Polian's Secret Plan

by slash196 on Apr 25, 2009 10:58 PM EDT Comment 17 comments

Like many, I was caught a little off guard by the Donald Brown pick. Don't get me wrong, I liked what I saw from him at the combine, and he's got some great moves. But I wasn't aware of him a really elite player. Of course, Polian is a pro and I'm certainly not arrogant enough to say that I'm a better talent evaluator than him. But I didn't see RB as a huge need.

But then a thought hit me, and I wanted to bounce it off the community, to get your thoughts.

Word is that Mike Hart is progressing really well, and the Colts love him. Joe Addai has been a great RB in the past and I like him too much to give up on him after a tough season. And Donald Brown has undeniable potential. So I think Polian's angle is this: Two out of three.

Addai, Hart, and Brown all have various levels of potential. Given the necessity of a platoon-back system, we really need TWO "the guy"s. So next season, we let Brown, Addai, and Hart go nuts. If Addai continues to trend downward, we keep Hart and Brown. If Hart can't get over his knee injury, we still have Addai and Brown. If Brown goes bust, Hart and Addai can split carries. In essence, we can survive the implosion of one RB and still have a viable 1A and 1B.

Naturally, if two RBs implode, we're in trouble. But I think this is a great way to minimize risk at a crucial and unstable position.

In Polian we trust...on to the second day.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

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It did come out recently (I think Oehser) that Hart should be ready for next season...

But I do not believe that Polian is going into this season planning on ditching 1 of the 3 after the season. I see him as having Brown and Addai as co-starters, and Hart as injury replacement. One of our backs seems to get injured every year.

Polian could also possibly keep a 4th back (Chad Simpson) on the roster next year as a kick returner (if we don’t get one in the draft) and an emergency back.

Any way you look at it, we are set on RB in both talent and depth. Man, I love draft day.

Now a proud annoyance on Stampede Blue, 18to88, Indy Football Report, and Phil B's blog.

Man, I need a life...

Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: Every time the Colts have played the KC Chiefs in the playoffs, they have gone on to at least the AFC Championship game.

by Cassieper on Apr 25, 2009 11:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Donald Brown is supposed to be a good kick returner

he’s elussive, but it’s an injury risk. And yeah, Oehser said it…actually I asked him, lol.

David Burton to the COLTS!

by fpacheco on Apr 25, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

BP said in the presser

they don’t expect to use Brown there “at least not right away”

I got Summer hatin' on me cuz I'm hotter than the sun. Spring hatin' on me cuz I ain't never sprung
Winter hatin' on me cuz I'm colder than Y'all. And I will never, I will never, I will never Fall.
-Lil Wayne, Mr. Carter

by shake n bake on Apr 25, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not just us

RB’s get injured a lot, it’s a tough position.

"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."

by psvirsky on Apr 26, 2009 7:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This also means...

that if one of them gets hurt, we still have 2 reliable backs. What if Joe gets hurt on week 1? Is it 2008 all over again? (Or worse, imagine that scenario, a coming-from-ACL-injury back and a rookie)… Now there’s no excuse for our running game sucking this year, and IT WON’T SUCK I hope. Does anyone know how is Mike Hart as a blocker? Cause I’ve heard Donald Brown sucks, and we all know Peyton and Co. need a blocking HB.

David Burton to the COLTS!

by fpacheco on Apr 25, 2009 11:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

he's not an awesome blocker like Addai

but I think he’s above average. I’ll check some reports

by shake n bake on Apr 25, 2009 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I saw him making one block on NFL network

and he didn’t do it very well. Meanwhile, they were saying he wasn’t a good blocker. I’d say you’ll find that he’s average to under average

David Burton to the COLTS!

by fpacheco on Apr 25, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

reports say

MtD: Struggled some as a pass blocker and needs to be coached up in this area Brown’s build is only average, but there are questions about how much bigger he can get.

NES: Not overly stout and will need work on post contact technique as he does not hold blocks well.

Sporting News: Has little experience as a lead blocker. Lacks the size and strength to be consistently effective. Must become more aggressive and use better technique in pass protection. Grade: 5.0

Draft Countdown: Has room to improve as a blocker

Walter Football: Very good/recognizes blitz very well 6.5 grade (of 8)

NFLDraftScout: Marginal size and strength as a pass blocker.

by shake n bake on Apr 25, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

so that's a little worrying

maybe more of the split back set so they have the option of holding Addai in to block.

by shake n bake on Apr 25, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It iss..

but he’s highly elussive so that means good in screens, flats, whatever…I’m supposing he has good hands (if Polian drafts a guy who doesn’t block and doesn’t catch I’d be stunned). The problem is that we usually use flats and wheels and everything as third options, it’s not common to see Peyton making a 3 step drop and throwing it to the HB. So when D.BROWN is on the field it a quick screen, a running play or a sack, LOL.

David Burton to the COLTS!

by fpacheco on Apr 25, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As far as RB goes

I do think he’s on the same level of the elite RBs. I’d definitely group him with Wells and Moreno as the top 3 legit first round RBs. And I think the dropoff from Brown to Jennings is bigger than Hood to Moala. I mean Moala does exactly what you want from a NT. Not a ton of stats but he made it much easier for the other pass rushers to put down some pressure. And he’s very good against the run, which Hood lacked a little at. Now I’m not sure if he was BPA over Maualuga, but I don’t think Maualuga is really a 4-3 LB.

A healthy O-line, D. Brown 40%, Addai 40%, and Hart at 20% would be a pretty sick backfield.

I hope we get another O-lineman and a LB soon though along with King or Gilbert. I’d call this one of the best drafts from the Colts if Gilbert somehow falls, we get Brinkley and and a DB in 4 and Dillard or something round 5.

Jim Sorgi runs a 4.6 40. That's all I've got to say about that.

by monstersbox on Apr 25, 2009 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope we get another O-lineman and a LB soon though along with King or Gilbert. I’d call this one of the best drafts from the Colts if Gilbert somehow falls, we get Brinkley and and a DB in 4 and Dillard or something round 5.

that would be awesome.

still need to address UT and LB depth…would be great for both

by AceOfSpades on Apr 26, 2009 1:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder if BP trusts the Johnson/Pollak G combo or if he will draft one in the third. It seems unlikely considering that most of the G prospects are power running games guys. Urbik is apealing though…

by bbxxj on Apr 26, 2009 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A healthy O-line, D. Brown 40%, Addai 40%, and Hart at 20% would be a pretty sick backfield.

agreed

"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."

by psvirsky on Apr 26, 2009 7:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

U're right

The most important thing here is having a great OLine, I don’t care if it is what we already have or future improvements. With a good o-line, we’ll have an AMAZING running game, which means great passing opportunties for Peyton (with Wayne, Gonzo, Clark and Santi/Tamme, even Pierre Garcon!). Also if Moala does his job, that means Mathis and Freeney (with Marcus Howard and Raheem Brock) are going to fly all over the place. I think the LB’s are one rookie away from being “complete” for a Colts point of view. A cornerback could be nice (to develop him), even though we already have Jennings and Hughes/Rushing.

David Burton to the COLTS!

by fpacheco on Apr 25, 2009 11:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

In Polian we trust is how is goes

Im just gonna belive that Brown really hit it off with the coaching staff, you can see from any personal video the dude had that BROWN IS A COLTS CALIBER/ TYPE PLAYER but a 1rst round pick…idk….Like everyone else I was surprised by the pick but I hope ADDAI does not get the wrong message. Manning loves him and since his carrer started in 2006 he has saved Peyton’s ass from sacks numerous times and been beatin up for it. Addai is a beast, give him open field he is as good as anyone, FILI made the 1st round pick (Brown) easier to swallow but i do think addal and the rest of the crew could have handled the running game.

Yet here I am, as a reciculous Colts fan saying “Polian drafted him, he will be an amzing NFL player”…

Polian and Caldwell said that the draft went “freakishly exactly how they pictured it” However they had to trade picks in the 2nd to get Fili….Umm I dont believe that you have to trade picks to draft someone if everything it going how you plannned it. The 2 leaders (Polian and Caldwell) looked stressed in their video explainations of their picks… \Brown http://cache.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=video&content=4d734241-f5ce-4a66-b264-747e92dfbb61 and FILI > http://cache.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=video&content=7b794455-89c9-4762-a7c1-d334e3998ba6

by Hitstick Killer on Apr 26, 2009 1:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs