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2009
NFL Draft Needs - Indianapolis Colts
by Gregory Cox
Senior Writer
4/22/09
Picks (8): 27, 61, 92, 127, 136*, 165, 201, 236
*-compensatory pick cannot be traded
Defensive Tackle – The Colts are a team normally adept at
assessing talent so going after someone else’s castoff (Buffalo’s John
McCargo) in a failed trade a while back is a major indicator of the
many problems at this position. Quinn Pitcock retired on them suddenly,
which explains all of the mental prodding NFL teams do at the scouting
combine. Ed Johnson was released prior to the 2008 season. Darrell Reid
had issues away from the field and signed with Denver. Right now
Keyunta Dawson and Eric Foster represent two tendencies. First, as I
just mentioned the Colts can scout. Dawson was almost Mr. Irrelevant
and Foster was not drafted. Second, neither player tips the scales at
even 270. Indy might have gotten too much confidence after winning the
Super Bowl with athletic as opposed to the guys who look like they
should be contestants on The Biggest Loser. In the draft I expect them
to look for a player who fits in between. Not a lead foot weighing 340
pounds, but a little bulk to do battle with the opposing guard or
center.
Wide Receiver – Every rookie coming into the NFL this season
would be lucky to wind up with the Colts. Reggie Wayne is an
established #1. Anthony Gonzalez is emerging as the next great slot
receiver with Peyton Manning throwing rockets. Dallas Clark is a solid
pass catching tight end. An outside starter is all they are missing.
Usually it takes time for an elite collegiate player to make a mark in
the NFL, but this situation is unique to put it lightly. Indy has
nothing in the cupboard to replace Marvin Harrison which is why I
suggested addressing this in last year’s draft. Now the problem sticks
out just a little more. The best solution might be convincing Harrison,
still a free agent, to sign on for his swan song while drafting someone
to train from one of the best ever. Roy Hall and Pierre Garcon were
late picks from the past two drafts and how the team assesses their
progress factors into their decision to draft early or late.
Intelligent, disciplined route runners will be sought. Peyton wants a
player who is where he is supposed to be.
Running Back – A lot of the blame for the lack of a running
game falls on the offensive line. Joseph Addai was coming off two
seasons with 1,400+ total yards to open his NFL career. Fantasy owners
were expecting even bigger things. Instead they watched his average per
rush continue to plummet. From 2006 (4.8) to 2007 (4.1) was one thing,
but 2008 (3.5) put up red flags about his ability to work for the tough
yardage. He also had just one game with a run longer than 15 yards all
season, and a 2.8 yard average in the playoff loss. Dominic Rhodes
returned to the roost and had an almost identical stat line to Addai in
the rushing department. In other words not good, and he has signed with
Houston. Last year the team added Mike Hart (sixth round) and Chad
Simpson (free agent) as rookies. Obviously neither move helped the
situation because the Colts were #31 out of 32 teams with 79.6 rushing
yards per game. Also, Hart is rehabbing from knee surgery. Lance Ball
is a wild card and might factor in. Better blocking up front when the
talent gets healthy could turn this around. So might a player capable
of extending the legacy of greatness started by Marshall Faulk and
Edgerrin James. It was once believed Addai was the next in line, but at
the moment not so much.
Offensive Tackle – The concern here is that on the left side
Tony Ugoh is injury prone and on the right side Ryan Diem is average.
The interior was loaded up with reinforcements in last year’s draft.
Mike Pollak (second round) starts at right guard, while Jamey Richard
(seventh round) is a backup guard and Steve Justice (sixth round) a
backup center/guard. Jeff Saturday signing at center for 3 years is a
relief. Evaluating their depth chart tackle is the position I expect
them to go after, possibly even twice with late picks. They have
demonstrated an ability to hit on late round choices. Extra bodies to
ward off injury concerns and lackluster play should revitalize this
line.
Cornerback – Kelvin Hayden is happy. He has his stack of money.
Marlin Jackson is a developing talent, but is coming off an injury and
will be a free agent next year. Dante Hughes has not been able to make
the transition thus far. Entering his third season he has only 1
interception in 24 games as a reserve. At Cal he was able to sit back
and wait for his opportunity to take advantage of a college
quarterback’s mistake and then turn that interception into a touchdown
with his return skills. Tim Jennings, a second round pick the year
before, has made a bigger impact. It is not necessary to strike early.
All that is needed here is to keep the talent flowing in. If they were
that worried about their depth chart Keiwan Ratliff would not be in
free agency limbo, for example. Finally, Michael Coe is also coming off
knee surgery.
Punt Returner – This will likely be doubled up in the form of a
cornerback or wide receiver with return skills. It simply has to be
mentioned though that Keiwan Ratliff, rattling around in free agency by
the way, averaged a horrific 5.6 yards per return on 16 attempts. He
fair caught 43% of the 28 directed at him. Someone to attack punt
returns with a little more of an aggressive nature might be considered
in the draft.
Quarterback – I am going to panic every fan of the team by
saying this, but Peyton Manning did just turn 33. His knee issues did
not prevent him from extending his consecutive starts streak to 176. He
also registered his ninth season with 4,000+ passing yards. Jim Sorgi
has been Mr. Week 17 having seen significant action in four of the
team’s five finales since he joined the team in 2004 as a sixth round
pick out of Wisconsin. While he knows the system, let’s just say the
phones to the front office are not exactly burning up with trade offers
to make him a starter elsewhere. His value is to them in a mop up role.
Manning has shown the first chink in his armor recovering from this
knee injury. It is going to get harder for him to keep starting every
game. Unless he is a character from The Terminator sent back in time to
solidify the quarterback position, at some point he will reach the end
of the line. The time is now to start fishing around for a potential
backup who might development into a future starter. Manning has at
least two years left, possibly three and maybe more. Wouldn’t it be
smart to let someone learn behind him who has a chance to take over the
throne?
Punter – After a decade of remarkable consistent production
Hunter Smith is on the outs. It was overall the second best season of
his career. The average was there (44.2) and 43% landed inside the 20
while 19% ended up inside the 10. He set a career low in touchbacks (2)
as well. Whatever the reasons, now the team also has to figure out who
is going to be their holder. Maybe they could train backup quarterback
Jim Sorgi to do it. Shouldn’t he be used for more than just week 17
games? At any rate the Colts should be one of a few teams targeting a
punter late in the draft and prefer one with holding experience.
Linebacker (middle) – This is one of those positions where a
case can always be made for depth. The only move made to provide a
backup for Gary Brackett was signing Adam Seward (Panthers) to a one
year deal. Do I really need to explain why this is not an ideal option?
Seward appeared in 40 games during four seasons and is credited with 40
tackles. He has experience in an NFL uniform, but if the lower injury
that prematurely ended the 2008 season for Brackett resurfaces they
want to add another option. Brackett himself was not drafted so the
Colts will not feel any pressure to make this move early.
Michael
Abromowitz's 2009 NFL Mock
Draft - 7 rounds
Gregory Cox's 2009 NFL Mock
Draft - 6 rounds
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