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  #1  
Old 03-15-2007, 09:44 PM
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Default On the Clock: Indianapolis Colts

Source: Matt Williamson, Scouts Inc. [ Full Article ]

Editor's note: Over the next month, "SportsCenter" will put every NFL team "On The Clock." Scouts Inc. will break down each team and look at what questions still need answering. The Colts are up first.

The Super Bowl champions have some outstanding individual players, which gives them one of the best foundations in the game today. Obviously, it all starts with quarterback Peyton Manning, who is the most valuable player to his team in the league. He makes everyone around him better, is a rare game manager and amazingly is getting better. As long as Manning has wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne to throw to, the Colts' offense will be very dangerous. The defense played well when it mattered most, but overall, this group remains suspect. The coverage units on special teams need to be upgraded, too.

The Colts will be contenders as long as they keep their core and let Manning be Manning. But other big hitters in the AFC are adding talent while the Colts are watching players walk out the door.


Key additions

The NFL is picking over Indianapolis' roster and the Colts have done nothing to recover so far through free agency. They did put the franchise tag on defensive end Dwight Freeney, whose pass rush ability makes this defense dangerous when the Colts are playing with a lead. He is a difference maker.

This is a very established organization and that stability with management, coaches and on-the-field leadership is what makes this team great. But by having so many big contracts, the Colts have handcuffed themselves with their ability to acquire talent. As an elite team, the Colts don't need a huge influx of players to make another run at the Super Bowl, but they will be picking last in the draft, and adding substantial new contributors will be very difficult.


Key losses

While they did keep Freeney for one more season, the Colts will surely lose outside linebacker Cato June and their linebacking corps has been decimated in free agency the last few offseasons. Indianapolis seems to lose a starting linebacker every year. June's production wavered this year, but depth here is a concern. Running back Dominic Rhodes left for the Raiders. He was a major contributor, especially in the postseason. Starting cornerback Nick Harper is now with the division rival Titans and will be missed. Harper was a very good fit in Indianapolis' Tampa 2 defensive scheme and possibly its best cornerback. Defensive tackle Corey Simon, who missed all of last season, is probably on his way out as well.

Super Bowl teams usually get raided and Indianapolis is no different. The Colts' ability to develop talent is going to be severely tested.

Remaining questions

As Super Bowl champions go, the Colts have quite a few holes that need to be filled. On offense, they need a second running back to lighten the load and complement Joseph Addai and they could use a young wide receiver, who would immediately fill the role as their third receiver. On defense, their needs are many. Safety and defensive end are the only positions that do not need to be addressed. It is still conceivable that Indianapolis re-signs June, but that is unlikely. The Colts need to bulk up at defensive tackle, and add at least one linebacker to compete for a starting spot and another cornerback at the minimum.
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Old 03-17-2007, 07:00 PM
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Yeah....keep building up those holes Indy :mrgreen:
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Old 03-17-2007, 11:02 PM
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Adding to holes? Let's see:

Starters lost:

LB Cato June (6th round 2003). Possible replacements currently on the roster: Freddie Keiaho (3rd round 2006), Tyjuan Hagler (5th round 2005)

CB Nick Harper (UDFA 2001). Possible replacements currently on the roster: Marlin Jackson (1st round 2005), Kelvin Hayden (2nd round 2005)

RB Dominic Rhodes (UDFA 2001). Possible replacements currently on the roster: Joseph Addai (1st round 2006), DeDe Dorsey (waivers 2006)

Looks to me as though the only hole created by these departures is backup RB, considering Addai took over as the starting RB in the postseason, that is if you believe in Polian's abilities as a talent evaluator, and he's given little reason to think otherwise.

That said, the holes on this team are, as they have been since the beginning of the season: DT, LB, and depth.
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Old 03-19-2007, 11:36 PM
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Holy crap...you live??? Welcome to the football forums! :mrgreen: [smilie=sarcasm1.gif]

Quote:
LB Cato June (6th round 2003). Possible replacements currently on the roster: Freddie Keiaho (3rd round 2006), Tyjuan Hagler (5th round 2005)
Got to be joking if you think either one will replace June. They address this hole in the draft.
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Old 03-20-2007, 12:14 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveRobWhatever
Quote:
LB Cato June (6th round 2003). Possible replacements currently on the roster: Freddie Keiaho (3rd round 2006), Tyjuan Hagler (5th round 2005)
Got to be joking if you think either one will replace June. They address this hole in the draft.
The same was said of June when he replaced Washington two years ago. That worked out pretty well. LB does need to be addressed in the draft, but one of these two will be able to fill in nicely for him if neccessary IMO.
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Old 03-20-2007, 12:31 AM
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I like your projected pick for the Colts in the GIF Mock Draft:

http://www.forums.gridironfans.com/v...ic.php?t=48011

That makes a shitload of sense. Here's his profile from NFLDraftCountdown.com:

Quote:
Height: 6-07/8 | Weight: 234 | 40-Time: 4.59

Strengths:
Outstanding natural athlete...Great speed and quickness...Explosive with a burst to close...Has the frame to get add weight and he plays big...An outstanding pass rusher...Has fluid hips and is excellent in coverage...Versatile and could play in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme...Vicious hitter and tackler...Has sideline-to-sideline range...Is physical and aggressive...A playmaker who is always around the ball...Still has a ton of potential and there is really no telling just how good he may ultimately be.

Weaknesses:
Has only one year of starting experience...Raw and needs work from a technique standpoint...Has some trouble shedding blocks and he doesn't use his hands all that well...May lack ideal instincts and awareness due to inexperience...Needs to continue bulking up and getting stronger...Will get by on his athleticism at times.

Notes:
Was overshadowed by the likes of Ernie Sims, Buster Davis and A.J. Nicholson for most of his college career...Finally got a chance to start in '06 and made the most of the opportunity...Rare physical specimen who just might eventually be a better player than Sims, a former #9 overall pick...Upside is the key word because he is not a finished product but if he lives up to that promise this guy could be special.
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Old 03-20-2007, 12:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveRobWhatever
I like your projected pick for the Colts in the GIF Mock Draft:

http://www.forums.gridironfans.com/v...ic.php?t=48011

That makes a shitload of sense. Here's his profile from NFLDraftCountdown.com:

Quote:
Height: 6-07/8 | Weight: 234 | 40-Time: 4.59

Strengths:
Outstanding natural athlete...Great speed and quickness...Explosive with a burst to close...Has the frame to get add weight and he plays big...An outstanding pass rusher...Has fluid hips and is excellent in coverage...Versatile and could play in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme...Vicious hitter and tackler...Has sideline-to-sideline range...Is physical and aggressive...A playmaker who is always around the ball...Still has a ton of potential and there is really no telling just how good he may ultimately be.

Weaknesses:
Has only one year of starting experience...Raw and needs work from a technique standpoint...Has some trouble shedding blocks and he doesn't use his hands all that well...May lack ideal instincts and awareness due to inexperience...Needs to continue bulking up and getting stronger...Will get by on his athleticism at times.

Notes:
Was overshadowed by the likes of Ernie Sims, Buster Davis and A.J. Nicholson for most of his college career...Finally got a chance to start in '06 and made the most of the opportunity...Rare physical specimen who just might eventually be a better player than Sims, a former #9 overall pick...Upside is the key word because he is not a finished product but if he lives up to that promise this guy could be special.
I know about Lawrence Timmons. He's the best player available at the spot. He was considered a top 15 pick before the combine, and him being shorter than reported won't affect his draft status in the eyes of the Colts, who value speed on defense above all else. If you can have a good player or a great player at a position, which one are you going to take? I'll take the great player every time. A new starter at SLB and depth are needed as well as a new starter at WLB, so there are plenty of LB spots to go around.
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Old 03-20-2007, 12:48 AM
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So is Rob Morris going to be the other OLB? Seems like he played very well there late last year. And what's the deal with Gilbert Gardner?
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Old 03-20-2007, 01:21 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveRobWhatever
So is Rob Morris going to be the other OLB? Seems like he played very well there late last year. And what's the deal with Gilbert Gardner?
I'd like to see Morris replaced. Either of Hagler or Keiaho would look good there IMO as well as the other playing on the other side provided the Colts don't draft someone better. I think either would be an improvement over Morris, although he might have finally found a place where doing nothing on the field will bring success, and I have to give him credit for doing an adequate job late last season. As for Gardner, he is not suited for SLB at all, and might be best suited as a backup. He was constantly overpursuing and getting out of his gap trying to make a play last year, which cost the Colts HUGE chunks of yardage time and time again. He might be better at WLB, but he would have to beat out both Hagler and Keiaho to see the field there, and I just can't foresee that happening.
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Old 03-20-2007, 01:38 AM
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David Irons and Jonathan Wade are two Cornerbacks that I could see the Colts selecting. Irons would be a 2nd Rounder and Wade 4th maybe 3rd... Irons could step in and be a nickelback, Wade could be a dimeback or just a backup for a while then really breakout in say his 2nd or 3rd season in the league, hes not as seasoned as the other CBs in the draft but he does have fantastic potential.
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