QB 12 Andrew Luck, 8 Chandler Harnish
FB 29 Robert Hughes
HB 33 Vick Ballard, 31 Donald Brown, 34 Delone Carter, 39 Davin Meggett, 40 Alvester Alexander
WR 87 Reggie Wayne, 13 TY Hilton, 15 LaVon Brazill, 10 Nathan Palmer, 84 Griff Whalen, 81 Kris Adams, Jabin Sambrano, Jeremy Kelley
TE 83 Dwayne Allen, 80 Coby Fleener, 85 Weslye Saunders, 46 Dominique Jones
OT 74 Antony Castonzo, 60 Bradley Sowell, 63 Lee Ziemba
OG 75 Mike McGlynn, 71 Ben Ijalana, Robert Griffin, 79 Justin Anderson
C 64 Samson Satele, 62 AQ Shipley
LDE 90 Cory Redding, 67 Lawrence Guy, 66 Clifton Geathers
NT/LDT 96 Brandon McKinney, 61 Josh Chapman
RDE/RDT 91 Ricardo Mathews, 94 Drake Nevis, 65 Kellen Heard
LOLB/SLB 98 Robert Mathis, 55 Justin Hickman
LILB/MLB 53 Kavell Conner, 54 Mario Harvey, 56 Scott Lutrus, 59 Shawn Loiseau
RILB/WLB 50 Jerrell Freeman, 51 Pat Angerer, 57 Monte Simmons
ROLB/RDE 92 Jerry Hughes, Jake Killeen, Quinton Spears
CB 23 Vontae Davis, 30 Marshay Green, 21 Teddy Williams
SS 28 Tom Zbikowski, 38 Sergio Brown, Larry Asante
FS 41 Antoine Bethea, 35 Joe Lefeged, 26 Delano Howell
PK 4 Adam Vinatieri
LS 45 Matt Overton
Friday, February 1, 2013
Colts 2013 free agents: Pat McAfee
I think McAfee deserves his own post.
As a punter, McAfee is among the league's best. Last season he punted 73 times for 3,520 yards. His gross and net averages were 48.22 and 40.32. He also managed to put 30 of them inside the opponents' 20-yard line and forced 14 fair catches.
As a kickoff man, he probably was the league's best. He kicked 74 times for 4,878 yards, a remarkable 65.92-yard average. Even more shocking were his 31 touchbacks.
He's also a good enough field-goal kicker that he could replace future Hall of Famer Adam Vinatieri without a dropoff, and is also a decent last line of defense, recording five special-teams tackles in 2012.
But what's really remarkable is his ability to contribute off the field. He serves the team well as a goodwill ambassador with his Twitter feed and his video blog Facebook Fridays. And he was a key component in the Colts' ChuckStrong campaign.
I'm an unabashed fan of the Boomstick. It would be terrible if the Colts did not re-sign McAfee.
As a punter, McAfee is among the league's best. Last season he punted 73 times for 3,520 yards. His gross and net averages were 48.22 and 40.32. He also managed to put 30 of them inside the opponents' 20-yard line and forced 14 fair catches.
As a kickoff man, he probably was the league's best. He kicked 74 times for 4,878 yards, a remarkable 65.92-yard average. Even more shocking were his 31 touchbacks.
He's also a good enough field-goal kicker that he could replace future Hall of Famer Adam Vinatieri without a dropoff, and is also a decent last line of defense, recording five special-teams tackles in 2012.
But what's really remarkable is his ability to contribute off the field. He serves the team well as a goodwill ambassador with his Twitter feed and his video blog Facebook Fridays. And he was a key component in the Colts' ChuckStrong campaign.
I'm an unabashed fan of the Boomstick. It would be terrible if the Colts did not re-sign McAfee.
Colts 2013 free agents: The rest (except Pat McAfee)
Moise Fokou
Who is he?: A 4-3 outside linebacker known for special-teams prowess who plays inside in the 3-4.
How was his 2012?: Not bad. A fairly solid contributor inside, but no real threat to start over the other guys the Colts have at the position. His special-teams efforts were tempered by a few unnecessary penalties.
Will he be back?: Probably, but as a depth/special-teams guy.
Fili Moala
Who is he?: A former second-round pick, Moala opened the season as a starter at defensive tackle/defensive end.
How was his 2012?: Not good. Battling knee injuries all season, he was eventually lost to an ACL tear in November. When he did play, he showed some pass-rush flair, but could be pushed around.
Will he be back?:Maybe. He'll be hard-pressed to be anywhere near full-strength when camp opens, and the Colts might move on.
Seth Olsen RFAWho is he?: An All-American guard at Iowa who was drafted in the fourth round in 2009, Olsen has struggled to get playing time in stops in Denver, Minnesota and Indianapolis.
How was his 2012?: Terrible. He had a starting position early, but struggled mightily before being put on injured reserve. Recalled from injured reserve, he was dominated again and saw very little playing time after that. The Colts guards were terrible in 2012, and Olsen graded the worst of them by my eye.
Will he be back?: I don't think so. The Colts are likely to overhaul the guard position via free agency and the draft, and Olsen would appear to be one of the pieces they could do without.
Martin Tevaseu ERFAWho is he?: Undrafted in 2010, Tevaseu bounced from the Browns to the Jets to the Colts as a backup nose tackle.
How was his 2012?: Decent. Tevaseu was called upon frequently to spell Mookie Johnson, and acquitted himself well. He offered precious little pass rush, but did fill space, occupy blockers and stand his ground in the run game.
Will he be back?: Probably. As an exclusive-rights free agent, Tevaseu may not sign with another team if the Colts tender him. This is another position in transition, but Tevaseu definitely deserves an invitation to camp at least.
Josh Gordy ERFAWho is he?: Another undrafted prospect from 2010, Gordy kicked around mainly on practice squads in Jacksonville and Green Bay before signing with St. Louis. A bizarre slate of injuries to the Rams' cornerbacks in 2011 gave Gordy a lot of playing time and even a few starts. When the Colts were desperate for warm bodies at cornerback early in 2012, they traded for him.
How was his 2012?: Okay. Generally the Colts' fourth or fifth corner, he was not that impressive in coverage, nor as a run stopper. He was slightly better inside than out, and was much better as an extra defensive back then the one occasion he was asked to start (against New England). Interestingly, though, he managed a sack in just five blitz attempts. He generally fared better on special teams than he did on defense.
Will he be back?: Probably. Another exclusive-rights free agent, Gordy will be invited to camp to compete for a roster spot.
Melwelde MooreWho is he?: After an extraordinary career at Tulane, Moore was drafted in the fourth round in 2004 by the Vikings. Though never a bell-cow back, he developed into a very effective third-down back, making a living receiving, blocking and stretching draw runs. He took his act as a free agent to Pittsburgh (where he was even more effective) in 2008, and then in 2012, to Indianapolis.
How was his 2012?: Terrible. He was 16-31-0 rushing (with a fumble), and 6-77-1 receiving (with two drops). Even his bread-and-butter, pass blocking, looked subpar as he allowed a sack and two hurries in just 36 pass-block attempts.
Will he be back?: Probably not. After a superb career, Moore appeared to have either lost a step or not studied his playbook in 2012. If he's playing anywhere in 2013, it probably won't be in Indy.
Jamaal WestermanWho is he?: A kid who went from Brooklyn to a Toronto suburb to Rutgers, Westerman was an effective defensive end in college (26 sacks), who has been tried as a 3-4 outside linebacker by the Jets, Dolphins, Cardinals and now the Colts.
How was his 2012?: Promising. Something of an emergency signing after injuries hit, Westerman was pressed into action and looked pretty good. It's hard to judge a player on just 25 downs, but Westerman managed to get a sack and a hurry in just seven rushes. He also contributed adroitly on special teams.
Will he be back?: Probably. Westerman's well-traveled, but has shown promise. He deserves a shot at a roster spot.
Tony HillsWho is he: A high school tight end turned Texas left tackle, Hills was drafted by Pittsburgh in the fourth round of the 2008 draft. He was a swing backup there until he was waived in 2011. Picked up by Denver, he played little and ended up with the Colts in 2012 after injuries and ineffectiveness struck.
How was his 2012?: So-so. He saw a few offensive plays as an extra blocker in jumbo packages, and when other players needed a breather. playing both right tackle and right guard, he neither distinguished himself nor embarrassed himself. But it is important to note that in the Wild Card game when injuries hit, the team picked Bradley Sowell and Seth Olsen over Hills.
Will he be back?: I don't think so. An emergency pickup and spare part in 2012, he'll probably be replaced by a younger, more promising prospect for 2013.
Austin CollieWho is he: A well-known Colts star, he needs no introduction to ColtPlay readers.
How was his 2012?: Tragic. After courageously coming back for some unsettling injuries, Collie's 2012 ended with a ruptured patella just 14 offensive plays into the season.
Will he be back?: Not right away, if at all. Ruptured patellas take even longer to recover from than torn ACLs, and it's unlikely Collie will be ready for the 2013 season, let alone camp. If he does return to the NFL, it would be with Indy.
AJ Edds RFAWho is he: A star linebacker at Iowa (alongside Colt Pat Angerer), this 2010 fourth-round pick by the Dolphins has been mainly a special teamer for them and later the Patriots before signing with the Colts in 2012.
How was his 2012?: Painful, He tore his left ACL in camp (he tore his right one in 2010), and missed the season.
Will he be back?: Maybe. He's not without talent, and he could be useful if healthy.
Deji Karim ERFAWho is he: A very speedy little halfback from Southern Illinois, Karim was drafted in teh sixth round of the 2010 draft by the Jaguars. As a rookie, he excelled as a change-of-pace back and returner. But in his second season, he was forced by injuries to try to be the top back and did not do well at all. When the Jaguars cut him after the 2011 season, the Colts grabbed him.
How was his 2012?: Limited. The Colts offense calls for big backs who can catch and block. Since none of that applies to Karim, he didn't play a down. The Colts actually cut him, bringing him back in Week 15 in hopes of sparking their lackluster return game. They were right to do so, as Karim went 9-328-1 on kick returns in three games.
Will he be back?: I'd be surprised if he wasn't. Although he has almost no value on offense, Karim is an explosive kick returner who deserves another shot to win the job. The team would prefer a player with more of a role on offense or defense (like TY Hilton or LaVon Brazill) take over the kick return duties rather than spend a roster spot on Karim, there's no guarantee one will.
Drew Stanton
Who is he: A former Michigan State standout passer who was drafted in the second round of the 2007 draft by Detroit, he was a third stringer for the Lions until 2012 when he signed with the Jets. When the Jets signed Tim Tebow a few days later, Stanton demanded a trade and was sent to Indy.
How was his 2012?: Boring. After just 27 preseason passes, Stanton didn't see a single snap in the regular season as Andrew Luck's primary backup.
Will he be back?: Almost certainly. I can't see anyone getting in a bidding war with the Colts for his services, and they seem happy enough with him and in no hurry to find a replacement.
Who is he?: A 4-3 outside linebacker known for special-teams prowess who plays inside in the 3-4.
How was his 2012?: Not bad. A fairly solid contributor inside, but no real threat to start over the other guys the Colts have at the position. His special-teams efforts were tempered by a few unnecessary penalties.
Will he be back?: Probably, but as a depth/special-teams guy.
Fili Moala
Who is he?: A former second-round pick, Moala opened the season as a starter at defensive tackle/defensive end.
How was his 2012?: Not good. Battling knee injuries all season, he was eventually lost to an ACL tear in November. When he did play, he showed some pass-rush flair, but could be pushed around.
Will he be back?:Maybe. He'll be hard-pressed to be anywhere near full-strength when camp opens, and the Colts might move on.
Seth Olsen RFAWho is he?: An All-American guard at Iowa who was drafted in the fourth round in 2009, Olsen has struggled to get playing time in stops in Denver, Minnesota and Indianapolis.
How was his 2012?: Terrible. He had a starting position early, but struggled mightily before being put on injured reserve. Recalled from injured reserve, he was dominated again and saw very little playing time after that. The Colts guards were terrible in 2012, and Olsen graded the worst of them by my eye.
Will he be back?: I don't think so. The Colts are likely to overhaul the guard position via free agency and the draft, and Olsen would appear to be one of the pieces they could do without.
Martin Tevaseu ERFAWho is he?: Undrafted in 2010, Tevaseu bounced from the Browns to the Jets to the Colts as a backup nose tackle.
How was his 2012?: Decent. Tevaseu was called upon frequently to spell Mookie Johnson, and acquitted himself well. He offered precious little pass rush, but did fill space, occupy blockers and stand his ground in the run game.
Will he be back?: Probably. As an exclusive-rights free agent, Tevaseu may not sign with another team if the Colts tender him. This is another position in transition, but Tevaseu definitely deserves an invitation to camp at least.
Josh Gordy ERFAWho is he?: Another undrafted prospect from 2010, Gordy kicked around mainly on practice squads in Jacksonville and Green Bay before signing with St. Louis. A bizarre slate of injuries to the Rams' cornerbacks in 2011 gave Gordy a lot of playing time and even a few starts. When the Colts were desperate for warm bodies at cornerback early in 2012, they traded for him.
How was his 2012?: Okay. Generally the Colts' fourth or fifth corner, he was not that impressive in coverage, nor as a run stopper. He was slightly better inside than out, and was much better as an extra defensive back then the one occasion he was asked to start (against New England). Interestingly, though, he managed a sack in just five blitz attempts. He generally fared better on special teams than he did on defense.
Will he be back?: Probably. Another exclusive-rights free agent, Gordy will be invited to camp to compete for a roster spot.
Melwelde MooreWho is he?: After an extraordinary career at Tulane, Moore was drafted in the fourth round in 2004 by the Vikings. Though never a bell-cow back, he developed into a very effective third-down back, making a living receiving, blocking and stretching draw runs. He took his act as a free agent to Pittsburgh (where he was even more effective) in 2008, and then in 2012, to Indianapolis.
How was his 2012?: Terrible. He was 16-31-0 rushing (with a fumble), and 6-77-1 receiving (with two drops). Even his bread-and-butter, pass blocking, looked subpar as he allowed a sack and two hurries in just 36 pass-block attempts.
Will he be back?: Probably not. After a superb career, Moore appeared to have either lost a step or not studied his playbook in 2012. If he's playing anywhere in 2013, it probably won't be in Indy.
Jamaal WestermanWho is he?: A kid who went from Brooklyn to a Toronto suburb to Rutgers, Westerman was an effective defensive end in college (26 sacks), who has been tried as a 3-4 outside linebacker by the Jets, Dolphins, Cardinals and now the Colts.
How was his 2012?: Promising. Something of an emergency signing after injuries hit, Westerman was pressed into action and looked pretty good. It's hard to judge a player on just 25 downs, but Westerman managed to get a sack and a hurry in just seven rushes. He also contributed adroitly on special teams.
Will he be back?: Probably. Westerman's well-traveled, but has shown promise. He deserves a shot at a roster spot.
Tony HillsWho is he: A high school tight end turned Texas left tackle, Hills was drafted by Pittsburgh in the fourth round of the 2008 draft. He was a swing backup there until he was waived in 2011. Picked up by Denver, he played little and ended up with the Colts in 2012 after injuries and ineffectiveness struck.
How was his 2012?: So-so. He saw a few offensive plays as an extra blocker in jumbo packages, and when other players needed a breather. playing both right tackle and right guard, he neither distinguished himself nor embarrassed himself. But it is important to note that in the Wild Card game when injuries hit, the team picked Bradley Sowell and Seth Olsen over Hills.
Will he be back?: I don't think so. An emergency pickup and spare part in 2012, he'll probably be replaced by a younger, more promising prospect for 2013.
Austin CollieWho is he: A well-known Colts star, he needs no introduction to ColtPlay readers.
How was his 2012?: Tragic. After courageously coming back for some unsettling injuries, Collie's 2012 ended with a ruptured patella just 14 offensive plays into the season.
Will he be back?: Not right away, if at all. Ruptured patellas take even longer to recover from than torn ACLs, and it's unlikely Collie will be ready for the 2013 season, let alone camp. If he does return to the NFL, it would be with Indy.
AJ Edds RFAWho is he: A star linebacker at Iowa (alongside Colt Pat Angerer), this 2010 fourth-round pick by the Dolphins has been mainly a special teamer for them and later the Patriots before signing with the Colts in 2012.
How was his 2012?: Painful, He tore his left ACL in camp (he tore his right one in 2010), and missed the season.
Will he be back?: Maybe. He's not without talent, and he could be useful if healthy.
Deji Karim ERFAWho is he: A very speedy little halfback from Southern Illinois, Karim was drafted in teh sixth round of the 2010 draft by the Jaguars. As a rookie, he excelled as a change-of-pace back and returner. But in his second season, he was forced by injuries to try to be the top back and did not do well at all. When the Jaguars cut him after the 2011 season, the Colts grabbed him.
How was his 2012?: Limited. The Colts offense calls for big backs who can catch and block. Since none of that applies to Karim, he didn't play a down. The Colts actually cut him, bringing him back in Week 15 in hopes of sparking their lackluster return game. They were right to do so, as Karim went 9-328-1 on kick returns in three games.
Will he be back?: I'd be surprised if he wasn't. Although he has almost no value on offense, Karim is an explosive kick returner who deserves another shot to win the job. The team would prefer a player with more of a role on offense or defense (like TY Hilton or LaVon Brazill) take over the kick return duties rather than spend a roster spot on Karim, there's no guarantee one will.
Drew Stanton
Who is he: A former Michigan State standout passer who was drafted in the second round of the 2007 draft by Detroit, he was a third stringer for the Lions until 2012 when he signed with the Jets. When the Jets signed Tim Tebow a few days later, Stanton demanded a trade and was sent to Indy.
How was his 2012?: Boring. After just 27 preseason passes, Stanton didn't see a single snap in the regular season as Andrew Luck's primary backup.
Will he be back?: Almost certainly. I can't see anyone getting in a bidding war with the Colts for his services, and they seem happy enough with him and in no hurry to find a replacement.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Colts 2013 free agents: Darius Butler
A coach once told me the secret to being a good cornerback was to have a huge ego and a short memory. For much of his career, Darius Butler didn't have those qualities, but he seems to have acquired them in Indy.
After a promising career at UConn and some great predraft workouts, Butler was chosen by the Patriots in the second round of the 2009 draft. His rookie year was up and down (which is often the case with corners), but he started the first two games of 2010, and was pummeled, being beaten badly and missing tackles. The Patriots benched and eventually cut him. He was picked up by the Panthers, but barely played before he was injured and left with a settlement.
In 2012, the Colts were already desperate for corners when injuries struck the position. With just about every other option exhausted, they signed Butler and put him on the field.
To almost everyone's surprise, he played like a savvy veteran. Quarterbacks had an 39.5 passer rating against him. A quarterback who throws nothing but incompletes gets a 39.6 rating. If that doesn't impress you -- it should, it was the second-best in the NFL of any player who played over 250 downs -- compare it to the 93.5 scored by Vontae Davis, the 97.0 by Cassius Vaughn, the 105.0 by Jerraud Powers and the 113.6 by Josh Gordy, the other Colts' corners who saw playing time in 2012. He still looked shaky at times in some man situations, but excelled in zones. He was especially effective as a slot corner. Despite his limited playing time, Butler led the Colts with four picks, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
He's not exactly a strong safety, but is a better tackler than many corners, and can blitz. He'll contribute on special teams and can even fill in as a return man in a pinch.
That Butler was terrible in New England and Carolina, but spectacular in Indy can, for the most part, be attributed to confidence and a shortening of his memory.
Will other teams bid for him?: Probably, but offers will not come from New England or Carolina.
Chances he'll be back: Very good. The Colts have plenty of cap room, a crying need for corners and a good relationship with Butler. For his part, Butler has a place in which his skills are properly applied and he's appreciated.
After a promising career at UConn and some great predraft workouts, Butler was chosen by the Patriots in the second round of the 2009 draft. His rookie year was up and down (which is often the case with corners), but he started the first two games of 2010, and was pummeled, being beaten badly and missing tackles. The Patriots benched and eventually cut him. He was picked up by the Panthers, but barely played before he was injured and left with a settlement.
In 2012, the Colts were already desperate for corners when injuries struck the position. With just about every other option exhausted, they signed Butler and put him on the field.
To almost everyone's surprise, he played like a savvy veteran. Quarterbacks had an 39.5 passer rating against him. A quarterback who throws nothing but incompletes gets a 39.6 rating. If that doesn't impress you -- it should, it was the second-best in the NFL of any player who played over 250 downs -- compare it to the 93.5 scored by Vontae Davis, the 97.0 by Cassius Vaughn, the 105.0 by Jerraud Powers and the 113.6 by Josh Gordy, the other Colts' corners who saw playing time in 2012. He still looked shaky at times in some man situations, but excelled in zones. He was especially effective as a slot corner. Despite his limited playing time, Butler led the Colts with four picks, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
He's not exactly a strong safety, but is a better tackler than many corners, and can blitz. He'll contribute on special teams and can even fill in as a return man in a pinch.
That Butler was terrible in New England and Carolina, but spectacular in Indy can, for the most part, be attributed to confidence and a shortening of his memory.
Will other teams bid for him?: Probably, but offers will not come from New England or Carolina.
Chances he'll be back: Very good. The Colts have plenty of cap room, a crying need for corners and a good relationship with Butler. For his part, Butler has a place in which his skills are properly applied and he's appreciated.
Colts 2012 free agents: Joe Reitz
It's hard not to root for Joe Reitz. A local Indy kid and a high school multisport phenom, Reitz decided to play basketball at Western Michigan. When the NBA didn't come calling, he accepted an invitation to Baltimore Ravens camp in 2008.
They saw a future tight end in the 6-foot-7, 250-pound power forward, but when that didn't click, they told him to gain some weight and learn how to play offensive line. They stuck him on the practice squad, but he injured his shoulder, ending his development that year. When they tried to stick him on the practice squad in 2010, the Dolphins grabbed him; but they didn't know what to do with him and waived him three days later. The Colts then stepped in and — in a large part driven be injury-related necessity — took him seriously as an offensive lineman, giving him serious playing time.
Despite his height, Reitz played guard for the Colts. He won the starting right guard job in 2012, but knee and concussion problems limited him to eight starts.
His play in 2012 was average at best. In 275 pass-block situations, he allowed no sacks, but five hits and 13 hurries. That's not great, but better than any of the other guys who played any significant amount of time at guard for the Colts. I graded him as a slightly better run blocker than Jeff Linkenbach, but many others disagree. At any rate, he was no better than average.
If you watch him play, Reitz is interesting. Unlike so many other young players, he shows excellent technique in many aspects of the game. But he is low in functional strength, and gets overpowered.
Will other teams bid for him?: If the Colts tender him, they can't because Reitz is an exclusive-right free agent. If the Colts let him walk, he'd be invited to camp somewhere.
Chances he'll be back: Almost certainly. Reitz won the right guard job last season fair and square, and played better than the team's other guards. He was by no means great, just better than what they had. It would better if he were not starting, but he is a quality player who's still improving — remember, he was a 250-pound power forward just a few years back — who can be signed for a very low price.
They saw a future tight end in the 6-foot-7, 250-pound power forward, but when that didn't click, they told him to gain some weight and learn how to play offensive line. They stuck him on the practice squad, but he injured his shoulder, ending his development that year. When they tried to stick him on the practice squad in 2010, the Dolphins grabbed him; but they didn't know what to do with him and waived him three days later. The Colts then stepped in and — in a large part driven be injury-related necessity — took him seriously as an offensive lineman, giving him serious playing time.
Despite his height, Reitz played guard for the Colts. He won the starting right guard job in 2012, but knee and concussion problems limited him to eight starts.
His play in 2012 was average at best. In 275 pass-block situations, he allowed no sacks, but five hits and 13 hurries. That's not great, but better than any of the other guys who played any significant amount of time at guard for the Colts. I graded him as a slightly better run blocker than Jeff Linkenbach, but many others disagree. At any rate, he was no better than average.
If you watch him play, Reitz is interesting. Unlike so many other young players, he shows excellent technique in many aspects of the game. But he is low in functional strength, and gets overpowered.
Will other teams bid for him?: If the Colts tender him, they can't because Reitz is an exclusive-right free agent. If the Colts let him walk, he'd be invited to camp somewhere.
Chances he'll be back: Almost certainly. Reitz won the right guard job last season fair and square, and played better than the team's other guards. He was by no means great, just better than what they had. It would better if he were not starting, but he is a quality player who's still improving — remember, he was a 250-pound power forward just a few years back — who can be signed for a very low price.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Colts 2013 free agents: Antonio Johnson
Antonio "Mookie" Johnson hasn't had it easy, and hasn't always been lucky, but always seems to keep going and going.
From Jim Henson's hometown of Leland, Mississippi, Johnson was a high school star who did not play in his senior season. Without much exposure, he chose to attend and play at nearby Mississippi Delta Community College. He was a beast there, and was given scholarship offers from Mississippi State and Iowa State, choosing the Bulldogs. He played both nose tackle and defensive tackle in their multiple fronts, and was competent, but unspectacular.
Still, athletic 310 pounders do not crop up very often, so he was taken by the Titans in the fifth round of the 2007 draft. He promptly tore his ACL, and missed his rookie season. The following year, the Titans cut him, and the Colts — desperate for big bodies — signed him and pressed him into action. He's been playing as a regular more or less since.
This season, he opened camp as the team's No. 1 nose tackle, despite the presence of free agent Brandon McKinney — a more established nose tackle who had previous experience with the system. While ColtPlay at the time considered it just a tip of the hat to Johnson's veteran status, the argument was academic after McKinney tore an ACL and missed the entire season.
The spot was Johnson from then on, for better or worse.
Though not without talent, Johnson is a sloppy player who has developed just rudimentary skills as a pro. He runs hot and cold as a defensive tackle, but seemed absolutely overwhelmed at the nose, lacking effective playing strength, block-shedding techniques and quickness off the snap. The overall results were not good. Often handled by just one blocker, Johnson managed just three quarterback hits and three hurries (no sacks) in 13 starts. He did little better in the run game, managing just 15 tackles and four assists, often watching the action from a distance.
Will other teams bid for him?: Probably. Although miscast as a nose tackle, Johnson's a pretty decent defensive tackle who could earn a rotational job in the right scheme.
Chances he'll be back: Not good. McKinney is likely to be back, as will Josh Chapman, the player many observers believe is the future of the position but missed his rookie season to a knee injury. The draft could also yield a contender at the position. Colts GM Ryan Grigson seems determined to part ways with players who were on the roster before he arrived (with the exception of stars like Reggie Wayne), and Johnson is far from indispensable.
From Jim Henson's hometown of Leland, Mississippi, Johnson was a high school star who did not play in his senior season. Without much exposure, he chose to attend and play at nearby Mississippi Delta Community College. He was a beast there, and was given scholarship offers from Mississippi State and Iowa State, choosing the Bulldogs. He played both nose tackle and defensive tackle in their multiple fronts, and was competent, but unspectacular.
Still, athletic 310 pounders do not crop up very often, so he was taken by the Titans in the fifth round of the 2007 draft. He promptly tore his ACL, and missed his rookie season. The following year, the Titans cut him, and the Colts — desperate for big bodies — signed him and pressed him into action. He's been playing as a regular more or less since.
This season, he opened camp as the team's No. 1 nose tackle, despite the presence of free agent Brandon McKinney — a more established nose tackle who had previous experience with the system. While ColtPlay at the time considered it just a tip of the hat to Johnson's veteran status, the argument was academic after McKinney tore an ACL and missed the entire season.
The spot was Johnson from then on, for better or worse.
Though not without talent, Johnson is a sloppy player who has developed just rudimentary skills as a pro. He runs hot and cold as a defensive tackle, but seemed absolutely overwhelmed at the nose, lacking effective playing strength, block-shedding techniques and quickness off the snap. The overall results were not good. Often handled by just one blocker, Johnson managed just three quarterback hits and three hurries (no sacks) in 13 starts. He did little better in the run game, managing just 15 tackles and four assists, often watching the action from a distance.
Will other teams bid for him?: Probably. Although miscast as a nose tackle, Johnson's a pretty decent defensive tackle who could earn a rotational job in the right scheme.
Chances he'll be back: Not good. McKinney is likely to be back, as will Josh Chapman, the player many observers believe is the future of the position but missed his rookie season to a knee injury. The draft could also yield a contender at the position. Colts GM Ryan Grigson seems determined to part ways with players who were on the roster before he arrived (with the exception of stars like Reggie Wayne), and Johnson is far from indispensable.
Colts 2013 free agents: Jerraud Powers
At all of his NFL stops, former Colts president Bill Polian was accused of overpaying (both in picks and salary) for cornerbacks. And Indy was no exception. In the 2005 draft, he picked Marlin Jackson in the first and Kelvin Hayden in the second. The following year, he selected Tim Jennings in the second and, the year after that, Jerraud Powers in the third.
Injuries to the more heralded and established players put Powers in a starting position and to the surprise of many, he flourished. While the others have since left, Powers quietly established himself as the team's No. 1 corner.
Headed into the 2012 season, Powers was considered the team's only NFL-quality corner. The position was declared a disaster area, and all the other holdovers (including recent draft picks Kevin Thomas and Chris Rucker) were summarily dispatched. New GM Ryan Grigson replenished the cornerback corps by trading for Vontae Davis, Cassius Vaughn, Josh Gordy and DJ Johnson, and signing Justin King and others, including, eventually, Darius Butler.
Powers remained the team's top guy at the start of the season. He started the first eight games of the season until his year was ended by a third-degree case of turf toe that included several torn ligaments.
Powers was widely criticized for his play in 2012, which saw him definitively beaten for four touchdown passes. Indeed his coverage skills did not look as sharp as they had in the past, but I think that can be attributed to his nagging injuries, being miscast as the team's No. 1 guy and comparison to Davis (who really came on after a rough start) and Butler (who looked spectacular after Powers went down). He also had an uncharacteristic problem with missed tackles. Still, he played with discipline, and did not back down or sulk when things did not go well for him.
Will other teams bid for him?: Without a doubt. Powers is a solid No. 2 corner, and could play a significant role on just about any NFL team. The recent increase in the value of cornerbacks will see players of Powers' caliber showered with big-money offers.
Chances he'll be back: Quite good. Grigson seems to value the position as highly as Polian did, and — despite his efforts — the cornerback corps is still in something of a crisis. While Davis is a given, Butler and Vaughn are free agents, and depth behind them is shaky. Even without injuries, a team needs at least four competent corners these days and the Colts would like to avoid the panic they went through last season trying to find them. They have two factors working in their favor: a huge amount of cap space and Powers' self-declared desire to return.
Injuries to the more heralded and established players put Powers in a starting position and to the surprise of many, he flourished. While the others have since left, Powers quietly established himself as the team's No. 1 corner.
Headed into the 2012 season, Powers was considered the team's only NFL-quality corner. The position was declared a disaster area, and all the other holdovers (including recent draft picks Kevin Thomas and Chris Rucker) were summarily dispatched. New GM Ryan Grigson replenished the cornerback corps by trading for Vontae Davis, Cassius Vaughn, Josh Gordy and DJ Johnson, and signing Justin King and others, including, eventually, Darius Butler.
Powers remained the team's top guy at the start of the season. He started the first eight games of the season until his year was ended by a third-degree case of turf toe that included several torn ligaments.
Powers was widely criticized for his play in 2012, which saw him definitively beaten for four touchdown passes. Indeed his coverage skills did not look as sharp as they had in the past, but I think that can be attributed to his nagging injuries, being miscast as the team's No. 1 guy and comparison to Davis (who really came on after a rough start) and Butler (who looked spectacular after Powers went down). He also had an uncharacteristic problem with missed tackles. Still, he played with discipline, and did not back down or sulk when things did not go well for him.
Will other teams bid for him?: Without a doubt. Powers is a solid No. 2 corner, and could play a significant role on just about any NFL team. The recent increase in the value of cornerbacks will see players of Powers' caliber showered with big-money offers.
Chances he'll be back: Quite good. Grigson seems to value the position as highly as Polian did, and — despite his efforts — the cornerback corps is still in something of a crisis. While Davis is a given, Butler and Vaughn are free agents, and depth behind them is shaky. Even without injuries, a team needs at least four competent corners these days and the Colts would like to avoid the panic they went through last season trying to find them. They have two factors working in their favor: a huge amount of cap space and Powers' self-declared desire to return.
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