Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Senior Bowl practice comment

East West Shrine Game

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

East West Shrine Game

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

C+

2009 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

I liked the way the Colts' draft started, and I like the way it ended.  In between, Indianapolis valued players differently than I did.  They had an opportunity, in my eye, to have had a great draft, but missed some boats.  In free agency, they did grab an over-achieving player I like a lot. 

DRAFT PICKS

I had Brown as my second-rated running back in the draft, ahead of Moreno, selected 12th overall by the Broncos.  Of the top backs in the draft, Brown clearly has the best combination of athleticism, speed, quickness and on-field production.  While I like the surprisingly injury-prone Addai, Brown is clearly the better back.  However, that doesn't mean he will get the vast majority of the carries right away.  This is a similar to the Carolina Panther situation when DeAngelo Williams was drafted with DeShaunFoster starting.  Foster was the veteran, and just good enough to keep the more talented Williams in a secondary role for a couple of years.  Hopefully, the Colts' coaching staff won't wait that long to make Brown their primary back.

Moala was a another good get by the Colts.  He will be a solid starter.  Many questioned the kid because at times he looked like a dominate athlete on film but top level results weren't always observed.  However, his workout showed he was not a dominate athlete.  Don't get me wrong, he has a fine set of skills for the position, just not mad skills.  For me, this meant that what you saw on film is what you are going to get.  A solid player who will occasionally make big plays.

The Colts' selection of Powers is the start of where my board and the Colts' board went in different directions.  Powers is an undersized corner with the skills and ability to be effective as backup corner in a cover-two scheme.  However, Keenan Lewis would have been my selection at corner since I strongly believe he will develop into a very good starting cornerback in the NFL.  I even had Ryan Mouton, a player built more similarly to Powers who was selected two spots later, more highly-rated Powers.  In addition, with the depth of talent available at cornerback, I might have added another defensive tackle here in Dorell Scott, or one of two very talented receivers who were still on the board in Iglesias or Mike Thomas.

Collie can catch and has good quickness.  He will fit in nicely in the slot.  However, Dillard would have fit in great in the slot, and Knox would have replace some of Harrison's big play ability.  I would have selected either of those receivers over Collie.

Taylor went higher than where I had him graded, but I understand the pick.  He is a very strong kid.  However, he has the game on the big run-stuffing defensive tackle, but not the size.  If Scott was picked in round three instead of Powers, then the Colts could have grabbed cornerback Macho Harris here, another corner I have more highly rated than Powers.  They also could have drafted offensive tackle Xavier Fulton for depth and waited until round six or seven to draft a corner (Lankster or Mickens, both of whom I also have a higher grade on than Powers).

If the Colts draft went my way, then after Moala they would have drafted: DT Scott, WR Dillard, OT Fulton and now CB Lankster.  I know that would mean that no quarterback would be drafted since, as you will see, I liked the Colts' last two picks.  However, Painter probably would have been available as a college street free agent.  For my money, there were a lot of quarterbacks I liked better here anyway, and all of them went undrafted.  The list includes: Nathan Brown, Brain Hoyer, Jason Boltus and Michael Reilly.

The Colts needed a punter at this spot McAfee was a fine choice.

Thomas was an out an out steal.  He is a good run blocker.  I believe he has the talent to grow into a starter.  He is better on the field than in the workout room, has good short area quickness and is a tough kid.

 COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Grady is a similar player to Taylor, only not quite as strong and a little quicker.  He is an undersized run-stuffer who I thought might be able to transition to end in a 3-4 defense.

Lacey is a poor man's Powers.  A smaller corner who is a fit for the cover two defense.  He will need to bulk up some to be more effective on special team cover units, but will need a very good camp to make the team.  He is a possibility for the development squad, but far from a sure thing.

Interestingly, this is the third college street free agent and the third player who has similar tools to a drafted player.  Matthews is similar to Collie, but not as quick.  He too will have a hard time sticking.

Sales is an interesting player to watch.  He has a chance to stick because he has the speed the Colts like in their outside linebackers and will be a plus player on special teams.

Tauiliili was my favorite college street free agent signing by the Colts.  Last year I wrote about how much I liked free agent Silva and he made the team as a backup safety.  The year before that was Bullett and he played well in the base defense when called upon last year.  Well, Tauiliili is a similar player to Silva and I look for him to make the team as a backup middle linebacker.  Like Silva, he is not a workout warrior.  However, like Silva, when he is on the field he is always around the ball making tackles.  

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

The Colts drafted very well, getting value and adding quality depth.  They also grabbed one of my favorite players in college street free agent Jamie Silva.  The Colts and I are on the same page at safety.  Sanders, Condren and free agent signee Bullitt were all on my underrated list, I gave a big thumbs up to Bethea, and even said good things about Giordano.  However, the talent at safety could work against Silva this year.

DRAFT PICKS

Pollak was my top rated center in this draft and has the speed, agility, quickness and athleticism needed to play guard in the Colts' scheme.  He should take over for the departed Scott and not miss a beat.

Wheeler is a good fit for the Colts as well.  He has better size than their current starter Brackett, and possesses the speed, quickness and athleticism needed to play ion the middle in the Tampa Two Defense.   As an added bonus, he has good blitz ability as well.  Long term he should be a starter at MIKE for the Colts.

Tamme is a pass-catching tight end.  However, he will have to add bulk to be anything more than a glorified wide receiver.  He does have very good speed and quickness for the position.  His future is at Dallas Clark's spot, not as the second tight end used with Clark.

In my analysis of Howard I brought up Robert Mathis.  However, Howard is faster, stronger, and more athletic.  Like mathis, I thought Howard would be best served in the NFL as a 3-4 linebacker, but the Colts have been successful using Mathis at end, and Howard will give them a similar player and another pass rushing threat.

Some have compared Santi to Utecht, but not me.  Utecht is a bigger target and was a better receiver.  Santi can catch, but may be a better blockier than Utecht entering the NFL.  Santi is a smart, reliable player who will need to bulk up some and will have his hands full holding off Fletcher and Robinson for playing time.

With Justice, the Colts drafted my top two centers.  Justice, however, does not have the skill set to move out to guard.  He should make the roster as a backup center and has a real shot to be the player to replace Saturday down the line.

Hart is all, well, heart.  He is a tough kid who plays better than he works out and could be a solid move-the-chains, non--home-run-hitting backup.  He is best served as a backup rather than as a change of pace back.

Speed, quickness, athleticism, raw.  That sums up Garcon.  He is an ideal practice squad candidate, one with a chance to develop into a #3 receiver.  Another plus for Garcon is that he is a strong kid which will make him a valuable special teams player as well as backup receiver.

Richard was the third center drafted by the Colts, however this kid has the measureables to play guard, and even add some weight and play tackle.  Down the line Richard can be a valuable backup who can step in anywhere along the line.

COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Burgess is a kid you love to root for.  He played receiver and running back in college and was even successful when called upon to throw the ball.  He also played corner effectively.  His best shot to make the Colts' (or another teams') roster is as a return man.  He should be fun to watch in early preseason games.

Johnson is somewhat similar to Howard but not quite as good.  If he shows he can rush the passer and play linebacker he could stick as a special teams and specialty player.  My best guess is that he is headed for the practice squad.

Silva is a heady player, who likes to hit, and makes the most of his athletic ability.  Just like Condren and Bullitt (and of course Sanders who I targeted as a star in the making), Silva was on my underrated list.  However, he comes to it from the opposite direction.  Condren and Bullitt are physical wonders who showed skills but relied on their athletic ability in college.  Silva is limited athletically, but is a tough, smart kid who makes plays.  Unfortunately, with the depth at safety for the Colts, Silva may have a hard time sticking.

Simpson is a runner with blazing straight-line speed.  He does not make sharp cuts and is not overly quick.  I call this a kick-return type rather than a punt-return type.   He could be effective covering kickoffs. 

Trafalis is an athletic short quarterback who could move to another position if he doesn't cut it at quarterback.  He caught three passes his senior year.