj Smith and, perhaps, Anthony Gonzalez.

Tight ends

What the media said: Nothing much.

What happened: Nothing much.

What’s next: With star Dallas Clark returning, Jacob Tamme having emerged and Brody Eldridge having solidified the blocking role, the Colts are fine here for now.

Offensive line

What the media said: An upgrade here is necessary, but perhaps not as much as the defensive line.

What happened: The Colts saw sense and grabbed two potential Day 1 starters – Anthony Castonzo and Ben Ijalana – with their first two picks.

What’s next: It would be an incredible shock if Castonzo does not take over the left tackle spot immediately. Ijalana could start at right tackle or right guard, depending on the fate of Ryan Diem and where they want to put Charlie Johnson (if he re-signs). If everything falls into place, the Colts could be secure at four of five offensive line positions, whereas they were sure at only one heading into it. The remaining spot – probably right guard if Ijalana settles in at right tackle and Johnson at left guard – would be an interesting fight between Jacques McClendon, Mike Pollak, Kyle DeVan, Jamey Richard, Jamie Thomas, Jeff Linkenbach, Mike Tepper and potentially others.

Defensive line

What the media said: Get us a fat dude! Any fat dude! Preferably in the first two picks.

What happened: The Colts actually looked at some big guys before the draft, but ultimately found them not worth the picks they would require. Instead, they drafted undersized overachiever Drake Nevis in the third round.

What’s next: My gut says that Nevis is a better overall prospect than Fili Moala was, but like Moala, he will need a year to get acquainted with the system. Until then, look for the Colts to rotate him in with Mookie Johnson, Daniel Muir and perhaps DeMario Pressley.

Linebackers

What the media said: Some made pleas for linebacking help, few took them seriously

What happened: Not much.

What’s next: Looks like Clint Session will return, which would make Pat Angerer, Kavell Connor and Phillip Wheeler fight for the strongside spot if Gary Brackett returns in the middle. Otherwise, Angerer is the middle man.

Cornerbacks

What the media said: Well, as this is a position on defense, many commentators believed the Colts needed a player here.

What happened: The Colts are actually fairly deep at corner, but added Chris L Rucker in the sixth because his upside was just too great to pass up.

What’s next: There are rumors that Rucker could wind up at safety, a position of greater need, but I’ll believe that when I see it. Instead I think he starts at the bottom and works his way up at corner.

Safeties

What the media said: Wait, Bob Sanders is gone? It’s an emergency!

What happened: The Colts looked at a few safeties, but didn’t draft any.

What’s next: It looks like re-signing Melvin Bullitt is more of a priority than it was pre-draft. That is, unless Mike Newton is way better than I think he is.

Carter, Rucker and the whole thing

2011-04-30T18:16:00.005-04:00

As delighted as I was with the first three Colts picks, I’m a little less so with the other two.

While they definitely needed a halfback, I’m pretty sure Delone Carter is the wrong one. Not that he’s a bad back, not at all – he runs tough, has a low center of gravity, can catch and block. But he’s one of those one-speed guys who lack an extra gear. Okay, enough with the hoary football clichés, my problem with Carter is that he’s just more of the same. All the backs the Colts have had since Edgerrin James’ ACL injury have all been the same guy with varying degrees of this or that quality. But all of them have lacked that kind of spark, the magic that stops defenders in their cleats and gives defensive coordinators nightmares. Wait, more clichés? Yes, but they are apt. Carter will help carry the load, but he won’t be special, he won’t return kicks with great aplomb and he won’t make the Colts’ offense any more exciting – more efficient, perhaps, but not more exciting. Polian has got to realize that the model for the perfect halfback is not James Mungro.

I’m being unduly harsh, of course, but what bothers me is that there were so many speed/moves backs available, and now they have jobs elsewhere. I’m sure Carter will have a long and productive career in Indy, and he does have a rep as a strong between-the-tackles runner – they could definitely use that. Critics have pointed out that he holds the ball in a strange way, but it didn’t lead to fumbling at Syracuse, so I doubt it will in the NFL.

The numbers:

Height: 5085, Weight: 222, 10-yard dash: 1.54 (1.51 at pro day), 20-yard dash: 2.58 (2.53 at pro day), 40-yard dash: 4.54 (4.46 at pro day), Bench press: 27, Vertical jump: 37, Long jump: 10’0 (10’1 at pro day), Shuttle: 4.07, Three-cone: 6.92, Arm length: 31, Hand length: 9.5

The final pick was another good player who might get lost in the shuffle for the Colts, although there is an outside chance he could change positions. And – in a rarity for the Colts – he has serious character questions.

Chris L Rucker is a Michigan State cornerback who was once thought so highly of, he was projected by some as a second rounder. He certainly has the size and strength. He’s not quite smooth enough in coverage to be considered elite, but should be better than average in most situations, especially in the zone-friendly Colts defense. His real skills are in the initial jam, knocking receivers off their routes and tackling. Those abilities could translate well to safety, where the Colts needs are far more pressing than cornerback. More likely, though, Rucker will not play much on defense, at least at first, concentrating instead on special teams and getting better at whichever position they put him at.

I have seen Rucker a few time on tape and was impressed. Check out the Capital One Bowl, in which he spent much of his time isolated one-on-one against Julio Jones (the guy the Falcons traded two firsts, a second and two fourths to pick). Although Rucker was playing hurt, he limited Jones to three catches for 49 yards (only really getting beat once) in an incredibly lopsided affair in which the Tide rolled all over the Spartans.

Rucker’s problems with the law stem from a 2009 brawl that involved several Spartans’ players. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation with the proviso that he not consume alcohol. Less than a year later, he was arrested for DUI, and spent eight days in jail. If you read the official details of his arrest here and here, you get an idea of what happened that night, and Rucker comes off as not that bad a person. I’ve seen some people call him things like a “thug” online, but I’m not sure those two incidents indicate that he’s a bad guy. Of course, they don’t indicate he’s squeaky clean, either. I think he’s a pretty ordinary young man who made a couple of mistakes and is unlikely to repeat them. History shows us that neither Polian nor the Colts are at all interested in problem children, and I’m sure they did much more homework on him than most blog posters and forum commentators. Late note: I also find it interesting that, although Carter was charged with assault after punching out a student at an on-campus snowball fight, nobody called him a "thug" or "character risk."

Is Rucker a terrible pick? Certainly not. He’s a very talented player who can help on specials right away, and perhaps grow into a starting-quality defender. That’s not bad for a sixth rounder. But he’s not a true safety, certainly not the big bopper the Colts could use there, and he’s not a returner, which is a position they could also stand to upgrade.

The numbers:

Height: 6004, Weight: 195, 10-yard dash: 1.65, 20-yard dash: 2.68, 40-yard dash: 4.54, Bench press: 13, Vertical jump: 33.5, Long jump: 9’11, Shuttle: 4.35, Three-cone: 6.87, Arm length: 33, Hand length: 9

To sum it all up, I would have to say that I am more satisfied with this draft than any the Colts have had since 1999. Anthony Castonzo looks like a bastion of solidity at left tackle, Ben Ijalana should join him and start from Day 1 elsewhere on the line, while Drake Nevis should get some quality reps on the defensive line and contribute right away. There’s no question that the Colts needed all three of those guys. Carter is not my favorite halfback, but should help carry the load and get those tough yards. Rucker is a bit of a risk, but it’s hard not to like his upside.

Some things on my wish list did not get fulfilled – most notably, a starting quality strong safety, a young quarterback and a return specialist who can also make plays on offense – but it’s really hard to complain when you look at the Colts’ first three picks.

Nevis

2011-04-30T09:18:00.003-04:00

Come on, did any of you really think the Colts would draft a giant space-eating defensive tackle? Instead, Polian stuck to the plan and selected Drake Nevis, a defensive tackle who has everything you want, except size. And he won’t get any bigger. And that’s just about the scouting report on him. Great kid, motor’s always running, uses his hands well, splits double teams, disrupts offensive plans, moves well both forward and side-to-side and tackles well. The only problem, as you may already have realized, is that he’s not very tall, and not very heavy. Which prompts the question – will he be able to do in the NFL what he did in college? I think the answer is yes and no. He is likely to show flashes, even stretches, of brilliance but will also be overpowered, overwhelmed and engulfed at inopportune times.

The numbers:

Height: 6005, Weight: 294, 10-yard dash: 1.67, 20-yard dash: 2.85, 40-yard dash: 5.06, Bench press: 31, Vertical jump: 30.5, Long jump: 9’4, Shuttle: 4.65, Three-cone: 7.71, Arm length: 31.5, Hand length: 9.375

So what’s left? Without a fifth or seventh pick, the Colts should still be able to pick up a decent safety and an offensive spark. Only five safeties have been selected so far (unfortunately, one of them was Jaiquan Jarrett, who is now Eagles’ property). Some notables who remain include: Tyler Sash, Da’Norris Searcy, Shiloh Keo and DeAndre McDaniel. And there are tons and tons of speedy offensive players left, like Kendall Hunter, Taiwan Jones, Da’Rel Scott, Jacquizz Rodgers, Edmund Gates or Denarius Moore. Searcy and Jones would really put a nice pair of exclamation marks on an already promising draft crop. But this is Bill Polian pulling the strings, and he hasn't drafted anyone out of the blue yet, so the picks could just as likely be Keanemana Silva and Chad Spann.

Ijalana

2011-04-29T20:32:00.002-04:00

Wow. Again. I’m very impressed with the Colts for trading up, and agin they selected a very impressive player at a position of need. Ben Ijalana played left tackle in college, but because of his height (and now the presence of Anthony Castonzo on the roster) many are projecting him at guard. I see him more as a right tackle – I mean, he has 36-inch arms for Jiminy’s sake – with Charlie Johnson pushed inside to guard. Or it could go the other way, depending on Ijalana’s feet. The numbers:

Height: 6035, Weight: 317, 10-yard dash: 1.75, 20-yard dash: 2.93, 40-yard dash: 5.20, Bench Reps: DNP, Vertical jump: 25.5, Long jump: 8’9, Shuttle: 4.70, Three-cone: 7.75, Arm length: 36, Hand length: 10.5

The Colts are now minus a fifth rounder, but so what? Looks like they have two starters on the offensive line.

So what’s next? Safety? Receiver? Halfback? Defensive tackle? Quarterback? I’m thinking offensive gamebreaker. Jacquizz? Hunter? Jernigan?

Castonzo

2011-04-29T09:57:00.001-04:00

All I can say is wow. The Colts drafted the best lineman in the draft. Anthony Castonzo is a tailor-made left tackle, at No. 22. If you look at all my mocks, you'll see I had Derek Sherrod (basically a poor man's Castonzo) because I was sure the 6'7 Rhodes Scholar candidate would have been long gone. Note: Sherrod was later astutely snatched up by the Super Bowl-champion Packers ten picks later.

I don't have much but praise for the pick. Sure he could add some weight and strength, but he has gained 90 pounds in the last four years (and the strength that comes with it), so another 15 or so on his frame wouldn't hurt. He starts from Day 1 and protects Peyton Manning's blindside until he retires.

The numbers:

Height: 6070, Weight: 311, 10-yard dash: 1.80, 20-yard dash: 2.92, 40-yard dash: 5.21, Bench press: 28, Vertical jump: 29½ , Long Jump: 8’9, Shuttle: 4.40, Three-cone: 7.25, Arm length: 34.5, Hand length: 10.625

So now what? I think the next pick could be an offensive play maker (Jerrel Jernigan?), another offensive lineman (Ben Ijalana?), a safety (Tyler Sash) or a defensive tackle (Drake Nevis). I'm also still seriously under the belief that Ricky Stanzi will be wearing blue.

1 Carolina Cam Newton QB 6’5 248 Auburn

It kind of had to happen, it’s the kind of risk that you need to take to build a winner, I think he’ll succeed

2 Denver Von Miller OLB 6’3 246 Texas A&M

He’s undersized, but they need a pass-rush in the worst way and seem to be following the LeBeau plan, that’s smart

3 Buffalo Marcell Dareus DT 6’3 319 Alabama

No brainer, they suck against the run and Dareus had the talent to be the top pick

4 Cincinnati A.J. Green WR 6’4 207 Georgia

I guess they have an idea who’ll play QB there (I should have known Brown would never give in to Carson palmer’s pouting), and they need to clear out the old guard

5 Arizona Patrick Peterson CB 6’0 219 LSU

Again, I believe they have a plan at QB that I don’t know about; Peterson is a great value, but he’s not the sure-thing the media had represented him as; a tremendous athlete, but not a natural at the position like Joe Haden is

6 Atlanta Julio Jones WR 6’3 220 Alabama

I know, I know, they are following the Polian plan of overwhelming your opponents with offense, but their pass rush is weak and is Jones really worth two first, a second and two fourths?

7 San Francisco Aldon Smith DE 6’5 255 Missouri

Nothing against Smith, but the Harbaughs are playing to get a great pick next season

8 Tennessee Jake Locker QB 6’3 231 Washington

I could not have wished for anything better; Locker simply lacks the accuracy and drive to be a big winner in the NFL

9 Dallas Tyron Smith OT 6’5 307 Southern California

Everyone knew this was going to happen; good value starts on the right side while learning the game then moves to left

10 Jacksonville Blaine Gabbert QB 6’4 234 Missouri

I have no idea why he lasted this long and they were smart to trade up to get him as it only cost them their second; no, he’s not Sam Bradford, but he’s better than David Garrard and Jake Locker and, in all likelihood, Cam Newton

11 Houston J.J. Watt DE 6’6 285 Wisconsin

They need help all over the defense, so they took the most solid prospect, boring but astute

12 Minnesota Christian Ponder QB 6’2 229 Florida State

Nice pick if they design the offense to his abilities and it looks like they will with Bill Musgrave at the helm

13 Detroit Nick Fairley DT 6’5 314 Auburn

This is great, they need corners badly, but how do you block Suh, Fairley and Vanden Bosch?

14 St. Louis Robert Quinn DE 6’4 265 North Carolina

Nice pick to have fall in your lap; still need receivers badly

15 Miami Mike Pouncey OG 6’5 303 Florida

As predicted by most everyone, fills a need

16 Washington Ryan Kerrigan DE 6’4 267 Purdue

So many holes to fill, so they just got a nice player, trading down shows they had no faith in this year’s crop of QBs

17 New England Nate Solder OT 6’8 319 Colorado

Immense potential, but will take a while to develop – they have the time

18 San Diego Corey Liuget DT 6’2 298 Illinois

Ho hum, nice player, nice pick

19 New York Giants Prince Amukamara CB 6’0 206 Nebraska

What a gift, he’s not really what they needed most, but how do you pass him up? More NFL-ready than Peterson in my opinion

20 Tampa Bay Adrian Clayborn DE 6’3 281 Iowa

We all knew they were drafting an end, Clayborn could be the piece that pushes them into the NFL’s elite

21 Cleveland Phil Taylor DT 6’4 355 Baylor

Smart trade, smart pick; the Browns are rebuilding and can use the extra picks, Taylor lines up next to Atyba Rubin inside to form a huge wall; receivers, ends come later

22 Indianapolis Anthony Castonzo OT 6’7 311 Boston College 1

Just what they needed

23 Philadelphia Danny Watkins OG 6’3 310 Baylor

Watkins represents a good choice anywhere he goes

24 New Orleans Cameron Jordan DE 6’4 287 California

Nice pick, but I think a speedier guy would have helped more (if there was one available)

25 Seattle James Carpenter OT 6’5 300 Alabama

They see something in him I don’t

26 Kansas City Jon Baldwin WR 6’5 230 Pittsburgh

A physical presence sure, but a No. 1 receiver? Maybe in the far off future

27 Baltimore Jimmy Smith CB 6’2 211 Colorado

Great player, but a character risk

28 New Orleans Mark Ingram HB 5’9 215 Alabama

29 Chicago Gabe Carimi OT 6’7 314 Wisconsin

They needed o-line help and he was the best of what was left

30 New York Jets Muhammad Wilkerson DT 6’5 300 Temple

Not really bulky enough to be a nose, and what they really needed was rush backers

31 Pittsburgh Cameron Heyward DE 6’5 294 Ohio State

They lucked out

32 Green Bay Derek Sherrod OT 6’5 321 Mississippi State

As did they

Just a few hours now

2011-04-28T17:25:00.004-04:00

A look at a few last-minute prospects who have spoken with the Colts (mostly small schoolers)

Anthony Bratton SS Delaware

6001/213 Ten: 1.52 Twenty: 2.62 Forty: 4.50 Bench: 15 Vertical: 37 Long jump: 10’5 Shuttle: 4.09 Three-cone: 6.71

2011 stats: 55 tackles, 41 assists, 3-10 tackles for loss, 0.5-7 sacks, 2-3-0 interceptions, 12 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles

Likely draft round: UDFA

Comment: Tough safety who’s much better going forward than back; troubles with coverage could lead to a special-teams-only career, but he has the skills and attitude to succeed there – has played some wide receiver and returner

Ron Parker FS Newberry

5117/206 Ten: 1.51 Twenty: 2.49 Forty: 4.35 Bench: 17 Vertical: 32 Long jump: 10’3 Shuttle: 4.15 Three-cone: 6.74

2011 stats: 45 tackles, 14 assists, 2-2 tackles for loss, 5-1-0 interceptions, 13 passes defensed, 3-72-1 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble

Likely draft round: 6th

Comment: Great coverage safety with ballhawking skills (11 picks in his last 18 games); unbelievably athletic but incredibly raw – a great pick for the future, but don’t expect much right away

Larry Dean OLB Valdosta State

5116/229 Ten: 1.50 Twenty: NA Forty: 4.50 Bench: 22 Vertical: 36.5 Long jump: 10’1 Shuttle: 4.37 Three-cone: 6.79

2011 stats: 49 tackles, 73 assists, 8.5-45, 1-6-1 interception, 3 passes defensed, 1-12-1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick

Likely draft round: UDFA

Comment: Athletic, do-everything outside linebacker who is smaller than NFL teams want and could project to strong safety – eerily reminiscent of former Colt Jordan Senn, who has carved out a nice career with the Panthers

David Akinniyi DE North Carolina State

6035/254 Ten: 1.72 Twenty: 2.71 Forty: 4.79 Bench: 18 Vertical: 35 Long jump: 9’8 Shuttle: 4.46 Three-cone: 7.00

2011 stats: 12 tackles, 8 assists, 5-31 tackles for loss, 2.5-23 sacks, 1-0-0 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble

Likely draft round: UDFA

Comment: Great kid, great athlete, played 5-technique at NC State but needs seasoning and development – had 141 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in 34 games at Northeastern before transferring when the Huskies dropped football – could be a steal

Andrew Soucy DT Eastern Kentucky

6021/311 Ten: 1.75 Twenty: 3.09 Forty: 5.28 Bench: 32 Vertical: 30 Long jump: 8’9 Shuttle: 4.56 Three-cone: 7.59

2011 stats: 15 tackles, 13 assists, 9.5-42 tackles for loss, 4-30 sacks, 1-0-0 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick

Likely draft round: UDFA

Comment: Monstrously strong interior lineman who produced at low level of competition but has lots and lots to learn

Matt Szymanski K SMU

6017/205 numbers not important because he’s a kicker

2011 stats: 7-12 field goals, 32-32 extra points, 52-2,149-9 (14 in 20) punting, 19-1,249-5 kickoffs, 2-30-0 rushing

Likely draft round: UDFA

Comment: Big leg, likely to stick in the NFL as a kickoff specialist

Jake Laptad DE Kansas

6036/257 Ten: 1.75 Twenty: 2.82 Forty: 4.95 Bench: 20 Vertical: 31.5 Long jump: 9’3 Shuttle: 4.55 Three-cone: 7.75

2011 stats: 22 tackles, 16 assists, 8.5-38 tackles for loss, 4.5-27 sacks, 3 forced fumbles

Likely draft round: UDFA

Comment: Great guy, good performer who may lack athleticism for NFL

Cliff Matthews DE South Carolina

6034/257 Ten: 1.65 Twenty: 2.72 Forty: 4.81 Bench: 17 Vertical: 32 Long jump: 9’4 Shuttle: 4.37 Three-cone: 7.21

2011 stats: 30 tackles, 14 assists, 8.5-43 tackles for loss, 5.5-34 sacks, 2 passes defensed, 4 forced fumbles

Likely draft round: 5th

Comment: Great athlete who seems to lack any real dedication to the game, upside is high, downside is scary

Preston Dial TE Alabama

6021/238 did not participate in workouts after a serious knee injury

2011 stats: 25-264-5 receiving

Likely draft round: 7th

Comment: College fullback and tight end with receiving skills should translate into H-back for most offenses in the NFL, big-time special-teams contributor

Brian Maddox HB South Carolina

5101/232 Ten: 1.75 Twenty: 2.79 Forty: 4.83 Bench: 23 Vertical: 32.5 Long jump: 10’1 Shuttle: 4.65 Three-cone: 7.19

2011 stats: 74-391-3 rushing, 10-67-0 receiving,

Likely draft round: UDFA

Comment: Stocky, multipurpose back who could never win starting job with the Gamecocks

Chris Dieker QB Southern Illinois

6051/232 Ten: 1.69 Twenty: 2.82 Forty: 4.92 Bench: NA Vertical: 32 Long jump: 9’4 Shuttle: 4.44 Three-cone: 7.30

2011 stats: 256-158-1,816-15-11 passing, 96-272-6 rushing

Likely draft round: UDFA

Comment: Looked good (15-4 record as a starter) until breaking his collarbone as a junior and looking tentative as a senior; a student of the Manning brothers – looks like a camp arm at this point

• I’m increasing sure the Colts are after Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi, he has the look of a future starter to me

• Blue MD wants to know why the Colts seem to have no love for Kyle DeVan and tons for Donald Brown. He suggests that new running backs coach David Walker has something to do with Brown’s situation. I think the Colts have seen DeVan at his best and feel he’s eminently replaceable. But they invested a first-round pick in Brown, and almost certainly hope he can put something together now that he’s got his feet wet. Besides, Joseph Addai and Mike Hart are not under contract. If the season started today, the Colts would have just Brown, Javarris James and Devin Moore at halfback. Yikes.

• That reminds me, keep an eye on Pittsburgh halfback Dion Lewis. He’s only three years out of high school, tiny (5065/193) and not that fast (4.56c/4.47pd), but was a favourite of Walker’s when he coached him, and has some very shifty moves. Late rounder, but he’s better than Hart.

Just a few final, predraft thoughts

2011-04-28T10:51:00.005-04:00

I like this article. In it, Polian speaks about how it takes a few years to evaluate prospects. He blames injuries for slowing both Mike Pollak (left) and Tony Ugoh’s development and goes on to say that it was Ugoh’s inability to recover that led to his eventual dismissal. He also says that although he thinks Pollak has contributed, his play has not been up to that standard of safety Melvin Bullitt or receiver Austin Collie. Kinda makes me think he might be leaning toward re-signing Bullitt. The flip side of Polian’s cogent argument is that if injuries derailed Ugoh and Pollak, then why is Collie, who was more severely injured than either, a paragon of player development?

• Peyton Manning admitted to throwing concussion-related baseline testing. No surprise. This is a fellow who had missed one snap due to injury in 12 seasons, and that was for a broken jaw. Clearly, playing is more important to him than his health.

• Am I nuts or could there really be five or six quarterbacks selected in the first round? Looks like the Colts will be shut out for a development guy early. Still, I think they take a flyer on North Carolina’s TJ Yates or a similar prospect later on.

• A final look at draft needs would have to include a starting left tackle and upgrades all over the offensive line and a home run hitter on offense either at halfback or receiver. The defense, as always, could use some beef up front and a new safety would be a boon.

• Have you heard of Scout.com’s Draft Muncher? They look at 46 mock drafts to determine who the experst think each team will select in the first round. As of this morning, 16 drafts had the Colts drafting Colorado’s Nate Solder, ten had Boston College’s Anthony Castonzo, seven had Illinois’ Corey Luiget, five had Wisconsin’s Gabe Carimi and four other players were also named at least once. I’m glad the pundits are leaning toward a left tackle, but I still like Mississippi State's Derek Sherrod better than Solder or Carimi and expect Castonzo to be gone by No. 22.

Last man scouted

2011-04-27T15:54:00.002-04:00

As the draft draws nearer, it’s time to wrap up. Don’t go looking for the latest guy the Colts worked out in your draft books, but don’t be surprised if he gets drafted. Chris Posinski is a free safety from Wyoming, who is a bit stiff and straight-linish in coverage, but is a great open field tackler and an incredible all-around athlete. Check out his pro day numbers:

6010/20, Ten: 1.54, Twenty: 2.60, Forty: 4.39, Bench: 14, Vertical: 39.5, Long jump: 11’2, Shuttle: 4.28, Three-cone: 6.85

I don’t think he steps in and starts, but he could well be a valuable spare-part/special teamer who could eventually work his way into the lineup.

Happy predicting Colts fans. In our house, we have a pie riding on who gets the most hits in the first round.

Is football back?

2011-04-25T21:06:00.003-04:00

If the lockout is indeed over, the Colts will have to tend to their free agents. The ones they tendered and apparently intend to keep are starting halfback Joseph Addai, starting left tackle Charlie Johnson (although he could find himself at guard if the Colts, as expected, find a better option at left tackle), on-again, off-again starting strong safety Melvin Bullitt, starting weakside linebacker Clint Session, starting defensive tackle Antonio Johnson (above) and two defensive tackles of dubious merit named Daniel Muir and Eric Foster. Of course, if the old agreement holds, and it looks like it will, Peyton Manning is a franchise player and not going anywhere.

My take? Addai’s too plodding to be an effective starter, but would be a valuable role player if another quality back was added. Johnson is a good guard who can fake it at left tackle if he has help and should not be let go. Bullitt is a fan favourite, but is also the kind of guy you want to have on the roster but not starting. Session’s hot and cold, but a quality player worth keeping, Johnson makes the Colts’ defense much, much better when he plays, while Muir and Foster and guys who have shown flashes, but have also been dominated for long stretches.

The following were not tendered: ordinary safety Al Afalava, ineffective defensive end or tackle Keyunta Dawson, decent guard Kyle DeVan, horrible safety Aaron Francisco, sluggish linebacker Tyjuan Hagler, slow safety Ken Hamelin, ancient halfback Dom Rhodes, slo-mo halfback Mike Hart, a guy named Mike Richardson, unathletic tight end Gijon Robinson, slow Jamie Silva and always-available Michael Toudouze.

• Still more questions:

1. Can the Watkins kid play LT?

I don’t really know. I mean, he played well there at the collegiate level, but his height (6033) and arm length (34.25) are making those “in the know” project him to guard. To tell you the truth, I think he’d be okay outside but would be better inside. He reminds me a lot of Brandon Albert, even though he played guard in college and tackle in the NFL. Watkins would probably represent an improvement of Charlie Johnson at left tackle once he gets his feet wet, but is not the ideal candidate outside.

2. What about taking him first and that Wisniewski kid 2nd? I’d like to see the Colts toughen up on the OL.

Do you guys remember his dad? Not his uncle, but his dad, Leo, who played nose tackle for some really awful Colts teams. Loved him. He had impeccable hand work and it translated to a remarkable number of sacks for the position (14.5 in 35 career games, 7 in 14 games in 1984). Injuries derailed him. Anyway, the boy, Stefen, is the complete package at center who should also be able to excel at guard in the NFL. The Colts should be delighted if he fell to them in the second round. If they selected both him and Watkins, they would have two very strong and versatile offensive linemen for years to come, although no elite left tackle. And forget Wisniewski there, he’s even shorter than Watkins and has very short 33-inch arms.

3. Also, what about McElroy as a QB in the 6th?

I’m not sold. He has subpar arm strength, a hitch in his delivery and gets the yips under pressure. Heck, the Colts already have Curtis Painter …

Qs and As

2011-04-25T11:52:00.001-04:00

Wow, lots of questions. Let’s get to them all.

From “Bill Polian” (aka tmilohan from Ohio)

1. Asks if I agree with LT, G, DT, SS, RB/WR as the Colts’ needs.

Yes, but not in that order.

2. Could Tepper be the answer even if he has less impressive measurable than Pollak?

Hard to say. Pollak had great measurables, but so did Jamey Richard and Steve Justice, and all three have been major washouts so far. Tepper is a college tackle getting over a series of major injuries and is nothing more than a projection inside. But he has rare size, strength and intelligence and would not surprise me if he stuck.

From Blue MD

1. I also think the colts should trade back, but only if 3 of 1er OTs/DTs Rounders are at 22 (Castonzo, JJ Watt, Carimi, Liuget, Sherrod). The “lower” upside/lower risk Sherrod, should be the pick

I’m a huge Sherrod supporter. Castonzo is likely to have been selected by No. 22, and I’m not as high on Carimi, who I don’t think is the athlete you want at LT, and not all that interested in any defensive linemen in the first round.

2. 1 DT of Paea, Taylor, Wilkerson, Heyward, Ballard, in the 2nd?; or this is the place to trade down and get a 3er tier DT (Jenkins, Nevis, Ellis, Casey or even Fua)

I think the hype machine has been in love with Paea since his Combine performance and he’ll be overdrafted. Sure he’s strong and has been productive in the college game, but he lacks any finesse and his instincts are just so-so – that will make the transition to the NFL very tough. Taylor will also be overdrafted because of his size and how many teams are running 30-fronts. Character and condition issues make me think the Colts would pass on him. Heyward is more a Colts-like player and could make an interesting pairing with Fili Moala inside. I certainly don’t see him falling to the end of Round 2, though. Ballard? He’s a possibility, but I hope they don’t choose him. The third echelon guys you mention make varying degrees of sense to me, my favourites being Nevis and Jarvis.

3. Da’Norris Searcy: there are 10 or more safeties with more “ceiling;” could He be at later rounds. He is a good pick: good tackler,he can cover slot receivers, steady (UNC coaches’),returner, good 2010 production, and athletic (40=4.54, Benching=27, Vertical=33, Arm=33 1/2). He sounds like a Colt.

I’m with you. He’s one of a few safety prospects I really like this year.

4. The expectation is: 6-7 QBs in rounds (Rs) 1-2, 20s D.liners in Rs 1-3, 15s O.liners in Rs 1-3, 20s DBs in Rs 1-4, 10s RBs in Rs 2-4; hence, high value non-pash rushers LBs will fall. Will the Colts consider a LB in mid rounds? (Clint Sesssion is FA).

I hope not, but they may well. Even though Larry Coyer is more likely to blitz than any other defensive co-ordinator the Colts have had in the Polian/Manning era, it’s still not a huge part of the defense. And look at the last time the Colts drafted a blitzer at the position – they got Phillip Wheeler.

• In other news, the Colts met with Bowie State WR Derrick McPhearson. It might just be because he was a local high school phenom, but he’s a legitimate prospect. He’s bounced around from receiver to defensive back and back to wideout and from Illinois to Hampton to Bowie State. He is incredibly raw as a receiver, but is a natural as a return man. I don’t see anyone spending a draft pick on him, but he’ll be invited to someone’s summer camp.

Questions, answers, another Silva and a great big Ellis

2011-04-23T09:52:00.000-04:00

First things first, must answer the questions from a reader who would prefer not to give his or her identity (I’m pretty sure it’s Bill Polian):

Do you think the Colts a.) will and b.) should trade back or trade up in next week's draft? I find it ironic that the spots where they usually pick (#28/29/30/31) are probably better suited to trading back than their current spot of #22. It would be nice to have more than 6 picks--though as someone (Bill Walsh?) once said, "it's not where you pick but who you pick." They need 2 or 3, maybe even 4, good players out of this draft.

Well, “Bill,” thanks for reading and thank you for your excellent question. I don’t actually think they should trade down. Extra picks are nice, but the value formula dilutes those extra picks. If you trade down from No. 22 to, say No. 31, what do you pick up? The chart says you get a late third or early fourth rounder, a pick unlikely to net a rookie starter at most positions.

Trading down (especially out of the first) usually happens if a team isn’t impressed by what’s in the first round and has fallen in love with a potential second rounder, as happened in the perfect storm that allowed the Colts to grab Bob Sanders. But this is a first round rich in the positions the Colts desire, and the need for a n offensive lineman to start from Day 1 is so great, I think the No. 22 pick is too valuable to give up.

• Further to Bill’s point, I do think the Colts need upgrades at (not in order) left tackle, right tackle, halfback, right guard, left guard, right defensive tackle, strong safety and return specialist. And they could use depth and/or heirs apparent at quarterback, wide receiver, center and all over the defense.

• At this time of year, everyone is looking at workout numbers. Let’s take a look at the numbers of the guys already on the roster who would have us believe they deserve to be next season’s guards:

61 Jamey Richard

Size: 6046/295 Ten: 1.69 Twenty: 2.89 Forty: 5.22 Bench: 22 Vertical: 26.5 Long jump: 8’11 Shuttle: 4.69 Three-cone: 7.58

65 Jacques McClendon

Size: 6021/308 Ten: 1.82 Twenty: 2.98 Forty: 5.08 Bench: 37 Vertical: 29 Long jump: 8’5 Shuttle: 4.76 Three-cone: 7.70

66 Kyle DeVan

Size: 6015/308 Ten: Twenty: Forty: Bench: Vertical: Long jump: Shuttle: Three-cone:

Note: Devan wasn’t invited to the combine and I can’t track down his pro day numbers.

72 Jeff Linkenbach

Size: 6064/311 Ten: 1.78 Twenty: 2.97 Forty: 5.14 Bench: 22 Vertical: 27.5 Long jump: 8’2 Shuttle: 4.82 Three-cone: 7.76

73 Jaimie Thomas

Size: 6040/323 Ten: 1.78 Twenty: 3.00 Forty: 5.29 Bench: 20 Vertical: 28 Long jump: 8’0 Shuttle: 4.67 Three-cone: 7.99

78 Mike Pollak

Size: 6034/301 Ten: 1.68 Twenty: 2.87 Forty: 4.99 Bench: 29 Vertical: 9’2 Long jump: 9’2 Shuttle: 4.47 Three-cone: 7.49

79 Mike Tepper

Size: 6054/324 Ten: 1.82 Twenty: 3.04 Forty: 5.25 Bench: 28 Vertical: 26.5 Long jump: 7’10 Shuttle: 4.87 Three-cone: 7.66

• The Colts looked at a couple of other prospects, Keanemana Silva, a safety from Hawaii, and Kendrick Ellis, a defensive tackle from Hampton. Since Silva is the more likely of the two to end up in Indy, we should look at him first. He’s an incredible athlete, racking up the following numbers at his pro day:

Size: 6006/206 Ten: 1.52 Twenty: 2.55 Forty: 4.43 Bench: 23 Vertical: 40 Long jump: 10’3 Shuttle: 4.16 Three-cone: 6.97

In 14 starts at free safety as a senior, he recorded 50 tackles, 35 assists, 3-25 tackles for loss, 8-60-0 interceptions, 22 passes defensed and one fumble recovery. He’s not a huge hitter, but a solid open-field tackler. He’s much better in zone than man and still seems to be learning. Usually there are big questions about transfers, but Silva started as a walk-on at Oregon State, had a son then accepted a full-ride scholarship in his home state to help take care of him. He’s a good kid who does a lot of charity work. He’s rising very quickly on draft boards, and the Colts are a likely home for him in the sixth or even fifth.

Ellis is also a transfer, but was dismissed from the University of South Carolina for multiple disciplinary reasons. Nobody doubts his ability on the field, if he plays to his abilities, he could well be the best defensive tackle in the draft. Built like a tall nose tackle (6047/346), he’s actually better suited to play the ol’ 3-technique, as a penetrator. If he reminds me of anyone, it’s Albert Haynesworth. But unfortunately, that comparison extends to his character, as well as his play on the field. He is a potential first rounder, but represents a huge risk. Interestingly, his defensive co-ordinator at South Carolina was former Colt Ellis Johnson, so I’m sure the team has been able to get a solid background check on him.

• Polian went on record as saying passing accuracy can’t be taught at the pro level. I knew he believed that, that’s why I predicted they would start a post-Manning world with a Christian Ponder, not a Jake Locker.

Another day, another mock

2011-04-15T12:58:00.003-04:00

1/22 Derek Sherrod T Mississippi State 6053/321 5.18c

I still think he's the best option at No. 22

2/53 Jerrel Jernigan WR Troy 5087/185 4.46c

Although I’d prefer a halfback here, the Colts have to get someone who can add some spark to their offense and special teams; Jernigan has some Steve Smith to him

3/87 Jaiquawn Jarrett S Temple 5117/198 4.62c

They need a safety who can cover and help out in the run game

4/119 Jake Fitzpatrick C TCU 6017/200 5.31pd

He’s no great athlete, but he confounded Phil Taylor when they met and still has upside

5/152 TJ Yates QB North Carolina 6033/219 5.06c

No Manning 2.0, but a heady backup who could be covered up in a West Coast if it came to that

6/188 Frank Kearse DT Alabama A&M 6040/315 5.30pd

Whoa-oh, here he comes, he’s a maneater …

Busy or not ... I gotta blog

2011-04-14T15:59:00.006-04:00

Back again. I’ll start with some question from Roy.

What say you about Tryon?

I say I love him. Both the stats and the eyeball test gave him high marks this season and, if the Colts’ corners are healthier this year, they would have the advantage of playing Tryon in more advantageous matchups. And he only cost a seventh-round pick.

Chances of Kevin Thomas becoming a player?

Good, if he can stay healthy, Thomas has strong measurables and good football sense. Going by his college tapes, he’s strong in press coverage and is probably the most skilled blitzer the Colts have had at the position in my memory. His best skill is open-field tackling, so at worst he helps on specials. I see him as competing for the No. 4 spot in 2011 and maybe starting in 2012.

Your thoughts on why Hughes has such a inactive rookie season?

He had a hard time adjusting to the Colts’ rather complicated defense – many players, like Fili Moala for example, take a year to master it. It’s hard to make much of an impact as a pass-rushing end with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis taking so many snaps. I would still rank him as a top prospect, but I have to admit my confidence that he’ll break out has dimmed a little.

In other news:

While other Colts – like Austin Collie – are rehabbing at or ahead of schedule, Jamie Silva’s ACL is still a big problem. That only underlines the Colts’ need for an immediate upgrade at strong safety. Although Iowa’s Tyler Sash makes a ton of sense, I really like North Carolina’s DaNorris Searcy (left) and there's another safety prospect listed below who deserves a look-see from all Colts fans.

There's a persistent rumor that Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris will sign with the Colts when the lockout ends. That scenario is kind of like being bitten by a piranha while swimming in a lake in Minnesota – it’s not theoretically impossible, but we all know it’s not gonna happen.

If you look at the players who the Colts have visited and scouted you can get a pretty good idea of who they’re going to draft and where. It’s not that they will draft any of these guys, but if they look at four first-round-level left offensive tackles, you can expect they will at least consider a left tackle in the first round. The number beside the player is his ranking on the NFLDraftScout.com database.

Quarterbacks

56 Colin Kaepernick QB Nevada

63 Andy Dalton QB TCU

297 TJ Yates QB North Carolina

Analysis: Kapernick and Dalton have about the same value, but for different reasons. Kaepernick is a big arm and Dalton is a big producer. Either could become an NFL starter, with Kaepernick having a higher ceiling and a much lower floor. Yates is an under-rated prospect who sees the field extremely well, but doesn’t have the arm strength or athleticism to transcend.

Halfbacks

441 Chad Spann HB North Illinois

Analysis: Spann’s a back like I like ’em – short, wide and productive. Still, he’s a third-day pick at best.

Fullbacks

Analysis: None? Interesting.

Wide receivers

44 Leonard Hankerson WR

49 Jerrel Jernigan WR Troy

601 Jarred Fayson WR Illinois

Analysis: I’m surprise – well, not surprised but disappointed – that the Colts are looking at receivers high. Hankerson is a great talent, but not the kind of natural football player and hard worker who could replace Reggie Wayne. A nice addition? Yes. A future No. 1? Probably not. Jernigan makes more sense, not as a No. 1, but as a slot/halfback/return guy who can score from anywhere. Fayson’s a project who hasn’t developed in part through hard luck.

Tight ends

Analysis: None? Interesting.

Centers and Guards

228 Jake Kirkpatrick C TCU

301 Ryan Bartholomew C Syracuse

667 John Gianninoto G UNLV

Analysis: Same ol’, same ol’. Both Kirkpatrick and Bartholomew are smart, hard-working but limited players. I wouldn’t be surprised to see either suit up with the ol’ horseshoe.

Offensive tackles

14 Tyron Smith T USC

22 Derek Sherrod T Mississippi State

24 Nate Solder T Colorado

630 Matt Murphy T UNLV

Analysis: Hmmm, there are five left tackles considered worthy of first-round consideration, and the Colts have dined three of them. Note that the three are all extraordinary athleteic specimens for their size and position and are known more for pass pro than run blocking.

Defensive tackles

29 Phil Taylor DT Baylor

400 Zach Clayton DT Auburn

448 Frank Kearse DT Alabama A&M

728 Teryl White DT North Carolina Central

Analysis: Ordinarily, I’d be delighted that the Colts are looking at a 350-pound first-round nose tackle, but not this year, there’s too much of a need at offensive tackle. Clayton is more of a 3-technique, but Kearse is another monster. I’d like to see a big guy here and it may, for once, actually happen.

Defensive Ends

7 Da’Quan Bowers DE Clemson

45 Brooks Reed DE Arizona

591 Marc Schiechl DE Colorado School of Mines

Analysis: Forget Bowers. Reed would disappoint me a great deal. Not that he’s a bad player, just that he’s not what they need. Schiechl is a lottery ticket.

Inside linebackers

Analysis: None? Interesting.

Outside linebackers

Analysis: None? Interesting.

Cornerbacks

99 Johnny Patrick CB Louisville

NL Prathon Wilkerson CB Albany State

Analysis: Patrick’s a talent, but I’m not sure they need him. Wilkerson is an interesting small school talent.

Safety

145 Jaiquawn Jarrett S Temple

Analysis: Undersized, but otherwise just what they need.

Bored

2011-04-07T20:51:00.002-04:00

• What do Antonie Bethea, Clint Session and Pierre Garcon have in common? They were all compensatory draft picks. Too bad the Colts don’t have any this year.

• I have always hated the name “3-technique” because it’s misleading. It makes it sound as though it’s a skill set, not a position. In the Colts’ defense, both defensive tackles usually line up as “3-technique.” Rarely do you actually see anyone line up as a true nose tackle (or as modern terminology rather sadly puts it, “0-technique”). No matter what size or shape the Colts draft at defensive tackle, he will line up as a 3-technique.

• How does this guy sound? Starting left tackle at a big-time program who projects inside to guard. He runs 6054/324. Dashes? Ten in 1.82, twenty in 3.04 and forty in 5.31. He managed 28 reps, a 26.5 vertical, 7’10 long jump, 5.25 shuttle and 7.95 three-cone. Smart kid, graduated from top school in American studies. Draft him in a second, right? He’s already on the Colts roster. His name is Mike Tepper. He missed his senior season because a man trying to assault a young woman ran him over, dragged him 30 yards and broke his leg in four places. He’s all better now and could make some noise on a team with a pretty weak set of guards.

• Polian said he’s drafting as though all fourth-year free agents are unrestricted. That means he plans to go ahead without Joseph Addai, Melvin Bullitt, Antonio “Mookie” Johnson and Charlie Johnson. On paper, that’s four starters. Even with them, the Colts were looking at some big holes. Assuming the Colts can and will re-sign all of their free agents with three or fewer accrued seasons, this is what they would have (I have also included free agent Peyton Manning because without him, all bets are off and the team starts from Square One):

QB 18 Peyton Manning, 7 Curtis Painter

Analysis: Manning’s got a few years left and won’t be replaced this year unless the unthinkable happens; but Painter has been atrocious as a pro and needs replacing.

RB 31 Donald Brown, 42 Javarris James, 45 Devin Moore

Analysis: Ugh, Brown’s been a bust, James is a role player and Moore is a fragile return man who offers little from scrimmage.

FL 85 Pierre Garcon, 17 Austin Collie, 15 Blair White, 12 Chris Brooks

SE 87 Reggie Wayne, 11 Anthony Gonzalez, 10 Taj Smith, 13 Kole Heckendorf

Analysis: Some pretty good players here. Wayne probably needs a successor, but not right away.

TE 44 Dallas Clark, 84 Jacob Tamme

H-B 81 Brody Eldridge, 86 Rob Myers

Analysis: Solid, not the problem.

RT 71 Ryan Diem, 60 James Williams

LT 72 Jeff Linkenbach, 76 Joe Reitz

Analysis: Wow, the weakest part of the team – even weaker if, as many have predicted, they cut Diem.

RG 78 Mike Pollak, 73 Jaimie Thomas, 62 Mike Tepper

C 63 Jeff Saturday, 65 Jacques McClendon

LG 66 Kyle DeVan, 61 Jamey Richard, 77 Casey Bender

Analysis: Not quite as dire as the situation at tackle. Not quite.

RDE 93 Dwight Freeney, 92 Jerry Hughes

LDE 98 Robert Mathis, 68 Eric Foster, 97 John Chick

Analysis: Two top-notch starters and I think Hughes still has a big future.

RDT 90 Daniel Muir, 69 DeMario Pressley

LDT 95 Fili Moala, 91 Ricardo Mathews, 69 John Gill

Analysis: Moala surprised me by being decent, there’s not much else here, though, unless Pressley’s light finally switches on.

RLB 55 Clint Session, 53 Kavell Conner

MLB 58 Gary Brackett, 52 Cody Glenn

LLB 51 Pat Angerer, 50 Philip Wheeler, 54 Nate Triplett

Analysis: Solid with depth, move along.

RCB 25 Jerraud Powers, 27 Jacob Lacey, 39 Cornelius Brown, 36 Jordan Hemby

LCB 26 Kelvin Hayden, 20 Justin Tryon, 22 Kevin Thomas, 43 Terrence Johnson

Analysis: Surprisingly deep.

SS 23 Al Afalava, 38 Mike Newton, 30 David Caldwell

FS 41 Antoine Bethea, 49 Chip Vaughn, 37 Brandon King

Analysis: One great player and a bunch of maybes.

Another day, another mock

2011-04-06T16:58:00.003-04:00

1/22 Derek Sherrod T Mississippi State

I love this kid and think the Colts should jump at the chance to draft him. A top pass blocker, a willing downfield blocker and a great guy.

2/53 DeMarco Murray HB Oklahoma State

The Colts need a halfback who is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. There are a number of good one’s available – like Kendall Hunter and Jacquizz Rodgers – but Murray offers better receiving and blocking skills and legitimate 4.37 speed. He’s also a solid citizen.

3/87 Da’Norris Searcy SS North Carolina

Over the years the Colts have relied on safeties to stuff the run and Searcy can protect the line of scrimmage with the best of them and has excellent coverage ability and hands. Despite not possessing great straight-line speed, Searcy has been a very successful kick and punt returner in college.

4/119 Ricky Stanzi QB Iowa

Great kid, the type coaches think they can turn into a star. Polian knows better, but will make the pick anyway, knowing that Stanzi is in all likelihood a career backup.

5/152 Willie Smith T East Carolina

Incredible, off the charts athleticism and ability, but just seems to play down to his competition. Has a chance to be a top-notch NFL starter. Don’t blame his work ethic, he’s nearly completed a second degree.

6/188 Frank Kearse DT Alabama A&M

Another top student/solid citizen-type, but this one is a huge blocker eater. He needs lots of refinement, but “Big Spoon” could get a chance to develop in Indy.

Some thoughts

2011-04-04T20:31:00.000-04:00

• I’m sure it raised more than a few eyebrows when the Colts took long looks at quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick. While I like them both – and strongly recommend the Colts draft a backup-for-now-starter-for-later quarterback – I don’t see it happening. Both of those guys are crawling up draft boards and there’s even talk of Dalton squeezing into the bottom of the first round. I just don’t see Polian breaking his philosophy on this one, especially when the Colts have so many other needs.

In his stint as a GM, Polian had future Hall of Famer Jim Kelly fall into his lap. The Bills had drafted him in 1983 with the 14th pick in the draft. He lasted so long because of the threat of him bolting to the USFL. Actually, he did. And when that league folded, he was a gift for the Bills. Then he moved to expansion Carolina, and chose Kerry Collins with his first pick, the 5th in the draft. Of course, Collins is far from a Hall of Fame candidate, but he has had a respectable career and could have been far, far better if he had gotten his drinking and other habits under control earlier. So then Polian shows up in Indy and his first pick is Peyton Manning. See a pattern?

Still, Curtis Painter needs to start selling insurance soon.

• Linebackers? Who needs linebackers? If Gary Brackett comes back at full strength, the Colts have three starting-quality players on the outside in Clint Session, Kavell Conner and Pat Angerer. And, it looks like they’ll probably give Philip Wheeler another chance to stick. They also have special-teamer Cody Glenn and prospect Nate Triplett. I know Angerer is expected to replace Brackett eventually, but he’s pretty good player outside now.

• It’s Derek Sherrod or Tyron Smith in the first, I’m sure of it.

Prospect watch: Zach Clayton

2011-03-31T18:55:00.005-04:00

Zach Clayton DT Auburn

Height: 6020 Weight: 299 Ten: 1.71 Twenty: 2.71 Forty: 4.85 Bench: 27 Vertical: 33.5 Long jump: 10’8 Shuttle: 4.44 Three-cone: 7.37 (Pro day)

Career stats: 41 tackles, 24 assists, 16-67 tackles for loss, 6.5-42 sacks, 1 pass broken up, 10 hurries

2010 stats: 18 tackles, 10 assists, 8-25 tackles for loss, 1-2 sack, 1 pass broken up, 8 hurries

Likely draft round: Sixth

Analysis: A bunch of sites have been calling Clayton “the best prospect you haven’t heard of.” I hate it when I read stuff like that. Rilly? I didn’t happen to notice the guy playing next to Nick Fairley on national champion Auburn? I guess I shouldn’t have a blog then. That bit of nastiness out of the way, I can say that I have seen Clayton and have been impressed by his athleticism and his tenacity. Obviously, playing next to fairley has helped him statistically, but Clayton’s a pretty good player in his own right. He’s not as good at anchoring as some, but has good hand use and a quick start. But what really stands out is his pursuit skills. Sometimes he looks like a giant linebacker. “Zach Clayton is running down the field chasing guys down X amount of yards past the line of scrimmage — it’s phenomenal,” said Head Coach Gene Chizik. “It’s just great effort. He’s been a real force for us ... down there inside.” A son of two coaches, Clayton is an overall good kid and has earned an economics degree. Probably projects best as a 3-4 end in the NFL, but he’d play inside in Indy.

Chance of becoming a Colt: Pretty good.

Prospect watch: Phil Taylor

2011-03-30T20:54:00.005-04:00

Phil Taylor DT Baylor

Height: 6032 Weight: 334 Ten: 1.77 Twenty: 2.87 Forty: 5.09 Bench: 31 Vertical: 29.5 Long jump: 8’4 Shuttle: 4.77 Three-cone: 7.75 (Combine)

Career stats: 55 tackles, 52 assists, 16-57 tackles for loss, 5.5-36 sacks, 4 passes broken up, 1-1-0 interception, 8 hurries, 1 forced fumble, 2-0-0 fumble recoveries (Includes one season at Penn State)

2010 stats: 35 tackles, 27 assists, 7-27 tackles for loss, 2-18 sacks, 4 passes broken up, 3 hurries, 1 forced fumble

Likely draft round: First

Analysis: If the Colts drafted Taylor, fans would drop to their knees and pray to Polianus, the God of Wish Fulfillment. See, Colts fans have been begging for a big-butt, blocker-devouring defensive tackle since the days of Herb Orvis (or at least Tony Siragusa). I’d even have to admit, I too would be pleasantly impressed. But it is so not gonna happen. Taylor is without doubt a specimen and a talent, but he’s also a major character question and, with so many teams running the 3-4 and desperate for a nose tackle, almost certainly going to be drafted well before his actual value. And whenever Polian has drafted a fat man (Terrance Taylor, Steve Sciullo, Matt Johnson), it has ended in misery.

Chance of becoming a Colt: Slim

Will there be any good tackles left at No. 22?

2011-03-28T10:26:00.000-04:00

Let’s take a look at how badly the teams selecting before Indianapolis in the first round need an offensive tackle

1. Carolina: Jordan Gross (7.00 sacks allowed and three penalties)

One of the few places, they don’t need help

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

2. Denver: Ryan Clady (7.00 sacks allowed and five penalties)

See above

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

3. Buffalo: Demetrious Bell (5.25 sacks allowed and five penalties)

Bell improved in 2010, and they have more pressing needs

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

4. Cincinnati: Andrew Whitworth (2.50 sacks allowed and seven penalties)

Whitworth’s an excellent player, one of the few Cincinnati has

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

5. Arizona: Levi Brown (7.00 sacks allowed and five penalties)

Brown`s certainly not a great tackle by any means, but this team has bigger holes to fill

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Low

6. Cleveland: Joe Thomas (4.50 sacks allowed and two penalties)

An elite talent; the Browns could use a right tackle, but this is too early to take one

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

7. San Francisco: Joe Staley (3.00 sacks allowed and six penalties)

No problem here

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

8. Tennessee: Michael Roos (10.00 sacks allowed and four penalties)

Inflated sack numbers aside, Roos is not the Titans`problem

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Low

9. Dallas: Doug Free (5.00 sacks allowed and nine penalties)

Free’s a natural right tackle, and Colombo looks like he`s nearing the end of the line

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Medium

10. Washington: Trent Williams (11.50 sacks allowed and six penalties)

Some rough times for the rookie, but he’ll be there for a while

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

11. Houston: Duane Brown (6.50 sacks allowed and four penalties)

It took a while but this former first rounder seems solid

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

12. Minnesota Bryant McKinnie (5.00 sacks allowed and two penalties)

He’s still at the top of his game

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Low

13. Detroit: Jeff Backus (4.00 sacks allowed and three penalties)

Backus is an under-rated tackle, but is getting on in years and might be better suited to right tackle where incumbent Gosder Cherilus is a question mark due to microsurgery

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Medium-high

14. St Louis: Roger Saffold (3.50 sacks allowed and eight penalties)

Not replacing him soon

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

15. Miami: Jake Long (6.00 sacks allowed and eight penalties)

An elite player who’s still young

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

16. Jacksonville: Eugene Monroe (6.50 sacks allowed and nine penalties)

Firmly entrenched

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

17. New England (from Oakland): Matt Light (10.00 sacks allowed and four penalties)

Light is getting older, but his heir apparent is already on the roster in starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer – still, it’s not out of the question that they could draft a young tackle not just because they want one, but also to screw with the Colts

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Medium

18. San Diego: Mark McNeill (2.50 sacks allowed and one penalty)

Great player

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

19. New York Giants: David Diehl (7.50 sacks allowed and two penalties)

Realistically, he’s a guard, but he holds up well outside, he’s getting pretty old, though

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Medium

20. Tampa Bay: Donald Penn (5.50 sacks allowed and three penalties)

No problem here

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

21. Kansas City: Brandon Albert (7.75 sacks allowed and seven penalties)

Another out-of-place guard, Albert could be replaced but Chiefs have a lot of needs

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Medium-high

And a few who might think of trading up

23. Philadelphia: Jason Peters (2.00 sacks allowed and seven penalties)

No problem here

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

24. New Orleans: Jermon Bushrod (6.00 sacks allowed and six penalties)

They like him, have needs elsewhere

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Low

25. Seattle: Russell Okung (4.00 sacks allowed and three penalties)

Rookie nailed down the position last year

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

26. Baltimore: Michael Oher (7.00 sacks allowed and eleven penalties)

Despite the hype, Oher is better off on the not-so-blind side, a replacement could be necessary, but they also needa speed receiver

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Medium-high

27. Atlanta: Sam Baker (5.25 sacks allowed and five penalties)

No Problem

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Almost none

28. New England: Matt Light (10.00 sacks allowed and four penalties)

See No. 17

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Medium

29. Chicago: Frank Omiyale (13.00 sacks allowed and seven penalties)

Needs replacing

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: High

30. New York Jets: D`Brickashaw Ferguson (2.00 sacks allowed and five penalties)

Not a problem, but they need a right tackle

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Medium-low

31. Pittsburgh: Max Starks (1.00 sack allowed and one penalty)

Don’t let the stats fool you, he only played 7 games in 2010 and is a free agent

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Medium

32. Green Bay: Chad Clifton (8.50 sacks allowed and five penalties)

Played well in 2010 once he overcame injuries, but is 34 years old

Chance of selecting an offensive tackle: Medium

Kicking the tires does not mean a sale

2011-03-27T15:03:00.001-04:00

Here at ColtPlay, it’s considered something of a duty to compile a list of players the Colts scout, interview or show some other interest in before the draft. We’ll do it again this year, but it may not be as helpful as you might think. Take a quick look at the guys reported by various media sources to have been scouted by the Colts in 2008:

7th/Bernard Morris QB Marshall (6030, 223, 4.68c/4.61pd)

7th/Blake Mitchell QB South Carolina (6022, 207, 4.78)

UDFA/Craig Hormann QB Columbia (6041, 228, 5.03)

UDFA/Mark Nicolet QB Hillsdale (6013, 220, 4.84)

4th/Jalen Parmele HB Toledo (5114, 224, 4.47)

5th/Thomas Brown HB Georgia (5083, 204, 4.51c/4.42pd)

7th/Alley Broussard HB Missouri Southern State (6002, 235, 4.75pd)

UDFA/Justin Beaver HB Wisconsin-Whitewater (5081, 196, 4.41)

UDFA/Kareem Huggins HB Hofstra (5087, 185, 4.47)

UDFA/Allen Ervin HB Lambuth (5106, 226, e4.55)

2nd/Mario Manningham WR Michigan (5116, 181, 4.59c/4.42pd)

2nd/Donnie Avery WR Houston (5110, 192, 4.43c/4.33pd)

3rd/Eddie Royal WR Virginia Tech (5095, 184, 4.39)

5th/Marcus Smith WR New Mexico (6013, 221, 4.50c/4.54pd)

6th/Luke Swan WR Wisconsin (5117, 195, 4.59)

UDFA/Jayson Foster WR Georgia Southern (5071, 169, 4.41)

UDFA/Pierre Garcon WR Mount Union (5117, 210, 4.42pd)

UDFA/James Banks WR Carson-Newman (6025, 210, 4.58)

UDFA/Tommy Ellingworth WR Augustana (5101, 183, 4.42)

5th/Joey Haynos TE Maryland (6075, 259, 4.87c/4.79pd)

7th/Michael Peterson TE Northwest Missouri State (6021, 247, 4.59)

UDFA/Paul Cleaver TE New Mexico State (6035, 243, 4.63)

UDFA/Joe Reitz TE Western Michigan (6061, 261, e4.85)

2nd/Gosder Cherilus T Boston College (6063, 314, 5.14c/5.00pd)

2nd/John Greco T Toledo (6046, 305, 5.31c/5.16pd)

3rd/Anthony Collins T Kansas (6055, 317, 5.54c/5.35pd)

7th/Kerry Brown G Appalachian State (6053, 308, 5.38)

7th/Mackenzy Bernardeau G Bentley (6041, 306, 5.25pd)

UDFA/Mike Martinez C New Mexico State (6037, 335, e5.30)

UDFA/Shawn McMakin G Hofstra (6030, 287, e5.25)

3rd/Marcus Howard DE Georgia (6004, 237, 4.47c)

6th/Titus Brown DE Mississippi State (6024, 246, 4.86c/4,82pd)

6th/Jeremy Geathers DE UNLV (6021, 256, 4.97c/4.74pd)

7th/Jameel McClain DE Syracuse (6006, 249, 4.73pd)

7th/Andy Studebaker DE Wheaton College (6030, 251, 4.61)

UDFA/Curtis Johnson DE Clark-Atlanta (6025, 242, 4.69c/4.60pd)

UDFA/Dan Davis DT Connecticut (6014, 287, 4.96)

UDFA/Shemiah LeGrande DT Hofstra (6001, 288, e5.00)

UDFA/Mike Czerwien DE Waynesburg (5080, 225, e4.55)

3rd/Tavares Gooden ILB Miami (6012, 234, 4.62c/4.57pd)

4th/Jo-Lonn Dunbar ILB Boston College (6004, 231, 4.79c/4.85pd)

5th/Joe Mays ILB North Dakota State (5110, 245, 4.87)

6th/Weston Dacus ILB Arkansas (6011, 237, 4.60)

6th/Danny Lansanah ILB Connecticut (6005, 251, 4.72)

7th/Jon Banks OLB Iowa State (6024, 220, 4.76)

UDFA/Jordan Senn OLB Portland State (5114, 224, 4.53)

UDFA/Jonna Lee ILB Charleston Southern (6011, 243, e4.85)

UDFA/Gian Villante ILB Hofstra (6016, 234, 4.64)

4th/Tyrell Johnson SS Arkansas State (5117, 207, 4.41)

5th/Jack Williams CB Kent State (5090, 186, 4.43c/4.32pd)

UFDA/Joe Fields FS Syracuse (6002, 205, e4.60)

UFDA/Curtis Cutts FS Central Michigan (5117, 216, 4.62):

UFDA/Dowayne Davis SS Syracuse (5113, 202, 4.46)

7th/Piotr Czech K Wagner College (6044, 212)

UFDA/Dan Zeidman P Idaho State (6003, 205, 4.78)

You’ll notice that just two of them – Marcus Howard and Pierre Garcon – were drafted by the Colts. That’s two of 55 guys scouted (3.64 percent) and two of the Colts’ nine draft picks (22.22 percent), so tallying who they looked at is just not all that accurate. Curtis Johnson and Jordan Senn signed with the Colts as undrafted free agents, and Joe Reitz ended up with the Colts after a position change and stops in Baltimore and Miami. Sadly, Mike Czerwein died in a tragic construction accident. And am I the only one who forgot they looked a guy named Justin Beaver?

Backs, both corner and half

2011-03-26T13:08:00.003-04:00

Footballoutsiders.com is one of a couple of sites that tracks every NFL play. They’re usually pretty good and I read it frequently. They rated the best and worst cornerbacks in the league last year. They put Justin Tryon (I still can’t believe he cost just a seventh-round pick) and Jerraud Powers in the rare air. I haven’t tallied all the numbers up, but my eyeball test kind of agrees. When he was healthy, Powers looked like a No. 1 corner and supported the run really well. Tryon was murder on slot guys and held up well outside; he looked very much like the player Tim Jennings. And they placed Jacob Lacey amongst the worst. I’m with them on Lacey, who looked awful in 2011, but it should be kept in mind that the same organization rated Lacey about on par with Powers in 2009 (they actually used the word "amazing" to describe his rookie performance). Injuries affect people in different ways, and in all likelihood, Lacey should bounce back to at least decent.

Speaking of injuries, a constant stream of them limited all of the expected contributors significantly. Since I don’t see that happening again, I think the Colts are very strong at the position headed into 2011. The outside starters should be Powers and veteran Kelvin Hayden. Hayden has not played as well as expected when he signed a huge contract in 2008, but he’s still definitely an NFL starter when healthy. Tryon is a fine No. 3, and the last two spots should be taken up by Lacey, 2009 third-round draft pick Kevin Thomas or one of the free agents signed last year (Cornelius Brown, Terrence Johnson and Jordan Hemby). Brown, who played significant minutes in 2010 because of injuries, stood up fairly well in his NFL debut, certainly outplaying Lacey.

So unless some great deal falls into their laps, I would recommend the Colts don’t draft a corner. Many people will disagree with me, of course, saying that Hayden isn’t durable enough or the other guys can’t be depended upon, but I’m sticking to it. The Colts have so many other needs – including a sucking chest wound at both offensive tackle spots – that spending a pick on a position with proven players like Hayden, Power and Tryon and good prospects in Lacey, Thomas and Brown doesn’t make sense.

That said, I would caution fans not to take every stat published by online too seriously. Profootballfocus.com, which I generally prefer to Footballoutsiders.com, made some Colts fans happy when it published it elusiveness ratings. Naturally, none of the Colts halfbacks made it, but Donald Brown did make the list of runners who had the highest percentage of yards after first contact. Many Colts fans interpreted this as an indication that Brown would be a good or even great runner if he had better blocking. But if you look at the rest of the players on that same list and only one of them – LaGarrette Blount – was a full-time starter or even close to an elite back.

In truth, Brown had a horrible second season, losing his spot to slow Javarris James and elderly Dom Rhodes. As a former first-round pick, I think Brown deserves another year to prove his worth, but I still think an early pick should be used on a halfback, preferably one with speed, as the Colts have had no real zip in their running attack since before Edgerrin James’ ACL injury. Brown had four runs of 20 or more yards last season (including a 49 yarder that accounted for almost 10 percent of his total output), while Addai had just one in 116 carries. That’s a sad total. Even Peyton Manning tied him, and he only had 18 “carries.”

A defensive tackle you might not have on your list

2011-03-25T14:58:00.003-04:00

Okay here’s a defensive tackle prospect you may not have heard of. Let’s first go to production:

A three-year starter, he made 71 tackles, 54 assists, 27.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, 1 pass broken up, 5 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception and a blocked field goal. Most of that production (10 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks) came as a senior. He played with a broken hand as a junior, but bounced back strong. It was Sunbelt action, which is pretty darn competitive.

Measurables? 6’0¾, 295 pounds, 4.91 forty, 28 reps, 30.5 vertical, 9’2 long jump, 4.73 shuttle and a 7.70 three-cone.

Heck of a guy, never been in trouble, earned an accounting degree. Former linebacker and offensive lineman. Also wrestled at the collegiate level. Has played every defensive line position, including nose. Fires up teammates. Fun-loving, likable kid.

Colts fans, check out Arkansas State’s Bryan Hall.

Bargains, reaches and who cares what the media says?

2011-03-25T12:44:00.001-04:00

I read a lot of draft stuff and there`s only one thing that really bothers me. It`s when people say things like “Tyson Alualu at No. 10? They coulda got him in the second round!” I’m not saying I predicted Alualu that high, or that I thought it was a good pick, just that there is no way that we as fans (or those in media) can accurately predict when or where a player might be drafted. The first few are easy, but after that it’s anyone’s guess. Maybe a guy gets caught bad-mouthing his former coach, or scouts find out that he was playing hurt as a senior. These teams, my friends, know more than us and certainly more than Street & Smith’s or whomever you’re taking your cues from.

That brings up Bill Polian’s well-known habit of drafting players “out of the blue” or, actually, long before draft predictors had imagined. Usually it has worked out well for him, but sometimes it hasn’t. Let’s look at his last three (admittedly quite poor) drafts:

Players drafted before the media thought they would

2 Pat Angerer LB Fifth

3 Kevin Thomas CB Fourth

4 Jacques McClendon G Undrafted

5 Brody Eldridge TE Undrafted

1 Donald Brown HB Second

3 Jerraud Powers CB Sixth

7 Pat McAfee P Undrafted

2 Mike Pollak C Undrafted

3 Phillip Wheeler LB Fourth

4 Jacob Tamme TE Fifth

6 Tom Santi TE Undrafted

7 Jamey Richard C Undrafted

Players drafted in the round the media predicted

1 Jerry Hughes DE First

7 Ricardo Mathews DT Seventh

7 Kavell Conner LB Seventh

7 Ray Fisher CB/KR Seventh

2 Fili Moala DT Second

4 Austin Collie WR Fourth

7 Jaimie Thomas G Seventh

Players drafted after the media thought they would be

5 Terrance Taylor DT Fourth

6 Curtis Painter QB Fifth

5 Marcus Howard DE Fourth

If you look at the first group, you’ll see some bums (Brown, Pollak and Wheeler stand out), but some very good picks. The second group also has a mix, but the third is nothing but junk.

So beware the “bargain” of a player drafted after the media predicts (like Mike Doss, Kendyll Pope and Anthony Davis) and keep an open mind about “reaches” (like Edgerrin James, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and Dallas Clark).

Stop the virtual presses: I agree with Mel Kiper!

2011-03-24T21:53:00.002-04:00

Mel Kiper called the Colts “one of the worst teams in the NFL without Peyton Manning” and the esteemed Trent Dilfer (no Manning he) agreed. Let’s see if we agree.

QB Peyton Manning (if re-signed) A+ Option is Curtis Painter F

RB Joseph Addai (if re-signed) C+ Option is Donald Brown D-

FL Pierre Garcon C+

SE Reggie Wayne A

3rd WR Austin Collie A (if healthy)

TE Dallas Clark A

H-B Brody Eldridge B-

RT Ryan Diem C- declining

RG Mike Pollak D-

C Jeff Saturday A- declining

LG Jamey Richard or Kyle DeVan (if re-signed) D-

LT Charlie Johnson (if re-signed) D+ Option is Jeff Linkenbach D-

RDE Dwight Freeney A

RDT Anthony Johnson C+ (if healthy)

LDT Fili Moala C+

LDE Robert Mathis B+

RLB Clint Session (if re-signed) or Kavell Conner C+ with potential

MLB Gary Brackett B- declining, but Angerer could step in

LLB Pat Angerer B- with potential

RCB Jerraud Powers B

LCB Kelvin Hayden B

3rd CB Justin Tryon B-

SS Melvin Bullitt (if re-signed) C+ Option is one of several D-

FS Antoine Bethea B+

K Adam Vinatieri (if re-signed) B declining Option is Brett Swenson D with potential

P Pat McAfee B+

LS Justin Snow B

KR Devin Moore C+ (if healthy)

PR Blair White C

Looks like they have a point

Melvin, Mookie and a dude named DeMario

2011-03-24T19:02:00.004-04:00

• Don't be too surprised if you don't see Melvin Bullitt in a Colts uniform next season. "I can't see myself coming back (to the Colts) other than with a long-term contract," said Bullitt. "Just to be quite honest, it's business." Big words from a sometime starter at safety. Bullitt's a pretty handy player and a fan favorite, but I can't remember the last time a player called Bill Polian out and got the better of it. And I'm pretty sure the Colts defense is looking for more of a thumper at the position.

• More evidence the Colts will not draft a defensive tackle in the first round. Polian openly praised Fili Moala for his 2010 performance. I have to admit that Moala, despite not recording a single sack, did show some penetration, but was so-so against the run. So that's one starter.

The other is also probably already on the roster too. Polian offered "tenders" to Anthony "Mookie" Johnson, Daniel Muir and Eric Foster, all former starters, and has soph Ricardo Mathews as well as recent signee DeMario Pressley (more on him later). Of them, the interesting one is my old favorite, Mookie. He played well in 2009, but came out of the gate injured in 2010. But in the four games he was not listed on the injury report, the Colts went 4-0, allowed an average of just 79.5 rushing yards and held the Titans to 67 and 51 yards rushing.

So, like it or not, the Colts will almost certainly enter 2010 with Moala and Johnson as starters.

• Don't overlook Pressley. In college, he had almost as much hype as teammate Mario Williams, later a No. 1 pick and a very good player in the NFL. Pressley had some problems, though. Although he didn't miss any games, he played hurt a lot and wasn't all that productive (47 games, 36 starts, 52 tackles, 59 assists, 17.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 6 hurries, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 2 picks). Scouts began to question his technique, strength, durability and dedication. After a very good Combine performance, many fans and media expected him to be a third-round pick in the 2008 draft, but he went to New Orleans in the fifth.

Pressley missed his first season after a knee injury put him on injured reserve. He played in seven games in 2009, recording 15 tackles and three tackles for loss. Despite a pretty good preseason (2 tackles, 5 assists, 1 sack, 3 hurries and 1 tackle for loss), the Saints tried to stash him on the practice squad. The Texans grabbed him and he really didn't catch on there, appearing briefly in a couple of games and recording no stats.

I'm not saying Pressley is the second coming of John Randle. But he does have an NFL starter's body and, if he is ever going to succeed in the NFL, it will be in Indy in 2011. Don't count him out right away. Measurables: 6031/301, 1.65 ten, 2.86 twenty, 5.09 forty, 28 reps, 25.5 vertical, 8'4 long jump, 4.72 shuttle, 7.15 three-cone.

Bill Polian and that pesky defensive tackle problem

2011-03-23T11:49:00.002-04:00

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

A look at the free agents

2011-03-22T22:12:00.004-04:00

Late note: MrCrayz points out that the Colts did tender Charlie and Mookie. Changes have been made.

We all know that the tenders teams were giving out before the lockout were useless. No realistic CBA – or even post-union free-for-all – would allow them to stand up. Useless, yes; but meaningless, no. Below is a list of the players the Colts have offered tenders, applied a franchise tag or at least sat down and talked contract with.

29 Joseph Addai HB

Why?: He’s been the Colts’ starting halfback for a few seasons now, and would be a bargain if he could be re-signed at the rate he was tendered. Chance he’ll be back? Okay. They’d like him to come back, but if there’s a bidding war, consider the Colts out of it.

33 Melvin Bullitt S

Why?: He’s a decent safety who’s started 24 games for the Colts after the last three seasons and looked pretty good. Chance he’ll be back? Good, Bullitt’s a good but not great player who would be a good short-term starter or swing back up. Those guys are handy to have but rarely get offered big contracts, especially at his position.

68 Eric Foster DE

Why?: Out of necessity. Thrown into Raheem Brock’s old position Foster did not play well in 2010, but he has some potential and defensive ends with any talent are rare and expensive. Chance he’ll be back? Good, I can’t see any other team would make much of an effort to lure his from the Colts.

99 Antonio Johnson DT

Why?: Of all the Colts defensive tackles, he was the best one not named Fili Moala. I didn’t say he was good, just better than the others. Chance he’ll be back? Good. He’s not likely to be overrun by offers and the Colts know he can help out.

74 Charlie Johnson T

Why?: Okay, he’s not exactly Joe Thomas as a left tackle, but he’s much better than the alternative (and the best right tackle on the roster as well). Besides, the Colts owe him for forcing him to play out of position and for peanuts all these years. Chance he’ll be back? Good. even if they solve the left tackle problem, they need a right tackle, and if they solve both, they need a guard.

18 Peyton Manning QB

Why?: He’s still the best quarterback in the NFL. Chance he’ll be back? Excellent. It should have been a slam dunk, but unnecessary nastiness is emerging even though neither side can negotiate.

90 Daniel Muir DT

Why?: Defensive tackles are rare and Muir’s not as bad as his 2010 season would make it appear. Chance he’ll be back? Good. Muir might not make the opening day roster, but I’d bet that he’ll be invited to give it a try.

55 Clint Session LB

Why?: He’s a pretty good outside linebacker, capable of the occasional big play. Chance he’ll be back? Okay. The Colts tend to give up on linebackers who become free agents,a nd they have two youngsters – Kavell Connor and Pat Angerer – who could be just as productive outside, although Angerer’s future is inside.

4 Adam Vinatieri K

Why?: He might be almost 39, he’s still very accurate from within the 50. Chance he’ll be back? Good, I doubt anyone else would bid for him.

And below is a list of free agents the Colts have not made any offseason overtures to.

23 Al Afalava S

Why not?: One of the many safeties signed after a ridiculous number of injuries made the Colts desperate. He didn’t do much and could not beat out Aaron Frickin’ Francisco. Chance he’ll be back? Doubtful.

96 Keyunta Dawson DE

Why not?: Foster did poorly in 2010, but Dawson was much worse. Chance he’ll be back? Maybe.

66 Kyle DeVan G

Why not?: Although he had a surprisingly competent rookie season, he regressed in his second year. Chance he’ll be back? Good. It’s unlikely any other team would bid on him, and the Colts like him as a low-cost swing reserve.

43 Aaron Francisco S

Why not?: He’s awful. Chance he’ll be back? I desperately hope not.

56 Tyjuan Hagler LB

Why not?: He’s slow, he’s always hurt, but he’s a pretty good player when it counts. Chance he’ll be back? Kinda good, actually. He always seems to be.

35 Ken Hamlin S

30 Dominic Rhodes HB

Why not?: He’s a million years old in halfback years and was never any great shakes when he was young. Chance he’ll be back? Slim. I was shocked he came back last season.

32 Mike Hart HB

Why not?: I know he has tons of fans, but slow, fragile and unable to pick up the blitz is no way to go through life, son. Chance he’ll be back? Not good. I have a feeling the Colts would like to get younger and more talented at this spot, and Javarris James seems to have taken his place.

37 Mike Richardson CB

Why not?: I’m sorry, who’s he again? Chance he’ll be back? Slim.

47 Gijon Robinson TE

Why not?: He doesn’t do anything exceedingly well and his job has been taken by by Brody Eldridge. Chance he’ll be back?

40 Jamie Silva S

Why not?: I’m not sure. Silva’s a pretty good player despite having subpar speed. Chance he’ll be back? Pretty good.

75 Michael Toudouze T

Why not?: He’s not very good. Chance he’ll be back? Hard to say, really. They seem to cut and re-sign him with stunning regularity.

If you add the guys they have asked to stay to those already signed, the depth chart takes on a different look:

QB 18 Peyton Manning, 7 Curtis Painter

RB 29 Joseph Addai, 31 Donald Brown, 42 Javarris James, 45 Devin Moore

FL 85 Pierre Garcon, 17 Austin Collie, 15 Blair White, 12 Chris Brooks

SE 87 Reggie Wayne, 11 Anthony Gonzalez, 10 Taj Smith, 13 Kole Heckendorf

TE 44 Dallas Clark, 84 Jacob Tamme

H-B 81 Brody Eldridge, 86 Rob Myers

RT 71 Ryan Diem, 60 James Williams

RG 78 Mike Pollak, 73 Jaimie Thomas

C 63 Jeff Saturday, 65 Jacques McClendon

LG 61 Jamey Richard, 77 Casey Bender

LT 74 Charlie Johnson, 72 Jeff Linkenbach, 76 Joe Reitz

RDE 93 Dwight Freeney, 92 Jerry Hughes

RDT 99 Antonio Johnson, 90 Daniel Muir

LDT 95 Fili Moala, 91 Ricardo Mathews, 69 DeMario Pressley

LDE 98 Robert Mathis, 68 Eric Foster, 97 John Chick

RLB 53 Kavell Conner, 54 Nate Triplett

MLB 58 Gary Brackett, 51 Pat Angerer, 52 Cody Glenn

LLB 55 Clint Session, 50 Philip Wheeler

RCB 25 Jerraud Powers, 27 Jacob Lacey, 39 Cornelius Brown, 36 Jordan Hemby

LCB 26 Kelvin Hayden, 20 Justin Tryon, 22 Kevin Thomas, 43 Terrence Johnson

SS 33 Melvin Bullitt, 38 Mike Newton, 30 David Caldwell

FS 41 Antoine Bethea, 49 Chip Vaughn, 37 Brandon King

K 4 Adam Vinatieri, 2 Brett Swenson

P 1 Pat McAfee

LS 48 Justin Snow

Positional analysis: Tight ends

2011-03-22T13:22:00.003-04:00

Keeping up with our pre-draft positional analysis, ColtPlay looks at the tight ends.

Dallas Clark

2010 stats: 6 games/6 starts, 37-347-3 receiving

Contract status: Signed through 2013

Analysis: Clark was on his way to another awesome season when a wrist injury ended his 2010 season. If you extrapolate his stats, he would have caught 99-925-8 if he had lasted a 16-game season. Clark established himself as one of the league’s top receiving tight ends years ago, and has played at a consistently high level for years. He’s been Manning’s safety net on third down and the two have developed an extraordinary rapport. Clark has never been much of a blocker, but really doesn’t have to be the way the Colts use him. He appears to be over his 2010 injury and is currently filming a segment for the popular TV show Criminal Minds. He should be ready to reassume his role by training camp.

Jacob Tamme

2010 stats: 16 games/8 starts, 67-631-4 receiving, 4 special-teams tackles, 1 special-teams assist

Contract status: Signed through 2011

Analysis: ColtPlay never hesitates to point out when other Colts fans and media are wrong, and I’m not above scrutiny myself. Like many Colts fans, I was delighted when the Colts drafted Tamme in 2008, but after just six catches in the first 38 games after he was drafted, I have to admit I was starting to think he was a wasted draft pick (or at least too high a pick to waste on a good special teamer who added little to the offense). I was wrong. After Clark went down, Tamme caught fire, catching at least four passes in every game after taking over. In fact, he was actually a bit better than Clark was in 2010, at least statistically. While he is even less of a blocker than Clark, Tamme is an excellent player on special teams.

Brody Eldridge

2010 stats: 14 games/8 starts, 5-39-0 receiving, 1 special-teams tackle

Contract status: Signed through 2013

Analysis: The Colts often play with two tight ends and since neither Clark nor Tamme block better than big wide receivers, the other tight end has to be a blocker. That’s why the Colts drafted Eldridge – who started some games on the offensive line in college – in 2010. Eldridge had an up-and-down season as a rookie, working hard to master the Colts’ complicated playbook and to cover for the frequent mistakes by the offensive line. He’s a better blocker at tight end than the Colts have seen since perhaps the Reese McCall days and should improve in that area, but has yet to show he is anything other than an emergency receiver.

Gijon Robinson

2010 stats: 11 games/2 starts, 3-12-1 receiving

Contract status: Unsigned

Analysis: A former small-college fullback, Robinson plays like one. He’s a good run-blocker, especially on the move, but is overmatched in most pass-blocking situations. Although he has decent hands, Robinson is dead slow and does little with the ball once he has it. Over the last three years, he has started a bunch of games for the Colts, but appears to have lost his job to Eldridge.

Rob Myers

2010 stats: 0 games/0 starts,

Contract status: Signed through 2011

Analysis: When many fans see a guy who’s moved around the league a lot right out of college, they dismiss him as a failed prospect. I’m not so sure. Since not being drafted in 2009, Myers has bounced around from the Jets to the Eagles to the Bills to the Colts. Teams sign guys like Myers because they see something in him, and they cut guys like him for various reasons – often, it’s just a numbers game. I think Myers is a quality prospect, but he comes with baggage. The main problem he’s had is that he could never stay healthy. A high school lacrosse player, he went to Utah State. He played on specials as a freshman and then moved to backup tight end as a soph. Battling a groin injury, he caught 10 passes for 125 yards. In his only healthy season, Myers caught 21-320-3, for an incredible 15.20 average. Looking for big things out of him, Utah State faithful were disappointed that he missed his entire senior season with toe surgery. Since then, he’s bounced around the league, not really sticking anywhere. In the 2009 preseason, he caught five of eight passes for 44 yards and a two-point conversion. Two of the incompletes were not his fault, as Michael Vick threw to him out of bounds and Adam DiMichele threw in his general direction while being brought down. In the 2010 preseason with the suddenly tight end-rich Patriots, Myers caught three of four passes thrown his way for 50 yards. Notably, all three of his catches resulted in first downs, including on desperate heave over the middle on 3rd-and-18. I’m not saying he’s the next Ozzie Newsome just that you shouldn’t write him off just yet.

Of note: While Eldridge was nursing a rib injury, 325-pound backup center Jacques McClendon played “tight end” in short-yardage and goal-line situations. They even changed his jersey from 65 to 80 for four games. Justin Snow is listed on the roster as a tight end, but only plays on special teams as the Colts’ long snapper. He was a defensive end in college.

What about 2011?: If you keep in mind that the Colts have two positions here, you’ll understand it better. The Colts play two tight ends – one a bulked-up receiver who is expected to catch at least 80 passes a season and the other a slimmed-down tackle who is expected to help the run game. For the first position, the Colts have two more-than-capable starters in Clark and Tamme and a reasonable prospect in Myers (PS: he can’t block either). One could assume that Tamme is one of those Polian-style starter-in-waiting types, but since Clark is signed for longer than him, it doesn’t make sense. Instead, with Clark back, Tamme will have to make the best of it, catching passes when he can, shining on special teams and hoping general managers around the league remember how good he was in 2010 when he becomes a free agent after the 2011 season. At the other position, the Colts have Eldridge, who is solid and likely to improve. He could use a backup, but the Colts could opt to replace him with an offensive lineman again, should things go wrong.

Free agency: It’s unlikely the Colts will do anything here, but could bring back Robinson or Tom Santi, a product of the same draft class as Tamme who caught 18-171-1 and was hot-and-cold as a blocker in his career with the Colts.

Draft: Given the relative embarrassment of wealth at the position and the plethora of needs elsewhere, I would be shocked if Polian drafted a tight end. But we all know he has done crazier things.

Some stats:

Catch percentage

Tamme 72.04

Clark 69.81

Eldridge 55.56

Robinson 42.86

Yards per reception

Tamme 9.42

Clark 9.39

Eldridge 7.80

Robinson 4.00

Yards per target

Tamme 6.78

Clark 6.55

Eldridge 4.33

Robinson 1.71

First down percentage

Robinson 66.67

Clark 56.76

Tamme 52.24

Eldridge 20.00

YAC average

Tamme 4.76

Clark 3.68

Eldridge 3.60

Robinson 2.33

Average depth

Clark 5.71

Tamme 4.66

Eldridge 4.20

Robinson 1.67

Catches over the middle

Tamme 16-161-0

Clark 9-103-0

Eldridge 0-0-0

Robinson 0-0-0

OT workout numbers

2011-03-21T16:27:00.003-04:00

As a service to its readers, ColtPlay is providing the workout numbers for the top offensive tackles in the draft. Key: c=combine, pd=pro day, pdp=pro day numbers pending, DNP=did not participate.

Height

Solder 6082c/pdp

Carimi 6070c/pdp

Castanzo 6070c/6070pd

Brewer 6062c/pdp

Ziemba 6055c/6055pd

Sherrod 6053c/6053pd

Carpenter 6043c/6043pd

Love 6043c/6043pd

Pinkston 6033c/pdp

Weight

Brewer 323c/pdp

Carpenter 321c/321pd

Sherrod 321c/321pd

Solder 319c/pdp

Pinkston 317c/pdp

Ziemba 317c/317pd

Love 315c/315pd

Carimi 314c/pdp

Castanzo 311c/311pd

Smith 307c/pdp

Arm length

Smith 3603c

Brewer 3504c

Solder 3504c

Sherrod 3503c

Love 3502c

Carimi 3500c

Castonzo 3404c

Carpenter 3400c

Pinkston 3400c

Ziemba 3400c

10-yards

Solder 1.72c/pdp

Brewer 1.76c/pdp

Carimi 1.78c/pdp

Castanzo 1.80c/DNPpd

Carpenter 1.81c/DNPpd

Sherrod 1.81c/1.84pd

Love 1.85c/1.70pd

Pinkston 1.86/pdp

Ziemba 1.87c/1.87pd

Smith DNPc/pdp

20-yards

Carimi 2.80c/pdp

Solder 2.87c/pdp

Castanzo 2.92c/DNPpd

Brewer 2.95c/pdp

Love 2.97c/2.95pd

Sherrod 3.01c/3.06pd

Carpenter 3.03c/DNPpd

Pinkston 3.06/pdp

Ziemba 3.10c/3.06pd

Smith DNPc/pdp

40-yards

Solder 4.96c/pdp

Carimi 5.18c/pdp

Love 5.18c/5.07pd

Sherrod 5.18c/5.27pd

Brewer 5.21c/pdp

Castanzo 5.21c/DNPpd

Carpenter 5.22c/DNPpd

Pinkston 5.39c/pdp

Ziemba 5.50c/5.46pd

Smith DNPc/pdp

Bench press

Carimi 29c/pdp

Smith 29c/pdp

Castanzo 28c/DNPpd

Love 27c/DNPpd

Brewer 25c/pdp

Carpenter 23c/DNPpd

Sherrod 23c/DNPpd

Solder 21c/pdp

Ziemba 20c/DNPpd

Pinkston DNPc/pdp

Vertical

Solder 32c/pdp

Carimi 31.5c/pdp

Castanzo 29.5/DNPpd

Ziemba 29c/28pd

Carpenter DNPc/28.5pd

Sherrod 28c/DNPpd

Pinkston 26.5c/pdp

Love 26.5c/DNPpd

Brewer 26c/pdp

Smith DNPc/pdp

Long jump

Solder 9’2c/pdp

Carimi 9’1c/pdp

Castanzo 8’9c/DNPpd

Brewer 8’4c/pdp

Pinkston 8’2c/pdp

Love 8’1c/DNPpd

Sherrod 8’1c/DNPpd

Ziemba 7’11c/8’4pd

Carpenter DNPc/8’10pd

Smith DNPc/pdp

20-yard shuttle

Solder 4.34c/pdp

Castanzo 4.40c/DNPpd

Sherrod 4.63c/DNPpd

Ziemba 4.65c/DNPpd

Brewer 4.81c/pdp

Love 4.84c/DNPpd

Pinkston 4.91c/pdp

Carimi DNPc/pdp

Carpenter DNPc/4.75pd

Smith DNPc/pdp

3-cone

Castanzo 7.25c/DNPpd

Sherrod 7.43c/DNPpd

Solder 7.44c/pdp

Ziemba 7.74c/DNPpd

Brewer 7.84c/pdp

Love 7.84c/DNPpd

Pinkston 7.88c/pdp

Carpenter DNPc/7.65pd

Smith DNPc/pdp

Carimi DNPc/pdp

I'll update it as pro day numbers come in.

Will he or won't he: Polian and first-round offensive tackles

2011-03-20T21:09:00.000-04:00

Conventional wisdom among Colts fans is that Bill Polian will not select either a defensive tackle or offensive tackle in the first round because he never does. As usual, conventional wisdom is only half right.

It’s true that Polian has never drafted a defensive tackle in the first round. Not ever. Not with Buffalo, Carolina or Indianapolis. Of his 24 first-round picks, none have been defensive tackles.

But the same is not true of offensive tackles. While it is true the last Polian’s grabbed one in the first round was in 1995, he has made efforts to get offensive tackles throughout his career whenever the need has arisen.

Recent events may have led you to doubt that, but let’s look at history.

When Polian took charge of the Bills, his incumbent left tackle was 34-year-old Ken Jones, a good player, but nearing the end of the line. So with the second pick of the first round of his first draft, Polian selected Will Wolford, an excellent prospect who started 16 games at right guard as a rookie before moving to left tackle in 1987.

Wolford continued to play at a very high level, but with impending free agency looming, Polian drafted his replacement in 1992. John Fina played in all 16 games as a rookie at four different o-line positions. Wolford did indeed move on in 1993, signing an unprecedented, barely legal contact with the Colts (of all teams.) Fina took over as Buffalo’s left tackle and, although he was no Wolford, played well enough during the remainder of Polian’s career in the Queen City.

Polian then took his show to Carolina, which was fielding an expansion team. With his third pick in the first round, Polian selected Blake Brockenmeyer, who started 16 games at left tackle as a rookie. He continued to be the starter at the position as long as Polian was with the team.

When Polian took over the Colts in 1998, he already had a premium left tackle in place – 1997 first-rounder Tarik Glenn, who had started 16 games at right guard as a rook. Glenn played outstanding football for the Colts before suddenly retiring after the 2006 season. Polian thought he had his successor in the 2007 draft when he traded a first-round pick to San Francisco for the right to select Tony Ugoh.

Because of Glenn’s premature departure, Ugoh was thrown into the breach as a rookie and looked awful. He was replaced by second-year guard Charlie Johnson. Ugoh’s rookie season was seen as something as a learning experience, so he was given a shot again in 2008 (in a large part because they had spent their 2008 first-round pick on him). He didn’t look great and was replaced by Johnson again, but the Colts went 12-4 and thought he would develop into a passable starter. In 2009, Colt fans were beginning to make louder calls for a more legitimate replacement for the Ugoh-Johnson tag team, but the Colts drafted halfback Donald Brown instead as insurance for Joseph Addai’s upcoming free agency. Of the tackles selected after Brown that year, only the Patriot’s surprise choice, Sebastian Vollmer, has distinguished himself as a left tackle prospect in the NFL.

The calls became much, much louder in 2010. Ugoh was officially shifted to guard and then cut, while Johnson was named the starting left tackle. Polian, again fearing free agency would rob him of star pass-rushers Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, selected defensive end Jerry Hughes. That day, a poll of Colts fans indicated that 79 percent of fans “loved” the pick.

In hindsight a year later, many Colts fans pointed out that the Colts could have drafted either Roger Saffold or Jared Velderheer, both of whom started at left tackle as rookies. But the truth be told, neither played that much better than Johnson in 2010 (Saffold allowed 3.5 sacks, had 8 penalties and was no asset in the run game, while Veldheer allowed 7.5 sacks and had 15 penalties at a variety of positions) – although both possess much higher upsides.

And, if we actually have to bring this up, I looked at the Colts fan sites from last year and most of them preferred Charles Brown and Bruce Campbell to Saffold and Veldheer, and they both had tragic first seasons, Campbell, in fact, was beaten out by Veldheer, but he appears to still be in the Raiders’ plans.

For full disclosure, here’s what ColtPlay had to say on them:

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.”

Veldheer: “Who did I have for tonight? Oh yeah, Veldheer and Verner. That would be nice.” (PS: Verner had an awesome rookie season at corner for the Flaming Thumbtacks)

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.”

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.”

So, while many Colts observers might think that Polian is loathe to draft a tackle, I disagree. In fact, since 1986, he has selected Wil Wolford, John Fina and Blake Brockemeyer. And, he’s traded a first-rounder in 2008 for Tony Ugoh. What’s interesting to note, is that in 2008, the only tackles available when the Colts would have drafted were Jon Greco, Anthony Collins, David Hale, Josh Sitton, Breno Giacomini, Barry Richardson, Nate Garner, Demetrious Bell, Brandon Keith, King Dunlap, Geoff Schwartz and Kirk Barton – none of whom is significantly better than Ugoh.

So, since this is a year with a number of good offensive tackle prospects and the Colts can no longer say they hope Ugoh develops, it looks very much like they will finally draft that offensive tackle in the first round this year.

Below is a list of first-round picks by Polian.

1986 HB Harmon, T Wolford
1987 ILB Conlan
1988 HB Thomas
1989 None
1990 CB Williams
1991 S Jones
1992 T Fina
1993 CB Smith
1995 QB Collins, CB Poole, T Brockenmeyer
1996 HB Biakabutuka
1997 WR Carruth
1998 QB Manning
1999 HB James
2000 ILB Morris
2001 WR Wayne
2002 DE Freeney
2003 TE Clark
2004 None
2005 CB Jackson
2006 HB Addai
2007 WR Gonzalez
2008 None
2009 HB Brown
2010 DE Hughes

2011 draft: First look

2011-03-18T14:22:00.004-04:00

I haven’t always been great about predicting who the Colts will draft. I got four of seven in 1999 (and if you say you did better than me, I will call you a liar – nobody, but nobody saw Edgerrin James over Ricky Williams), but since then have been pretty hit and miss. I got Rob Morris and Jerry Hughes – but so did everybody else.

But the thing is that every player that I have predicted that the Colts would draft in the first round who they did not select – from Hakeem Nicks to Maurice Jones-Drew – has been a very good player. So I guess that’s good news for the guy I’m projecting the Colts grab in 2011.

Here’s why the Colts will select Derek Sherrod, offensive tackle, Mississippi State:

1. There’s a crying need at the position. At present, the best left tackle on the Colts’ roster is Jeff Linkenbach, who is not very good. Even if they sign all their free agents, the best left tackle they would have would be incumbent Charlie Johnson, who is also not very good (although certainly a starting quality guard).

2. Sherrod is the best pure pass blocker in the draft. He’s built for the job with long arms and big hands, and knows what he’s doing. He has great initial pop, sorts out assignments quickly and understands blitzes.

3. He has outstanding athleticism, running the three-cone in 7.43 seconds,

4. Sherrod is an upstanding young man who has earned a business degree with a 3.54 GPA, was voted captain of his team and is very active in his community.

5. He has the frame to get stronger.

Although if I was in Polian’s position (and that’s was this blog is basically about), I would draft nothing but linemen, it won’t go that way.

Instead, let’s take a look at how it might go down. Keep in mind that the Colts are likely to receive no compensatory picks and that they traded their seventh-rounder to Washington for CB Justin Tryon.

1/22 Derek Sherrod T Mississippi State

For reasons listed above

2/21 Kendall Hunter HB Oklahoma State

Even if Addai returns, the Colts look to go halfback-by-committee; Hunter adds the magic and wow factor none of the guys current on the roster supplies (and he can actually pass block)

3/23 Tyler Sash SS Iowa

This seems like a fait accompli (and could even happen a round earlier): 1. The Colts love Hawkeyes, 2. The Colts need a strong safety, 3. Sash is a very good strong safety who’s also a Hawkeye, 4. Sash excels at exactly what the Colts demand a strong safety do.

4/22 Kyle Hix T Texas

Very similar player and person to Sherrod, but replace “left tackle” with “right tackle” and “great initial pop” with “incredible leg drive”

5/21 Ibrahim Abdulai DT Arkansas-Pine Bluff

A Polian pick – Abdulai is a super-productive (18 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles as a senior), small-college penetrator who’s a very powerful 305-pounder and another solid citizen-type

6/23 Jason Kelce C/G Cincinnati

More help for the line comes from this dramatically undersized but very athletic former linebacker.

Positional analysis: Wide receivers

2011-03-17T18:00:00.005-04:00

On paper, the Colts have an unbelievably enviable receiving corps. Their fifth guy could start for the Browns. Reggie Wayne is about 50-50 to go to the Hall of Fame, Pierre Garçon is a big-play machine, Austin Collie is among the league’s most talented and effective slot receivers, Anthony Gonzalez is a former first-rounder with solid ability, undrafted rookie Blair White was a revelation in the slot, almost as good as Collie was in his first year, and Taj Smith is a special-teams demon who could well develop into an NFL-quality receiver. And they are all signed, at least for 2011.

But, of course, nobody plays on paper. In reality, Wayne will be 33 this season, is beyond his peak and his contract ends after this season. Garçon is streaky, and goes through long funks in which he can’t catch anything. Collie has concussion problems that could end his career, Gonzalez is more injury-prone than Bob Sanders, White is still unproven and Smith hasn’t shown anything on offense yet.

Reggie Wayne

2010 stats: 16 games/16 starts, 111-1,355-6 receiving, 1/1 fumbles

Contract status: Signed through 2011

Analysis: You might not remember it, but when the Colts drafted Wayne in the first round of the 2001 draft, it was not a popular pick. He was neither fast nor strong, his critics said. The Colts needed defense more than another receiver. Heck, they pointed out, they already had Marvin Harrison. Well, it’s ten years later, and Wayne has caught 787 passes for 10,748 yards and 69 touchdowns, appeared in two Super Bowls and five Pro Bowls. He’s lost a step or so, but his experience, concentration, work ethic and rapport with quarterback Peyton Manning keep him one of the league’s best. I think it’s safe to write down another 100-catch, 1,200-yard season from Wayne, but his replacement will have to arrive soon.

Pierre Garçon

2010 stats: 14 games/14 starts, 67-784-6 receiving

Contract status: Signed through 2011, due for a raise

Analysis: Although Garçon is a great story and an even better guy, I’m not sure he’ll ever be a No. 1 receiver. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2008 draft, he spent his rookie year as a backup and special teamer. In 2009, he lost the No. 2 receiver job to Gonzalez and the slot position to Collie, but after Gonzalez was hurt, Garçon stepped in and was a revelation, catching 47-765-4 and establishing himself as the team’s deep threat. But he regressed in 2010 – even more than the other offensive skill players – and lost a great deal of Manning’s trust. It’s likely that Garçon could re-establish himself as a deep threat, but his average hands and reluctance to go over the middle mean that he’ll never be better than No. 2.

Austin Collie

2010 stats: 9 games/6 starts, 58-649-8 receiving, 1/1 fumbles

Contract status: Signed through 2012

Analysis: Until he was hurt, Collie was actually the Colts’ most effective receiver, better even than Wayne and all-everything tight end Dallas Clark. In fact, he may have been the best short-range receiver in the league this side of Wes Welker. But two terrifying concussions in one season landed him on injured reserve. It’s hard to predict how a player will return from concussions, but if Collie is anywhere near what he was before the hits, the Colts are set in the slot. So far, the prognosis is good. "I don't know if you can say that until he gets on the field and actually plays," team president Bill Polian said. 'Thus far, all the signs are positive."

Blair White

2010 stats: 13 games/4 starts, 36-355-5 receiving, 10-80-0 punt returns, 2 special-teams tackles, 1/0 fumbles

Contract status: Signed through 2012

Analysis: An undrafted free agent the Colts promoted from their practice squad, White proved he belongs in the NFL. Despite being a tall long strider, White played better in the slot. He’s fearless and nifty and has excellent hands. He hasn’t shown that he can do much after the catch, but his sure-handedness allowed him to assume the primary punt return job.

Anthony Gonzalez

2010 stats: 2 games/0 starts, 5-67-0 receiving

Contract status: Signed through 2011

Analysis: A first-round pick in 2007, Gonzalez was seen more as a complement to Wayne rather than his ultimate replacement. Gonzo put together two solid but unspectacular seasons in that role, but his 2009 and 2010 seasons were wiped out by major knee injuries. If he comes back full-strength, Gonzo would compete with Garçon for a starting spot outside. If he loses, Gonzalez could have a hard time sticking to the roster as Collie and White have established themselves inside and unlike Garçon, Gonzalez offers little on special teams.

Taj Smith

2010 stats: 5 games/0 starts, 3 special-teams tackles, 1 special teams assist, 1 forced fumble, 1-0-0 fumble recovery (1 blocked punt recovered for a touchdown)

Contract status: Signed through 2012

Analysis: Smith didn’t get drafted after a broken collarbone as a senior at Syracuse and a terrible showing at the combine. Despite his official 4.59 forty, Smith is actually one of the fastest football players I have ever seen, and a powerful athlete. He put those skills together in kick coverage for the Colts last year, and played like a demon. He didn’t play much on offense in the regular season, but made some terrific catches and runs in the preseason (and some lamentable drops). An DUI arrest in January 2010 tarnished Smith’s character with some fans, but I’ve spoken with him a number of times and he seems like an outstanding young man who made a mistake.

Chris Brooks

2010 stats: 1 game/0 starts

Contract status: Signed through 2011

Analysis: Brooks is a project. He’s a big (6016/215), fast (4.42) receiver who didn’t start a single game at Nebraska. An undrafted rookie, he signed with Tampa Bay and caught three of four passes for 50 yards, but also fumbled. He spent most of the year on the Colts’ practice squad, appearing in one game on kick coverage and recording no stats. To make it in the NFL, he’ll have to show consistent hands and the ability to burn DBs deep.

Kole Heckendorf

2010 stats: None

Contract status: Signed through 2011

Analysis: After a ridiculously productive career at North Dakota State, Heckendorf went undrafted in 2009. Since then, he’s been on five NFL teams but has yet to see game action. He’s tall but thin, with decent but not great speed. A tough, smart kid who works hard to help his quarterback, his best shot in the NFL would be as a slot guy, catching short passes and making yards after the catch.

Also played with the Colts in 2010:

Brandon James

2010 stats: 3 games/0 starts, 6-40-0 receiving, 14-229-0 kick returns, 7-35-0 punt returns

Contract status: Unsigned

Analysis: After a very productive career as a combination halfback/receiver/returner at Florida, the 5’6, 176-pound James did not show enough on offense or special teams to prevent the Colts from cutting ties with him.

Kenneth Moore

2010 stats: 2 games/0 starts, 6-36-0 punt returns, 2/1 fumbles

Contract status: Unsigned

Analysis: Moore had been hanging around the NFL since 2006 as a return man. When injuries struck the Colts, they gave him a shot, but cut him after he fumbled twice against Washington.

What about 2011?: Like I said, if they are healthy, the Colts don’t need anything – except an eventual replacement for Wayne. Wayne, Garçon and Gonzo have all proven they can play outside, Collie is an excellent slot man, White can play inside or out, while Smith has definite potential (and a job on specials), while stranger things have happened than Brooks and Heckendorf developing into players.

Free agency: Nope.

Draft: In other years, I would say the Colts might draft a receiver high given their situation, nurture him and hope he replaces Wayne. But severe needs all over the offensive line, at defensive tackle and perhaps strong safety, I just can’t see it happening. Instead, I think the Colts will select a talented small-schooler to develop – I think too many teams are high on Mount Union’s Cecil Shorts, but UTEP’s Kris Adams has the stuff if he gains muscle without sacrificing athleticism. They could also select a return specialist like Mississippi State’s Leon Berry or Utah’s Antoine “Shaky” Smithson.

Some stats:

Catch percentage

Collie 81.69

White 63.16

Wayne 63.07

Garçon 56.78

Gonzalez 55.56

James 54.55

Yards per reception

Gonzalez 13.40

Wayne 12.21

Garçon 11.70

Collie 11.19

White 9.86

James 6.67

Yards per target

Collie 9.14

Wayne 7.70

Gonzalez 7.44

Garçon 6.64

White 6.23

James 3.64

First down percentage

White 66.67

Wayne 64.86

Garçon 61.19

Gonzalez 60.00

Collie 55.17

James 50.00

YAC average

Collie 5.41

Garçon 4.03

Wayne 3.95

Gonzalez 3.60

James 2.33

White 2.19

Average depth

Gonzalez 9.80

Wayne 8.26

Garçon 7.67

White 7.67

Collie 5.78

James 4.34

Catches over the middle

White 7-71-2

Collie 7-46-1

Wayne 6-65-0

Gonzalez 2-40-0

Garçon 2-15-0

James 0-0-0

Bizarro QB

2011-03-16T22:24:00.002-04:00

We all know Peyton Manning is incredibly loyal and all that, but let's just go nuts for a second and think about the worst-case scenario for the Colts. What if the new CBA forbids the franchise tag and Manning wakes up and looks around and thinks my backs are Joe Addai and Donnie Brown, my tackles are basically turnstiles and my defense will never be anything more than a speed bump? Why don't I just sign for more money and get a few more Super Bowls?

Let's say he signs elsewhere. What would the Colts do? My guess would be drafting Christian Ponder, re-designing the offense into the old West Coast, crossing our fingers and hoping for the best.

The Real Depth Chart

2011-03-15T22:45:00.004-04:00

With the CBA in doubt, the concepts of ERFA, RFA, UFA and Franchise are no longer valid. So here's a depth chart based on who the Colts actually have under contract.

QB 7 Curtis Painter
RB 31 Donald Brown, 42 Javarris James, 45 Devin Moore

FL 85 Pierre Garcon, 17 Austin Collie, 15 Blair White, 12 Chris Brooks
SE 87 Reggie Wayne, 11 Anthony Gonzalez, 10 Taj Smith, 13 Kole Heckendorf

TE 44 Dallas Clark, 84 Jacob Tamme
H-B 81 Brody Eldridge, 86 Rob Myers

RT 71 Ryan Diem, 60 James Williams
RG 78 Mike Pollak, 73 Jaimie Thomas
C 63 Jeff Saturday, 65 Jacques McClendon
LG 61 Jamey Richard, 77 Casey Bender
LT 72 Jeff Linkenbach, 76 Joe Reitz, 79 Mike Tepper

RDE 93 Dwight Freeney, 92 Jerry Hughes
RDT 91 Ricardo Mathews, 69 DeMario Pressley
LDT 95 Fili Moala, 69 John Gill
LDE 98 Robert Mathis, 97 John Chick

RLB 53 Kavell Conner, 54 Nate Triplett
MLB 58 Gary Brackett, 52 Cody Glenn
LLB 51 Pat Angerer, 50 Philip Wheeler

RCB 25 Jerraud Powers, 27 Jacob Lacey, 39 Cornelius Brown, 36 Jordan Hemby
LCB 26 Kelvin Hayden, 20 Justin Tryon, 22 Kevin Thomas, 43 Terrence Johnson
SS 38 Mike Newton, 30 David Caldwell
FS 41 Antoine Bethea, 49 Chip Vaughn, 37 Brandon King

K 2 Brett Swenson
P 1 Pat McAfee
LS 48 Justin Snow

Late Note: Sharp-eyed reader Mrcrayz888 points out that I missed out on John Gill and Mike Tepper. They have been added. Thanks, pal!

Positional analysis: Running backs

2011-03-15T22:33:00.002-04:00

You can blame poor blocking and injuries all you want, but the Colts running backs just were not very good in 2010. Here's a look:

Joseph Addai
2010 stats: 8 games/7 starts, 116-495-4 rushing, 19-124-0, 2/1 fumbles
Contract status: Unsigned
Analysis: I’ve never been an Addai backer. I mean, he’s an okay back, but he lacks a breakway threat (despite a fast combine 40) and he’s not a reliable grinder either. Even when things were at their best in his first two pro seasons, I was never that impressed, regarding him as a decent back, but nothing better. Last season, he missed a great deal of time due to a nasty neck injury and hardly wowed when he was healthy. As a receiver, he offers decent hands but does little with the ball after the catch. Addai’s saving grace is that he’s a very adept pass-blocker, which is very important when you share a backfield with Peyton Manning. Interestingly, he has historically run much better on grass than turf.

Donald Brown
2010 stats:13 games/8 starts, 129-497-2 rushing, 20-205-0 receiving, 0/0 fumbles
Contract status: signed through 2013
Analysis: The plan when Brown was drafted in the first round in 2009 appeared to be that he would apprentice under Addai and then replace him when Addai’s veteran status and free agency meant he would command a long-term, high-buck deal. But there was a problem – Brown’s not very good. Or at least he hasn’t been in a Colts’ uniform and it’s rare a back gets much better after his first two years. Brown has made a few good plays, but generally looks tentative and cautious in his decision-making as a runner. One good sign, though, is that Browns runs much better after he’s had a dozen or so carries and can get into some form of rhythm. He’s not a bad receiver at all, but his terrible pass-blocking make it unlikely he will ever carve a niche out as a third-down specialist. Ièd suggest moving him to slot receiver, but if it didn't happen it 2010, when the Colts were desperate for healthy receivers, it will never happen.

Mike Hart
2010 stats: 7 games/1 start, 43-185-1 rushing, 6-25-0, 0/0 fumbles
Contract status: Unsigned
Analysis: Colt fans have always rallied around Hart, but the fact is that he’s got pulling guard speed, average functional strength and a long, long history of injuries. Not qualified to be a starter, a third-down back or a short-yardage specialist (and not really a contributor on special teams), it’s hard to see where he would fit other than a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none spare body. He is a superior block, though, and has

Dominic Rhodes
2010 stats: 3 games/0 starts, 37-172-0 rushing, 1-4-0 receiving, 12-252-0 kick returns, 1/1 fumbles
Contract status: Unsigned
Analysis: At the end of the season, when injuries were all over the offense, the Colts signed their old friend Rhodes off the street (he’d been cut by Buffalo earlier). Sadly, he looked like the team’s best runner until a hip injury brought him down to Earth in the season-ending loss to the Jets. Even at his best – and that was many years and injuries ago – Rhodes was never an elite back, and at 33 is unlikely to get any better.

Javarris James
2010 stats: 10 games/0 starts, 46-112-6 rushing, 9-63-0 receiving, 3-16-0 kick returns, 1 special-teams tackle, 0/0 fumbles
Contract status: Signed through 2012
Analysis: Although his stats look mediocre at first, James’ six scores in 46 carries is a shocking number when you look at the other backs’ scoring or lack thereof (seven in 327 carries). Unlike his cousin, Edgerrin James, who was a speed back surprisingly easy to take down for his size, “Baby J” is slow and a load to bring down. That has made him very suitable to short-yardage work – all but one of his rushing touchdowns came from three yards or closer. He’s also a very good blocker (as Edgerrin was), especially as an up back on return teams. But don’t expect James ever to develop into a major producer on offense. He’s just too slow and lacks moves.

Devin Moore
2010 stats: 4 games/0 starts, 2-(-2)-0 rushing, 12-257-0 kick returns, 1/1 fumbles
Contract status: Signed through 2011
Analysis: Last year, Moore played only a few snaps on offense, and the results were not pretty. Unless the Colts design specific plays to get him into space quickly, it’s unlikely he’ll ever see much time on offense. He was, however, the Colts primary return man before he was felled by injury in 2010. He offers little as a pass-catcher, blocker or on special teams aside from returns.

What about 2011?: It all depends on what happens with Addai. He’s a free agent and the Colts have offered him a tender. Of course, we all know that those tenders will be meaningless under virtually any sort of reasonable CBA, but at least it shows him that the team wants him back. Addai is a gentlemanly, loyal sort, so it’s very likely he would re-sign. But if he doesn’t, the Colts could be sent into disarray at the position.

Plan Brown did not work out, but he is under contract, so he’ll be invited back to show us we’re all wrong. But the fact that he received no carries – actually no offensive snaps at all – against the Jets in the playoffs despite being healthy indicates he’s not a big part of the team’s future.

I think Rhodes has had the biscuit, but Polian love his old favorites, and it wouldn’t be out of the question for him to get an invitation to training camp. Hart’s also a free agent, and his lack of production and potential could prevent the Colts from re-signing him. More likely, is that they will give his spot to James, who does most of the same things only better and has a well-defined role as a short-yardage guy. Moore will be invited back, but just to defend his kick return job. Don’t expect to see him line up on offense.

Free agency: Forget it, the Colts rarely sign veteran free agents of any merit, and Polian has a belief that veteran backs are worthless backs.

Draft: If the Colts re-sign Addai, he’ll be the team’s featured back, for better or worse. If they don’t re-sign him, they would be scrambling for a feature back. Considering the needs on the offensive and defensive lines as well as safety, spending a top draft pick on a running back would be difficult (especially considering the fact that the Colts used two first-round picks on the position in the past five years). But if you look at the top twenty rushing leaders from 2010, you’ll notice that only seven of them were first-round picks. Great backs can be had later in the draft. This year, I really like Cal’s Shane Vereen, UConn’s Jordan Todman and Maryland’s Da’Rel Scott.

A few stats:

Rushing average
Rhodes 4.65
Hart 4.30
Addai 4.27
Brown 3.85
James 2.43
Moore -1.00

First-down percentage
Addai 26.72
Hart 23.26
Rhodes 21.62
Brown 20.16
James 19.57
Moore 0.00

Stuff percentage
Addai 8.62
James 8.70
Hart 9.30
Rhodes 10.81
Brown 12.40
Moore 50.00

Catch percentage
Hart 100.00
James 81.82
Addai 73.08
Brown 71.43
Rhodes 25.00

Average yards per reception
Brown 10.25
James 7.00
Addai 6.53
Hart 4.17
Rhodes 4.00

Average yards per target
Brown 7.32
James 5.73
Addai 4.80
Hart 4.17
Rhodes 1.00

YAC average
Brown 9.35
James 9.11
Addai 4.84
Hart 4.50
Rhodes 2.00

A note on fullbacks: Ain’t gonna happen.

New guys, other stuff

2010-05-24T15:14:00.001-04:00

The Colts signed three more players, here's a look:

Jordan Sisco WR Regina
Numbers: 5115/212, 1.56 ten, 2.59 twenty, 4.50 forty, 8 reps, 34-inch vertical, 9-7 broad jump, 4.38 shuttle, 9-inch hands, 29 7/8-inch arms*
2009 stats: 52-700-2 recieving, 25-74-0 rushing, 1-0-0-0-0 passing, 1-0-0 punt returns
Who he is: Another raw Canadian receiving prospect, so his best shot would appear to be the practice squad. Hope’s nowhere near the athlete Sam Giguere is, but appears to be a smoother receiver with good football intelligence. Unfortunately, he has no return experience.

Pete Ittersagen CB Wheaton
Numbers: 5102/189, 4.47 forty, 18 reps, 37-inch vertical, 9’10 broad jump, 6.60 three-cone, 4.32 shuttle*
2008 stats: 49 tackles, 15 assists, 3.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, 3-77-1 interceptions, 12 PBU, 1 forced fumble, 20-528-1 kick returns, 25-464-2 punt returns
Who he is: A D3 standout at corner who was an incredibly effective punt returner (65-1,075-5). Signed by the Jaguars out of Wheaton, he was a final cut. He’s a long shot for any CB work, but has to be considered a contender for the return specialist job because of his outstanding stop-start run skills. If it doesn’t work out, he already has a contract to play with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts.

Marlon Favorite DT LSU
Numbers: 6007/317, 1.74 ten, 2.66 twenty, 5.09 forty, 26 reps, 18.5-inch vertical, 7’0 broad jump, 5.27 shuttle, 8.02 three-cone*
2008 stats: 9 tackles, 19 assists, 3.5-14 TFL, 2.0-13 sacks, 2 PBU
Who he is: The Bills cut Favorite to make room for former Colts halfback Chad Simspon, so I like to think of it as a trade. Favorite is a hard-working guy with a great first step, but he appears to be lacking functional strength and pass-rushing technique. Because of his gifts, he has been signed by the Panthers, Rams, Chiefs, Seahawks, Saints and Bills in less than a calendar year. And because of his liabilities, he has been cut by all of them. Favorite is a good guy who graduated early and is a talented singer (performing under the name “Big Fav”), so I’m rooting for him. But until I see something new, he looks like a rotational injury replacement type to me.

*all numbers except Favorite’s reps are from Pro Days, not the Combine

In other news:

• It looks very much like third-round pick Kevin Thomas will miss his rookie season, and potentially even more. It’s a hard break for the kid, and it puts the team in a bind, too. Although the next man down on the depth chart would appear to be Terrail Lambert or draftee Ray Fisher, Thomas spot as No. 4 corner will more likely be taken by whichever of the corps of unknowns – Brandon King, Thad Turner, Jordan Hemby or Ittersagen. Lambert just isn’t a natural coverage guy, and I think Fisher is just too small and inexperienced at the position. This is a vital spot. Consider that the Titans’ No. 4 receiver is dynamic rookie Damian Williams, the Texans’ is wily David Anderson, the Jaguars’ is rapidly improving Jarrett Dillard and there are far more frightening options at that spot on the teams the Colts will meet in the playoffs.
• While I think it’s significant that Brandon James was given a receiver’s number (12) instead of a halfback’s, I don’t think it is that Trevor Anderson was given a linebacker’s (56), not an end’s. I also think James (Brandon, not Javarris) will be one of the most interesting players to watch in camp and the preseason.

Cuts

2010-05-06T22:29:00.002-04:00

The Colts cut tight end Jamie Petrowski and defensive end Rudolph Hardie. Both were considered legitimate prospects, but were made redundat by the Colts' draft and free agent signees. Best of luck to both.

2010-05-03T21:16:00.002-04:00

Roy Hall cut

2010-05-03T18:13:00.000-04:00

Well, at least that's one fewer candidates for the fifth receiver job. Sorry it didn't work out, Roy.

Add Three More

2010-04-30T17:00:00.001-04:00

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

2010-04-29T09:30:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-28T20:40:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-27T21:21:00.003-04:00

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

2010-04-26T12:17:00.004-04:00

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

2010-04-25T00:58:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-24T10:36:00.004-04:00

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

2010-04-23T16:27:00.005-04:00

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 ...

2010-04-23T11:42:00.001-04:00

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!

2010-04-22T19:26:00.014-04:00

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 ...

2010-04-22T15:56:00.002-04:00

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

Pre-Draft Note

2010-04-22T15:50:00.001-04:00

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

2010-04-21T15:15:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-21T10:49:00.002-04:00

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

2010-04-20T11:13:00.001-04:00

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

2010-04-16T17:20:00.001-04:00

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

2010-04-14T23:27:00.001-04:00

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)

2010-04-07T21:46:00.004-04:00

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

2010-04-01T12:16:00.002-04:00

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

Reading Polian's Mind

2010-03-23T17:51:00.002-04:00

Y’know, in spite of his reputation for trickery and deceit, Bill Polian usually gives none-too-subtle clues about who he’ll draft in the first round, or at least which position.

So if we look at what Polian has said about this draft:

1) He blamed the Super Bowl loss on the offensive line, and vowed to make it bigger and tougher. This is eerily reminiscent of what he said about the secondary after a playoff loss in 2004. Of course, in the 2005 draft he selected cornerbacks Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden in the first and second rounds. So you would suppose that the top pick is a lock to be an offensive lineman, until …
2) When commenting on the depth of this draft, Polian pointed out that the linemen depth in this draft is so strong, it would allow the Colts to grab a skill-position player who had fallen below where he should be picked. So now, they won’t grab an offensive lineman?

The other way to tell what position he intends to draft is that he has a habit of clearing roster space for top picks, guys he thinks are locks to make the team. So here’s a position-by-position look at what the Colts have now:

Quarterbacks
Elite starter: Manning
Solid starter: None
Potential starter: None
Role-player/veteran reserve: None
Worthwhile prospects: Painter
Special teams/fringe prospects: Willy
Players lost: Sorgi
Summary: Whether or not the Colts draft a quarterback depends on a) how long they think Manning will last, and b) if they believe Painter is the answer at No. 2. I think Manning’s got five more seasons, and Polian’s history says he likes to grab starting QBs in the first half of the first round after the team bottoms out. So with that theory out, what about Painter? Like it or not, I think the Colts believe in him.
Polian factor: Avoids drafting QBs unless he has to.

Runningbacks
Elite starter: None
Solid starter: Addai
Potential starter: Brown
Role-player/veteran reserve: Hart, Simpson
Worthwhile prospects: None
Special teams/fringe prospects: Moore
Players lost: None
Summary: Even though I’m not completely sold on either Addai or Brown, I don’t think Polian would ever draft three first-round backs in five years.
Polian factor: Loves getting backs other people don’t like as much as he does.

Wide Receivers
Elite starter: Wayne
Solid starter: Gonzalez, Garcon, Collie
Potential starter: None
Role-player/veteran reserve: None
Worthwhile prospects: Smith, Giguere, Matthews, Guice
Special teams/fringe prospects: None
Players lost: Baskett
Summary: A dedicated return man could make sense here, but that’d prolly be a late-round thing. Adam Schefter says that coach Jim Caldwell is considering four-wide sets, which could open up a need for a No. 5 guy.
Polian factor: Stockpiles wideouts of all shapes and sizes.

Tight Ends
Elite starter: Clark
Solid starter: None
Potential starter: None
Role-player/veteran reserve: Robinson
Worthwhile prospects: Tamme, Santi, Cloherty, Petrowski
Special teams/fringe prospects: None
Players lost: None
Summary: It’s probably too early to replace Clark, but I’d like to see better prospects here than what they have. Robinson starts most games, but he’s not a “starter” in the sense most fans mean when they say it.
Polian factor: Prefers wide receivers pretending to be tight ends.

Tackles (assuming Charlie Johnson is not moved inside)
Elite starter: None
Solid starter: Diem
Potential starter: Johnson, Terry
Role-player/veteran reserve: None
Worthwhile prospects: Ugoh
Special teams/fringe prospects: Cadogan
Players lost: Federkeil, Toudouze
Summary: There’s not a lot of talent here. Diem is good, but nearing the end. Johnson is out of place at tackle, and Terry’s just too injury-prone. I’d like to see a first- or second-round pick here.
Polian factor: Tends to grab small-school prospects and hope they’ll get coached up.

Centers and Guards
Elite starter: Saturday
Solid starter: None
Potential starter: DeVan, Alleman
Role-player/veteran reserve: None
Worthwhile prospects: Pollak, Thomas, Richard
Special teams/fringe prospects: None
Players lost: Lilja
Summary: Saturday is still a top center, but also nearing the end of his career. DeVan surprised many in his first year as a starter, but is not a sure thing. Alleman has all the tools, but has yet to put them together. Pollak and Richard have seen some action, but have generally be found wanting; and Thomas is a projection. If the Colts don’t bring in a starting quality tackle (or Terry doesn’t step up), allowing them to shift Johnson back to his natural guard position, I’d like to see an early pick here. Even if that does happen, I’d still like to see some new blood here.
Polian factor: Tends to grab small-school prospects and hope they’ll get coached up. Prefers college centers to guards for both positions in the pros.

Defensive Ends
Elite starter: Freeney, Mathis
Solid starter: None
Potential starter: None
Role-player/veteran reserve: Dawson
Worthwhile prospects: Baldwin, Hardie, Chick
Special teams/fringe prospects: None
Players lost: Brock
Summary: There’s no emergency here, but Freeney and Mathis are both getting older and worn-down, and there’s no obvious replacement on the roster. They could go here in the first, but I’d rather they waited and gambled on a boom-or-bust guy. Actually, they’ve done that lots of times before and the only time it’s worked out has been Mathis.
Polian factor: Can’t get enough pass-rushers, tends to gamble on college production as opposed to size, Combine numbers.

Defensive Tackles
Elite starter: None
Solid starter: None
Potential starter: Muir, Johnson
Role-player/veteran reserve: Foster
Worthwhile prospects: Moala, Gill, King
Special teams/fringe prospects: None
Players lost: Johnson
Summary: Foster’s the best performer here by a wide margin, but would be best served playing fewer snaps. People are raving about Muir and Johnson, but they really looked no better than adequate. None of the prospects really excites me. There are two ways Polian could go on this, either: a) I just drafted two DTs in the second and fourth last year, or b) I expected Big Ed to start, Moala to contribute and Taylor to at least make the team. Unfortunately, I think he’ll stand mostly pat, lean on the top three and hope one of the prospects to pan out. They will most likely draft a DT, but probably late unless a real gem falls to them.
Polian factor: Drafts DTs only reluctantly, and then tends to admire speed and quickness over size and strength.

Outside Linebackers
Elite starter: None
Solid starter: Session
Potential starter: Wheeler
Role-player/veteran reserve: None
Worthwhile prospects: Glenn, Renkart
Special teams/fringe prospects: None
Players lost: Hagler
Summary: The Colts never seemed that comfortable starting Wheeler, and neither of the prospects are anywhere near starting. Expect one or two picks here.
Polian factor: Drafts them in great numbers, but rarely high.

Inside Linebackers
Elite starter: None
Solid starter: Brackett
Potential starter: None
Role-player/veteran reserve: None
Worthwhile prospects: Humber
Special teams/fringe prospects: None
Players lost: Keiaho
Summary: Brackett’s signed for a while, and Humber has some talent, but his services may be required outside. If the Colts draft a middle linebacker, he’ll probably also be able to play outside as well.
Polian factor: Drafts them rarely.

Cornerbacks
Elite starter: None
Solid starter: Hayden, Powers
Potential starter: Lacey
Role-player/veteran reserve: None
Worthwhile prospects: None
Special teams/fringe prospects: Lambert
Players lost: Jackson, Jennings, Rushing
Summary: The top three are fine, but that’s what they are – three. The Colts usually go into a season with five NFL-quality CBs if they can. Look for them to draft at least one, probably early. Polian factor: To Polian, happiness is a new cornerback; he drafts them in droves.

Safeties
Elite starter: Bethea
Solid starter: None
Potential starter: Sanders, Bullitt
Role-player/veteran reserve: Silva
Worthwhile prospects: None
Special teams/fringe prospects: None
Players lost: Francisco
Summary: This is a position that looks like a pillar of strength, but it has its problems. Bethea is on a one-year tender, Sanders played just 75 snaps in 2009 because of one of his inevitable injuries and Bullitt was exposed in coverage often last season. Silva’s not a threat for too much playing time of defense. Getting a young prospect would really help here.
Polian factor: Can and will draft these guys anywhere.

So in conclusion, I have this to say: Your guess is as good as mine. Here's an updated list of the Colts picks to get you started:

1/31
2/63
3/94
4/129
5/162
7/238
7/240
7/246

Update

2010-03-19T11:00:00.000-04:00

Sorry I haven’t posted for a while, but it’s been busy here at ColtPlay HQ. Here are some points:

• I’m glad the Colts did not sign Richie Incognito. They need to get tougher and more fiery on the offensive line, but not psychotic.
• Yes, everybody but me is rejoicing Tim Jennings is gone. I always thought he got more criticism than he deserved. His career with the Colts will always be summed by one play – the goal-line stand in Super Bowl XLIV. He got there first, he delivered the hit that stopped the back and allowed bigger men to wrap him up. He got no stat and no credit, but without him, the Saints score. So long, Tim, we didn’t all hate you.
• The Chiefs signed Ryan Lilja. What a joke. They sign him out of college in 2004, cut him and try to stash him on the PS. The Colts grab him, he starts 59 games for them, plays in two Super Bowls, then wears out. He fails his physical with two bad knees, the Colts cut him and the Chiefs welcome him back with a $7.5 million deal. Way to go, KC.
• This is the point of the offseason when I normally start listing who the media is reporting who the Colts are looking at. But since they are so often wrong, I’m probably not going to. It works like this. The local yokel media see the Colts at their team’s pro day and report that they must be there to look at their team’s best player. An example? Take 2008 when the Colts went to the University of Buffalo’s pro day. The draft-oriented media reported en masse that the Colts were interested in Trevor Scott. Made sense, after all. The Colts love undersized pass-rushers from small schools, and Scott was easily the team’s best – or at least, most NFL-ready – player. Although the Colts may well have had some interest in Scott, but repeatedly decided not to draft him (he went to Oakland in the sixth). Instead, the Colts drafted his teammate Jamey Richard and signed another Bull, Ramon Guzman, the next day, and still another, Drew Willy, in 2009. So forgive me if I see the media report that the Colts are interested in James Madison’s Arthur Moats, and don’t post it immediately. Although they could well like Moats, they could just as easily be scouting fellow Dukes Dorian Brooks or Mike Caussin. Still, I am intrigued by their interest in Appalachian State’s Armanti Edwards.

More Adam Terry

2010-03-13T10:54:00.002-05:00

All kinds of blogs and forums are talking about Terry as a guard, and some even say that he played inside when he was with the Ravens and/or Syracuse. But this is what Terry himself said:

"I think I might have put myself in there one time when I was playing Madden, but that’s about the extent of my guard career."

Adam Terry signed!

2010-03-12T21:47:00.001-05:00

A few things Colts fans should know about Adam Terry:

He signed a one-year deal, so he’s unlikely viewed as a long-term answer. Still, if he looks awesome, he could be signed to a long-term deal.

In his five years in the NFL, injuries have limited him to 48 of 80 possible regular-season games. He has started 11 games, mostly at left tackle and a few at right tackle. He has allowed nine sacks and been flagged for nine penalties (eight false starts and one hold).

He looked much more effective and comfortable at left tackle than right.

Despite his incredible height, he has short arms. But it hasn’t seemed to hamper him.

Despite his incredible size, his strength and toughness are more often questioned than his balance, footwork or technique.

He’s from a nice little town in the Adirondacks.

Although he has played tight end in short-yardage sets, he has not played a single down at guard in the NFL.

He is considered a better pass blocker than run blocker, and I’d agree.

Injuries: 2009 (knee, 16 games); 2008 (knee, 3 games; concussion 1 game); 2007(ankle, 3 games) and 2005 (ankle, 9 games).

He played extensively on special teams for the Ravens.

He won Syracuse’s Ben Schwartzwalder Exemplary Football Player Award as a junior in 2004. And he also has a degree in history.

He’s a former DT.

He’s considered a good guy in the locker room and the community.

Ran a 5.32 at the Combine, but is a quick starter.

The first time I really noticed him in the NFL was in 2006 when star left tackle Jon Odgen went down after one series against the Steelers, and Terry stepped in. Terry totally neutralized Joey Porter who was Pittsburgh’s pass-rushing star at the time. I made a mental note.

In summary: Terry’s a left tackle who can play on the right side, but any projection of him at guard is just that, a projection (and who ever heard of a 6’8 guard?). If he stays in one piece, he could actually start at left tackle – really, he is that good a pass blocker – allowing Charlie Johnson to move inside and the Colts to groom a rookie to take over in 2011. Just as likely a scenario, though, is that he was signed to be a swing backup and third tight end – just like Dan Federkeil last season – perhaps giving the Colts enough depth to cut ties with Tony Ugoh.

Keeping up

2010-03-10T22:56:00.004-05:00

The big news today is that the Colts are actually looking at a starting-quality free agent. Adam Terry is huge (6080/334/5.32c in 2005) and strong, but is handicapped by short (32-inch) arms and a lack of durability have kept him from being an elite tackle. He’s looked very good when he has played at both right and left tackle (he has the feet for either position), but never really stayed healthy long enough to be a big-time contributor. I’d be happy if the Colts signed him. If he could stay in one piece, he could be a very nice addition, and he certainly fulfills Bill Polian’s mandate of getting bigger and nastier on the O-line.

Marlin Jackson is gone. He signed with the Eagles to play free safety for them. Good luck, Marlin, but you might want to tell your new employers you were much more effective outside than in.

AdamJT13 is a blogger who is uncannily accurate on predicting compensatory draft picks. This year, he says the Colts will get an extra seventh rounder. He also says there will be three awarded between the third and fourth rounds, none between the fourth and fifth, three between the fifth and sixth, six between the sixth and seventh. The Colts’ extra pick will be the third of the 15 awarded after the seventh round. If he’s correct (and he usually is), the Colts draft (trades notwithstanding) would look like this: 1/31, 2/63, 3/94, 4/128, 5/159, 7/224 and 7/228.

And the Colts also showed some interest in a guy who may be under most people’s radar. Mike Balogun (6015/250/4.75e) was a top inside linebacker prospect with the Oklahoma Sooners who lost his senior season’s eligibility because he participated in a semi-pro football league. He’s a good athlete who played very little in college, but showed some great athletic skills. He’d be a huge project, but could be worth it in the long run. Look for him to go undrafted and sign with the Colts as an UDFA.

Wisconsin OLB Jaevery McFadden (6011/230/e4.69) tells me he met with the Colts, among other teams.

A pick that makes sense

2010-03-09T12:23:00.002-05:00

Some weeks ago, I asked my 12-year-old son who the Colts would draft in the first round. He didn’t even take a second to think about it. “Iupati,” he said, as though it had already happened. I asked him why. “Didn’t you watch the Super Bowl?” he answered. And that was that.

And, you know what? The kid might be right, at least if Iupati lasts that long. He’s a natural left guard (the spot recently opened after the cutting of Ryan Lilja), but has the long arms and footwork to succeed at left tackle. He’s huge (6051/331), tough and strong and has a defensive player’s mentality. I watched him in the Senior Bowl, and he was dominant at left guard, but a little less so when asked to play on the right side.

Iupati is exactly what the Colts need, but it may just be too obvious a pick for Bill Polian.

In other news, the Colts signed a defensive end named JD Skolnitsky (6052/263/4.74pd).

Don’t worry if he’s under your radar. He played at a small school, James Madison, and was declared ineligible for his senior year (2009) because he was caught with a banned substance. As a junior defensive tackle, he stood out with 61 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 3 PBU, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery He signed with the Redskins out of college, and played fairly well for them in preseason at end. He was released by the new regime, and was claimed by the Colts.

He’s quick and strong, but doesn’t project as a top-of-the-line pass-rushing prospect. Instead, his best fit would be as a Raheem Brock-style base end who can slide inside on third down.

Skolnitsky, because he missed his senior year and is still thought of more as an undersized DT than a big DE, is as stealth as a prospect can be. But still, he’s got some decent raw material to work with, and is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Lilja cut!

2010-03-08T18:44:00.002-05:00

Lilja cut! Well, we knew it was gonna be one of them. I actually thought he played well last season, but he’s undersized and he was due a $1.73 million roster bonus. This clears up a couple of things. One, undersized and athletic is out, and big and nasty is in. It also means the Colts are short one starting offensive lineman. They could draft a guard in the first round and plug him into Lilja’s spot, or they could draft a tackle and slide Charlie Johnson into Lilja’s old left guard position. Either way, I think it means the Colts draft a big, ugly man in the first round.

Pass-blockers

2010-03-06T16:08:00.002-05:00

Pass-blocking success rates in 2009
Divide all pass blocks in which no sacks, QB hits or pressures were allowed for a success pas-block percentage. Keep in mind, centers and guards usually have higher scores.

Centers
Saturday 751/765 98.17
Richard 21/21 100.00

Guards
Lilja 735/765 96.08
DeVan 575/603 95.36
Pollak 192/200 96.00
Alleman 127/139 91.37

Tackles
Diem 706/747 94.51
Johnson 576/626 92.01
Ugoh 143/158 90.51
Toudouze 34/37 91.89
Federkeil 0/0 –

Overall ColtPlay pass-blocking score in 2009
This number is similar to above except sacks are worth three points, QB hits are worth two and pressures are worth one. I think it gives a clearer picture of each player’s actual effectiveness.

Centers
Saturday 18/765 97.65
Richard 21/21 100.00

Guards
Lilja 724/765 94.64
DeVan 563/603 93.37
Pollak 183/200 91.50
Alleman 122/139

Tackles
Diem 695/747 93.04
Johnson 561/626 89.62
Ugoh 138/158 87.34
Toudouze 33/37 89.19
Federkeil 0/0 – 87.77

Notes:
1. Players are listed in order of how many pass-blocks they performed at the position
2. Toudouze and Federkeil are currently free agents
3. Federkeil and Richard also played tight end in three tight end sets
4. Alleman’s numbers come from his time with the Chiefs last season, they should be taken with a grain of salt for several reasons

New signing: G Andy Alleman

2010-03-06T13:25:00.002-05:00

The newest Colt is former Dolphins and Chiefs guard Andy Alleman (6040/305/5.07c). He was the fourth choice at guard on a very poor Chiefs line last year, and did not distinguish himself. He played six games, starting three (Jacksonville, Oakland and Cleveland). He played 224 snaps (85 run/139 pass) and allowed 2 sacks, 1 hit and 9 pressures (91.37 percent success rate), and fared a little better as a run blocker. He looked awful against the Raiders’ Tommy Kelley, but quite good against the variety of Browns he faced. He had one false-start penalty.

The book on Alleman is that he is a strong and athletic young man, but has been slow to acquire good technique as an offensive lineman after having been switched from defensive line in college. His pro career has been hampered by being cut by the Saints, part of an army of guard prospects in Miami and then just one of the foot soldiers in the disaster that was the Chiefs’ o-line after he was traded to KC last year. When the Saints originally waived him, the Colts were one of seven teams to put in a waiver claim.

With time, patience and good coaching, he could be a viable swing backup at guard and center. Nice bargain-basement pickup. I know everyone is thinking Ryan Lilja right now, but Alleman is a very different kind of player.

Good morning free agency

2010-03-05T10:49:00.003-05:00

With Gary Brackett back in the fold and some key free agents – S Antoine Bethea, S Melvin Bullitt, T Charlie Johnson and DTs Dan Muir and Antonio “Mookie” Johnson – tendered, the offseason is beginning to shape up. Here’s a look at the remaining free agents:

WR Hank Baskett: His term in Indy was clearly over anyway

T Dan Federkeil: A Polian and Mudd pet project, but a spare part at best

S Aaron Francisco: His first year in Indy was a disaster, it’ll also be his last

OLB Tyjuan Hagler: Good-enough player on those rare occasions he’s healthy

CB Marlin Jackson: Former first-round pick started season as third corner, got hurt; Colts proved they could win just as easily without him

CB Tim Jennings: Not nearly as bad as the media and fans make him out to be, Jennings was, however, made redundant by the emergence of Jacob Lacey

ILB Freddy Keiaho: No longer seen as a viable starting option

CB T.J. Rushing: Added little on defense, appears to have lost his job as a returner

T Michael Toudouze: Career backup

Of course, that doesn’t mean none of them will be back. Neither Keiaho nor Hagler were tendered last year, and they returned. And Toudouze has been cut so many times, this non-tender probably doesn’t mean much to him.

In other news, the Colts released Jim Sorgi. I find this a tad surprising because Curtis Painter did little to make me think he has a future. Maybe they love Drew Willy.

And Raheem Brock Tweeted that he won’t be a Colts next season. That doesn’t surprise me at all. Not only did he have a poor season against both run and pass, he was scheduled to make $5.9 million in 2010.

So let’s look at the Colts depth chart, subtracting the non-tendered players, Sorgi, Brock and retired Matt Stover:

Quarterbacks
18 Manning, Peyton
7 Painter, Curtis
16 Willy, Drew

Runningbacks
29 Addai, Joseph
31 Brown, Donald
32 Hart, Mike
35 Simpson, Chad
00 Moore, Devin

Wide Receivers
87 Wayne, Reggie
11 Gonzalez, Anthony
85 Garcon, Pierre
17 Collie, Austin
10 Smith, Taj
14 Giguere, Sam
83 Matthews, John
00 Guice Jr., Dudley

Tight Ends
44 Clark, Dallas
47 Robinson, Gijon
86 Santi, Tom
84 Tamme, Jacob
46 Cloherty, Colin
80 Petrowski, Jamie

Tackles
71 Diem, Ryan
74 Johnson, Charlie
67 Ugoh, Tony
00 Cadogan, Gerald

Guards
65 Lilja, Ryan
66 DeVan, Kyle
78 Pollak, Mike
73 Thomas, Jaimie

Centers
63 Saturday, Jeff
61 Richard, Jamey

Defensive Ends
93 Freeney, Dwight
98 Mathis, Robert
96 Dawson, Keyunta
94 Baldwin, Ervin
97 Hardie, Rudolph
00 Chick, John

Defensive Tackles
90 Muir, Daniel
68 Foster, Eric
99 Johnson, Antonio
95 Moala, Fili
69 Gill, John
00 King, Mitch

Outside Linebackers
55 Session, Clint
50 Wheeler, Philip
52 Glenn, Cody
57 Renkart, Brandon

Inside Linebackers
58 Brackett, Gary
59 Humber, Ramon

Cornerbacks
26 Hayden, Kelvin
25 Powers, Jerraud
27 Lacey, Jacob
34 Lambert, Terrail

Safeties
21 Sanders, Bob
41 Bethea, Antoine
33 Bullitt, Melvin
40 Silva, Jamie

Kickers
4 Vinatieri, Adam

Punter
1 McAfee, Pat

Long Snapper
48 Snow, Justin

It looks as though defensive back has moved up the Colts list of draft needs, while defensive tackle has moved down. The Colts still need a long-term answer at left tackle, pass-rushing end to develop, a dedicated return man and to replenish the linebacking crew. I also wouldn’t mind another tight end.

Position Analysis: Tight Ends

2010-03-03T22:33:00.003-05:00

Next up in our positional analysis is the tight ends. So let’s start by running the tight ends through the same passing statistics car wash we did the receivers.

Keep in mind that some of these guys switch positions from time to time. Of Clark’s 1206 snaps, 996 (82.59 percent) were at tight end, 175 (14.51 percent) were at receiver (either slot or wide), 35 (2.90 percent) were in the backfield (people always say at fullback, but he actually lined up as a halfback in a split-backs set more often than at a true fullback spot 26 to 9). Robinson spent 293 (89.90 percent) of his snaps at tight end and the rest at the H-back; Tamme spent one of his 70 snaps split wide and another at fullback, while Santi and Cloherty were always lined up at tight end.

Going out there: Dividing total number of pass routes by total offensive snaps.

Tamme 48/68 70.59
Cloherty 13/21 61.90
Clark 632/1206 52.40
Santi 30/70 42.86
Robinson 72/326 22.09

Conclusion: Clark was in for most of the Colts’ plays and his run-pass ratio reflects that. Tamme is clearly utilized mostly as a pass receiver, while Robinson and – to a lesser extent – Santi were regarded more as blockers.

Getting open: Dividing the number of pass routes run by how many times the quarterback threw at him.

Santi 30/11 36.67
Clark 632/129 20.41
Robinson 72/14 19.44
Tamme 48/9 18.75
Cloherty 13/1 7.69

Conclusion: This is one of those stats that reflect the fact that Clark played almost every offense play, Robinson was in there for a decent chunk, while the other guys barely played. Of players who played 20 percent or more of the Colts’ offensive snaps, Clark was in first place in this category, with super receiver Reggie Wayne the only one even close.

Catching the ball: Dividing the number of catches by the number of times he was thrown to.

Cloherty 1/1 100.00
Clark 100/129 77.52
Santi 8/11 72.73
Robinson 9/14 64.29
Tamme 3/9 33.33

Conclusion: Again, Clark’s is the only important number here, and it’s very, very good.

Dropsy: Adding drops to catches to determine the number of catchable passes and dividing by drops. The bigger the number, the less often the guy drops.

Cloherty 1/0 –
Tamme 3/0 –
Clark 107/7 15.29
Robinson 10/1 10.00
Santi 9/1 9.00

Conclusion: Traditionally this has been an area of concern for Clark, and he was on or about his career average this season.

Yards per reception: Dividing yards gained by receptions.

Santi 110/8 13.75
Tamme 35/3 11.67
Clark 1106/100 11.60
Robinson 62/9 6.89
Cloherty 2/1 2.00

Conclusion: Except for the plodding Robinson, all of the tight ends scored well here by tight end standards. But it’s also a good example of how small statistical samples affect these sorts of stats. If you take out each player’s longest catch, their averages are: Santi 10.86, Tamme 7.00, Clark 10.63, Robinson 5.38, Cloherty 0.00.

Yards per target: Dividing total yards by how many times the receiver was targeted.

Santi 110/11 11.00
Clark 1106/129 8.99
Robinson 62/14 4.43
Tamme 35/9 3.89
Cloherty 2/1 2.00

Conclusion: Again this was skewed by sample size. Interestingly, Clark’s number was higher than any of the Colts’ wide receivers.

YAC: Dividing total YAC by receptions.

Clark 499/100 4.99
Santi 37/8 4.63
Tamme 12/3 4.00
Robinson 21/9 2.33
Cloherty 0/1 0.00

Conclusion: Again Clark put up great numbers here – he would have come in second among the receivers.

Routes: Taking yards per reception and subtracting average yards after the catch.

Santi 13.75-4.63 9.12
Tamme 11.67-4.00 7.67
Clark 11.60-4.99 6.61
Robinson 6.89-2.33 4.56
Cloherty 2.00-0.00 2.00

Conclusion: Santi’s numbers are distorted because of the one bomb he caught, but it is interesting to see that Tamme usually went deeper than Clark. But nobody should be surprised to see Robinson way behind.

Making ’em miss: Dividing receptions by missed tackles caused.

Clark 9/100 9.00
Robinson 0/9 0.00
Santi 0/8 0.00
Tamme 0/3 0.00
Cloherty 0/1 0.00

Conclusion: Herein is an example of why Clark is not like the other guys.

Moving the chains: Finding the percentage of catches that go for first downs.

Santi 6/8 75.00
Tamme 2/3 66.67
Clark 59/100 59.00
Robinson 3/9 33.33
Cloherty 0/1 0.00

Conclusion: Ugh, this stat has never meant much to me. I only include it because people would ask for it if I didn’t.

Sniffing the end zone: Determining the percentage of receptions that went for touchdowns.

Clark 10/100 59.00
Cloherty 0/1 0.00
Tamme 0/3 0.00
Santi 0/8 0.00
Robinson 0/9 0.00

Conclusion: I think this one kind of speaks for itself.

Up the middle: Simply a look at the player’s receiving production in the toughest part of the field:

Clark 18-145-0
Santi 1-22-0
Robinson 1-6-0
Cloherty 0-0-0
Tamme 0-0-0

Conclusion: See above.

Penalties: The first number is total penalties, the second is how many were declined or offset.

Clark 1-0
Santi 1-0
Robinson 1-1
Cloherty 0-0
Tamme 0-0

Conclusion: Nobody stood out here.

Pass blocking: Percentage of pass blocks that did not result in a sack, QB hit or pressure.

Tamme 1/1 100.00
Clark 113/119 94.96
Robinson 61/66 92.42
Santi 5/6 83.33
Cloherty 0/0 –

Conclusion: This is somewhat misleading – as blocking stats almost always are – because it makes Tamme look like the best pass-blocker of the lot and Santi the worst when the exact opposite is closer to the truth. Santi’s one sad attempt to stop Calvin Pace on his way to Curtis Painter skews his stats in a negative way just as much as the 31-yard bomb he caught distorts his receiving stats in a positive way. The fact is that none of the Colts tight ends will remind you of an extra tackle – and when the Colts go with three tight ends on short yardage, the third is an offensive lineman like Dan Federkeil or Jamie Richard. Robinson and Cloherty block like the fullbacks they were in college, Clark and Tamme like the bulked up receivers they are and Santi more like a traditional tight end. But he is not that far ahead of the others.

Run blocking: When it comes to run blocking, I just have to use the old eyeball test. Actually, I have pages and pages of data that have to be cross-referenced but they are even more goofy, vague and misleading than pass-blocking stats. I factor them into my opinion, but they are not worth sharing here. Instead here are the tight ends ranked from best to worst in my opinion.

Robinson
Cloherty
Santi
Clark
Tamme

Conclusion: Robinson and Cloherty block like fullbacks on running plays too – great when on the move or downfield, but not so impressive in-line. The others don’t add much, although Clark is better in this regard than he is usually described as.

And I always include a few statistical odds and ends.

Clark and Santi both fumbled once. Clark ran twice for 11 yards. Tamme had seven special-teams tackles and two assists.

Conclusion: Tamme is effective on kick coverage units, missing just one tackle all year.
So let’s move onto the players on hand.

Dallas Clark
(6033/257/4.65c in 2003)
The consensus these days seems to be that a star tight end is a receiver first and blocker second. And Clark certainly fits that mold, and is maybe the best in the biz. His numbers would make most teams’ No. 1 receiver proud. He’s a deep threat, he’ll go over the middle, he’s a blitz outlet, he can take a screen all the way, he’s a red zone target ... in short, Clark is everything you want from a receiver. And his blocking is better than many critics would have you believe.

Gijon Robinson
(6006/255/4.71c in 2007)
Robinson plays like the hard-working small-school fullback he was. He has good hands but has a hard time getting open, which makes him a dump-off option only who adds little after the catch. He blocks well on the move and downfield, but not so great on the line. Oh, and you can forget that Combine forty, he plays nowhere near that fast. But he is the kind of guy you want on the roster ... as a No. 3 tight end, not the No. 2 he is now. One thing to note about Robinson: People talk about starters as though they are so much better than non-starters. That’s true when it comes to quarterbacks and offensive linemen, but not always true at other positions. Robinson started 10 games last season, and Austin Collie started five. But Collie played 908 snaps and looked like a major offensive weapon, while Robinson played 326 snaps and looked like a spare part.

Tom Santi
(6034/250/4.80c in 2008)
After the 2008 draft when everyone was going nuts over Tamme, I was more excited by Santi. My reasoning was this: Tamme was a skinny, no-block pass-catcher while Santi was a bulkier, more complete tight end. Since Clark had the pass-catching role taken care of ably and Robinson had a shakier hold on the other spot, I thought Santi had the better chance to make a case for playing time. It didn’t happen. Nagging injuries bedevilled Santi, and even when healthy, he ha s only shown flashes. He’ll get another chance to prove he belongs, but tight end No. 3 is not a position that offers a great deal of job security.

Jacob Tamme
(6034/236/4.58c in 2008)
A lot of Colts fans were excited when they drafted Tamme in 2008, based on his immense production at Kentucky. But there was always the nagging question – is he a big, slow wide receiver or a skinny, no-block tight end? So far, he hasn’t really been either. Injuries have been a problem, but with so many other receiving options, Tamme has not really had a chance to make a case for himself. He has shown some ability on kick coverage teams, but not enough to guarantee himself a roster spot. Tamme may have a hard time sticking for a third season, unless he steps up and shows he can fill a defined role.

Colin Cloherty
(6021/245/4.78pd in 2009)
I know what you’re thinking: a slow, Ivy League fullback? Sign me up! Actually Cloherty has great hands, plays with football intelligence and is stronger than his size would indicate. He has a tough road ahead of him, but could well outlast players with much more hype.

Jamie Petrowski
(6037/248/4.75e in 2006)
This is what I said about Petrowski almost a year ago:

You guys probably know more about this old Sycamore than I do. But I have seen him — mostly when he was a Titan in the preseason — so I know a little. Petrowski has good hands and vision, and is a some natural run-after-the catch instincts. He’s a load to bring down with the ball in his hands, but he’s not exactly Tony Gonzalez when it comes to getting open. As a blocker, he’s a big strong lad who shows potential, but not much refinement in that area. He’s sort of the odd man out in this little group because he’s more of a traditional complete tight end.

That’s all still true, but you also have to factor in the horrific injury that wiped out his 2009 season.

Conclusion: There’s a temptation to think of the Colts’ tight ends as superstar Clark and a bunch of guys. Give in to that temptation, because it’s true. Robinson holds on to his “starting” role because the Colts have no other realistic option. Santi and Tamme still have much of the potential they had when they were drafted, but their injuries and lack of production have put their futures in jeopardy. Cloherty is a long shot, but the kind the Colts like. Keep an eye on him. And it’s nice to have Petrowski around.

But, if I may paraphrase the old adage, if you have five guys who could be your No. 2 tight end, you don’t really have a No. 2 tight end. I really think the Colts will draft a tight end this year. Bill Polian will salivate at the pass catchers, but cooler minds will suggest a more complete player to complement Clark.

Position Analysis: Receivers

2010-03-01T17:29:00.004-05:00

Okay, here’s a longer, more serious positional analysis. Let’s talk receivers, both wide and slot. While some guys argue that another site told them that Player A’s PVR is higher that Player B’s PDA, I look at a variety of stats and use my own eyes and experience to come up with an opinion.

Here’s a little sample of how I rate wide receivers:

The first category is about getting open or, at least, how much the quarterback trusts him. Either way, it’s a good thing. It’s not very scientific, but I came at the number by how many dividing the number of pass routes run by how many times the quarterback threw at him.

Wayne 732/146 19.95
Collie 634/85 13.41
Baskett 75/10 13.33
Garçon 672/88 13.10
Giguere 20/2 10.00
Gonzalez 8/0 0.00

Conclusion: Peyton Manning, of course, relies a great deal on Wayne, and he is very good at getting open. I wasn’t really surprised to see Collie edge Garçon on this because of his time in the slot, but it was a shock to see Baskett so high. At least it was until I realized that the majority of Baskett’s routes (and virtually) all of his targets came when he was playing with Curtis Painter, often as his best or second-best receiver. Gonzo only ran eight routes, so he can be forgiven. You know what, you can pretty well ignore any of his stats this season.

This is kind of going in a different direction, but the most traditional way of see how well a guy catches, you divide the number of catches by the number of times he was thrown to.

Collie 85/60 70.59
Wayne 146/100 68.49
Garçon 88/47 53.41
Baskett 10/4 40.00
Giguere 2/0 0.00
Gonzalez 0/0 –

Conclusion: Both Collie and Wayne had extraordinary years in this category. Collie’s was inflated some by his running shorter routes and, conversely, Garçon’s was brought down by his running longer routes (which we’ll get to later). Still, Garçon’s is low even for his type of routes and the old eyeball test tells me his concentration varies from play to play and that he makes circus catches and also whiffs on a few easy ones. He should improve. Baskett and Giguere are hard to judge because they weren’t getting Manning’s tight spirals, but Painter’s wobbly lobs. Over his career, Baskett’s generally been okay in this category.

Another way to look at hand quality is to see how often he drops the ball when he could have caught it. So I added drops to catches to determine the number of catchable passes and divided by drops. The bigger the number, the less often the guy drops.

Wayne 103/3 34.33
Collie 53/3 17.67
Garçon 51/4 12.75
Baskett 5/1 5.00
Giguere 0/0 –
Gonzalez 0/0 –

Conclusion: Wow. Wayne has long had a rep as a guy who won’t break your heart, and he was great last season. Collie and Garçon were about average in this category, and, well, Baskett can always blame Painter.

Here’s an oldie but a goodie, average yards per reception. Just divide yards gained by receptions and you can see ... well ... lots of things.

Garçon 765/47 16.28
Wayne 1264/100 12.64
Collie 676/60 11.27
Baskett 28/4 7.00
Giguere 0/0 0.00
Gonzalez 0/0 0.00

Conclusion: Garçon’s a deep threat. Yep, he sure is.

Here’s one I find more interesting. Instead of looking at how many yards a receiver gained for every catch he made, I like looking at how many yards the guy gained for every time he’s thrown at. So I took total yards and divided them by how many times the receiver was targeted.

Garçon 765/88 8.69
Wayne 1264/146 8.66
Collie 676/84 8.05
Baskett 28/10 2.80
Giguere 0/2 0.00
Gonzalez 0/0 –

Conclusion: Although the top three were all close, I was surprised to see Garçon’s longer receptions outdo Wayne’s better hands in this category.

And, of course, there’s always YAC – yards after the catch. This is a valuable stat that shows how elusive the receiver is after he catches the ball. I simply divided total YAC by receptions.

Garçon 290/47 6.17
Wayne 440/100 4.40
Collie 251/60 4.18
Baskett 3/4 0.75
Giguere 0/0 0.00
Gonzalez 0/0 –

Conclusion: Garçon’s incredible football speed – he ran a 4.42 at the combine, but plays a lot faster – combined with the fact that he usually caught in less traffic contribute to his great numbers in this category.

And, although it probably should have shown up higher on this list, here’s an indicator of what kind of routes these guys are running. If you take yards per reception and subtract average yards after the catch, you can see where these guys, on average, caught their passes.

Garçon 16.28-6.17 10.11
Wayne 12.64-4.40 8.24
Collie 11.27-4.18 7.09
Baskett 7.00-0.75 6.25
Giguere 0.00-0.00 0.00
Gonzalez -- - -- --

Conclusion: Once again, we see that Garçon is a deep threat, Collie gets the short stuff in traffic and Wayne does both. Garçon’s average route is more than 10 yards downfield, while Collie’s are just a little more than two-thirds as long.

This is another YAC-related one. By dividing receptions by missed tackles caused, you can see how often each guy makes defenders miss. I know it’s contrived, but it’s also interesting.

Garçon 47/4 11.75
Wayne 100/7 14.28
Collie 60/3 20.00
Baskett 4/0 --
Giguere 0/0 --
Gonzalez 0/0 –

Conclusion: Again the superfast Garçon comes out on top.

And here’s one lots of people like, but I’ve never been all that crazy about – percentage of catches that go for first downs.

Wayne 73/100 73.00
Garçon 33/47 70.21
Collie 37/60 61.67
Baskett 1/4 25.00
Giguere 0/0 --
Gonzalez 0/0 –

Conclusion: The top three guys are pretty good at moving chains.

The next stat looks at how well they sniff the end zone. It’s found by determining the percentage of receptions that went for touchdowns.

Collie 7/60 11.67
Wayne 10/100 10.00
Garçon 4/47 8.51
Baskett 0/4 0.00
Giguere 0/0 --
Gonzalez 0/0 –

Conclusion: I did notice that Manning was looking for Collie in the red zone, especially as the year went on. Garçon’s TDs came from 48, 53, 29 and 9 yards out – further indication that he’s a deep threat, not a red-zone guy.

And here's one used to measure toughness, how productive was he in the middle where safeties love to lay the wood.

Collie 15-184-4
Wayne 5-65-1
Garçon 1-14-0
Baskett 0-0-0
Giguere 0-0-0
Gonzalez 0-0-0

Conclusion: Collie does not fear the middle. Garçon just might.

I always like to look at penalties no matter what the position, just to get an indication of the player’s discipline and concentration. The first number is total penalties, the second is how many were declined or offset.

Garçon 9-2
Wayne 4-1
Collie 3-1
Baskett 0-0
Giguere 0-0
Gonzalez 0-0

Conclusion: Garçon’s youth and small-school background worked against him here, I think. He also had a penalty on special teams.

When it comes to blocking, I just have to use the old eyeball test. Here they are from best to worst.

Collie
Garçon
Wayne
Gonzalez
Baskett
Giguere

Conclusion: All of these guys make an effort, but Collie’s superior upper-body strength helps him. Giguere’s rating could change with more exposure, but he was whiffing against the Bills.

And I always include a few statistical odds and ends.

Garçon fumbled once, Garçon ran twice for 10 yards, Collie ran twice for 1 yard, Collie returned a kick 8 yards, Baskett had on special-teams assisted tackle

Conclusion: These guys don’t do a lot on special teams.

So let’s move onto the players on hand.

Reggie Wayne
(6000/198/4.45c in 2001)
While Wayne may have been edged out in a few of those stats, he is a far better player than any of them. Keep in mind that he’s the guy that sees the Darrelle Revises of the world and nets double and even triple coverage at times. Despite not having any measurable superlatives, Wayne is one of the NFL’s best and most productive receivers. Although he didn’t become a full-time starter until midway through his third season and he played in Marvin Harrison’s shadow for years after that, Wayne has averaged 75.1 catches, 1,043.7 yards and 7.0 touchdowns a season throughout his nine-year career. Signed through the 2011 season, there’s no reason to believe he won’t continue to be immensely productive.

Pierre Garçon
(5117/210/4.42c in 2008)
A sixth-round pick out of DIII powerhouse Mount Union, Garçon showed promise as a rookie catching four passes for 23 yards and returning 22 kicks for 475 yards. He entered 2009 camp competing with Collie and the since-departed Roy Hall for the third receiver spot. He lost to Collie, who seemed better suited to inside work, and became the top backup at all three spots. When Gonzalez was injured in the first regular season game, Garçon took over and put up numbers similar to what the Colts expected of Gonzalez in the regular season and he looked great in the playoffs. With Gonzalez back at full-speed, it looks like the pair will battle for the No.2 outside spot. Garçon’s advantage is that he’s much more explosive.

Austin Collie
(6007/200/4.56c/4.53pd in 2009)
A fourth-round pick few expected much from right away, he showed a great deal of maturity (because of a Mormon mission, he came out at 23) and won the slot receiver outright. His ascent demonstrates the inherent differences between wide receivers and slot receivers. Garçon is faster, a better leaper and more likely to make the circus catch, while Collie has more consistent hands, short-area quickness and a stronger upper body to fight for the ball. If the competition were held again today, Collie would again win, even though we have all seen how productive Garçon can be. But, if the same competition were held outside, Garçon would come out on top. One runs flies and posts, the other makes his money running hooks and slants. So Collie has a good hold on the slot spot, unless Gonzalez loses his bid for an outside position, Unlike either Collie and Garçon, Gonzalez is comfortable in either spot, so he could edge Collie out.

Anthony Gonzalez
(6000/193/4.44c in 2007)
A former first-round pick, Gonzalez was an undisputed starter heading into 2009, but suffered a season-ending right knee injury in the first game. It’s not a huge statistical survey, but it’s important to note that of 13 offensive snaps Gonzalez was healthy in 2009, Wayne played 13, Gonzalez 12, Collie two and Garçon none. Based on his previous production, the Colts can look for a cross between Garçon and Collie. Comfortable either inside or out, Gonzalez has recorded high catch rates (67-73 percent) and decent per-catch averages (11.65-15.57) and shown speed, hands, good cuts, but an annoying tendency to drop some easy ones. He will definitely expect a starting role when he’s healthy enough to reassume one, but he’ll have to beat out Garçon or Collie to get one.

Hank Baskett
(6027/224/4.50c in 2006)
The book on Baskett when he arrived in Coltland as a veteran injury replacement after Gonzalez went down was that he was competent, but not special. He was fast, but didn’t play fast. He was big, but didn’t play big. He was hampered to some extent by playing with Curtis Painter at QB, but didn’t look great at any time. In truth Baskett looked like he ended his tenure with the Colts when he muffed the Saints onside-kick attempt in the Super Bowl. In the unlikely event they do ask him back, he’d have a hard time getting any PT after the emergence of Garçon and Collie and the return of Gonzalez.

Samuel Giguere
(5110, 220, 4.41pd in 2008)
There’s raw, then there’s really raw, then there was Giguere when he came out. He played his home games in an 8,000-seat stadium for Le Vert & Or (The Green and Gold) at the Université de Sherbrooke, about a two-hour drive from Montreal in a part of Quebec called the Eastern Townships. There are different rules, a different ball and a different-sized field. But it’s not impossible to make the jump. Former Colts second rounder Jerome Pathon (a South African by birth) played in the CIS before jumping to the NCAA. Lots of Colts fans like Giguere because of his interesting story and his bod-builder physique, but he’s still a long shot. He’s been on the Practice Squad for most of two years now, and has played one regular season game. Interestingly, that game was in deep snow, something Giguere should be used to. He didn’t catch either of the passes Painter shot-put his way, but he was the team’s primary kick returner, and did a decent job. He recorded 5-122-0 on returns of 11, 31, 36, 18 and 26 yards. He also made a nice attempt to down a punt at the Bills’ 8-yard line, but it bounced away from him. And it looks very much like special teams will be Giguere’s ticket to playing in the NFL. He has the look of a gunner, but may have to earn his spot by winning the kick return job outright. He has some of the attributes you look for in a returner, but did not excel at the position in college ... sorry, université.

Taj Smith
(6003/187/4.59c4.43pd in 2008)
Colts fans underestimate Smith because they don’t know much about him other than his Combine forty and his arrest. But Colts players and coaches talk about how athletic he is and what a great guy he is. Smith was productive in a bad offense at Syracuse, and could well emerge after spending most of the last two seasons on the Colts Practice Squad. But the reality of the situation is that the Colts already have four starting-quality receivers and almost never play four wide; and when they do, that fourth is usually tight end Dallas Clark. So to make the team, Smith (et al) would have to look outstanding as a receiver or at least very, very good on specials.

John Matthews
(5113/200/4.52pd in 2009)
The Colts signed Matthews as an undrafted free agent and he spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad. He’s a similar player to Collie in that he’s neither fast nor big, but shifty with good hands and very, very productive in college (195-3,615-50). The difference would appear to be that Collie’s strength and determination put him on a somewhat higher level. Although Matthews doesn’t look like he’ll offer much on specials, he could win a spot on receiving ability alone. Look at the preseason, Smith caught 5 of 11 passes thrown his way for 59 yards and one touchdown and Giguere was not thrown at once, while Matthews caught 7 of 9 for 85 and no scores. His best shot would be to convince the Colts they need a backup slot guy even though they have Collie and Gonzalez on hand.

Dudley Guice Jr.
(6024/209/4.40pd in 2009)
What can I say about Guice that hasn’t already been written? He actually has a good shot to earn the No. 5 position because he has a very high ceiling as a receiver and has a special-teams mentality. He’s worth developing, and his special-teams ability could keep him on the roster, rather than the Practice Squad.

Conclusion: There is a lot of premium talent here, but also a ton of impending competition. Wayne is safe at No. 1. Gonzalez will have to fight Garçon and Collie for playing time, and it could well be quite a scrap in either case. The fifth receiver spot is open, and the Colts have collected a number of well qualified candidates (did you know that Smith, Giguere, Matthews and Guice all graduated before they signed with the Colts?) to take over. It’s unlikely the Colts will draft another receiver – but you never know with Bill Polian at the helm – but they will bring in some UDFAs.

Position Analysis: Quarterbacks

2010-03-01T14:45:00.002-05:00

All the other sites are doing position analyses, so ColtPlay will take a shot too. Here's No. 1:

I was going to do a whole big quarterback positional analysis with lots of numbers and everything, but I think I can condense it. Look at it this way: If the Colts play all 16 games with their current players and try to win each of them, with Peyton Manning behind center, I’d expect they win 14 to 16; with Jim Sorgi, it would be 7 or 8; and with Curtis Painter 0 to 2. Manning and Sorgi are in the plateau of their careers in which they are unlikely to show much improvement or decline right away. Painter is at the beginning of his pro career, but must make huge mental strides (like not panicking at the snap of every play) to make any progress as an NFL player.

Early look at needs

2010-02-27T15:14:00.003-05:00

Let’s not kid ourselves. The Colts will not be players in veteran free agency. Only very rarely have they ever been, and it doesn’t look like they will be this year either. So if they are adding players, it will be through the draft and undrafted free agents. So let’s take a look at the Colts’ personnel at every position to see who they might draft. Of course, I’m not predicting that these are the guys they’ll draft, just what kind of guys you can expect.

Quarterbacks
Get serious. Peyton Manning is one of the best quarterback in NFL history and not slowing down. Do you think you replace him with the 31st pick? Nope, the Colts will replace him after he falls apart or retires and they go 1-15 to earn pick No. 1 and grab ... who knows, does Peyton have a son? And I don’t think they’re looking for a backup either. Jim Sorgi’s a free agent, but he’s pretty much assured to come back. Oh, and there’s Curtis Painter, last year’s draft pick, and a guy named Drew Willy. Need: I’m pretty certain they won’t draft anyone, but they are likely to invite a big-armed small-schooler to camp.

Runningbacks
In truth, the Colts don’t really have a go-to back, but they do have two recent first rounders still under contract, so don’t expect to see a pick used here. Need: I’d love to see them draft a big bruiser who’d be more of a sure-thing on short yardage, but they won’t do it. The only way I can see them going after a back would be if there was a potentially great return man available near the end of the second day.

Wide Receivers
The Colts play three wide more often than any team in the league, but four wide less than any team in the league, yet they have four starting quality receivers already on the roster in Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie. And they have a bunch of really interesting prospects beyond that. Need: As with runningback, they are likely only to grab a wide receiver if a return specialist who can also help on coverage units pops up.

Tight Ends
While it is true that the Colts have a premier tight end in Dallas Clark, keep in mind that the Colts play with two tight ends on about 35 percent of all offensive plays, and Clark goes into the slot or splits wide with stunning regularity. Incumbent No. 2, Gijon Robinson, works hard but would probably be a better No. 3. And recent draft picks Jacob Tamme and Tom Santi have offered little. Need: The Colts could well spend a mid-round pick on an all-purpose tight end to push the guys they have.

Tackles
Left tackle might be the Colts’ weakest position. Charlie Johnson tries really hard, but he’s a natural guard playing way out of position. The guy he took over for – Tony Ugoh – has all the tools, but lacks the all-important instincts and aggressiveness necessary for the position. It looks like his ship has sailed. And while I don’t agree with all the criticism headed right tackle Ryan Diem’s way, he’ll be a well-worn 31 years old by the time the season rolls around. The other guys on the roster – Michael Toudouze, Dan Federkeil and Gerald Cadogan – don’t appear to be serious contenders to start. Need: I would be very surprised if the Colts did not pick a left tackle prospect on the first day of the draft. Look for quick, athletic types to draw their interest but for the Colts also to try to get bigger and more aggressive at the position.

Guards
The plan lasts season was to start veteran Ryan Lilja with 2008 second-round pick Mike Pollak. But Pollak was not great as a pass blocker and just awful as a run blocker, so he lost his job to unheralded former Arena2 player Kyle DeVan. He did better, but looks more like a very solid No. 3 than a guy you want starting. Lilja played well, but has been bothered by injuries. Jaimie Thomas, a seventh-round pick from 2009 is a long shot. Need: It would not shock me if the Colts selected a massive guard with a mean streak in the middle rounds.

Centers
Starter Jeff Saturday is still amazing, but will be 35 when the season begins. His backup, Jamey Richard, would have to add strength to become an effective starter. Need: The Colts like college centers at guard – Lilja and Pollak were primarily centers in college, and former Colts starting guard Jake Scott also played there – so they could draft one or two. One could play guard, while the other could challenge Richard to be Saturday’s heir apparent. How about a guy like: Hawaii’s John Estes in the sixth (compensatory)?

Defensive Ends
Casual observers would say the Colts are set at DE with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. But Freeney will be 30 when the season starts and has been losing time to nagging injuries in recent years, while Mathis has a lot of wear and tear on his undersized 29-year-old frame. Raheem Brock was a disaster this year, and is likely to be cut. His $5.89 million projected salary certainly doesn’t help his cause. Keyunta Dawson was a starting DT in 2008, and was supposed to help at DE, but he added nothing as a pass-rusher (four pressures in 159 rushes) and little against the run. He’s not the answer. The prospects aren’t that much to get excited about, although Chick could become a situational pass rusher. Need: It’s not urgently pressing, but a potential starter would be nice. It’d be even better if Chick was that guy.

Defensive Tackles
A year after spending to high draft picks at defensive tackle, the Colts are hardly any better. And if they are, it’s not because of the draft picks. The best player at the position is Eric Foster, but at 265 pounds on game day, the Colts would be better off spotting him and keeping him out of obvious run situations. The other spot was usually occupied by Daniel Muir or Antonio “Mookie” Johnson. Both are much bigger men than Foster, but not as effective. Muir is more solid against the run, but offers little pass rush, while Johnson’s a better pass-rusher who is not very good at defending the run. Both have injury concerns, and Johnson also has a problem with penalties. Behind them is 2009 second-rounder Fili Moala (the fourth-rounder, Terrance Taylor, was cut in camp and is now hoping to catch on with his hometown Lions), who played sparingly as a rookie and looked pretty bad. A non-factor against the run, he showed a faint spark as a pass rusher, but in general looked like he was overmatched and lacking in fundamental strength. I know it takes a while for many DTs to develop, but right now he looks like he’ll never make a difference in the NFL. Need: I hate to say it, but I still wouldn’t mind at least one new starter, which would allow Foster to play more sparingly.

Outside Linebackers
Colts fans love starting weakside backer Clint Session; but in reality, he’s a hot and cold player with major problems when it comes to play recognition and is not great in coverage. The Colts wanted to pair him with former second-round pick Philip Wheeler out of camp, but Wheeler wasn’t up to it. Instead, slow but steady veteran Tyjuan Hagler stood in. He played well in both coverage and run stopping, but went down after the seventh game. In fact, Hagler’s played in only 37 of a possible 80 regular-season games as a Colt, so it’s unlikely they put much faith in him in 2010. Wheeler then took the spot, and was decent in coverage, but was thrown around against the run and was a sloppy tackler. The top reserve was undrafted rookie Ramon Humber, who didn’t embarrass himself, but didn’t make any believers either. Need: The Colts have never shown this position much respect draft wise, and it’s too early to call Wheeler a bust. But you’ll see someone added here, unless they see more in Humber than I do.

Inside Linebackers
Gary Brackett is in the top half of starting NFL inside linebackers. And his production is augmented by his locker room presence. His primary backup in 2009 was former weakside starter Freddy Keiaho, who’s an okay player but no threat to start inside or out. Humber also played here and looked better than he did outside. Brackett is an unrestricted free agent and the Colts have decided not to put the franchise tag on him, so he’ll be free to negotiate in the first week of March. More likely, the Colts will re-sign him before he hits the open market. Need: In the unlikely event Brackett signs elsewhere, this position becomes the team’s primary need. Should he re-sign, however, they’ll be looking at a prospect to develop.

Cornerbacks
A number of injuries tested the Colts’ depth at this position, and the replacements stood up surprisingly well. Incumbent starters Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson both missed time, which opened up spots for rookies Jerraud Powers (third round) and Jacob Lacey (undrafted), who played much better than expected. Tiny veteran Tim Jennings also played extensively. He was inconsistent, but generally graded out okay. Need: Jackson and Jennings are both free agents, but the Colts have shown they can win without either. They could draft a corner if they lose one or both, but I don’t see it.

Safeties
Heading into the 2009 season, the Colts had two great safeties in Bob Sanders and Antoine Bethea and a proven backup in Melvin Bullitt. But as had happened so many times before, Sanders went on injured reserve. Bethea played great, but Bullitt was exposed – especially in coverage – as not quite up to starter quality. Behind them are slow but strangely effective Jamie Silva and free agent mistake Aaron Francisco. Need: Sanders can’t be relied upon, and Bullitt is probably not the long-term answer. I wouldn’t mind seeing another developmental type here.

Depth Chart

2010-02-24T18:18:00.003-05:00

Quarterbacks
18 Manning, Peyton
12 Sorgi, Jim (IR)
7 Painter, Curtis
16 Willy, Drew

Runningbacks
29 Addai, Joseph
31 Brown, Donald
32 Hart, Mike
35 Simpson, Chad
00 Moore, Devin

Wide Receivers
87 Wayne, Reggie
11 Gonzalez, Anthony (IR)
85 Garcon, Pierre
17 Collie, Austin
81 Baskett, Hank (URFA)
10 Smith, Taj
14 Giguere, Sam
83 Matthews, John
00 Guice Jr., Dudley

Tight Ends
44 Clark, Dallas
47 Robinson, Gijon
86 Santi, Tom (IR)
84 Tamme, Jacob
46 Cloherty, Colin
80 Petrowski, Jamie

Tackles
71 Diem, Ryan
74 Johnson, Charlie (URFA)
67 Ugoh, Tony
76 Federkeil, Daniel (RFA/IR)
75 Toudouze, Michael
00 Cadogan, Gerald

Guards
65 Lilja, Ryan
66 DeVan, Kyle
78 Pollak, Mike
73 Thomas, Jaimie

Centers
63 Saturday, Jeff
61 Richard, Jamey

Defensive Ends
93 Freeney, Dwight
98 Mathis, Robert
79 Brock, Raheem
96 Dawson, Keyunta
94 Baldwin, Ervin
97 Hardie, Rudolph
00 Chick, John

Defensive Tackles
90 Muir, Daniel (ERFA)
68 Foster, Eric
99 Johnson, Antonio (ERFA)
95 Moala, Fili
69 Gill, John
00 King, Mitch

Outside Linebackers
55 Session, Clint
56 Hagler, Tyjuan (URFA/IR)
50 Wheeler, Philip
52 Glenn, Cody
57 Renkart, Brandon

Inside Linebackers
58 Brackett, Gary (UFA)
54 Keiaho, Freddy (URFA)
59 Humber, Ramon

Cornerbacks
26 Hayden, Kelvin
25 Powers, Jerraud
28 Jackson, Marlin (URFA/IR)
23 Jennings, Tim (URFA)
27 Lacey, Jacob
20 Rushing, T.J. (URFA)
34 Lambert, Terrail

Safeties
21 Sanders, Bob (IR)
41 Bethea, Antoine (URFA)
33 Bullitt, Melvin (RFA)
40 Silva, Jamie
43 Francisco, Aaron (URFA)

Kickers
4 Vinatieri, Adam
3 Stover, Matt (UFA)

Punter
1 McAfee, Pat

Long Snapper
48 Snow, Justin

Key
IR=Ended the season on Injured Reserve
UFA=Scheduled to become an unresticted free agent
URFA=Scheduled to become an unresticted free agent, but would have been a restricted free agent under the old CBA
RFA=Scheduled to become a resticted free agent
ERFA=Scheduled to become an exclusive-rights free agent

Future Colts

2010-02-24T16:26:00.001-05:00

For ColtPlay’s triumphantly quiet return and 2010 debut, let’s take a quick look at the players signed to future contracts.

Gerald Cadogan OT (6051/309/4.99c): Lots of Colts fans are excited by this guy, but you’ll forgive me if I am, at best, reserved. I’ve just been around too long to get really heated up over this sort of thing. Every year, there’s some guy the draft guides predict as a middle rounder, and he slips from the draft and winds up with the Colts as a UDFA or after being cut by some other team. And I can’t recall a one of them ever working out. There’s a reason NFL GMs get paid more than draft guide writers. And there’s often a reason those guys don’t get selected. I prefer those guys out of the blue, the ones you’ve never or only barely heard of – the Gary Bracketts of the world, not the Dale Robinsons. So you can understand why I’m a bit wary of Cadogan. That’s not to say I don’t have a great deal of respect for him. He’s a fine, intelligent young man who did some great work at Penn State. But he’s not always the first (second or third) guy off the snap, he lacks real upper body strength and has only so-so footwork. The same guys who wrote that he’d be selected in the fourth round in those draft guides also say he’d be better off if he was converted to guard. I’m not sure I agree with that either. I see him coming to camp and competing for a backup tackle spot, but I think he’s a long shot.

John Chick DE (6032/265/4.62pd): Chick is a very interesting signing. He played very well at Utah State, and impressed at his Pro Day, but went undrafted. He signed with the Texans, who cut him and he, like Guice, went to the CFL. But unlike Guice, he stayed; and in 2009, he won the league’s award for Outstanding Defensive player on the Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders. He’s very quick, a good athlete who could well translate his CFL success in the NFL with a touch more strength and technique. Throw away the 265-pound Pro Day weight, he plays at around 250. Chick arrives at a a valuable time. The Colts’ defense depends a great deal on its ends for its total pass rush, and although their primary ends are very effective, they are getting older (Dwight Freeney is 30, and Robert Mathis has a lot of wear and tear on his slight 29-year-old frame). The Colts have tried and failed to develop a reliable backup for years. Chick has diabetes and is an active and vocal advocate for people affected with it.

Dudley Guice Jr. WR (6024/209/4.40pd): If you’ve read ColtPlay even a little, you know we’re big fans of Guice’s. He’s a big receiver who was really productive in a small-school environment. Cut by the Titans after they invited a million receivers to camp, he had a short stay in the CFL. Guice is an undeniably talented guy, but he is competing for a spot on a team with four starting-quality receivers – Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie and Anthony Gonzalez – but almost never plays four wide. It would definitely help Guice’s position if he can show Kassim Osgood-like ability on special teams. I know he’s willing.

Mitch King DT (6014/280/4.83c4.89pd): King’s a lot like Cadogan, a big name at a big-time college who just doesn’t look all that much like an NFL player to me now that his weaknesses have been exposed. In fact, while draft guides had him going as early as the second round (!), he went undrafted, and wound up with the Titans. He spent the season on their practice squad and after his contract expired, chose to switch to the Colts. I think King is a better pro prospect than Cadogan, but I also think he’s with the wrong team. King lacks the quick acceleration and agility of a 4-3 end and the size and strength of a 4-3 tackle. I honestly think he’d be better off – perhaps even an NFL starter – as a 3-4 end. I know what you’re thinking: The Colts have used lots of undersized DTs over the years. While that’s true, it hasn’t exactly worked out for them, has it? But let’s give King the benefit of the doubt because of his college production. He’ll be thrown into the expected-to-be-vicious battle for a DT spot, and will have to scrap like he’s never scrapped to make the final roster. If he does, he’ll be used as a situational player, like Keyunta Dawson.

Devin Moore RB (5095/187/4.34pd): Moore’s an interesting guy, a local Indy kid who is blazing fast and fairly productive at Wyoming. But there are a few caveats. Moore’s small for any position and has appeared to be relatively easy to bring down. And while he is very fast, he’s a long strider who lacks the jitterbug stutter step needed to return punts or make people miss as a halfback or slot receiver. His hands are good, but his routes less so. And he’s a speed bump as a pass blocker. Unless I’m very much mistaken, his only chance at a job with the Colts would be if he wins the kick return job outright. To do that, he’d have to have an extraordinary camp and preseason.

Colts backups vs. Buffalo: Defense

2010-01-11T17:20:00.001-05:00

As we explored the offensive subs who played against Buffalo in week 17 earlier, let’s take a look at some of the lesser-known defensive guys. When you consider Buffalo ran for 248 yards and had a 120.8 NFL passer rating, it’s not surprising there’s not much good to talk about.

DT Fili Moala (54 of 72 snaps): Moala had been playing poorly all year, and showed no improvement against Buffalo. Facing off against Geoff Hangartner and Richie Incognito, he made them look like Pro Bowlers. He had one tackle and added nothing to the pass rush.

DT John Gill (53 of 72 snaps): Gill didn’t get much push either, but he was active in run stopping and was involved in a couple of nice plays. His day was nothing to write home about, but much better than Moala’s.

DE Ervin Baldwin (53 of 72 snaps): Baldwin mounted some rush (including getting a QB hit), and was probably the Colts’ best D-lineman against the run. I’ll forgive the missed tackle for the stops at the line.

OLB Ramon Humber (68 of 72 snaps): I still think he’s better inside, and he was pushed around in the run game as O-Linemen got right to him. He needs protection. He had a nice day in coverage, though, easily handling the Bills tight ends.

OLB Cody Glenn (26 of 72 snaps): The erstwhile fullback did not stand out on defense, getting schooled by Terrell Owens in coverage once, and adding little in the fight against the run. He also missed a shoulda-had tackle on special teams.

CB TJ Rushing (1 of 72 snaps): They ran him out there once on a 3rd-and-10 to cover Owens in the slot. Rushing passed him off to Tim Jennings, who allowed a three-yard completion, forcing a punt.

FS Aaron Francisco (72 of 72 snaps): He wasn’t as horrible in coverage as I thought he would be – although he was bad – but he was atrocious against the run, missing as many tackles as he made. It was so wrong to cut Matt Giordano for this guy.

SS Jamie Silva (60 of 72 snaps): Silva actually was very good in coverage, allowing just a couple of short catches in front of him before making solid tackles, and swatting away a short pass meant for Lee Evans. But like all the other Colt defenders, he was not much help on running plays.

Colts backups vs. Buffalo: Offense

2010-01-10T11:36:00.002-05:00

I’m not sure the season-ending loss in Buffalo is really worth reviewing for various reasons – including the snow and the lacklustre effort the Colts starters gave* – but it did give us a look at some backups. Here’s ColtPlay’s quick look at some of them:

HB Mike Hart (37 of 52 snaps) and HB Donald Brown (15 of 52 snaps): Both did terribly. I’m sure their fans would like to blame the weather, their offensive line or their lack of a passing attack, but that would hardly explain how Freddie Jackson ran for 212 yards and fullback Corey McIntyre added another 32 on just eight carries. The weather was the same on both sides of the ball, the Bill’s o-line is less talented than the Colts’ (even with backups in there) and Ryan Fitzpatrick is fairly marginal. If you take out Hart’s fluke 15-yard scamper in what was basically a four-wide situation in the 3rd quarter, they ran 13 times for nine yards. Not great considering the Bills had the 31st-ranked rushing defense coming into the game. Hart caught two of four passes thrown his way for 16 yards, and Brown was not thrown to. Both did their jobs as pass-blockers, but little else.

LT Tony Ugoh (52 of 52 snaps): He has some trouble in pass-pro, allowing penetration by both Aaron Schobel and Chris Ellis, but a lot of that was Painter’s fault for holding onto the ball too long. He was so-so in the running game.

RT Michael Toudouze (52 of 52 snaps): This was my first prolonged look at Toudouze, and he was about as good as I thought he’d be, maybe a touch better. He, too, allowed some non-blitz penetration – although he basically neutralized Ryan Denney – but was better than the other Colts when it came to run blocking. That’s not saying he was good, just better than the others.

LG Mike Pollak (31 of 52 snaps): Pollak hadn’t really played much since he was benched in week eight after allowing two sacks. And on his 10th play against Buffalo, he allowed a sack to Kyle Williams. He was pretty solid in pass-pro for the most part other than that one Hail Mary-style play, but was just plain awful in the running game, having his hands full with Williams all day.

C Jamie Richard (31 of 52 snaps): As expected, Richard was pretty adept in pass-pro, but less able to handle Williams and Marcus Stroud in the run game. I’d grade him the best of the non-regular linemen who played against the Bills.

TE Jacob Tamme (34 of 52 snaps): Didn't do anything noteworthy as a blocker; caught one pass for 21 yards (but it was just one of four thrown to him.)

TE Colin Cloherty (21 of 52 snaps): Was he out there? Yes, he was. He caught one pass, a desperation dump off in the right flat for two yards on 3rd-and-15, and was promptly tackled by Drayton Florence. He was barely noticeable as a blocker either way.

WR Hank Baskett (49 of 52 snaps): He had a very, very tough day. Despite facing coverage from also-rans like Reggie Corner and Jon Corto, Baskett got open rarely and when he did, did not show great hands or concentration. Catching just one of five passes thrown to him for seven yards (and that was from Manning when Corner gave a big cushion), he later got injured. A lot of the blame goes to Painter, whose accuracy was terrible, but Baskett simply did not look good.

WR Sam Giguere (32 of 52 snaps): It’s hard to judge a rookie wideout in such a situation, but Giguere failed to catch either pass thrown his way and totally whiffed on a run block. He did however, look good as a kick returner (5-122-0), considering the footing.

QB Curtis Painter (31 of 52 snaps): The Colts have no mercy for this guy. Maybe they shouldn’t. He was outstandingly bad, passing for 39 yards on four completions of 17 passes thrown, with one interception. I realize the weather was bad and all that, but Fitzpatrick’s 120.8 NFL passer rating in the same game makes Painter’s 15.1 (7.5 in non-pressure situations) look especially bad. He also dropped the ball on a draw handoff, which the Bills’ Chris Kelsay picked up. Two plays later, Fitzpatrick hit Terrell Owens for a long touchdown.

*Did you see how Kelvin Hayden backed off trying to tackle Terrell Owens at the Colts' five on his long touchdown reception? Shameful.

Smolko added to PS

2010-01-07T12:26:00.002-05:00

The latest addition to the Colts practice squad is tight end Isaac Smolko. If his name sounds familiar, it's because he’s been on the Colts’ practice squad before (briefly), and played against them as a Jaguar.

After an okay career at Penn State (13-192-0 receiving as a senior), he was not drafted in 2006 and signed with the Steelers. Despite a productive preseason, he was cut just before the opener.

The following offseason, he signed with the Jaguars. Again, he was one of the final cuts, but joined the Jags’ practice squad, on which they toyed with the idea of converting him to a defensive end. They activated him a couple of time and he saw action mostly on special teams, including against Indy. He caught one of the two passes thrown his way that season, for five yards in a regular-season loss to Houston. In the Jags two playoff games that year (he even started one because the Jags’ first possession was 1st-and-goal from the one and he was part of the short-yardage package), Smolko saw action mainly as a blocker but caught one pass for seven yards.

In 2008, the Jags cut him twice before preseason. He spent two weeks on the Colts practice squad before signing on with the Ravens. They cut him after preseason, signed him again for 2009 and cut him again.

The book on Smolko is that he’s an okay blocker (better in pass-pro than running) and a very good short area receiver. Despite running a 4.70 at his pro day (6043/246 btw), he doesn’t play that fast and is a dump-off option only. I don’t see him as a long-term option, but rather a reliable veteran who can fill in as needed.

Signings

2010-01-06T16:03:00.002-05:00

To be perfectly clear, the Colts signed WR Dudley Guice Jr. to a future contract. As soon as the regular season ends, teams are allowed to sign players to contracts that begin after the season. Playoff teams are not supposed to announce them because they still have active rosters.

While the rest of the Colts’ signings are still unknown to me, I have seen a few former Colts sign to other (non-playoff teams). Here’s a rundown:

C Steve Justice (Panthers): Justice is technically sound, but not all that strong. He would have to work hard to make the team.
HB Lance Ball (Broncos): Nobody denies Ball’s ability to grind out yards between the tackles, but he’s not speedy, a polished receiver or much of a blocker. The Broncos are famous for getting the most out of their backs, so it should be interesting to see what happens.
DT Terrance Taylor (Lions): A total washout with the Colts, Taylor went back home to Michigan. The Lions are desperate for depth at the position, and Taylor could turn out to be a decent part-time player for them.

Also, CB Keiwan Ratliff was signed by the Bengals to an active contract for the playoffs.

Here’s a pre-draft video that scouts Guice.