2011 Colts' Draft/Off-Season Thread

[MaxV]

It depends on what the market is out there for him.

I mean, he can say whatever he wants, but if there is no team out there willing to give him a long-term deal, then what leverage does he have?

He's not a franchise player. He's a "fill-the-position-for-1-or-2-years" kind of a player.

[killxswitch]

I agree. Hopefully he doesn't take a long time looking around in free agency. Though I suppose it isn't even for sure that he will be unrestricted.

[MaxV]

Polian has good history of finding talented players that other teams try to sneak through the practice squad.

Maybe he can find an O-lineman and a safety.

[Dam8610]

As long as one good OG can be found between Diem, Thomas, DeVan and Pollak, I think the OL will be fine. Of course that means starting the year with bookend rookies, but in my opinion it offers the Colts their best possible lineup:

LT: Castonzo
LG: McClendon
OC: Saturday
RG: (winner of 4 mentioned above)
RT: Ijalana

With backups, this lineup looks like:

LT: Castonzo/Ijalana
LG: McClendon/(one of 4)
OC: Saturday/Richard
RG: (winner of 4)/(2nd place of 4)
RT: Ijalana/Johnson

With the two that don't make the cut at RG (my guess being Pollak and DeVan) being cut. That leaves holes beyond the 2011 season at OC and RG, though if the Colts are high on McClendon at OC, then it's a matter of finding a LG and RG, except if they also like Thomas or whoever wins that RG spot (unless it's Diem, which I think it very well could be) at one of the OG spots, then it's simply a matter of finding another OG. Saturday and Diem have to be replaced in all capacities by 2013 IMO.

[Seamus2602]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

As long as one good OG can be found between Diem, Thomas, DeVan and Pollak, I think the OL will be fine. Of course that means starting the year with bookend rookies, but in my opinion it offers the Colts their best possible lineup:

LT: Castonzo
LG: McClendon
OC: Saturday
RG: (winner of 4 mentioned above)
RT: Ijalana

With backups, this lineup looks like:

LT: Castonzo/Ijalana
LG: McClendon/(one of 4)
OC: Saturday/Richard
RG: (winner of 4)/(2nd place of 4)
RT: Ijalana/Johnson

With the two that don't make the cut at RG (my guess being Pollak and DeVan) being cut. That leaves holes beyond the 2011 season at OC and RG, though if the Colts are high on McClendon at OC, then it's a matter of finding a LG and RG, except if they also like Thomas or whoever wins that RG spot (unless it's Diem, which I think it very well could be) at one of the OG spots, then it's simply a matter of finding another OG. Saturday and Diem have to be replaced in all capacities by 2013 IMO.

Talk coming out of Indy is that both Charlie Johnson and Ben Ijalana are penciled in as the season starters at the two Guard spots with Ijalana long term projected at RT.

[MaxV]

CJ isn't a good guard.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by Seamus2602

Talk coming out of Indy is that both Charlie Johnson and Ben Ijalana are penciled in as the season starters at the two Guard spots with Ijalana long term projected at RT.

I sure hope not, Johnson sucks there and Ijalana's talent would be wasted there (at least until he moved to RT).

[RCAChainGang]

What was the thinking behind drafting Rucker.

I've heard he has off the field issues and I didn't see corner as a very high need. Does he have some potential?

[killxswitch]

Originally Posted by RCAChainGang

What was the thinking behind drafting Rucker.

I've heard he has off the field issues and I didn't see corner as a very high need. Does he have some potential?

Rucker was drafted because we suck at 3rd and short, and because we've been abused by MJD for years so it would be nice to have our own little bowling ball to abuse opposing defenses. Not that I think Carter will be as good as MJD, but he will be that type of back.

[MaxV]

Rucker was BPA, that's all.

And I think that's absolutely the right approach in the lower rounds.

[killxswitch]

Originally Posted by killxswitch

Rucker was drafted because we suck at 3rd and short, and because we've been abused by MJD for years so it would be nice to have our own little bowling ball to abuse opposing defenses. Not that I think Carter will be as good as MJD, but he will be that type of back.

Woops, I feel stupid. I was talking about Carter, you asked about Rucker. I don't know much about him. Hopefully he can at least be a better than Lacey.

[RCAChainGang]

http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=ar...e-af4da3a3886d

Little article about UDFA.
Anybody you guys are eying?

[killxswitch]

My list, in order of interest:

DeAndre McDaniel (S, Clemson)
Mark Herzlich (LB, Boston College)
Jaron Johnson (S, Boise St.)
Iam Williams (DT, Notre Dame)
Deunta Williams (S, UNC)
Kai Forbath (K, UCLA)

[MaxV]

As you guys already might know, I'm a big Penn State fan. I really like what I saw from Pat Devlin whenever he got playing time for PSU.

I think he was a bit of a victim of a deep QB class. Most years, I think he gets drafted. He has ability.

Other then him, the guys that Killxswitch mentioned are high on my list also. Plus:

Joe Lefeged (S) Rutgers ... Big and fast
Steven Friday (DE) Virginia Tech ... I know, I know, we don't need another undersized DE, but I personally think this guy is very underrated.
David Mims (OT) Virginia Union .... 6'-8" 330lbs
Jeff Tarpinian (ILB) Iowa ... athletic LB from a school that produces good NFL players
Ryan Jones (CB) North Missouri St. ... interesting CB prospect that might be a fit for us and might project at safety
Jarriel King (OL) South Carolina ... I saw him play a couple of times and thought he looked pretty good
Ricardo Lockette (WR) Fort Valley St. ... 6'-2" 211 with 4.37 speed



Strong Safety and O-Line are our biggest remaining needs imo, so I hope we can find some interesting prospects at those positions specifically.

[killxswitch]

Max, I read that Lefeged looked pretty bad at the Senior Bowl. I didn't watch any Rutgers football this year. What kind of player is he?

[MaxV]

Based on a couple of times that I've seen him, he is a physical safety that plays well in run support. He is inconsistent in coverage, but has potential.

[RCAChainGang]

Originally Posted by MaxV

Based on a couple of times that I've seen him, he is a physical safety that plays well in run support. He is inconsistent in coverage, but has potential.

That doesn't sound too bad. If we had a safety who could sniff out the run like Bob did we would be much better. Of course we are hoping our D-line improves this year, but I think a safety to come up and make plays in the run is exactly what we need. You can't really coach toughness. I think coverage could be coached up depending on his potential.

[killxswitch]

Yeah, I think our starting SS needs to be a hitter, and enforcer first. Let Bethea roam in coverage and get picks. Let Hayden, Powers, and Tryon play their man closer and actually COVER. And let our new SS come up and hit the ball carrier HARD. If that's a RB trying to stretch to the sideline, great. If that's a slot receiver or TE catching a ball over the middle, make him pay or hopefully make him drop the ball. We need someone to lay the wood like Bob did (or as close as possible) without getting hurt all the time. The Colts need to actually get some turnovers this year and make the other team pay for taking the easy underneath throw.

[killxswitch]

If the Colts don't take a stab at an UDFA SS, what about these free agents?

- Quintin Mikell - Eagles
- Roman Harper - Saints
- Dawan Landry - Ravens
- Donte Whitner - Bills
- Nedu Ndukwe - Bengals
- Jarrad Page - Patriots

Seems like there should be some options in here for the Colts to get a legit starting SS.

[MaxV]

I forgot to mention possibly signing either Noel Devine or Derrick Locke to compete for returner spot.

[RCAChainGang]

I'm not a huge fan of Roman Harper and to be honest Dawon Landry is the only other one on that list I know.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by killxswitch

If the Colts don't take a stab at an UDFA SS, what about these free agents?

- Quintin Mikell - Eagles
- Roman Harper - Saints
- Dawan Landry - Ravens
- Donte Whitner - Bills
- Nedu Ndukwe - Bengals
- Jarrad Page - Patriots

Seems like there should be some options in here for the Colts to get a legit starting SS.

Mikell, Whitner (cheap competition), and Page (cheap competition) seem like interesting options. Mikell would be the only one that could walk in and be a starter Day 1, but the other two could at least challenge Bullit or be special teams contributors. The only one on that list that I am fairly certain would be useless is Roman Harper, he's been terrible every time I've watched him play.

[RCAChainGang]

Do you think the Colts are confident in Bullit for a starter?

I sure hope not.

[killxswitch]

Originally Posted by RCAChainGang

Do you think the Colts are confident in Bullit for a starter?

I sure hope not.

I think Bill Polian would've been fine with it. Not sure if Chris will be.

[RCAChainGang]

What kinda comp pick would we get for Sanders?
Is that some possible thinking behind it?