The Colts announced today that they have re-signed fourth year veteran LB Freddy Keiaho.
This re-signing is a load off of my mind. The Colts looked very thin at linebacker both before and after this year's draft. I kind of figured they might be looking to bring Freddy back after they passed on all the linebacker talent in the draft. But, I was more than a little worried that somebody else might sneak in and snatch him up. Freddy was the second leading tackler last year for the Colts, even though he only played in 14 games.
Welcome back, Freddy.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
2009 Browns Draft Review
I think we can now officially say the Doug Heffernan (Eric Mangini) era has begun in Cleveland. Over the last few days I have read both good and bad reviews of the 2009 Cleveland Browns draft. I have scoured the internet in an effort to find out everything I can about all the players the Browns drafted and received via trade, and I can honestly say that I have come to the conclusion that Mangini and Kokinis have done a pretty decent job since taking over, and that includes the 2009 draft. Twenty-one different players are on the roster since free agency began two months ago.
On to the draft:
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(21) Alex Mack (C) CALIFORNIA
Over the last few days I have read a lot of "draft reviews" that are highly critical of the Browns' decision to take Mack with the 21st overall pick. I will admit that my initial reaction to the Browns trading down was total shock and confusion. But, after doing some research on Alex Mack I can honestly say that I think the Browns did pretty good with their first round pick. Not only did the Browns get arguably the best Center to come out of college in the last 10 years, they also managed to obtain 2 defensive starters in Abram Elam (S) and Kenyon Coleman (DE). Neither Elam or Coleman will probably ever reach All Pro status, but there is no doubt they are both upgrades for a defense that needed a serious overhaul. Mack, on the other hand, could turn out to be this year's Joe Thomas. If you don't think the Center position is important, go take a look at what the Colts offense did last year when Jeff Saturday was out with an injury.
(36) Brian Robiskie (WR) OHIO STATE
I am really excited about this pick. Robiskie wasn't the biggest or fastest Wide Receiver available in this year's draft, but he may be the most ready to play right now. And, he is a homegrown product which virtually ensures that he will be a fan favorite. The guy is an exceptional route runner and usually catches anything that is thrown anywhere close to him. Unfortunately if Derek Anderson wins the starting quarterback job again this season there may not be too many passes actually thrown anywhere close to Robiskie. The knock on Robiskie is that he doesn't like to block. But, I think that is something that can be corrected. The Browns may have drafted him a little high, but I definitely think he fills a need as a potential slot receiver. And he comes from good blood lines, which I think is very underrated.
(50) Mohamed Massaquoi (WR) GEORGIA
If the Browns were looking for a replacement for Braylon Edwards, I think they may have found him. And, I don't mean that in a good way. This really is the only pick the Browns made that left me scratching my head. Massaquoi is a big (6'2" 198 lb.) receiver that possesses great speed and quickness. He put up impressive numbers as a Senior (58 catches, 920 yards, 8 TDs), but his previous three seasons weren't that impressive. In fact, many scouts believe his numbers only increased during his Senior season because opposing defenses were doubling up on freshman phenom A.J. Green. The knocks on Massaquoi are that he drops a LOT of passes, and that he isn't a very polished route runner. It just stuns me that the Browns would draft a receiver that has issues with dropping passes after all they have been through with Braylon Edwards. That said, Massaquoi does show the potential to be a very gifted receiver in the NFL if he ever stops dropping passes.
(52) David Veikune (DL) HAWAII
I think this has the potential to be an interesting pick for the Browns. Veikune played as an undersized DL at Hawaii. At 6'3" and 250 pounds, Veikune is obviously too small to play DL in the NFL. So, the Browns are probably looking at his potential to adjust to the OLB position. The question remains as to whether Veikune is athletic enough to play OLB out in the open field. The guy has the speed and agility that would be required to make a successful switch, but we'll just have to wait and see how it all works out. I like Veikune because he is a maximum effort player. He doesn't stop motoring until the whistle blows. I look for him to be a special teams performer this year, and then possibly work his way into the LB corps for next season.
(104) Kaluka Maiava (LB) USC
I really like this pick for the Browns. Maiava only started one year at USC, but he did play at all four linebacking positions while in college and he was a special teams regular throughout his college career. He didn't garner as much attention as his linebacker teammates at USC, but Maiava always performed well in the games that really mattered. Maiava has the skills required to be an every down linebacker in the NFL. He is quick and decisive, and his pursuit angles are considered to be very good. Most of the scouts were also impressed with his ability to play in the open field both against the run and in pass coverage. The knock on Maiava is that he sometimes has difficulty disengaging from OL if they get into his body. I think this weakness should improve as he physically matures and gains some more core strength. And from the useless information file, I will also tell you that Kaluka is the nephew of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Maybe we'll get to see the Rock at a few Browns games. It appears to me that the Browns found a guy in Maiava that will contribute immediately on special teams, and will probably work his way into the linebacking rotation before the season is over.
(177) Don Carey (CB) NORFOLK STATE
I would like to be able to tell everybody that I have seen this guy play several times, but to be honest I'm not even sure I knew Norfolk State had a football team. The general consensus on Carey seems to be that he has the skills to play in the NFL, but that he probably isn't physically ready yet. This translates into "Don Carey is going to be a project." So, don't expect to see Carey on the field in the near future. But, Carey was a four year starter in college, and apparently he turned quite a few heads during his time at the East-West Shrine game. The biggest asset that most scouts believe Cary has is "potential." The Browns need help at CB, and I think this was a decent value pick even if Carey only becomes a marginal NFL player.
(191) Coye Francies (CB) SAN JOSE STATE
Pretty much everybody seems to agree that Francies has the physical ability to be successful in the NFL. The knock on Francies is that he had some "off the field" issues at Oregon State that eventually led to him transferring to San Jose State. As a result, he only has two years of actual playing time in college. But, he performed very well in postseason all star games and zoomed up many draft boards as a result. Francies has good height at 6'1", but he is considered to be a little light at 185 pounds. Still, Francies has the reputation of being a physical player and a very good tackler. If he can add some muscle weight without losing his speed and quickness, Francies could possibly end up being the shut down corner that Coach Heffernan (Mangini) is looking for. I like this pick, but I don't think we will see Coye on the field this season.
(195) James Davis (RB) CLEMSON
This could be the steal of the draft for the Browns. Davis is a strong character guy that was considered to be a locker room leader in college. If I had to describe his running style, I would call him a poor man's version of a young Jamal Lewis. He is not fast, but he is quick to the hole and has great balance and power. He is also a very good receiver out of the backfield and was quite impressive in college at picking up the blitz when he was asked to stay in the backfield and block. He doesn't have much experience when it comes to playing in bad weather (snow), but it looks on paper like Davis might be exactly the kind of ground and pound back that is needed in the AFC North. I think this was a very high value pick for the Browns, especially if Jamal Lewis starts slowing down.
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I really like what the Browns did in the draft this year, and what they have done since Mangini/Kokinis have taken over the reigns. I know that not everybody thinks the Browns draft was very good this year, but I think they may have potentially added four opening day starters (Elam, Coleman, Mack, and Robiskie). And, I think Maiava, Veikune, Francies, Davis, and Massaquoi could possibly all see the field on special teams and in spot situations throughout the season. I don't see how anybody could call that an unsuccessful draft. If I had to give the Browns a grade, I would give them an A-. They managed to draft for several need positions, and I would have given them an A if I thought they had selected a CB that was ready to play now. But, I think they made some very nice selections considering how awful they have done in the past. I've also been very impressed with some of the free agent rookies the Browns have already invited to rookie camp this year.
I'm not saying the Browns are going to make the playoffs this year. But, I think they will definitely show improvement over last season. The biggest issue that needs to be addressed is the quarterback position. I personally think that all the Brady Quinn trade rumors this offseason were just rumors. I'm not saying that I don't think Quinn will be traded before the season starts, but I think Mangini is the kind of coach that wants to make sure who his quarterback is before he trades "the other guy." And, I'm pretty sure that Mangini is also the kind of coach that won't base any major decisions on the flip of a coin. No, he is going to give Brady Quinn a chance to prove his worth, which is something that Romeo Crennel apparently never did.
On to the draft:
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(21) Alex Mack (C) CALIFORNIA
Over the last few days I have read a lot of "draft reviews" that are highly critical of the Browns' decision to take Mack with the 21st overall pick. I will admit that my initial reaction to the Browns trading down was total shock and confusion. But, after doing some research on Alex Mack I can honestly say that I think the Browns did pretty good with their first round pick. Not only did the Browns get arguably the best Center to come out of college in the last 10 years, they also managed to obtain 2 defensive starters in Abram Elam (S) and Kenyon Coleman (DE). Neither Elam or Coleman will probably ever reach All Pro status, but there is no doubt they are both upgrades for a defense that needed a serious overhaul. Mack, on the other hand, could turn out to be this year's Joe Thomas. If you don't think the Center position is important, go take a look at what the Colts offense did last year when Jeff Saturday was out with an injury.
(36) Brian Robiskie (WR) OHIO STATE
I am really excited about this pick. Robiskie wasn't the biggest or fastest Wide Receiver available in this year's draft, but he may be the most ready to play right now. And, he is a homegrown product which virtually ensures that he will be a fan favorite. The guy is an exceptional route runner and usually catches anything that is thrown anywhere close to him. Unfortunately if Derek Anderson wins the starting quarterback job again this season there may not be too many passes actually thrown anywhere close to Robiskie. The knock on Robiskie is that he doesn't like to block. But, I think that is something that can be corrected. The Browns may have drafted him a little high, but I definitely think he fills a need as a potential slot receiver. And he comes from good blood lines, which I think is very underrated.
(50) Mohamed Massaquoi (WR) GEORGIA
If the Browns were looking for a replacement for Braylon Edwards, I think they may have found him. And, I don't mean that in a good way. This really is the only pick the Browns made that left me scratching my head. Massaquoi is a big (6'2" 198 lb.) receiver that possesses great speed and quickness. He put up impressive numbers as a Senior (58 catches, 920 yards, 8 TDs), but his previous three seasons weren't that impressive. In fact, many scouts believe his numbers only increased during his Senior season because opposing defenses were doubling up on freshman phenom A.J. Green. The knocks on Massaquoi are that he drops a LOT of passes, and that he isn't a very polished route runner. It just stuns me that the Browns would draft a receiver that has issues with dropping passes after all they have been through with Braylon Edwards. That said, Massaquoi does show the potential to be a very gifted receiver in the NFL if he ever stops dropping passes.
(52) David Veikune (DL) HAWAII
I think this has the potential to be an interesting pick for the Browns. Veikune played as an undersized DL at Hawaii. At 6'3" and 250 pounds, Veikune is obviously too small to play DL in the NFL. So, the Browns are probably looking at his potential to adjust to the OLB position. The question remains as to whether Veikune is athletic enough to play OLB out in the open field. The guy has the speed and agility that would be required to make a successful switch, but we'll just have to wait and see how it all works out. I like Veikune because he is a maximum effort player. He doesn't stop motoring until the whistle blows. I look for him to be a special teams performer this year, and then possibly work his way into the LB corps for next season.
(104) Kaluka Maiava (LB) USC
I really like this pick for the Browns. Maiava only started one year at USC, but he did play at all four linebacking positions while in college and he was a special teams regular throughout his college career. He didn't garner as much attention as his linebacker teammates at USC, but Maiava always performed well in the games that really mattered. Maiava has the skills required to be an every down linebacker in the NFL. He is quick and decisive, and his pursuit angles are considered to be very good. Most of the scouts were also impressed with his ability to play in the open field both against the run and in pass coverage. The knock on Maiava is that he sometimes has difficulty disengaging from OL if they get into his body. I think this weakness should improve as he physically matures and gains some more core strength. And from the useless information file, I will also tell you that Kaluka is the nephew of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Maybe we'll get to see the Rock at a few Browns games. It appears to me that the Browns found a guy in Maiava that will contribute immediately on special teams, and will probably work his way into the linebacking rotation before the season is over.
(177) Don Carey (CB) NORFOLK STATE
I would like to be able to tell everybody that I have seen this guy play several times, but to be honest I'm not even sure I knew Norfolk State had a football team. The general consensus on Carey seems to be that he has the skills to play in the NFL, but that he probably isn't physically ready yet. This translates into "Don Carey is going to be a project." So, don't expect to see Carey on the field in the near future. But, Carey was a four year starter in college, and apparently he turned quite a few heads during his time at the East-West Shrine game. The biggest asset that most scouts believe Cary has is "potential." The Browns need help at CB, and I think this was a decent value pick even if Carey only becomes a marginal NFL player.
(191) Coye Francies (CB) SAN JOSE STATE
Pretty much everybody seems to agree that Francies has the physical ability to be successful in the NFL. The knock on Francies is that he had some "off the field" issues at Oregon State that eventually led to him transferring to San Jose State. As a result, he only has two years of actual playing time in college. But, he performed very well in postseason all star games and zoomed up many draft boards as a result. Francies has good height at 6'1", but he is considered to be a little light at 185 pounds. Still, Francies has the reputation of being a physical player and a very good tackler. If he can add some muscle weight without losing his speed and quickness, Francies could possibly end up being the shut down corner that Coach Heffernan (Mangini) is looking for. I like this pick, but I don't think we will see Coye on the field this season.
(195) James Davis (RB) CLEMSON
This could be the steal of the draft for the Browns. Davis is a strong character guy that was considered to be a locker room leader in college. If I had to describe his running style, I would call him a poor man's version of a young Jamal Lewis. He is not fast, but he is quick to the hole and has great balance and power. He is also a very good receiver out of the backfield and was quite impressive in college at picking up the blitz when he was asked to stay in the backfield and block. He doesn't have much experience when it comes to playing in bad weather (snow), but it looks on paper like Davis might be exactly the kind of ground and pound back that is needed in the AFC North. I think this was a very high value pick for the Browns, especially if Jamal Lewis starts slowing down.
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I really like what the Browns did in the draft this year, and what they have done since Mangini/Kokinis have taken over the reigns. I know that not everybody thinks the Browns draft was very good this year, but I think they may have potentially added four opening day starters (Elam, Coleman, Mack, and Robiskie). And, I think Maiava, Veikune, Francies, Davis, and Massaquoi could possibly all see the field on special teams and in spot situations throughout the season. I don't see how anybody could call that an unsuccessful draft. If I had to give the Browns a grade, I would give them an A-. They managed to draft for several need positions, and I would have given them an A if I thought they had selected a CB that was ready to play now. But, I think they made some very nice selections considering how awful they have done in the past. I've also been very impressed with some of the free agent rookies the Browns have already invited to rookie camp this year.
I'm not saying the Browns are going to make the playoffs this year. But, I think they will definitely show improvement over last season. The biggest issue that needs to be addressed is the quarterback position. I personally think that all the Brady Quinn trade rumors this offseason were just rumors. I'm not saying that I don't think Quinn will be traded before the season starts, but I think Mangini is the kind of coach that wants to make sure who his quarterback is before he trades "the other guy." And, I'm pretty sure that Mangini is also the kind of coach that won't base any major decisions on the flip of a coin. No, he is going to give Brady Quinn a chance to prove his worth, which is something that Romeo Crennel apparently never did.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
2009 Colts Draft Review
Last season the Colts finished with a record of 12-4, but another early exit from the playoffs took a little luster off the strong regular season. I am beginning to think the departure of Tony Dungy is starting to look like a good thing for 2009. I have always been a big fan of Tony Dungy the person, and a big fan of Tony Dungy the talent evaluator. But, I have never been a big fan of Tony Dungy the coach. At first, I wasn't too happy with the Colts hiring Jim Caldwell to replace Tony. But, I have to admit that I have been super happy with what I have seen from Jim Caldwell so far. This year's draft is no exception.
It looks to me like Jim Caldwell may be leaning toward changing a few of the basic philosophies that Dungy brought to Indy. And in my opinion, the things Caldwell is changing are long overdue. So, let's take a look at their draft.
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(27) Donald Brown (RB) UCONN
Brown led the nation in rushing last season as a Junior with 2083 yards. A lot of the scouts think of Brown as being a little undersized, but at 5'10" and 208 pounds he is a quick and powerful running back. He is a great route runner and an exceptional blocker. Brown also has the ability to return kicks and punts, which is something the Colts could definitely use. Most importantly to me, Brown is a strong character guy. I think this was strong pick for the Colts. I will admit that I was hoping they would draft a linebacker with their first pick, but if I was going to pick a running back, Donald Brown is the guy I would have gone after. I look for Brown to contribute immediately, although he will initially probably do most of his work on special teams. It has been a long time since the Colts had a running back with this kind of speed.
(56) Fili Moala (DT) USC
This is the first pick where I thought Jim Caldwell appeared to be taking a different route than Tony Dungy would have taken. Moala tips the scales at 305 pounds, which looks like a bit of a departure from the Tony Dungy style of defense. Moala's weight, however, is a little misleading. Most scouts agree that Moala does not play like a 300 pound DT. The strength of Moala's game is his quickness and perpetual motor. This guy does not take any play off. He is considered a bit of a project because his technique is not considered to be ready for the NFL. Moala is a slasher and a dasher and I think his selection signals that Jim Caldwell was looking for a guy who could get into the opponents backfield to make some plays. Moala should figure into the defensive line rotation this year, but I am not sure he is the run stopper that many people are probably hoping he would be. But, his size and quickness should allow him to play at either DE or DT positions. I think this was a decent value pick.
(92) Jerraud Powers (CB) AUBURN
This pick also seems to stray a little bit from the Tony Dungy defensive philosophy. Tony always seemed to like the big hard hitting CB's that could play the Cover 2 and come up and hit a running back out of the backfield. While Powers is considered to be a physical CB, he is also a bit undersized at 5'9" and 188 pounds. I'm sure Powers could excel in the Cover 2, but he made a name for himself in the SEC by covering a lot of quick receivers one on one. To me, this pick signifies that Jim Caldwell may be a little more aggressive with his defensive schemes than what Tony Dungy was. Powers looks like a guy that could lock up a wide receiver long enough for the Colts to bring a blitz, which is something that Tony Dungy and Ron Meeks didn't do as often as I would have liked. I really like the selection of Powers, but I'm not sure he is far enough along to be a contributor this season.
(127) Austin Collie (WR) BYU
This was a home run as far as I am concerned. Collie led the nation in receiving yards last year as a Junior. He is a great route runner with exceptionally soft hands. In my opinion, he could be the second coming of Brandon Stokely. He is the prototypical slot receiver and I expect him to get playing time almost immediately. He is smart enough to grasp the Colts offense and he is another strong character guy. The knock on Collie is his speed. I don't expect his speed to hurt him too much because I think most of the opposing defenses are going to have to focus on Wayne and Gonzalez. This means that Collie is probably going to be facing Safeties and Linebackers most of the time he is running routes. I like this pick and I think it was steal at 127.
(136) Terrance Taylor (DT) MICHIGAN
This may turn out to be the best pick of the draft for the Colts. At 6'0" and 320 pounds, Taylor is a massive run stopping DT. This guy had one speed in college, and that speed was full throttle. Taylor is the type of guy that will almost always demand a double team if the opponent runs the ball anywhere near him. He is quick and strong with a background in power lifting. Taylor is not known as a pass rusher, but his presence on the field will undoubtedly create situational nightmares for teams that like to double team Freeney and Mathis. I like this pick, and I fully expect to see Taylor on the field a lot this season. To me, this is the only pick the Colts made that really addresses the issues they had last season trying to stop the run.
(201) Curtis Painter (QB) PURDUE
I found this pick to probably be the most interesting the Colts made this year. If you have followed this blog in the past, you know that I am not a fan of Jim Sorgi. Jim always plays well in pre season games, and when there is nothing on the line. But, when the opponents put a little pressure on him he tends to fold like a cheap piece of copy paper. I find it very telling that Jim Caldwell, formerly the Colts quarterback coach, would spend a draft pick on another quarterback in his first draft as the Colts head coach. This pick tells me that Jim Caldwell may not be as infatuated with Jim Sorgi as Tony Dungy seemed to be. I know Curtis Painter didn't have a great Senior year at Purdue, but let's not forget that Painter comes out of the same system that produced Drew Brees and Kyle Orton. Painter has NFL caliber arm strength, decent size (6'4"), and a decent 40 time (4.87). If Painter's injured shoulder has healed sufficiently, and he turns out to be smart enough to learn the Colts complex offensive scheme, I could honestly see him eventually supplanting Jim Sorgi as the Colts official clip board holder.
(222) Pat McAfee (K) WEST VIRGINIA
A lot of people have questioned this pick because the Colts obviously already have a pretty decent kicker on the roster. But, I don't believe the Colts drafted McAfee to be a kicker. Instead, I think the Colts intend on McAfee replacing the recently departed Hunter Smith as the team's punter and occasional kick-off man. McAfee averaged 43.7 yards per punt in his college career and was one of three finalists for the Ray Guy award during his Senior season. I think this pick obviously fills a need and also provides the Colts with a back-up kicker in case Vinatieri would happen to get hurt again. To me, this is a decent value pick and I can't complain.
(236) Jaimie Thomas (OL) Maryland
I don't know a whole lot about Thomas, but Bill Polian always seems to do extremely well finding serviceable offensive lineman in the later rounds. Thomas has decent size at 6'4" and 330 pounds, but most scouting reports knock him for not being too agile in the open field. On paper he doesn't seem like a good fit for the Colts offensive line, but he has the credentials to end up being a decent stopgap in case someone were to get injured. I don't ever see Thomas becoming a regular starter for the Colts, but you never know what Howard Mudd might be able to accomplish with this kid. I would have rather seen the Colts take a linebacker with this pick.
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My Take:
The Colts draft this year is a tough one for me to rate. Overall, I am very happy with the players that Bill Polian and Jim Caldwell were able to get. But, I have the same complaint with this draft that I have every year with the Colts. To me, the most important position in a Cover 2 dominant defense is that of the linebacker. And again, the Colts seemed to have overlooked some very obvious linebacker talent in the draft. Unfortunately, it looks to me like the Colts are in worse shape at linebacker right now than any year I can remember in recent history.
According to the Colts official roster, which was updated on 4-26-09, the Colts currently have the following linebackers in fold: Rufus Alexander, Gary Brackett, TyJuan Hagler, Michael Okwo, Jordan Senn, Clint Session, Adam Seward, and Philip Wheeler. Of those players, only Brackett, Hagler, and Session have significant experience in the NFL. And, let's be honest, none of them are guys that you would want to build a Cover 2 defense around. So, unless one of the other 5 linebackers on the roster suddenly emerges as a superstar it looks to me like the Colts defense will probably remain weak up the middle for another year. In this aspect, I would have to say the Colts failed to fill a definite need in the draft.
The only logic I can see in the Colts bypassing such obvious linebacker talent in the draft is that the coaching staff may feel like beefing up the D-line will help keep the opponents O-line off of the Colts linebackers. Thus, allowing the linebackers to flow more easily to the ball. Unfortunately, I just don't feel that Hagler or Brackett really excel on their pursuit angles even when they go unblocked. So, beefing up the D-line may not have as big an effect on the Colts run defense as what many people might think. I guess time will tell.
I would rate the Colts draft this year as a B. I think they made a significant upgrade on the defensive line and I think they may have found a very nice slot receiver with Austin Collie. The selection of McAfee looks like a good one in that it gives the Colts a replacement for Hunter Smith and also gives them a back-up kicker. The selection of Donald Brown should give the Colts running game a very nice boost. But, I just couldn't give them an A because I feel their most pressing need was at linebacker and they failed to address that position (again).
It looks to me like Jim Caldwell may be leaning toward changing a few of the basic philosophies that Dungy brought to Indy. And in my opinion, the things Caldwell is changing are long overdue. So, let's take a look at their draft.
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(27) Donald Brown (RB) UCONN
Brown led the nation in rushing last season as a Junior with 2083 yards. A lot of the scouts think of Brown as being a little undersized, but at 5'10" and 208 pounds he is a quick and powerful running back. He is a great route runner and an exceptional blocker. Brown also has the ability to return kicks and punts, which is something the Colts could definitely use. Most importantly to me, Brown is a strong character guy. I think this was strong pick for the Colts. I will admit that I was hoping they would draft a linebacker with their first pick, but if I was going to pick a running back, Donald Brown is the guy I would have gone after. I look for Brown to contribute immediately, although he will initially probably do most of his work on special teams. It has been a long time since the Colts had a running back with this kind of speed.
(56) Fili Moala (DT) USC
This is the first pick where I thought Jim Caldwell appeared to be taking a different route than Tony Dungy would have taken. Moala tips the scales at 305 pounds, which looks like a bit of a departure from the Tony Dungy style of defense. Moala's weight, however, is a little misleading. Most scouts agree that Moala does not play like a 300 pound DT. The strength of Moala's game is his quickness and perpetual motor. This guy does not take any play off. He is considered a bit of a project because his technique is not considered to be ready for the NFL. Moala is a slasher and a dasher and I think his selection signals that Jim Caldwell was looking for a guy who could get into the opponents backfield to make some plays. Moala should figure into the defensive line rotation this year, but I am not sure he is the run stopper that many people are probably hoping he would be. But, his size and quickness should allow him to play at either DE or DT positions. I think this was a decent value pick.
(92) Jerraud Powers (CB) AUBURN
This pick also seems to stray a little bit from the Tony Dungy defensive philosophy. Tony always seemed to like the big hard hitting CB's that could play the Cover 2 and come up and hit a running back out of the backfield. While Powers is considered to be a physical CB, he is also a bit undersized at 5'9" and 188 pounds. I'm sure Powers could excel in the Cover 2, but he made a name for himself in the SEC by covering a lot of quick receivers one on one. To me, this pick signifies that Jim Caldwell may be a little more aggressive with his defensive schemes than what Tony Dungy was. Powers looks like a guy that could lock up a wide receiver long enough for the Colts to bring a blitz, which is something that Tony Dungy and Ron Meeks didn't do as often as I would have liked. I really like the selection of Powers, but I'm not sure he is far enough along to be a contributor this season.
(127) Austin Collie (WR) BYU
This was a home run as far as I am concerned. Collie led the nation in receiving yards last year as a Junior. He is a great route runner with exceptionally soft hands. In my opinion, he could be the second coming of Brandon Stokely. He is the prototypical slot receiver and I expect him to get playing time almost immediately. He is smart enough to grasp the Colts offense and he is another strong character guy. The knock on Collie is his speed. I don't expect his speed to hurt him too much because I think most of the opposing defenses are going to have to focus on Wayne and Gonzalez. This means that Collie is probably going to be facing Safeties and Linebackers most of the time he is running routes. I like this pick and I think it was steal at 127.
(136) Terrance Taylor (DT) MICHIGAN
This may turn out to be the best pick of the draft for the Colts. At 6'0" and 320 pounds, Taylor is a massive run stopping DT. This guy had one speed in college, and that speed was full throttle. Taylor is the type of guy that will almost always demand a double team if the opponent runs the ball anywhere near him. He is quick and strong with a background in power lifting. Taylor is not known as a pass rusher, but his presence on the field will undoubtedly create situational nightmares for teams that like to double team Freeney and Mathis. I like this pick, and I fully expect to see Taylor on the field a lot this season. To me, this is the only pick the Colts made that really addresses the issues they had last season trying to stop the run.
(201) Curtis Painter (QB) PURDUE
I found this pick to probably be the most interesting the Colts made this year. If you have followed this blog in the past, you know that I am not a fan of Jim Sorgi. Jim always plays well in pre season games, and when there is nothing on the line. But, when the opponents put a little pressure on him he tends to fold like a cheap piece of copy paper. I find it very telling that Jim Caldwell, formerly the Colts quarterback coach, would spend a draft pick on another quarterback in his first draft as the Colts head coach. This pick tells me that Jim Caldwell may not be as infatuated with Jim Sorgi as Tony Dungy seemed to be. I know Curtis Painter didn't have a great Senior year at Purdue, but let's not forget that Painter comes out of the same system that produced Drew Brees and Kyle Orton. Painter has NFL caliber arm strength, decent size (6'4"), and a decent 40 time (4.87). If Painter's injured shoulder has healed sufficiently, and he turns out to be smart enough to learn the Colts complex offensive scheme, I could honestly see him eventually supplanting Jim Sorgi as the Colts official clip board holder.
(222) Pat McAfee (K) WEST VIRGINIA
A lot of people have questioned this pick because the Colts obviously already have a pretty decent kicker on the roster. But, I don't believe the Colts drafted McAfee to be a kicker. Instead, I think the Colts intend on McAfee replacing the recently departed Hunter Smith as the team's punter and occasional kick-off man. McAfee averaged 43.7 yards per punt in his college career and was one of three finalists for the Ray Guy award during his Senior season. I think this pick obviously fills a need and also provides the Colts with a back-up kicker in case Vinatieri would happen to get hurt again. To me, this is a decent value pick and I can't complain.
(236) Jaimie Thomas (OL) Maryland
I don't know a whole lot about Thomas, but Bill Polian always seems to do extremely well finding serviceable offensive lineman in the later rounds. Thomas has decent size at 6'4" and 330 pounds, but most scouting reports knock him for not being too agile in the open field. On paper he doesn't seem like a good fit for the Colts offensive line, but he has the credentials to end up being a decent stopgap in case someone were to get injured. I don't ever see Thomas becoming a regular starter for the Colts, but you never know what Howard Mudd might be able to accomplish with this kid. I would have rather seen the Colts take a linebacker with this pick.
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My Take:
The Colts draft this year is a tough one for me to rate. Overall, I am very happy with the players that Bill Polian and Jim Caldwell were able to get. But, I have the same complaint with this draft that I have every year with the Colts. To me, the most important position in a Cover 2 dominant defense is that of the linebacker. And again, the Colts seemed to have overlooked some very obvious linebacker talent in the draft. Unfortunately, it looks to me like the Colts are in worse shape at linebacker right now than any year I can remember in recent history.
According to the Colts official roster, which was updated on 4-26-09, the Colts currently have the following linebackers in fold: Rufus Alexander, Gary Brackett, TyJuan Hagler, Michael Okwo, Jordan Senn, Clint Session, Adam Seward, and Philip Wheeler. Of those players, only Brackett, Hagler, and Session have significant experience in the NFL. And, let's be honest, none of them are guys that you would want to build a Cover 2 defense around. So, unless one of the other 5 linebackers on the roster suddenly emerges as a superstar it looks to me like the Colts defense will probably remain weak up the middle for another year. In this aspect, I would have to say the Colts failed to fill a definite need in the draft.
The only logic I can see in the Colts bypassing such obvious linebacker talent in the draft is that the coaching staff may feel like beefing up the D-line will help keep the opponents O-line off of the Colts linebackers. Thus, allowing the linebackers to flow more easily to the ball. Unfortunately, I just don't feel that Hagler or Brackett really excel on their pursuit angles even when they go unblocked. So, beefing up the D-line may not have as big an effect on the Colts run defense as what many people might think. I guess time will tell.
I would rate the Colts draft this year as a B. I think they made a significant upgrade on the defensive line and I think they may have found a very nice slot receiver with Austin Collie. The selection of McAfee looks like a good one in that it gives the Colts a replacement for Hunter Smith and also gives them a back-up kicker. The selection of Donald Brown should give the Colts running game a very nice boost. But, I just couldn't give them an A because I feel their most pressing need was at linebacker and they failed to address that position (again).
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