Showing posts with label Indianapolis Colts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indianapolis Colts. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
2014 NFL Draft Grades: AFC South
The Indianapolis Colts ran away with the 2013 AFC South title, but the free fall of the Houston Texans from two time division champ to 14 game losing streak was painful to watch. The Texans got the prize of the 1st Overall Selection of the 2014 draft, and they grabbed the biggest prize on the board.
Houston Texans: A Best Pick: Jadeveon Clowney Late Round Sleeper: Tom Savage
Clowney is a supreme talent, and with everyone questioning his motivation I see him playing with a huge chip on his shoulder. At least until he signs his second contract. But the Texans hit all the high notes with their picks at the Top of the draft. Xavier Su'a-Filo will be an anchor on the interior of the offensive line. C.J. Fiedorowicz is a big target but he excels as a run blocker. One of the biggest steals of the draft was Louis Nix falling into the middle of the third round. Many thought the Texans would select a quarterback early, but getting Tom Savage on Day 3 could be their long term solution to a shaky quarterback problem.
Indianapolis Colts: C Best Pick: Donte Moncrief Late Round Sleeper: Ulrick John
The Colts did not have a first round pick, as theirs was traded to Cleveland for Trent Richardson. The success of this draft class will be tied in to how well Richardson performs for the Clots. They can only hope it will be better than last year. Jack Mewhort is a tough-minded offensive lineman who could move inside for the Colts. Donte Moncrief could be a long term replacement to Reggie Wayne. Late round sleeper Ulrick John could also find some playing time on the offensive line.
Jacksonville Jaguars: A+ Best Pick: Blake Bortles Late Round Sleeper: Storm Johnson
The Jaguars hit the jackpot in the 2014 NFL Draft. They got their franchise quarterback in Blake Bortles. They got two excellent receivers to replace Justin Blackmon when they selected Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson in Round 2. They beefed up the offensive line with the picks of Brandon Linder and Luke Bowanko. The secondary got two talented prospects in Aaron Colvin and Telvin Smith, and the defense got a pass rusher in Chris Smith. The Jaguars final pick in the draft was Bortles teammate at Central Florida, Storm Johnson. Johnson could get a lot of reps in the backfield with the departure of Maurice Jones-Drew.
Tennessee Titans: B Best Pick: Bishop Sankey Late Round Sleeper: Zach Mettenberger
The Titans stuck to their Best Player Available philosophy and selected Taylor Lewan in Round 1. The Titans offensive line is deep but Lewan is too talented to have sit on the sidelines, and pairing him up with last years first rounder Chance Warmack will go a long way to aiding the development of Jake Locker. Second round pick Sankey looks to replace Chris Johnson in the starting backfield. DaQuan Jones will add depth to the defensive line. Getting Mettenberger late in the draft could be a top sleeper pick if Locker continues to struggle.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
TMG DraftZone 2013 NFL Draft Grades: AFC South
The Houston Texans were able to repeat as AFC South division champs in 2012, but the arrival of the 1st Overall pick in the 2012 Draft, Andrew Luck, put the Indianapolis Colts back on the map. Luck was everything he was advertised to be and even more. It looks like the AFC South is going to be a two team race for a long time.
The Tennessee Titans are hoping that their first round pick in 2011, Jake Locker, can develop as well at the quarterback position and make the Titans a contender once again. The fourth team in the AFC South, Jacksonville, is not nearly as settled at quarterback as they would like to be. Blaine Gabbert was picked two spots after Locker, but he has the look of a journeyman signal caller. Chad Henne was brought in from Miami, but not many see him as the long term answer. I've been an advocate for the Jaguars bringing in Tim Tebow, but he needs to get a fair chance of winning the quarterback job instead of being the sideshow he was in New York with the Jets. I'd make the case right now that the best quarterback the Jaguars have is their 5th round pick this year, a player they selected to play running back, and that is Denard Robinson from Michigan. Any way you slice it, it could be a long year in Jacksonville.
So here are the TMG DraftZone 2013 NFL Draft Grades for the AFC South, along with key selections and sleeper picks.
Houston: B DeAndre Hopkins (WR) Sam Montgomery (DE)
Hopkins is seen as the answer to giving Andre Johnson a running mate on the opposite side of the field, and if he can develop as teh Texans think he can, then it will open up the middle of the field even more for Arian Foster. The second round brought a tough, physical safety in D.J Swearinger, who should be able to make an impact right away in a secondary that still gives up too many yards. Montgomery fell down the draft boards after blurting out he took plays off in college, but he has the ability to be a very good edge rusher. With J.J. Watt on one side, Montgomery could be very effective for the Tecans.
Indianapolis: B Hugh Thornton (G) Khaled Holmes (C)
Bjoern Werner fell all the way to the Colts at #24, and he has a chance to thrive as the replacement to Dwight Freeney. Thornton was seen as a bit of a stretch pick, but the first priority for the Colts is to protect the franchise, and that is Andrew Luck. Thornton was the player the Colts pegged to do just that, and Holmes could eventually move into the center position. Holmes played most of last year injured, and even in the fourth round he will be a value pick.
Jacksonville: B+ Luke Joeckel (T) Denard Robinson (QB)
Whoever the Jaguars play at qaurterback, they will have the best player in the draft protecting his left side. Joeckel will be the anchor that the offensive line will build around, just as Jacksonville did when they were formed in 1995 when their very first pick was Tony Boselli. Johnathon Cyprien and Dwayne Gratz can form the foundation for a revamped secondary, and Ace Sanders is the speedy playmaker on the outside for the future. But it will be interesting to see if Robinson gets a chance to play quarterback. If he is seen as too small, then those critics should look at Russell Wilson. I watched Robinson play in college, and he isn't the prototypical quarterback, but he is a playmaker, and I would love to see him get a chance.
Tennessee: B+ Justin Hunter (WR) Brian Schwenke (C)
The Titans went to shore up their offensive line, and the found their man in Chance Warmack. They got the best guard in the draft, and for a protector for Locker and a road grater for Chris Johnson. Hunter will be a key pick. The Titans traded up to get him, and now Locker has an outside target to develop the passing game with. Blidi Wreh-Wilson was a value pick in Round 3, and Schwenke was as well in Round 4. Schwenke can team with Warmack to solidify the center of the offensive line for years to come.
Friday, February 3, 2012
To Manning or Not To Manning...
...That is the question for the Indianapolis Colts.
It's amazing. The Super Bowl is being played in 2 days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and I'd say at least half of the talk this past two weeks has been about Peyton Manning.
Now that talk has been ramped up. Manning's doctors have cleared him to play. Jim Irsay, the owner of the Colts, then came out and tweeted that Manning has not been cleared by team doctors. Speculation is that Manning will be released. Or that the Colts will pick up his $28 million option. Or that Manning will retire. Whatever happens, I find it very interesting that the Colts find themselves in a situation that they faced, although with some differences, with a legendary quarterback nearly 40 years ago.
Let's go back to the early 1970's. The Baltimore Colts were Super Bowl champions in 1970, and lost in the AFC Championship game to Miami the next season. John Unitas was their quarterback, but he was at the end of his career. Robert Irsay, the father of the current Colts owner, purchased the Los Angeles Rams and then traded the franchise for the Colts from then owner Carroll Rosenbloom. One of Irsay's first moves was to move on from the Unitas era and start fresh. But Colts coach Don McCafferty was loyal to his old quarterback Unitas, and he did not want to make the change. Irsay then fired the coach who won the Super Bowl just two years earlier.
The Colts went into the 1973 NFL Draft with the 2nd Overall Pick. They then selected Bert Jones, the All-American quarterback from LSU. Irsay wanted to make a clean break from Unitas and then traded him to San Diego. Unitas played one season for the Chargers. He had the will, but his arm couldn't find the way after suffering a number of injuries beginning in the 1968 season. Playing for a bad Chargers team did not help, and the greatest quarterback of his era retired at the end of the season.
The Colts in 1973-74 were not the same team that had so much success in 1970-71. The players on the championship team got old fast, and Baltimore was left with a young team that struggled. But it all came into place in 1975, and Jones led the team to three straight AFC East titles. He also won the 1976 NFL MVP award, and was one of the best quarterbacks in the league during a time when you had Hall of Famers like Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, Bob Greise, and Fran Tarkenton, along with Ken Stabler, Ken Anderson and others leading their teams.
But Jones got injured at the start of the 1978 season, and his reckless style of play was starting to catch up with him. He was traded before the 1982 season to the Rams, but played one year before retiring. The injury that shortened his career-a neck injury.
Peyton Manning will most likely be released by the Colts and will be a very sought after free agent. Jim Irsay is going to follow in his father's footsteps and will move forward with Andrew Luck at quarterback. The Colts might struggle at first but I don't think it will be for long. Manning will be playing the role of the Spartan warrior of long ago. Come back with your shield or on it. He could lead a good team to the top, or he could be carted off never to take the field again. But all I can think about is the line in Jurassic Park, when Dr. Malcolm is trying to convince John Hammond that creating dinosaurs is a bad idea:
Yeah but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
Perhaps Manning should stop to think if he should even come back. The NFL is a better league with him healthy and playing. It will take a hit if Manning does as well and his injuries become too much to overcome. I wish Peyton Manning all the best, and most importantly health and happiness. Which he can have by walking away with his shield instead of being carried off on it.
It's amazing. The Super Bowl is being played in 2 days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and I'd say at least half of the talk this past two weeks has been about Peyton Manning.
Now that talk has been ramped up. Manning's doctors have cleared him to play. Jim Irsay, the owner of the Colts, then came out and tweeted that Manning has not been cleared by team doctors. Speculation is that Manning will be released. Or that the Colts will pick up his $28 million option. Or that Manning will retire. Whatever happens, I find it very interesting that the Colts find themselves in a situation that they faced, although with some differences, with a legendary quarterback nearly 40 years ago.
Let's go back to the early 1970's. The Baltimore Colts were Super Bowl champions in 1970, and lost in the AFC Championship game to Miami the next season. John Unitas was their quarterback, but he was at the end of his career. Robert Irsay, the father of the current Colts owner, purchased the Los Angeles Rams and then traded the franchise for the Colts from then owner Carroll Rosenbloom. One of Irsay's first moves was to move on from the Unitas era and start fresh. But Colts coach Don McCafferty was loyal to his old quarterback Unitas, and he did not want to make the change. Irsay then fired the coach who won the Super Bowl just two years earlier.
The Colts went into the 1973 NFL Draft with the 2nd Overall Pick. They then selected Bert Jones, the All-American quarterback from LSU. Irsay wanted to make a clean break from Unitas and then traded him to San Diego. Unitas played one season for the Chargers. He had the will, but his arm couldn't find the way after suffering a number of injuries beginning in the 1968 season. Playing for a bad Chargers team did not help, and the greatest quarterback of his era retired at the end of the season.
The Colts in 1973-74 were not the same team that had so much success in 1970-71. The players on the championship team got old fast, and Baltimore was left with a young team that struggled. But it all came into place in 1975, and Jones led the team to three straight AFC East titles. He also won the 1976 NFL MVP award, and was one of the best quarterbacks in the league during a time when you had Hall of Famers like Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, Bob Greise, and Fran Tarkenton, along with Ken Stabler, Ken Anderson and others leading their teams.
But Jones got injured at the start of the 1978 season, and his reckless style of play was starting to catch up with him. He was traded before the 1982 season to the Rams, but played one year before retiring. The injury that shortened his career-a neck injury.
Peyton Manning will most likely be released by the Colts and will be a very sought after free agent. Jim Irsay is going to follow in his father's footsteps and will move forward with Andrew Luck at quarterback. The Colts might struggle at first but I don't think it will be for long. Manning will be playing the role of the Spartan warrior of long ago. Come back with your shield or on it. He could lead a good team to the top, or he could be carted off never to take the field again. But all I can think about is the line in Jurassic Park, when Dr. Malcolm is trying to convince John Hammond that creating dinosaurs is a bad idea:
Yeah but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
Perhaps Manning should stop to think if he should even come back. The NFL is a better league with him healthy and playing. It will take a hit if Manning does as well and his injuries become too much to overcome. I wish Peyton Manning all the best, and most importantly health and happiness. Which he can have by walking away with his shield instead of being carried off on it.
Friday, January 20, 2012
The Quarterback Draft of 2012
The TMG DraftZone is back, and it's time to talk about the upcoming NFL Draft. Last year, interior lineman were a dominant feature on everyones draft boards. It was The Big Uglies that were in the spotlight. In 2012, it will be the pretty boys. Wide receivers, running backs and cornerbacks will get a lot of attention. But the quarterbacks will rule the day.
The top two prospects in the 2012 NFL Draft are quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. The Indianapolis Colts hold the #1 Overall Selection, and have already indicated they will take Luck. St. Louis has the second pick, and with Sam Bradford already entrenched as their signal caller, teams will be falling over themselves wanting to trade and move up to get Griffin. Jeff Fisher is the new head coach of the Rams, but he may as well be a reincarnation of Monty Hall in Let's Make A Deal.
But beyond Luck and Griffin, quarterbacks already on rosters or free agents will be the reason this year will be The Quarterback Draft. The Colts have a decision to make with Peyton Manning. Do they pick up his option for $28 million, and have him serve as a mentor to Luck? Do they sign him and trade the longtime face of the franchise? Do they make a clean break and let Manning become a free agent? Or does Manning say he has had enough, that three neck surgeries are two many for a quarterback, and say it's time to retire?
My gut feeling is that the Colts will not pick up the option on Manning, and that Peyton will retire. But if the right situation comes around, I could also see Manning moving to a contending team for one last run at a championship that would cement his legacy, and that team could be the New York Jets. Woody Johnson, the owner of the Jets, has publicly supported his quarterback Mark Sanchez, but has also indicated he could pursue Manning if he were available. For arguments sake, let's say the Jets sign Manning. What happens to Sanchez? There is no way he will sit behind Manning, then move back into the starters role after a couple of seasons. His own teammates, albeit anonymously, have criticized his play and work habits. It would not be far fetched that he would demand a trade, and a team like Washington, Miami or Cleveland could be a possible landing spot.
Speaking of which, those three teams are the most likely to trade up with St. Louis to select Griffin. But if Sanchez is available, he could be a less costly move to upgrade the quarterback position. Because the team that trades with the Rams for the second pick will be mortgaging their draft future to get Griffin. Last year, Atlanta traded 5 draft picks to Cleveland to move up to #6 and select Julio Jones. It will take a deal of that magnitude this year to get the Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor. The Browns have the leverage of being able to trade those picks from the Falcons, and they have Colt McCoy in place now who could quarterback the team until Griffin is ready. But after watching Cam Newton and Andy Dalton do what they did in 2011 without the benefit of OTA's and a shortened training camp, and after watching Griffin play last year, he needs to get the ball right away. I believe he will.
The most intriguing free agent quarterback will be Matt Flynn from Green Bay. Intriguing because of excellent results from a small sample size. He started one game against New England in 2010, and played well in a loss. He then started the final game of the 2011 season against Detroit, and set franchise records for yards and touchdowns in a game. And considering the Packers history, those are impressive records. But the question isn't if a team will take a chance on Flynn, it will be which one will.
Finally, what will Denver do in regards to Tim Tebow. John Elway has stated that Tebow will be the teams starter going into training camp, but that endorsement is as lukewarm as a three day old pot of coffee. Brady Quinn is a free agent, and not likely to return, and the only other quarterback on the Broncos roster is Adam Weber, who spent the year on the practice squad. Tebow may have turned the season around for Denver, but the injuries he suffered in the playoff loss to New England should be a warning for the Broncos. No matter how big and tough a quarterback is, if he is a running quarterback he is going to get beat up. Tebow proved that his biggest weakness is as a pocket passer, and I would not be surprised if Weber gets a good look in training camp and in preseason games with the first team starters. If Elway decides to move Tebow, Jacksonville could be a landing spot. You have a new owner looking to fill the stadium and put a winner on the field, and having a hometown hero like Tebow could accomplish both. As long as Tebow can stay on the field.
The 2012 NFL Draft will be dominated by the quarterbacks. Both incoming and already there. Things will start to fall into place once the Colts and Peyton Manning decide what each one is going to do. After that, the dominoes will start falling into place. I can't wait for the push that gets everything going. Let the NFL Draft Season begin.
The top two prospects in the 2012 NFL Draft are quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. The Indianapolis Colts hold the #1 Overall Selection, and have already indicated they will take Luck. St. Louis has the second pick, and with Sam Bradford already entrenched as their signal caller, teams will be falling over themselves wanting to trade and move up to get Griffin. Jeff Fisher is the new head coach of the Rams, but he may as well be a reincarnation of Monty Hall in Let's Make A Deal.
But beyond Luck and Griffin, quarterbacks already on rosters or free agents will be the reason this year will be The Quarterback Draft. The Colts have a decision to make with Peyton Manning. Do they pick up his option for $28 million, and have him serve as a mentor to Luck? Do they sign him and trade the longtime face of the franchise? Do they make a clean break and let Manning become a free agent? Or does Manning say he has had enough, that three neck surgeries are two many for a quarterback, and say it's time to retire?
My gut feeling is that the Colts will not pick up the option on Manning, and that Peyton will retire. But if the right situation comes around, I could also see Manning moving to a contending team for one last run at a championship that would cement his legacy, and that team could be the New York Jets. Woody Johnson, the owner of the Jets, has publicly supported his quarterback Mark Sanchez, but has also indicated he could pursue Manning if he were available. For arguments sake, let's say the Jets sign Manning. What happens to Sanchez? There is no way he will sit behind Manning, then move back into the starters role after a couple of seasons. His own teammates, albeit anonymously, have criticized his play and work habits. It would not be far fetched that he would demand a trade, and a team like Washington, Miami or Cleveland could be a possible landing spot.
Speaking of which, those three teams are the most likely to trade up with St. Louis to select Griffin. But if Sanchez is available, he could be a less costly move to upgrade the quarterback position. Because the team that trades with the Rams for the second pick will be mortgaging their draft future to get Griffin. Last year, Atlanta traded 5 draft picks to Cleveland to move up to #6 and select Julio Jones. It will take a deal of that magnitude this year to get the Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor. The Browns have the leverage of being able to trade those picks from the Falcons, and they have Colt McCoy in place now who could quarterback the team until Griffin is ready. But after watching Cam Newton and Andy Dalton do what they did in 2011 without the benefit of OTA's and a shortened training camp, and after watching Griffin play last year, he needs to get the ball right away. I believe he will.
The most intriguing free agent quarterback will be Matt Flynn from Green Bay. Intriguing because of excellent results from a small sample size. He started one game against New England in 2010, and played well in a loss. He then started the final game of the 2011 season against Detroit, and set franchise records for yards and touchdowns in a game. And considering the Packers history, those are impressive records. But the question isn't if a team will take a chance on Flynn, it will be which one will.
Finally, what will Denver do in regards to Tim Tebow. John Elway has stated that Tebow will be the teams starter going into training camp, but that endorsement is as lukewarm as a three day old pot of coffee. Brady Quinn is a free agent, and not likely to return, and the only other quarterback on the Broncos roster is Adam Weber, who spent the year on the practice squad. Tebow may have turned the season around for Denver, but the injuries he suffered in the playoff loss to New England should be a warning for the Broncos. No matter how big and tough a quarterback is, if he is a running quarterback he is going to get beat up. Tebow proved that his biggest weakness is as a pocket passer, and I would not be surprised if Weber gets a good look in training camp and in preseason games with the first team starters. If Elway decides to move Tebow, Jacksonville could be a landing spot. You have a new owner looking to fill the stadium and put a winner on the field, and having a hometown hero like Tebow could accomplish both. As long as Tebow can stay on the field.
The 2012 NFL Draft will be dominated by the quarterbacks. Both incoming and already there. Things will start to fall into place once the Colts and Peyton Manning decide what each one is going to do. After that, the dominoes will start falling into place. I can't wait for the push that gets everything going. Let the NFL Draft Season begin.
Friday, May 6, 2011
AFC South Draft Grades: Indianapolis Colts
For many teams, a 10-6 season and division title would be a success. Not in Indianapolis. The Colts were coming off of an AFC Conference title, and a streak of seven straight seasons with 12 or more victories. But injuries caught up with the Colts, and even Peyton Manning couldn't get them past the Jets in the playoffs.
The Colts went into the draft looking to protect it's most valuable asset, and Manning now has two young lineman to protect him. Anthony Castonzo was perhaps the most pro ready tackle entering the draft, and Benjamin Ijalana is a mauler who will line up at guard. The two lineman give the Colts an infusion of youth, and should keep Manning upright and able to pick apart defenses for a long time.
The interior of the defensive line got help with the selection of Drake Nevis in the third round out of LSU. Nevis is an explosive penetrator who can get into the backfield, and with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis on the outside, he gives the opponents offense another weapon to worry about on both runs and passes.
A late round sleeper looks to be Delone Carter, a running back out of Syracuse. Carter is a power back who should flourish running behind his fellow rookies up front, and the Colts running game has been a revolving door leading to the injured list with Joseph Addai, Donald Brown and Mike Hart. Carter could get his chance sooner rather than later.
Draft Grade: B+
The Colts went into the draft looking to protect it's most valuable asset, and Manning now has two young lineman to protect him. Anthony Castonzo was perhaps the most pro ready tackle entering the draft, and Benjamin Ijalana is a mauler who will line up at guard. The two lineman give the Colts an infusion of youth, and should keep Manning upright and able to pick apart defenses for a long time.
The interior of the defensive line got help with the selection of Drake Nevis in the third round out of LSU. Nevis is an explosive penetrator who can get into the backfield, and with Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis on the outside, he gives the opponents offense another weapon to worry about on both runs and passes.
A late round sleeper looks to be Delone Carter, a running back out of Syracuse. Carter is a power back who should flourish running behind his fellow rookies up front, and the Colts running game has been a revolving door leading to the injured list with Joseph Addai, Donald Brown and Mike Hart. Carter could get his chance sooner rather than later.
Draft Grade: B+
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Draft Grades: Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts came up one game short in 2009, losing to the New Orleans Saints in the Super Bowl. The Colts have been so successful for so long they go into the draft looking to reload and make another championship run. Indianapolis accomplished that in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Offense has never been the problem. With Peyton Manning at quarterback, the Colts have the best in the game. Joseph Addai and Donald Brown share the load at running back, and with Anthony Gonzalez coming back from injury to line up with Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Pierre Garcon, and Austin Collie the weapons are in place. The offensive line was help with the selection of Jacques McClendon, a guard from Tennessee.
The defense was the main focus in the draft, and the Colts got a pair of superb players in Rounds 1 and 2. Jerry Hughes is an edge rusher in the mold of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, and should be able to contribute immediately. Pat Angerer looks to help with the run defense from the middle linebacker position.
A sleeper pick looks to be Ricardo Matthews, a defensive tackle from Cincinnati who should help with the run defense up the middle.
Draft Grade: B+
Offense has never been the problem. With Peyton Manning at quarterback, the Colts have the best in the game. Joseph Addai and Donald Brown share the load at running back, and with Anthony Gonzalez coming back from injury to line up with Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Pierre Garcon, and Austin Collie the weapons are in place. The offensive line was help with the selection of Jacques McClendon, a guard from Tennessee.
The defense was the main focus in the draft, and the Colts got a pair of superb players in Rounds 1 and 2. Jerry Hughes is an edge rusher in the mold of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, and should be able to contribute immediately. Pat Angerer looks to help with the run defense from the middle linebacker position.
A sleeper pick looks to be Ricardo Matthews, a defensive tackle from Cincinnati who should help with the run defense up the middle.
Draft Grade: B+
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)