Discussing recent Colts roster moves

by Brad Wells on Feb 17, 2010 2:00 PM EST in Colts News

Thanks to teej813 for Fan Posting the recent roster moves. We also know that that Polian signed former Titans defensive tackle Mitch King. That moaning sound you hear in the background is Joe (aka shake n bake). Joe gets excited when more former Iowa Hawkeyes join this team.

Bill Polian has done a great deal in recent years to shore up the DT spot. Daniel Muir, Antonio Johnson, and Eric Foster did an outstanding job in 2009. The Saints, who had arguably the best three-headed rushing monster in football, ran for less than 3 yards a carry in the Super Bowl. Now, add a young blue chip like Mitch King into the mix, along with last year's second round pick Fili Moala, and the tackle rotation feels very good.

Small side note on Moala, he was not ready for the pressures of NFL life when he came out of USC. I saw that in his eyes and body language when I interviewed him at the Super Bowl. He told me he went from an environment where he had no pressure (USC) to a place where he was expected to work and produce. Speaks volumes about Pete Carroll, doesn't it?

But, Moala did say he appreciates it when John Teerlick gets on him in practice, and such coaching motivates him to become better. He also rolled his eyes when I mentioned the meal he had to pay for months ago. That little "hazing moment" didn't sit well with him, but I also got the sense that the d-line in Indy is very tight. They look out for one another.

Fili will be fine.

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Question: Why was King cut by Tennessee? Are they simply stocked well at DT?

I’m not going to fall into the trap of thinking “Well, if he was any good, they’d have kept him”. If Indy played by that rule, Jeff Saturday would’ve never come around, and heaven knows just how many Colts fans count their blessings that Saturday was in fact available for us.

At the same time, I’m just curious about why he was moved. If it’s because they’re deep and had to make some sort of move, then I’m okay with it. If it’s because he wasn’t working out with them, or because they wanted to move on/get younger/change philosophy, then as odd as this sounds, I’m still okay with it. Again, Saturday. And Booger McFarland for the year he was okay. And Vinateri. I don’t argue any of those moves whatsoever.

But… you’re always curious about why a player was let go. I’m certain the Colts won’t get on the wrong end of an Ed Johnson stick; they’ll character check. So I’m not saying it’s this either. The question I always ask is: Was a player released due to their work ethic? Or because they simply weren’t understanding something about their responsibilities (this doesn’t make them hopeless, but it does mean that the player is a project/salvage job)?

My overall point is that I’m simply curious as to why he was let go. This isn’t proactive condemnation of the guy – not at all; I trust that Indy did it’s homework beforehand, and I’m nearly positive he’ll be a good citizen and teamate. I’m simply curious so as to be able to evaluate whether he’ll eventually start, what role he’ll play (not just “DT”, but “occasional fill”, “dependable backup”, “situational player”, etc.), what to expect out of him, etc. And part of that evaluation includes understanding why he was let go. If a D-linesman, for example, was let go because he couldn’t pass rush and that’s what his first team expected out of him, well then at that point let Indy see how well he is at run stuffing; the Colts already got pass rushers. He can still be made use of. But if a player was let go for some intangible (or a very bad tangible; even though it doesn’t apply specifically to King, in general for FA signings, let’s always remember Ed Johnson), then we’d want to watch the front office and coaching staff watch the player. Nothing wrong with a second chance project, but he’d be held to a pretty tight standard, and admittedly we’d be on pins-and-needles about this hypothetical player’s behavior.

In short, I’m curious. This is the way I build my evaluations of a player. It’s a bit hard to sit still and wait to see how someone will turn out, and it’s always fun to take what info you’ve got and project forward. :D

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"How can a pickup truck contain enough mass to unfold into a towering machine? I say if Ringling Brothers can get 15 clowns into a Volkswagen, anything is possible."

Roger Ebert, Transformers review.

by E.M.H. on Feb 17, 2010 2:30 PM EST reply actions

well the last DT that we poached from the Titans worked out pretty well

I think he hasn’t caught on anywhere because his size (6’1.5" 280lbs, with a maxed out frame) limits his role. He’s athletic but no so much so that he could pass rush from DE where his size is more appropriate. He’s not big enough for a 1 tech, and in some schemes he’s small for a UT.

Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.

Just how deeply can your senses be wrong? With some VR goggles, a camera and a touch on the back researchers were able to overcome a person's sense of being inside their own body.

by shake n bake on Feb 17, 2010 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

Question

Are Mookie and Muir restricted free agents or ERFA’s? Oehser says they are ERFA, but a lot of sites have them as RFAs.

by tigerhawk61 on Feb 17, 2010 3:31 PM EST reply actions

I had thought they were ERFAs, but I think I was wrong.

3 accrued seasons makes a player a RFA, instead of ERFA and an accrued season is 6 or more weeks on active roster or IR.

Mookie was on IR all of 2007 which counts as a accrued season, and he was on Indy’s roster for more than 6 games in 08 so that counts too, plus this past year for 3. As far as I can tell Muir was on the Packers roster all of his rookie year so it counts and he was on Indy’s roster for well over 6 weeks last year so it counts, plus this year for 3.

Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.

Just how deeply can your senses be wrong? With some VR goggles, a camera and a touch on the back researchers were able to overcome a person's sense of being inside their own body.

by shake n bake on Feb 17, 2010 3:36 PM EST up reply actions

Colts website says Muir appeared in three games for the Packers, I have no idea if he was active for more. I think Johnson is certainly seems like he is an rfa.

by tigerhawk61 on Feb 17, 2010 3:51 PM EST reply actions