With the 31st Pick in the 2010 Stampede Blue Community Mock Draft, the Indianapolis Colts select...
by mgrex03 on Mar 31, 2010 8:00 AM EDT
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Devin McCourty, CB - Rutgers
Pick made by me, so no blue boxes:
While CB may not seem like a glaring need, I've been beating the drum (along with BBS and shake) that in today's NFL, you have to do two things to win:
- Pass the ball
- Stop the Pass
The Colts clearly get this, as they are consistently ranked in the top 10 in ANPY/A year after year. This means a first round pick should address these main issues. Offensively, the Colts need a LT, but there are none available with the right value for #31. Anthony Davis nearly fell in my lap, but was snatched up before I could pull the trigger. If Davis would happen to fall past the Packers, I definitely see the Colts jumping over other teams who might take a T and snatching up Davis. However, for this draft, that wasn't possible.
The other guy who should be seriously considered here would be Brian Price, DT from UCLA. I think with trading up and taking Moala, and then not having him contribute significantly last year, will make Polian hesitate in taking Price here. He's been able to find adequate DTs later in the draft, so there is no sense taking a guy in the first round when you can get some value later on. Take a look at DTs drafted in the first 4 rounds by Polian's Colts:
- Josh Williams - 2000 - 4th Round
- Larry Tripplett - 2002 - 2nd Round
- Quinn Pitcock - 2007 - 3rd Round
- Fili Moala - 2009 - 2nd Round
- Terrence Taylor - 2009 - 4th Round
Tripplett started 30 games over 4 years for the Colts, and Josh Williams played off and on for 6 years, but this isn't shouting that DTs will be drafted high in the draft. Polian has much better success with other positions higher in the draft.
Which brings me to Devin McCourty. 5'11", 190, which might be a little small, but will fit in well with the Colts. He was terrific in run support, and plays the short zone well, making him the perfect Nickel CB, taking over for Marlin Jackson. He can play some man-to-man as well, which Coyer has thrown in more than under Meeks. He was also a Special Teams Ace, which is great news. He'll be able to help the team in some crucial areas.
How will he impact the 2010 Colts?
McCourty would be the Week 1 starter at Nickel, with Jacob Lacey moving to the Dime CB. You can never have too many Corners in this league, and the competition will only make them all better. He'll also at least return Punts, and could return Kicks as well if he can beat out Chad Simpson. I'm sure he'll also play Gunner on Punt Returns, something he did quite well at Rutgers.
If McCourty is taken #31 by the Colts, he would be the 1st CB taken in the first round by the Colts since 2005, when they selected Marlin Jackson #29 overall. He would also be the first CB from Rutgers taken in the 1st round, and only the 3rd Rutgers player taken in the first round: Kenny Britt, and Anthony Davis earlier in this draft.
McCourty's Scouting Report from Mocking the Draft
shake's WTHWTD profile on McCourty
The Saints, and palco, are on the clock...
| Pos | Team | Player | Pos | School | Drafter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis | Jimmy Clausen | QB | Notre Dame | TouchdownColts |
| 2 | Detroit | Russell Okung | OT | Oklahoma St. | coltsfan723 |
| 3 | Tampa Bay | Ndamukong Suh | DT | Nebraska | TheAngelsColts |
| 4 | Washington | Sam Bradford | QB | Oklahoma | Colts Homer |
| 5 | Kansas City | Eric Berry | S | Tennessee | sanders_fan89 |
| 6 | Seattle | Gerald McCoy | DT | Oklahoma | shake n bake |
| 7 | Cleveland | Earl Thomas | S | Texas | 2ndBlueGeneration |
| 8 | Oakland | Bruce Campbell | OT | Maryland | LovinBlue |
| 9 | Buffalo | Bryan Bulaga | OT | Iowa | Cassieper |
| 10 | Jacksonville | Rolando McClain | LB | Alabama | peytonsthebest |
| 11 | Denver | Derrick Morgan | DE | Georgia Tech | JPBarnett |
| 12 | Miami | Dez Bryant | WR | Oklahoma St. | fpacheco |
| 13 | San Francisco | Joe Haden | CB | Florida | BlueVol03 |
| 14 | Seattle | Charles Brown | OT | USC | shake n bake |
| 15 | N.Y. Giants | C.J. Spiller | RB | Clemson | gizzardfanny |
| 16 | Tennessee | Jason Pierre-Paul | DE | South Florida | Addai Another Day |
| 17 | San Francisco | Mike Iupati | G | Idaho | BlueVol03 |
| 18 | Pittsburgh | Kyle Wilson | CB | Boise St. | LV Steelers Fan |
| 19 | Atlanta | Brandon Graham | DE | Michigan | fiftycal2004 |
| 20 | Houston | Dan Williams | DT | Tennessee | Aerostar193 |
| 21 | Cincinnati | Sean Weatherspoon | OLB | Missouri | FineClub |
| 22 | New England | Jared Odrick | DE | Penn State | skywalker |
| 23 | Green Bay | Trent Williams | OT | Oklahoma | bracketismyboy |
| 24 | Philadelphia | Jerry Hughes | OLB | TCU | TehRhino |
| 25 | Baltimore | Jermaine Gresham | TE | Oklahoma | SupermanWearsBobSander'sPJs |
| 26 | Arizona | Sergio Kindle | DE/OLB | Texas | NYKings |
| 27 | Dallas | Anthony Davis | OT | Rutgers | SupermanWearsBobSander'sPJs |
| 28 | San Diego | Ryan Mathews | RB | Fresno State | chad72 |
| 29 | N.Y. Jets | Golden Tate | WR | Notre Dame | diagenesis |
| 30 | Minnesota | Maurkice Pouncey | G/C | Florida | DClark#44 |
| 31 | Indianapolis | Devin McCourty |
CB | Rutgers | mgrex03 |
| 32 | New Orleans | palco |
43 comments
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Comments
McCourty is a good player and a solid fit for the Colts, but I would be extremely disappointed if he was the pick. Unfortunately, all 6 tackles as well as Pouncey and Iupati are gone in this scenario. This would be a disaster for the Colts. I would hope we could trade back if this is the case.
I agree
Pouncey was going to be my pick before he was taken at #30.
Creator and developer of the Winning Stats.
This isn't a disaster.
McCourty is good value at a need position.
"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: That sucked.
Brown, Weatherspoon, Iupati, Williams, and Gresham won’t be available at the Colts pick. This should be interesting. I smell a corner coming.
There’s a new blog in town, the 12th HorseMan.
by KingRichard on Mar 27, 2010 2:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
cough….coughchgouchghgoiucuocuhg
lol Nice pick mgrex. I like it even more because I drafted McCourty in my mock as well. (thumbs up)
There's a new blog in town, the 12th HorseMan.
I saw that last week
but Pouncey (or Tate) was the guy before they were taken.
Really, 3 of the last 4 picks I would have taken had they not gone before me. That’s what happens.
Creator and developer of the Winning Stats.
http://blogs.chron.com/fantasyfootball/2010/03/2010_top_50_draft_prospects.html
I have no idea, who this guy is with his top50 players. Kuharsky listed it.
I put it here, to show, that we might be totally OFF in determining the top 30-40 players. Charles Brown is 37th. I think the first round could be very different, than what we think. The tackles might not go that early, the CBs might move up…
More varying rankings
Ch. Brown at 43:
http://www.draftcountdown.com/Rankings/TOP.php
Ch Brown at 47:
http://ind.scout.com/a.z?s=113&p=9&c=12&nid=83&lnid=124&yr=2010
Just remember that in the actual draft, there will be a collection of 32 senile to nearly dead old men...
And they will all be directing traffic for these picks that day. Especially when the raiders pick comes up, I would just throw out the top players list altogether. Honestly, if the raiders don’t land Mcnabb, I totally expect them to do something irrate like drafting Tebow in the first round giving them another incarnation of Russell. While most people will draft more or less according to what has been widely predicted for them, once you get past pick 15 look for some head scratchers to start poking their ugly noses around the block. Still though, if more people are having Brown dropping into the mid to late 40s, I wouldn’t be totally against trading up from our second rounder to snatch him if the trend holds.
Still though, most of the people drafting will have their lists of needs that copy what everyone thinks they need, but when it comes down to it, between specific players that are targeted, and targets being chosen ahead of a person’s pick, and just in general a basic change in draft priorities, I just give up predicting how the draft will turn out. For Polian, I fully expect him to do something like draft a TE or CB in the first round. Here is just my 2 cents;
1 – TE
2 – OT
3 – CB/KR
4 – S
5 – DE
6 – Traded
7 – CB, DT, K
Unexpected, fills needs, and has the potential to have some “Oh my god, Polian is a god,” moments by the middle of the season like we had with Polian’s finds of Powers, Lacey, McAfee, and Collie. I just think Polian shines best in the later rounds.
Corner is an issue, a BIG issue
But I’m not sure it needs to be the #1 priority. BPA and all that, but “best” is relative to your scheme and your needs. The first link in stopping the pass is getting to the QB, pass rush is crucial in this draft.
Who should I have picked then?
The two best DE prospects left have major motivation/character issues, so I’m not picking them. I laid out the case why it shouldn’t be Price. I have to take somebody. Who would you have taken?
Creator and developer of the Winning Stats.
Stop trying to please the other fans
Heck, when I make my pick, I realize that fans that do not agree with me can disagree for various reasons and the same could apply to you as well
1. They are short-sighted enough to focus on just one playoff loss or the current state of talent as opposed to a GM who knows who he is most likely to let go / cut and likely to re-sign thus planning for the future.
2. They wanted to reach for some other player that they liked.
3. They may not have liked your blatant disagreement with them when their pick happened, so they decided to vote based on their pride and dislike for you :-) (humans do). I know it is hard to believe people may not like you for your strong opinions, but it happens :-).
4. They legitimately had a player that met need and value at the same pick as yours.
More likely than not, option 4 happens seldom. To expect everyone to rationalize their votes in the poll, is unrealistic, so give it up trying to please everyone. True GMs are not in the business of making everyone happy, no one who runs a profitable organization or leads it puts that principle first i.e. trying to make everyone happy. Explain your decision, thought process and go with it, and forget about getting others to agree with you, that is all I can say.
I will give you my frank reason why I do not like your pick, you based it on what Polian would do and not what you would do. If the goal of this mock draft is to provide your individual touch, then that was not the right pick, because I feel that in all likelihood, you would have leaned towards Price. Just because it does not matter who you have in the secondary, the passing QB is stopped primarily by the D-line pressure. If the goal of this mock draft is to trumpet the fact that a fan’s pick ended up like a GM’s pick, it was the right pick because I can definitely see Polian doing that :-), being the stubborn red head that he is.
Having said that...
…I personally do like McCourty and if Hayden sucks it up big time after his big contract for another year with no injuries for excuses, we could see McCourty in the limelight. Outside Hayden, Powers and Lacey are not good tacklers, Jennings and Marlin Jackson were, that is something else that needs to be pointed out. McCourty is a good tackler, addressing something we are sporadic with, tackling :-).
I think I just happened
to agree with Polian in this situation. I used some of Polian’s reasoning, which I agree with completely.
I said below that DT is probably the least important position on the present day Colts, so I can’t justify taking a DT in the first round, as it just isn’t as important as other positions, namely in this case, a Nickel CB.
The fact that McCourty has experience playing special teams, both returning and as a gunner, made it even easier to make the pick. Even if Price is the better player here, and he’d fit perfectly into the Colts DL, getting another CB is more important than a DT.
Creator and developer of the Winning Stats.
Logistical pick
I do think having lost 3 out of 6 CBs, and with our starting DTs intact and a 3-tech supposedly waiting in the wings (Moala), and our nickel corner (Lacey) not really turning too many heads, I have no doubts about McCourty fitting right in. If Coyer decides to blitz, I may be happier to see McCourty play nickel as opposed to Lacey, who I still think is a zone corner. Plus, today’s news that Brian Price did not have a good Pro Day does raise some concerns. McCourty has given no reason for anyone to doubt him so far, so I can see it being validated on several fronts. Good pick regardless, right pick or not is always going to be subjective.
We already have two of the best pass rushers in the league. It’s not a first round need. I’m not sure it’s a need in any round.
by invisibulman on Mar 31, 2010 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't know about 1st round need.
But we DO need someone who is near the level of Freeney and Mathis. How many playoff games have we lost with Freeney injured? By my count its 3 in the last 3 years…none more glaring than this past one.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Mar 31, 2010 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh.
And if we get Price at DT, I’d be happy. The guy is a pass rushing freak.
There is a reason I don’t get paid to evaluate talent, though. Although last year I wanted a RB and and DT and got my wish in the first two rounds (except I wanted a DT in the 1st and a RB in the 2nd.)
chad72 had a very strong argument for picking up Price.
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Mar 31, 2010 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think Freeney was injured in 2008.
"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: That sucked.
The thing you may have forgot is;
DE’s help make the CB’s look better or worse than they really are. I would like to see us draft a CB, if no viable CB is available, draft a DE. I like the idea, I agree with the article and It was a glaring need for us last year. Think about this for a second. We lost 2 former starters at CB this offseason. Im not gonna try to say Tim Jennings was great, but, he did start for us at times. If a team loses that kind of talent, they need to replace it with equal or close to equal talent. The NFL is a passing league and we need DE and CB help.
If Russia attacked Turkey from the rear, Do you think Greece would help?
I disagree.
If Freeney or Mathis go down (which always happens), we’re doomed. We need someone who can fill-in at least adequately. In other words, not Josh Thomas.
"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir
Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: That sucked.
Like the pick
I like McCourty and I would be happy if this happened. I like McCourty and think he’ screams scheme fit.
But, I have a sneaking suspicion that Polian wants to address CB in the 2nd or 3rd. The CB class is deep and you can get Rd 1 talent without Rd 1 money. In above scenario, I can honestly see Polian taking Saffold if he couldn’t get a trade back. It’s just a gut feeling, but the Polian really likes the guy and doesn’t want to risk Washington take him with the fourth pick in the second round.
by 2ndBlueGeneration on Mar 31, 2010 10:06 AM EDT reply actions
Wow
Looks like you only considered defensive areas of strength with no major succession issues. Hmmm.
In your defense, this is sort of a disastrous scenario in which the players worthy of the pick were all gone (Pouncey, Hughes, Graham, Iupati). However, I think the general need for any OL with size and athletic ability should have driven this pick rather than upgrading a position that wasn’t in need of upgrade (just depth). My pick: Rodger Saffold or Vladimir Ducasse. However, if I were Polian I would have traded down ten spots or so and maybe even targeted Jared Veldheer in the 2nd.
by SirHarryFlashman on Mar 31, 2010 10:27 AM EDT reply actions
Saffold and especially Ducasse would have been far to big a reach in this place. These are guys with late 2nd round talent that have no business being drafted at #31. While I also would have preferred an OL, McCourty was the correct pick.
by invisibulman on Mar 31, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't Like It
I don’t disagree with mgrex’s analysis of McCourty’s skills. I just don’t want to use a #1 on a player who looks at best to be a nickel corner. Hell, we’re all unhappy Jennings, a second rounder, wasn’t what we wanted, so why spend a first rounder on a guy that essentially will fill Jennings’ role, albeit contribute more on special teams.
I understand there might not be anyone worthy of first-round money at #31. If replacing Tim Jennings was what puts the Colts over the top to win the Super Bowl, then I’d be for this. But, I think most of us agree, there are greater—much greater—-needs on the O line and at DE. So, if this is what we’re left with—trade down. Don’t commit to Jennings 2.0 in the first round.
The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.
How the heck do you get to McCourty being Jennings 2.0?
Just because he is predicted to start in the nickel?
"It's the greatest job in the world until Peyton comes off the field and you think his thumb might be broken and there's three minutes left in the AFC Championship Game and you're down by three to New England and you haven't taken a snap all year. Yeah, it's a great job until that point." - Jim Sorgi
by gizzardfanny on Mar 31, 2010 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Fair question
I take your point—McCourty would almost certainly be an upgrade at nickel from the Human 10-yard Cushion. But still, it’s using a first-round pick—and paying first round money—to a fill Jennings’ position. Good value DBs, as Polian has proven most recently with Lacey and Powers, can be found much further down.
Mgrex’ point above is valid: if not McCourty or Price, who? As I suggested, I think the Colts should trade down. Or, trade up to try to get an LT.
The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.
But we never had an elite CB, one with 4.3 speed.
Fill Jennings position? Hayden declined big time. A rookie first rounder can beat him out, or Powers too.
Trades are not a possibility in this mock draft.
"It's the greatest job in the world until Peyton comes off the field and you think his thumb might be broken and there's three minutes left in the AFC Championship Game and you're down by three to New England and you haven't taken a snap all year. Yeah, it's a great job until that point." - Jim Sorgi
by gizzardfanny on Mar 31, 2010 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
McCourty would be 3rd CB in the 2010 season
Meaning he would probably be in the starting line up at least 5 and more likely 10 games considering the injury proneness in our secondary.
"It's the greatest job in the world until Peyton comes off the field and you think his thumb might be broken and there's three minutes left in the AFC Championship Game and you're down by three to New England and you haven't taken a snap all year. Yeah, it's a great job until that point." - Jim Sorgi
by gizzardfanny on Mar 31, 2010 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I like the pick
With the OT’s and Graham gone, I see this as the best value at need pick.
I would not be sad at all if this picks happens on draft day.
"It's the greatest job in the world until Peyton comes off the field and you think his thumb might be broken and there's three minutes left in the AFC Championship Game and you're down by three to New England and you haven't taken a snap all year. Yeah, it's a great job until that point." - Jim Sorgi
I'd have taken Price, but I don't feel too strongly about him vs McCourty
I think Price is the kind of DT value that Polain usually talks about not falling to 31, and there’s a legitimate chance he does with the depth of the DT class and all the teams running 3-4s now.
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.
You made my case for me
I too, would have gone with price
by metal_militia on Mar 31, 2010 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
It would go against his draft philosophy
of taking athletes in the first round, going all the way back to 1986. His history is littered with QB, RB, WR, DB, and DEs drafted.
I think in the current Colts scheme, DT might be the least important position on Offense/Defense, which is why it’s always been filled by guys who were drafted late, or undrafted and signed as FAs. I think Nickel CB > DT, which is why McCourty is the pick here.
I would not be upset with Price by any means, but I don’t think the Colts need a first round DT to be successful.
Creator and developer of the Winning Stats.
by mgrex03 on Mar 31, 2010 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
they don't need a 1st round DT to be successful, but if a 300lb 3-tech DT is the best player on the board
that’d be hard to pass up.
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 Mar 31, 2010 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Price
would have to be the only value guy left for him to be taken, even if he fits perfectly into the scheme (which he does). That would mean all the OT, Iupati & Pouncey, and Wilson/McCourty would have to be picked before the Colts do, before they’d take Price.
Those early round picks should be used on specific positions: Offensive skill position, Tackles, DEs and CBs, especially late in the round where the Colts will continue to find themselves. There are obviously some clear exceptions, but in general, that’s where first round picks should go.
Creator and developer of the Winning Stats.
Don't like it
I think the Colts need to get OT or a pass rusher in the first. The system can find good corners in rounds 3+, no need to take a CB in the first unless we are going to man coverage.
In this mock with OT’s flying off the board, i’d take Dunlap or Ricky Sapp. Pass rushers are the key to pass defense, not corners these days. And right now our defense is still boned if Freeney or Mathis are hurt.
Dunlap has EPIC BUST written all over him. Sapp is an undersized situational pass rusher. We already have Freeney and Mathis, so I don’t see what he adds. With this board (and unable to trade) I might have to agree with mgrex, but I don’t like the pick either.
by invisibulman on Mar 31, 2010 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Dunlap is risky but having better corners is worthless unless there is a pass rush. Do you want to go another year where you KNOW that our super bowl hopes go out the window if Freeney or Mathis get hurt? I realize that a pass rusher in the first is reinforcing a strength, but our entire defense is based around that pass rush. There’s no such thing as a cover corner in the current NFL.
I would have taken McCourty there too, so naturally I'm inclined to believe that was a good pick made
In the draft scenario above, he’s the best player on my Colts’ draft board.
Although I voted regarding the suspicious lack of advanced statistics,
I’m on board with this pick. He fits well in the system, he’s got versatility, he seems studious and scrappy… if he can keep the receivers in front of him, I can’t think of why he wouldn’t be a strong addition.
In reality I’d like to see a trade-down, what with as many of the really nice names off the board at this point. I’d imagine if McCourty were the guy, we’d be able to grab him at the top of the second. Oh, and I very strongly agree with your assertion elsewhere in the above comments that a skill position is a strong likelihood for us. And if someone like Pouncey is gone, I’d have no problem with that whatsoever.
Anonymity breeds inhumanity. In simpler terms, don't be a troll.
Serously
i think its a good first round if we get either: Price, McCourty, Brown, or Pouncey.
I really like McCourty so i might be a little biased, but i think he would be great..
He can step in right away and fills a need in the return game
its a solid pick
I think we have way too big of succession issues at LDE and the OL to justify selecting a CB in the 1st, no matter who he is. If the guys who seem obvious targets are all gone, I’d expect us to go for the best available OL. And for the record, Saffold will be gone by 5-10 picks into the 2nd round if we don’t select him in the 1st.
by SirHarryFlashman on Apr 2, 2010 7:44 AM EDT reply actions
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