This year's draft "darling"
by davis3217 on Apr 26, 2010 3:51 PM EDT
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PrintIt is safe to say Austin Collie was the 2009 draft darling for the Colts. I still think he was shafted out of ROY by Percy Harvin. Sorry. Look at the numbers. Look at the offense. Harvin is awesome, but Collie should have won ROY. Not that I am bitter or anything!!!!!!!!! We could argue for Powers, Brown or even our guy Pat Mac. All had great rookie seasons and will be huge contributors to the team for years to come.
I am curious to get some thoughts on this year's potential draft surprise. I really like the first 2 picks, but it is hard to figure a 1st round pick as a surprise. Sometimes a 2nd rounder can surprise, but only when the player has an off the charts season. This will be hard for Angerer with the current talent ahead of him at LB. I am still on the fence with our 3rd and 5th round picks. Not to discount the 7th round picks, but they are typically practice squad guys who can evetually move up to the squad. My early draft "darling" is our 4th round pick, Jacques McClendon. Maybe I am just hoping this guy becomes that stud, earth moving OG we have been looking for. Or maybe I think the 4th round has harvested some decent players for the Colts(Collie, Clint Session, Ryan Diem, Jason David, David Thorton, Bill Brooks). Yeah, I know more stinkers than hits, but you get my point. Regardless, I like the kid. He run blocks well, can lift a freaking house (check out his weight lifting accomplishments, and is smart.... Economics major, 2 time All-SEC academic. At worst, this guy will push our current crop of OGs for a starting spot on either side. I don't think either side has a definite starter. DeVan closed the season at starting RG and we cut Lilja. Looks wide open to me.
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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is smart…. Economics major, 2 time All-SEC academic.
You actually sold him short. He’s about to finish his master’s degree in his 4th year at Tennessee.
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.
And that means not only is he smart
but he’s willing to put in all the hard work. That mental toughness is just as huge.
Good point.
"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: After waiting seemingly forever, it is finally draft week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and the schedule for next season is being released or something like that this week.
interesting
To look at him, I would’ve guessed he was less smart than the average lineman.
I’ve only seen 2 photos though.
I love drafting the smart ones. It’s part of why I’m so pissed about TN getting Rolle (that, plus I think he’s easily a 3rd safety in this league, which we could always use).
Day-after draft grades are probably even dumber than mock drafts.
I don't think
Unless someone looks like Chris Johnson or Lil’ Wayne you can’t really tell if they are smart or not. Vince Young looks like he would be a smart guy IMHO.
Welcome to the Colts, Jerry Hughes!
by Colts Homer on Apr 26, 2010 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions
JaMarcus has a "smart" look
ironically.
Just to be politically correct, Ben Roethlisberger looks like a dumbass.
EVH+DLR=BFFs........ God I Hope So!!
McClendon is my odds-on favorite too
Not only is he sharp as a tack (earned his Masters degree…his MASTERS degree while most of his classmates were bailing on their BA in communications), and a hard-ass worker, he’s a 320 pound mountain who can bench his twice his bodyweight and run a sub 5 40.
I have a real good feeling about him.
Ray Fisher
Week 1, when he returns the kickoff past the 25. I bet he breaks at least one this year. The Colts haven’t had an honest to goodness kick returner since Terrance Wilkins.
I am very very excited about this draft.
I’ve never followed the draft this closely before. Is this normal for a first-timer?
drafts are exciting
this class is interesting since I like it, but it’d be an upset if there are any rookie starters in the class.
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 Apr 26, 2010 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions
That is pretty unique among a draft.
"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: After waiting seemingly forever, it is finally draft week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and the schedule for next season is being released or something like that this week.
To be fair, aside from McAfee we didn't draft any starters last year either.
Brown and Collie were backups. Moala was depth, possible starter. Powers was depth. There just wasn’t any sure fire starters. I just don’t think there will be anytime we actually draft a starter outright. We always draft backups who tend to get starting roles due to injuries to starters. I just don’t think so long as Polian is in charge we will ever draft a straight out starter again unless there is a sudden career ending injury, or a sudden retirement. Still, I expect Wayne, Sanders, Bethea, Brackett, Manning, Addai, Freeney, Mathis, Saturday, Clark, and every other key starter to be backed up by a significant backup in advance of their leaving the team. As it is we’ve already got a replacement for Addai, Wayne, Freeney/Mathis, and Brackett. Over the next few years, I’d expect to see Sanders, Bethea, Clark, and Saturday all “replaced” with a key backup. In 4 or 5 years, we’ll probably get a first round Manning Jr.
Brody Eldridge
Welcome to the Colts, Jerry Hughes!
by Colts Homer on Apr 26, 2010 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions
he might get some starts, but I doubt he gets more snaps than the top 3 WRs
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 Apr 27, 2010 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe that's why I'm so excited --
we don’t need any of these players to start, but it looks like they’ve been drafted to fill the “non-starter” holes we had last year — backups to the irreplaceable cogs in the D, a FB, and a KR. It’s like we have basically our whole team from last year, plus these guys.
McClendon for me
although as ivisibulman pointed out, Fisher is my wildcard simply because he may proivide the spark we are lacking in the KR game. (grumbles, still disappointed we couldnt get Ford or Hollday, hoping fisher will prove me wrong)
Agree with McClendon
Very smart with a great work ethic. Plus, he’s coming in to an open competition. Hughes and Angerer may be awesome, but the guys in front of them are too.
it's a weird class.
Lots a role players and guys that have a good chance to be big time starters down the line, but likely no rookie starters.
I’m very excited about Hughes and Brody Eldridge (though I’m just now remembering what exactly his name is). Role players in roles that badly needed an upgrade.
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.
That's not necessarily a bad thing
I think the only position where a rookie could have possibly been the starter in week one is RG or LT, however neither of those positions presented better value than Hughes at 31.
I look at it as a plus that the Colts are drafting starters. First of all, that’s not really the Colts thing. The Colts don’t really draft for need, they draft for future need, for needs two years down the line. The perfect example was in 2005 when the Colts drafted Marlin and Kelvin with their top two picks. Those weren’t need picks, but future needs as Polian knew that David and Harper might be on their way out after a couple years. However, now its just depth. The Colts are that good at most positions that they are drafting for depth.
EVH+DLR=BFFs........ God I Hope So!!
"I look at it as a plus that the Colts are NOT drafting starters"
can’t believe I made a mistake like that on my first real post back after my stampedeblue hiatus.
EVH+DLR=BFFs........ God I Hope So!!
Welcome back though!
"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: After waiting seemingly forever, it is finally draft week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and the schedule for next season is being released or something like that this week.
SAM, G, CB are all possibilities
Thomas has to beat out only one, and if Houston comes out in a 3 WR set, he is starting.
Fisher will be pushed by that UDFA from Florida
We’ll likely only take one specialist and I hear this other guy is pretty good. Besides the Colts love giving Indiana players the Boot. “Courtney Roby” But then again, they end up in the NFC and playing against us in the Superbowl.
Release the Kraken!
by Believe in Blue on Apr 26, 2010 7:07 PM EDT reply actions
Check out McClendon
Watch this highlight clip of Hardesty but pay attenteion to McClendon. I swear McClendon clears out the hole EVERY time Hardesty has a big run. This guy looks like he could be a real steal. If he plays like this at training camp, he will be starting.
He's a huge guy
but he can run, too. Saw him downfield a BUNCH in that video. Love love LOVE this pick.
From what I saw
good at getting to the second level, staying with plays, I think he moves pretty well in space, didn’t get to see much pulling though.
that video
almost brings tears to my eyes. If UT’s previous coaching regime (Fulmer and Co.) hadn’t let Hardesty rot on the bench in favor of a slow-footed, fumbling RB, We’d be talking about a 1st round pick here.
McClendon does look good though…
Brody Eldridge
Fucking awesome pick. I love Eldridge. Bigger impact on the running game than Donald Brown by a large margin. We get those 3rd and 1’s if we can basically send in a more athletic offensive lineman.
Welcome to the Colts, Jerry Hughes!
Love the Eldridge pick too.
"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 Apr 28, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Kevin Thomas.
He will get significant playing time since our CB depth is non-existing.
"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
David Caldwell
Caldwell is a sleeper. Although udfa, he could turn out to be a real steal in this years draft.
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