Some love for the red head

by Brad Wells on Jan 26, 2007 12:37 PM EST in Colts Analysis

Vic Carucci has a good article up about Bill Polian over at NFL.com. You've read my praises of Bill and how I think he's arguably the best GM in football. Polian, Scott Pioli in New England, and Rich McKay in Atlanta are the best in the NFL at managing a team in the modern salary cap era. Like all GMs, Polian has had his fair share of mistakes. He signed Chad Cota and Jeff Burris to insane free agent contracts. Both players stunk, and were huge cap burdens. He should have found a way to keep David Thornton this past off-season. He should have handled the Jim Mora situation better in 2001, but in hindsight it might have been a blessing in disguise.

Those are Polian's "mistakes." Notice how they are few and far between.

For fans, the universal mistake of Bill Polian's tenure was his drafting of Rob Morris in the first round in 2000. Everyone thought Morris sucked. He was a bust. Polian selected Morris over players like Ian Gold, Keith Bullock, and Mike Brown. Today, Morris is the starting SAM backer for the Colts and a major reason the defense has played at such a high level. Even Polian's "mistakes" turn to gold.

This season especially, Polian has earned his keep and then some. To prove my point, look at this list of players Polian has added to this team since the loss to Pittsburgh in the playoffs last year:

He made the free agent signing of the 2006 off-season, sweeping Adam Vinatieri away from New England, who were trying to lowball Vinatieri.
Drafted Antoine Bethea in the sixth round of the 2006 draft. Bethea beat out Mike Doss for the starting safety position, and has made huge plays during the regular season and the playoffs.
Made a mid-season trade to acquire DT Booger McFarland from Tampa Bay after an undisclosed illness ended the season of DT Corey Simon. Polian hosed the Bucs with the trade. McFarland was their best d-lineman, period. Polian got him for a 2nd round pick.
Replaced Edgerrin James, who left the Colts as a free agent, by drafting Joseph Addai. Addai turned out to be the best running back drafted in the 2006 draft. He ran for more yards and TDs than any other rookie despite splitting carries with veteran Dominic Rhodes. The combination of Rhodes and Addai equaled the production of James, and both have excelled in the palyoffs.

Polian did all this, and yet the Colts still are in great position with the salary cap, and they sport the second youngest team in football. In short, the Colts aren't going anywhere. Polian is a masterful GM, and in my opinion he is the 2006 NFL Executive of the Year.

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Issues

I would take issue with a few of your points. First of all, I would contend that Drew Brees was the free-agent signing of the off season. How many wins did he add to the Saints vs. AV? He also plays a helluva lot more.
Secondly, saying McFarland was the best lineman on the Buccaneers is like saying Jabar Gafney is the best WR on the Patriots. ...it doesn't mean a whole lot. Plus, Chris Hovan had similar stats-half a sack less and 10 more tackles, plus more yards for a loss. I don't think that was a bad trade, really (especially considering a 2nd rd pick from the Colts might as well be a 3rd rounder), but I certainly don't think of it as some sort of coup.
I do think Addai was a fine draft pick. He's also done a good job with the O-Line. I am curious how things will fair once Wayne, Harrison and Manning get further into their contracts and threaten the salary cap. However, I suppose they'll manage it.
That being said, I'm not so sure Polian's case is much better than Pioli's, or some other GM's for that matter. Pioli got Maroney who's every bit as good as Addai (and returns kick offs). His team has completely retooled and nearly made it's fourth superbowl in 6 years.
Speaking of superbowl, Jerry Angelo hasn't made a bad name for himself in Chicago. Mark Anderson has more sacks than any lineman on either the Bears or the Colts-drafted in the 4th round. Devin Hester was clearly a great draft pick as was Danieal Manning, who's started all season. Outside of the draft, you have back-up QB Brian Griese, WR Bernard Berrian, and two Pro-Bowl special teamers. Let's not forget Pro-Bowl kicker Robbie Gould, signed as an undrafted free-agent.
This is not to say Polian is not a great GM, but just to say that similar gems can be found on the resumes of several GM's.

by cookding @ Stampede Blue on Jan 26, 2007 1:40 PM EST reply actions

also

I would add that losing Edge was automatically addition by subtraction. Anybody who follows the Colts knows that guy never endeared himself to his teammates and that he was running on fumes (though he was awfully productive on said fumes).

by cookding @ Stampede Blue on Jan 26, 2007 1:42 PM EST up reply actions

I've been thinking ...

about that argument myself lately. Perhaps a lot of the Colts reputation for finesse ultimately falls to Edge's feet.

He was the one to be held at the goal-line stand during our 38-34 loss to the Patriots in the 2003 regular season.

I know there are more instances - he was definitely not a great short-yardage back. The Addai/Rhodes combo has been more productive in terms of the power game when we needed it.

I'd be interested to see statistics and anecdotes that support (or contradict) that argument.

What say ye, Stampeders? Is James a "finesse" back?

by PaytonMenning on Jan 26, 2007 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

early maybe, later? not so much

it always seemed to me that James relied on elusiveness pre-ACL-injury and more power there after. now, he was never any threat to morph into Brandon Jacobs, but his style did seem to change.
I will add this, also. Had the line done it's work for Edge like it did for Addai, that goalline stand would never have happened. Plus, the Colts could have called their plays better then.
I just don't think Edge, as a teammate was ever a good fit. Certainly not as good as Addai seems to be. I also thought that, despite his numbers, Edge was never the guy to build a team around. It's one thing to be a runningback. It's another thing to be a runningback on a team that has Harrison, Wayne and Clark. You can expect to have a lot more space to work in. I feel confident in saying James' play in Arizona only underscores the idea that he's not what he once was.

by cookding @ Stampede Blue on Jan 26, 2007 3:56 PM EST up reply actions

Edge

Assuming you are correct that the O-line did not work for James as it has for Addai (and you may be); do you have any idea why that might be the case?

by RomanGabriel on Jan 27, 2007 1:49 PM EST up reply actions

I don't ...

Especially considering the O-line is essentially the same unit that's been fielded for the past 4 to 5 seasons.

by PaytonMenning on Jan 28, 2007 1:58 AM EST up reply actions

Hmmm

Interesting comments.

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by Brad Wells on Jan 26, 2007 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

You keep listing Mckay in Atlanta

and granted I am not going to claim enough info to put up a decent argument, but shouldn't the measure of a good GM being a combo of managing cap, winning and good team chemistry? If so I would have to say he is a bit lacking in the last two.

by WCG @ Stampede Blue on Jan 26, 2007 2:16 PM EST reply actions

McKay

He took the Tampa Bay Bucs from the laughing stock of all professional sports and turned them into a Super Bowl team. He hired Tony Dungy when no one else would give him a chance. He drafted Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber, and built one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history. He signed Brad Johnson, traded for Keyshawn, and drafted Mike Alstott.

In Atlanta, he did not draft Michael Vick. He was handed Vick, and Vick is THE most over-rated player in football. He stinks, and drags down the whole team. McKay traded for Jon Abraham, drafted Deangelo Hall, and in his first year there got them to the NFC Championship game.

He's a top GM. No question.

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by Brad Wells on Jan 26, 2007 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

didn't

he re-sign Vick to that ludicrous contract? Also, he's WR's have been awe-strikingly awful. he's drafted or signed every one of them.
he was great in Tampa though, no question.

by cookding @ Stampede Blue on Jan 26, 2007 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

Arthur Blank

Blank re-signed Vick. The WRs in Atlanta really aren't that bad. Vick can't throw to them. That's the problem.

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by Brad Wells on Jan 26, 2007 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

I agree

I never thought Vick was worth a damn. I pretty much knew, whichever team had drafted him was going to be so-so at best. And I've pretty much been proven right.

by KingRichard on Jan 26, 2007 8:56 PM EST up reply actions

they're pretty bad

they've had the drops all season long. their best receivers are Dunn and Crumpler. Plus, none of their receivers are noteworthy for their route-running. Essentially, their kinda fast, a little tall and, well, that's it.

by cookding @ Stampede Blue on Jan 29, 2007 10:50 AM EST up reply actions