Which rookie will have the biggest impact this season?

by KingRichard on Apr 29, 2009 12:08 PM EDT in Colts Analysis

Poll

So, who's it gonna be?

Donald Brown

241 votes

Fili Moala

194 votes

Jerraud Powers

2 votes

Austin Collie

30 votes

Terrance Taylor

31 votes

Someone else. Please explain in the comments.

7 votes

505 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

It better be Donald Brown

That’s what 1st Round draft pick means when Bill Polian picks you in that spot.

by MarkFive05 on Apr 29, 2009 1:58 PM EDT reply actions

Great point

by LovinBlue on Apr 29, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

But expecting a skill position player to make the biggest impact as a rookie is a bit unrealistic “most of the time.” If Brown makes the biggest impact, KUDOS. Otherwise, it’s more realistic to think that having a lengthy 300 lb. UT will have the greatest impact year one and interior DL have a much greater chance of making a big impact in their rookie season.

by bamock on Apr 29, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Addai’s rookie year stats would beg to differ.

I write words and stuff for Stampede Blue.

by KingRichard on Apr 29, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

you could argue Bethea

he won a full time spot outright as a rookie.

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 29, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Once again...

You’re talking about a future Pro Bowl S, unknown to us, who had to beat out Matt Giordano for the spot. Giordano is a good player and valued by the team but Bethea brings more right away than the former back-up could. Apples to Apples… if Addai came in while James was still on the team do you think Addai would have made the biggest impact amongst all rookies? That’s all I’m saying. And I know that Addai isn’t James I’m just talking about likelihood. If Brown is as good as he looks on tape then he might surprise us all by blowing the doors down with a 1,000+ yards season. It’s doubtful though, because of the two backs most likely to break 1,000+ yards this year it has to go to Addai if he’s healthy.

by bamock on Apr 29, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

he beat out Doss

Who had been a starter the previous 3 seasons.

and I’m agreeing with you that Brown isn’t the clear obvious choice (even though after agonizing over it for a minute I picked him over Moala).

by shake n bake on Apr 29, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Bethea beat out Doss. Actually, I’m positive because I was scolded by yellowsnow and MRW this weekend about. I thought Doss got hurt that’s why Bethea became the starter.

Just an fyi.

I write words and stuff for Stampede Blue.

by KingRichard on Apr 29, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Er…I thought Doss got hurt which is why Bethea ended up being the starter but I was wrong.

I write words and stuff for Stampede Blue.

by KingRichard on Apr 29, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I think I remember talking to someone about this

Doss missed time in camp/preseason which got Bethea playing with the first team D, then when the season opened and Doss was ready to play, the coaches kept Bethea in the lineup over Doss.

by shake n bake on Apr 29, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions

then Sanders got hurt and Doss got back into the lineup

then Doss blew out his knee and Marlin Jackson and Matt Giordano played his safety spot alongside Bethea until Sanders came back in the playoffs.

by shake n bake on Apr 29, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

bad memories

and then Doss came back and was torched in the 1st half by Worthlisburger in the 05 playoff game. gagging…

I would like to see Chad Ocho Cinco traded to a team that already has a #85 on the roster. Then, I would like to see #85 refuse to give up his jersey number to Chad Ocho Cinco. That would make my day....

by AceOfSpades on Apr 30, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

that was before Bethea arrived

2005 playoffs vs 2006 season

by shake n bake on Apr 30, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

And you think...

Addai’s rookie stats are common amongst rookie RBs? Or Rhodes? It’s rare. It CAN happen, but it’s not common. Particularly not when there is a true 1A back, former 1st Rounder already on the team. IE – Addai came in with Rhodes as the “1A”. Brown is coming in with Addai as the 1A. There’s a big difference there. I’m not saying he can’t or won’t be the biggest contributor on the team but I think there is a MUCH great likelihood that Moala/Taylor will have a bigger immediate impact that Brown.

by bamock on Apr 29, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope

we are discussing this as vociferously next February because there were so many with such a high impact. Naive, I know, but a girl can dream ;-)

by LovinBlue on Apr 29, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think it’s overly common, but it’s fairly common with running backs, at least moreso than what you are saying is all.

I write words and stuff for Stampede Blue.

by KingRichard on Apr 29, 2009 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

So...

You think Brown will get 50% of carries if Addai is healthy? If not, how many yards do you think he could get?

by bamock on Apr 29, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d go as far to say that Brown will receive more carries than Addai next season. The health issue made me chuckle though. Addai won’t make it an entire season healthy, even if it’s hypothetical.

This year is going to be a carbon copy of the 2006 season (hopefully including the SB win as well). Brown is going to come in off of the bench and spell Addai who will most likely be struggling yet again and Brown will wind up carrying the load. Which is something he’s used to as opposed to Addai.

I write words and stuff for Stampede Blue.

by KingRichard on Apr 29, 2009 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions

If Brown

Carries the load… he’ll make the biggest impact on the team as a rookie.

by bamock on Apr 29, 2009 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Bill Polian...

I am a little amused with the Polian worship. “In Polian we trust”? He does not make these picks by himself. He has a great staff and I am sure the coaches are involved. This is evidenced by the large departure from small/speed to larger DTs and LBs. The reason for that is that the coaches are wanting something different. I am not trying to piss on anyone here, but it is the organization not just Polian. Oh well, I guess to each his own.

In Pat Kuntz I trust!!

by TRDean on Apr 29, 2009 2:24 PM EDT reply actions

ha

i made similar comments about Dungy a couple times and got lit up about it….

not the same argument at all, but same title of the argument.

by AceOfSpades on Apr 30, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

no doubt

theres a great staff surrounding Bill Polian. Whom i would assume has a major role in hiring (the staff)

4 straight super bowls with the bills, championship games and playoff runs with an expansion team. how many straight 12 win seasons? regular playoff appearances and a super bowl win.

oh, he might have also helped select future HOF coach Dungy to coach a team.

in Polian, i trust……..thats for sure.

by MARVININDY on Apr 29, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

Our newest DTs

will probably make the biggest impact IMO. If we can stop the run significantly better, AND have that little added boost to the running game courtesy of Donald Brown, good (VERY GOOD that is) things will happen for sure!!!

by DaveinIndy on Apr 29, 2009 4:09 PM EDT reply actions

Which DT?

Are you talking about Moala or Taylor? If it is Moala then I might be inclined to agree – he’s proven he can stop the run while on USC. Taylor on the other hand….well, let’s just say that despite his draft-day declaration that he is a “run stopper” and that signing him was “the best thing the Colts could have done” he has yet to show that he can stop the run. Michigan was TERRIBLE against the run last year – and even WORSE the year befor that when Taylor supposedly had his best year.

If anything, Taylor was drafted as a project based only on his strength – something he obviously wasn’t able to use to stop the run while in Michigan.

by the_iowa_hawkeye on Apr 30, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

i hope

Taylor is the man next year. i have dreamed about big bodies in the middle ever since Corey Simon got hurt (allegedly). Make it happen T2!!

That’s Taylors new nickname that I just made up.

by AceOfSpades on Apr 30, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Michigan stunk last year.

That hurt Taylor. Hard to look good in a bad situation against that level of competition. Look back a year earlier for a better picture, though the Wolverines haven’t been themselves in years.

by coltsfanawalt on Apr 30, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Mike McDermott

The Colts just signed undrafted rookie wide receiver Mike McDermott out of Holy Cross, and a former Mansfield (MA) High School Hornet. Wooo-hooo! Have to give the local guy a plug here.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Apr 30, 2009 10:02 AM EDT reply actions

Impact potential of our new DTs

It may be selective memory, so please correct me if I’m wrong (I’m sure I don’t actually have to encourage folks on this board to do that).

Thinking back to last year it seemed to me that our defensive problems against the run wasn’t so much about runs up the middle as it was that opponents often swept to the outside and our linebackers simple couldn’t tackle them. Either they couldn’t get a straight bead on the runner or they tried to hand-tackle too much. So while I’m thrilled to have bigger guys coming in at DT, I’m still worried about this outside threat as well as the inability to get guys down who are in the open field.

Thoughts?

by LovinBlue on Apr 30, 2009 11:21 AM EDT reply actions

I don't remember off the top of my head

but FO’s numbers have the defensive front stronger on the outside and weaker as you move in. But they are using line-yards which focus’ on short runs (because it’s an OL/DL stat). Maybe some of the longer ones were from tackling issues outside.

by shake n bake on Apr 30, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

weren't and simply

sheesh I can’t type this morning

by LovinBlue on Apr 30, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Tackling issues...

On the outside will be exacerbated by weakness defending against the run up the middle. If the LBers “cheat” inside worried about a weak interior on the DL they will be out of position more often on the outside. I think a lot of that happened last year. Our LBs weren’t as free to “fly around” because there was a gravity well on the inside sucking them in.

by bamock on Apr 30, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions