2009 Indianapolis Colts NFL Draft Grades: Jerraud Powers

by BigBlueShoe on Apr 28, 2009 9:41 AM EDT in NFL Draft Comment 29 comments

If there was a consensus head-scratcher pick among Colts fans on the second day, likely that pick was Auburn CB Jerraud Powers. Powers was taken in the third round, and if you know the history of Colts drafts during the 11 year tenure of Bill Polian, you know that the third round has been a horror show.

Jerraud Powers, CB, Auburn
Round 3, Pick #92

Jerraud Powers (right) helps the Florida punter try on a new shoe

after blocking his punt

Photo: graphics8.nytimes.com

The third round has not been kind to Bill Polian of late. Third round picks Quinn Pitcock (2007) and Vincent Burns (2005) are completely out of football. Gilbert Gardner (2004), quite possibly the most useless linebacker on the planet, was another third rounder. The another third rounder was Freddie Keiaho (2006), and while he played decently with the Colts for two years, he has yet to re-sign with them, or any other NFL team this off-season. And with such a thin draft at linebacker, the fact that Keiaho hasn't signed with anyone tells you something.

Now, Jerraud Powers is the latest Polian third rounder. Can he buck the trend?

Well, the interesting thing about Powers is he certainly bucks the trend when it comes to DBs the Colts normally draft. In his press conference on the second day, Polian stated that it was only the defensive tackle spot where the Colts deviated from their normal pattern of drafting. However, Powers seems to indicate another shift, this time when it comes to drafting "Cover-2-style" corners.

Here's a scouting report on Powers:

Strengths:
Above average athleticism...Okay speed...Quick with a burst...Smooth with fluid hips...Great hands and ball skills...Decent leaping ability...Is technically sound...Good footwork and uses his hands well...Physical and aggressive...Sufficient instincts and awareness...Solid production.
Weaknesses:
Does not have the ideal height or bulk that you look for...Isn't very strong...Not a great tackler...Struggles to get off blocks...Won't offer much in run support...Takes too many chances...Durability concerns.

It's the weaknesses that caught my eye. If I had to look at this guy pre-draft and evaluate whether or not he was a candidate for the Colts to draft, I'd say no. Indy typically does not draft corners who can't tackle. In a Tampa-2, the corners have to tackle just as sharply as the linebackers and safeties.

Powers seems to have very strong coverage skills with some speed added for good measure. He's tough and seems to have a strong work ethic, but when I see coverage guys who can't tackle, I do not think "Cover-2 corner."

But maybe this small shift was made in response to the trned Polian is seeing with this team. Guys like Jennings, Coe, and Hughes are all solid tacklers. They are effective ball hawks and they can play tough by laying big hits. What they lack a little bit is coverage ability. The loss of Keiwan Ratliff is off set somewhat by drafting Powers, but it is a bit unclear where Powers could play.

Is he Marlin Jackson's replacement after 2010 (it's unlikely Indy will re-sign him, for cap reasons)?

Is he the new nickel corner, replacing fan whipping boy Tim Jennings?

Was he just drafted for special teams? The pick above seems to suggest yes. But really, who knows?

What we do know is a third rounder was invested in him. So, any talk of this guy sitting on the sidelines is rubbish. Powers will play next year, or this was yet another wasted third round pick. What this pick also seems to signify is a lack of faith in Michael Coe and Dante Hughes, two corners drafted in 2007; Hughes especially. Hughes was a third round pick in 2007, and he seemed to find his way into the doghouse last year after a solid rookie year in 2007.

It will be interesting to see if Powers manages to wiggle his way into the nickelback spot. If he doesn't, then this was yet another third rounder wasted. In my not-so-humble opinion, third rounders need to play NOW, not in a year or two. We can have project players in rounds 5-7. Guys in round three are needed right now, and currently we have two corners (Powers and Hughes) who are third rounders that need to produce right away. The problem with this is the defensive backfield in Indy is very crowded. Tim Jennings (second rounder in 2006) is cemented in as the nickelback. So, unless Jennings loses his job (which would make him a bust of a second round pick), we likely won't see Powers or Hughes play much unless there's an injury.

In general, I don't like this pick. I can understand added some players for the future, but Indy has plenty of DBs. So, unless those DBs were wasted picks, this pick was not necessary.

DRAFT GRADE: Low Marks

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Polian said somewhere that you can never have too many good cornerbacks. Maybe it’s not a lack of faith in the others, but just making sure that the shelves are full.

by LukeM on Apr 28, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Also, didn’t Marlin and Kelvin sit out for two whole years before becoming starters?

by LukeM on Apr 28, 2009 10:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hayden didn't get regular playing time until the 06 playoffs

in the nickel package. Marlin played in the nickel and a bit at safety his whole 2nd year.

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 28, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This was definitely a head-scratcher.

But to be honest, I was expecting it after Ratliff was signed by Pitt.

Polian just loves DBs.

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Apr 28, 2009 10:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bullitt is the nickle back

I doubt that this kid will see the field much except for special teams. As I recall, neither Jackson nor Hayden started their rookie season – or saw much field time at all for that matter even though they were first and second round picks.

What I don’t understand is why this guy when there were planty of other better CBs on the board? What happened to the “next best player” idea? While I would have loved to have gotten Bradley Fletcher – who was gone by our pick in the third – there were still plenty of better options.

Just not sure what Polian and Caldwell saw in this guy.

by the_iowa_hawkeye on Apr 28, 2009 11:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bullitt is not the nickelback

He played in a 3 safety set, but Jennings is still the nickelback. If anything, in the 3 safety formation, Bethea would be the “nickelback”, not Bullit.

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

by monstersbox on Apr 28, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, actually he is in the nickel package they used last year

As the thrid safty he was the nickle.

by the_iowa_hawkeye on Apr 29, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mm

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=5989643

October 8th, 2008

“Tim Jennings will end up playing in Kelvin’s spot and Dante Hughes will be the nickel back,” Dungy said."

November 11th, 2008

http://www.colts.com/modules/article7_print.cfm?news_id=a9befd27-25a4-444c-ade9-2b49dcac352b

“Keiwan Ratliff, who started at corner Sunday after signing as a free agent Wednesday, and Tim Jennings – who has started the last four games after beginning the season as the team’s nickel back.”

December 5, 2008

http://blogs.indystar.com/philb/2008/12/tj_and_rat.html

“Now that the Bengals-Colts game is here, I’ll be keeping an eye on how Ratliff, the nickel back, matches up with his friend, T.J. (I don’t want to keep spelling that last name, although I know it). Ratliff expects to see him in the slot most of the time. It’s just how they used to line up in practice when Ratliff played for the Bengals from 2004 through last year.”

March 29, 2009

http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d80f7e596&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true

“Tim Jennings is the Colts’ nickel back, but depth is an issue beyond him.”

April 10th, 2009

http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=fd9d17a5-ea5b-4242-b7b7-62e076a9cb95

“The trend has continued in recent seasons, with third-year safety Melvin Bullitt – a rookie free agent from Texas A&M in 2007 – developing into one of the league’s top reserves at his position "

Yes, Bullitt played the nickel back position at times during the end of the season, but that was due to injuries, not because he is now the nickel back. If Bullitt is the team’s nickel back, Jennings is the team’s starting cornerback. But since the only reason he was starting at corner was due to Marlin going on IR, that’s not really the case.

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

by monstersbox on Apr 29, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

cough cough

Victor “Macho” Harris

by bamock on Apr 28, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you

Powers was off my radar entirely. I wanted the Colts to draft Jackson’s replacement in the first round, but nobody fell to them and Butler would have been a reach. I wish they would have either traded up for Vontae Davis or traded down for Butler. I’m a little confused why DJ Moore fell so far. He seems worlds better than Powers from the film I’ve seen, and they’re the same type of player. A trade up to get him in the 3rd might have also made sense.

But it’s scary having to rely on Jennings, Hughes, Coe and/or Powers as potential starters if our two outside corners go down. I’m not sure that any CB drafted would have alleviated that fear, so I guess we’re just going to have to hope that BP thinks this guy can develop into a potential starter or NB next year.

by LukeNukem on Apr 28, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree. Jennings may have a lot of heart but teams picked on him last year and he couldn’t make them pay for it…

I love the smell of napalm in the morning...smells like victory
- Lt. Kilgore, Apocalypse Now

by MikeyD on Apr 29, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I do agree with you that a corner that cant tackle and isn’t very strong is definitely not a typical Colts corner. I will disagree and argue that as a Nickelback, coming in on passing situations, his ability to step up and tackle is not nearly as important as his coverage ability. besides with the speed of the colts D all Powers would have to do as a nickel is knock a man out of his track or wrap up his legs, Let BOBZILLA come in and clean his clock

Tim Jennings cant cover for shit and from what ive seen hes not that great at tackling either so a better coverage back that could cover his man and get the colts off the field on 3rd down would be better than a dude who cant. Not saying its a great pick but give him a shot might be a great one for a nickel, highly doubt he will ever touch the outside over our other corners with his lack to hitting ability.

by Hitstick Killer on Apr 28, 2009 12:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i would

hate to see Jackson leave the team. he’s a solid player

by MARVININDY on Apr 28, 2009 2:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I unfortuntely tend to agree

Even though Bethea has been the more productive of the two, I think that specifically is reason to let him walk in Free Agency. Bethea’s price is going to be steep. Plus the fact that Bullitt is a legitimate Safety, I see them making Marlin Jackson their priority FA next season (assuming both Jackson and Sanders are healthy).

by GoHorse88 on Apr 28, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm pretty close to certain

That we’re retaining Bethea. Even to the point that they may cut someone to keep him. He’s been by far our most consistent player in the secondary since he’s started and beat out a starter in his rookie season. He’s a significant part of why our secondary is what it is. He plays solo center-field more often than people give him credit for. He’s a likely candidate for a franchise tag, safeties aren’t nearly as expensive as several other positions. And if they had planned to let him walk, they would’ve drafted one of the several safeties they had shown interest in before Powers.

I do hope we keep both Jackson and Bethea, but right now I’m almost certain we’d let Jackson walk before Bethea. The one scenario I seriously hope doesn’t happen is the one where Bob misses time this year or plays poorly. I could actually see them releasing him if he didn’t take a decrease. The Colts don’t release a ton of details, but I believe that Bob’s roster bonuses have remained as lump sums and weren’t converted to signing, so his cap charge isn’t nearly as high if he’s released. I think if they were certain about him, they would have converted it to a signing bonus and saved cap space without a second thought. Especially knowing how strapped we were this season.

Although, with our upgrade at DT, I don’t see him being forced to come into the box nearly as much and it should pay huge dividends towards his health. Considering he’s a huge threat in the secondary, I’d rather it stay that way. His body can’t take much more punishment.

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

by monstersbox on Apr 28, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sanders cap hit drops a ton next year

then jumps back up.
http://www.coltscap.net/futures.php
2010 hit is less than 4 million

Assuming the CBA gets worked out and depending when he would be cut, it might cost more against the cap to cut him than to keep him (6 million in signing bonus yet to count on the cap after this year).

by shake n bake on Apr 28, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

4.8 mil not 6

by shake n bake on Apr 28, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But Freeney's goes up

And his increase makes up the difference on Bob’s.

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by BigBlueShoe on Apr 28, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, I'm not saying that the cap wouldn't be tight because of that

I’m saying the cutting Sanders wouldn’t be that useful in clearing space.

by shake n bake on Apr 28, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll explain it to you later

And it would cost way less to cut him in 2010. It’s 4 million.

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

by monstersbox on Apr 28, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree 100%. He’s as solid a corner as we’ve had in a long, long time.

I love the smell of napalm in the morning...smells like victory
- Lt. Kilgore, Apocalypse Now

by MikeyD on Apr 29, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How I see it

It isn’t as painful if the draft looked like

1. Brown
2. Moala
3. Collie
4. Taylor
4. Powers

I understand why they went CB in the third, but I think it was a rare overreaction from the Colts thinking the run on DBs was going to continue and leave them with nothing in the 4th. Or they had 4th/5th round grades for both Taylor and Collie, and the upside and interest in Powers had gone up. With the 5th round trade for Moala, and the fact that the Colts were almost certainly going to try to take a legit WR and another DT prospect, I think the Colts decided to gamble with someone who they might’ve had a 4th or 5th round grade on since they were probably set to go CB, DT, WR before the 6th round.

I would’ve rather had a Glover Quin or a Chip Vaughn (not going to list them all because there’s several). But they must’ve seen something they liked. I think at this point they definitely went need over BPA. Because I could probably list at least 30 players without thinking too hard I’d have liked over Powers in the 3rd.

I will disagree that someone that isn’t a great tackler has no place in a Cover 2 or our system. If the guy’s a good enough ball hawk, playing the underman in the zone is actually something to look for a guy that can jump routes and catch really well over a solid tackler. It’s what Asante Samuel does in Philly. He isn’t a great tackler or phenomenal in man to man, but he’s awesome in reading a QB. If your line is good enough to force a quick decision, a guy that can read the QB and jump the route is better than someone who won’t jump the route but can tackle. He’ll just never be in man to man and always have a safety helping him. But the fact that he’s out there can cause enough of a hesitation from the QB to give a fraction of a second to the pass rush for a sack.

I’m not justifying the pick at all, but there definitely is a spot on the team for someone who can do that. If Coyer plans on blitzing, he’s going to have to have good cover guys, guys that can intercept the poor throws, and he’s going to have to leave someone on an island from time to time.

I could see a Jackson, Bullit, Bethea, Sanders, Hayden on majority of downs in a strong nickel and Powers, Bullit, Bethea, Sanders, Hayden in a clear passing situation.

I still don’t like the pick, but maybe that’s the whole key to finally breaking the third round curse. Maybe the one that makes the least amount of sense and the one that nobody likes right now is the one that turns into a pro bowler. (I can dream can’t I?)

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

by monstersbox on Apr 28, 2009 2:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why Not Re-Sign Keiaho?

Am I the only one that defends Keiaho? He tallied 215 Tackles in his past 2 years total. Has decent speed, plays with a little edge to him. At the very least a rotation back and Special Teamer. If nobody has signed him, he has to be able to be signed on the cheap. Sure Session and Wheeler have potential, Hagler is decent, but Brackett is getting older, we don’t have much depth beyond our starting 3 and whoever we can muster out of the Undrafteds.

http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=bio&player_id=383

I think we’d be foolish not to re-sign Keiaho cheap. UNLESS, there is something we don’t know. He’s played at least decent enough to get picked up somewhere… so why hasn’t he. Not going to speculate any further there, but maybe nagging injury we don’t know maybe?

The 3rd round has indeed been a curse for Polian. Not sure if he is going to erase that with this years pick. A bit of a stretch if you ask me for Powers, but supposedly plays the right way despite any size or speed concerns.

Overall a solid draft.

Broke it down a little bit here.

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/XLI

by XLI on Apr 28, 2009 3:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd prefer him to Senn if he'd sign for the Vet Minimum

by shake n bake on Apr 28, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd sign him...

to a camp contract… let him duke it out with the loaded LB position we have right now, in terms of options. Then determine whether to sign him to a longer contract before the season.

by bamock on Apr 28, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Keiaho is getting re-signed

See front page.

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by BigBlueShoe on Apr 28, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you

The lack of a legit starting DT on our entire roster had alot to do with our LBs looking like crap. The Colts were up against the salary cap and Keiaho reached incentives to become a UFA. It wasn’t in their crystal ball to know how much they could afford and who’d they have prior to the draft.

I’m happy with re-signing Keiaho. He’d still be the second most experienced LB on the team unless we snag Foote from the Steelers. I’m not sold on saying anybody has an edge on him to beat him out at WILL. Not after they skipped LB in the draft.

Why Jerraud Powers was drafted over Tyrone McKenzie, Gerald McRath, Jason Phillips, Jasper Brinkley, Marcus Freeman, and Zack Follett I have no idea. None. Quite frankly I still think that was a terrible pick in the third.

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

by monstersbox on Apr 28, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Puzzler

I agree that this pick is the most confusing of the Colts’ draft – if they wanted a replacement for Jennings, then why pick a guy that can’t tackle? If they wanted a corner that could play special teams, then why not a pure athlete like D.J. Moore? If they wanted an excellent man-cover guy, then why not Keenan Lewis? And the Colts’ scheme, as we’ve known it under Dungy and Meeks, would seem to lean toward one of the talented Bearcat CBs (Mickens or Smith). The draft boards that I saw had at least 15 CBs rated above Powers that were still available when the Colts made this pick. Obviously Polian and Caldwell saw something that no one else did, but at the very least this seems like a reach pick that could have waited until the later rounds.

by B.P. Glass on Apr 28, 2009 3:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs