What I've Noticed About Polian's Recent Drafting

by DFree on Jan 26, 2011 11:00 PM EST

Everybody has been very critical of Bill Polian's drafting recently.

Everybody around here is complaining Jerry Hughes is a bust, Donald Brown is a bust yatta yattaa.

Well they aren't necessarily busts, they just haven't been extremely productive as us fans would like to see.

I have noticed though people are complaining about Polian's terrible drafting recently.

Quite honestly his drafting hasn't been terrible at all.

His last couple of first rounders haven't been the best, but just look at the talent he has found throughout the later rounds of the draft.

2007 - Despite having the 32nd pick we managed to pick up two pretty good players I think. We got a nice receiver when healthy in Anthony Gonzalez, and we got Clint Session. Nobody is too big a fan of Gonzalez around here, but I'm telling you when he's healthy he is a productive wideout.

2008 - We didn't even have a first round pick this year (dumb move by Polian..yeah I get it), but we found some nice talent. In the 4th round we managed to snag Jacob Tamme and we can all agree that he is a very good talent. Also in the 6th round Polian found Mike Hart and Pierre Garcon. Those guys aren't bad at all for being drafted out of the 6th round.

2009 - I actually thought this was a very good draft year for Polian. Let me just list all of the players he found throughout this draft. 1st was Donald Brown. I think in my heart he will be a solid player eventually. 2nd was Fili Moala. Everybody thought this guy was a bust, but he was playing some damn good football this year. 3rd pick was Jerraud Powers. He's probably our number 1 corner, and personally he is one of my favorite players. Powers was a great find for a 3rd round pick. 4th round we found Austin Collie. You all saw our offense when he was playing this year...enough said. Again if he could stay on the field this is a very good find once again by Bill Polian. Last but not least for the draft in round 7 was Pat McAfee. People have been critical of this guy this year, but he's not a bad punter at all. That is five pretty damn good football players in one draft and I don't see why he gets blamed for a "bad draft"

2010 - With our first rounder this year we drafted Jerry Hughes. DE is a difficult transition to make in the NFL, and I'm not making excuses for Jerry (because his rookie year was terrible), but what did we really expect from him? He was playing behind the best defensive end duo in the league. We expected more yes, and I strongly believe that eventually it will come. Pat Angerer in the 2nd round. A lot of people thought this guy was a reach, and maybe he was, but he played some good football for us this year especially as a rookie. Angerer was a great pick for us. There is still the mystery man Kevin Thomas in the 3rd round, and if he turns out like a Powers type of player then we've got ourselves another good pick. We drafted Brody Eldridge in the 5th round. A very very good blocking tight end. This was again a nice pick for us considering we can't runt he ball for anything. The best blocking tight end in the draft that year was given to Indianapolis. Finally with a 7th round pick does anybody agree that Kavell Conner was an amazing pick. We found a tough, smart, physical linebacker in the 7th round and he played great for us as a rookie filling in.

I'm not saying Polian is perfect because let's be honest really he isn't. I just want people to understand that he isn't doing a terrible job. His picks aren't flashy, and maybe they aren't the highest rated players, but overall Bill finds players that fit our system and work well with the football we play. It's safe to say some of his picks we'd like to have back, but clearly this guy is doing a better job then people are giving credit for.

If some of these players could stay healthy I don't think Polian would be getting half of the blame he's getting now.

Overall, it hasn't been a bad couple years, just not his best.

GO BLUE!!!

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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I agree.

Conner is a hitting machine. No question Angerer plays middle linebacker like damnit. This is only his rookie year. It’s going to be an uncomfortable training camp choosing a middle linebacker. Brackett played great this year, as he always does. Unless we go to a 3-4 we don’t need 2. I agree totally with your assement of the players you mentioned.

We’ll see something from Hughes next year. I didn’t expect anything this year. Hughes should be bulking up the upper body (as Mathis did) so he can use his hands and arms better to get free of those tackles. Watch, he’ll be there next year. Mathis is on notice. Hughes won’t be in contention for Freeney’s job.

Gonzales, Hughes and many other Colts first-round picks aren’t really first round quality. Drafting in the 20s and 30s means the top echelon guys are always long gone. You get the developmental guys that you believe have a litle more than the also-rans.

I don’t hold Polian at fault for not grabbing a #1-10 pick with a #25-32 draft spot. It’s a gigantic difference. You have to be a physical and mental freak to be in the NFL. You have to be jaw dropping to be in the top ten drafted. Some of those are flops. We’re talking about people here and a good bit of it is mental. Can you get this guy to play football at a professional level? Even if he has 80% of the physical assets, it could be enogh if he will learn and play his heart out. If he has 100% but thinks he’s made it and can’t learn, he might get drafted early and fail out because it turns out that the pro level is too tough for him.

What I’m saying is, you find a Robert Mathis, Jeff Saturday, Gary Brackett, Kavell Conner or anyone that was productive without the top echelon physical numbers (these guys are all freaks though, even the supposedly undersized or whatever) you’ve done a great job. It’s not something measurable you are going after drafting 25 and on. You are looking for football players and the Colts have done well doing it.

by wcwills on Jan 27, 2011 12:51 AM EST reply actions

Nice job.

Rec’d.

Peyton Manning= Better.

by JesusNinja13 on Jan 27, 2011 11:28 AM EST reply actions

Thank you

Someone with reason. Great post. Rec’d as well.

We haven’t been hitting home runs on our top draft picks and that hurts, but we’ve been drafting in the lower rounds REALLY well. You’re going to miss on the Terrance Taylor and the Ray Fishers on occasion, no GM doesn’t do that. Missing on a Tony Ugoh hurt a lot and then the next year not getting 2 solid guard prospects out of Pollak, Justice and Richard hurt. Still, Collie, McAfee, Conner, Session, etc. are the types of guys that can put your team over the top.

That being said, since we missed on a few high picks, then to suppliment, I think you do have to dip your toe into the Free Agency pool to make up the difference. From the ESPN report last week, it sounds like that could be an option. Irsay’s already Veto-ed the fan dreams for Nnamdi A. but is Mankins out of the question? Debatable. We shall see.

In Polian We Trust

by GoHorse88 on Jan 27, 2011 11:47 AM EST reply actions

Rec’d as well.

I have read so much here about “Polians last several drafts have been failures”. Which is complete nonsense. Bill Polian is one of the top 3 evaluators of talent in the NFL. As you show-he clearly hasn’t lost his touch or his edge.

Every year, Polian will make mistakes. Like everyone else making personnel decisions. He just makes fewer than most..

Anyway, Nice to see something articulate on the topic.

by moocow on Jan 27, 2011 11:50 AM EST reply actions

The Tony Ugh pick (and trade of a 1st round pick to get him) was a failure.

We don’t know enough to call any other 1st round picks (Gonzo….and particularly not Brown or Hughes) “misses”

Gonzo isn’t hurt, he’s good. too early for everyone else.

by moocow on Jan 27, 2011 11:57 AM EST reply actions

I would say as of now

Gonzo, Brown, and Hughes are “misses” so far. Not “busts” because they have some time yet, but they have missed so far. Hopefully they develop into solid players though. But Polian’s finds in later rounds I believe makes up for those few misses anyway.

Peyton Manning= Better.

by JesusNinja13 on Jan 27, 2011 12:42 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t agree. Not “misses”
Gonzo is a good WR. He has been hurt. If he can’t play, then he is a miss. But he can.
Brown was hurt some his 1st year. The 2nd year he played very well at times. A contributing factor to his emergence will be offensive line play. He needs holes. When he was given holes…he is explosive. If they upgrade the OL and he doesn’t improve next year…, then have at him. As of now, ot a miss.

The idea that a 1 year DE, drafted as a backup to 2 Pro Bowl DEs can be labeled a “miss” is just silly.

by moocow on Jan 27, 2011 1:04 PM EST reply actions

I think they're misses until they produce for us at the level we expect.

I don’t blame Polian for them, but to say they’re what he was looking for is sillly.

Peyton Manning= Better.

by JesusNinja13 on Jan 27, 2011 10:17 PM EST up reply actions

I agree, in part.

2009 was a good year, but the most recent draft in 2010 is nothing more than mediocre at this point in time.

Hughes didn’t contribute at all alongside McClendon and K. Thomas, and calling Brody Eldridge a ‘very, very good blocking tight end’ is ignorant of his performance towards the latter end of the year.

Conner and Angerer were undoubtedly good picks, but on a team with a terrible O-Line and poor defense, I would’ve wanted more of a contribution from 7 draft picks with the reputation Polian has garnered.

AKA Conqueror.

by Ben Savage on Jan 27, 2011 1:36 PM EST reply actions

There is a reason they wait several years to evaluate draft classes. A mantra with the Colts is the difference between a player in his first and second years. Look at Fili Moala, who lookt like a blue turd in 2009.

What if the same thing happens with Hughes, who you have labeled a “miss”. Is he “no longer a miss?” What if Freeney or Mathis is hurt (which has happened, and is one reason Hughes was picked)? Hughes starts 3-4 games, and by the 3rd or 4th game….he starts getting pressure.

Polian KNEW Hughes was a developmental prospect. Said so during the year. Why play him if you can play Mathis anyway?

by moocow on Jan 27, 2011 2:44 PM EST reply actions

Honestly...

To expect a pick, regardless of his round, to contribute between two pro-bowl DEs is ridiculous. It makes no sense at all when Hughes was, in large part, considered an insurance policy. The third DE was talked about as someone who could come in and make plays or get pressure if Freeney or Mathis were out. It isn’t unrealistic to think that Hughes could have added pressure in a real, game-time situation playing with the first squad. Most of his reps came with the game out of hand or with ST, so we won’t be getting a good picture of his skills, albeit minor skills compared to Mathis and Free, until he sees more time against O-linemen.

These stats about starts, round of draft, and sacks are useless because it doesn’t take into account the players in front of them and their stats. Lets be honest here…was Bratzke a Freeney or Mathis caliber player? No. He was good, solid, but he didn’t have the big play potential of these two. Neither did Brock. Citing them as players who were tough to play behind in the same vein as our starting DEs is a useless gesture.

Furthermore, he can’t contribute like a first rounder if he isn’t used like one. If he isn’t given a chance to start, then why would you expect starter numbers out of him. ST numbers are the best you get when al you play is ST and an occasional down as a DE. As I recall, Mathis saw more real playing time in that first year at Indy than Hughes did this year. Again, this is because you don’t start a rookie over your proven, pro-bowlers. You just don’t. It would be stupid to call him a bust or even a miss based on these stats or the context of the season.

by AnotherWriter on Jan 27, 2011 3:24 PM EST up reply actions

Totally with you on Hughes

Hughes not taking that joker spot away from Dawson (who was just about worthless there) is a minor disappointment, but it was obvious that Hughes was a future/insurance pick.

Hopefully Hughes makes the kind of leap Fili did from 1st to 2nd year and we see him beasting in subpackages this coming year (or least hopefully beasting in fill-in duty).

Choke/Clutch is the fetishization of the small sample size.

"In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' "- Stephen Jay Gould

by shake n bake on Jan 27, 2011 6:01 PM EST up reply actions

I wish I could rec this post more than once.

Gonzo was fantastic when healthy and to me the injuries he’s had seem like more bad luck than anything.

Brown need good blocking and to improve as a pass blocker, but the talent is obviously there.

Hughes is a victim unrealistic expectations along with Freeney and Mathis staying healthy this year.

Choke/Clutch is the fetishization of the small sample size.

"In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' "- Stephen Jay Gould

by shake n bake on Jan 27, 2011 6:04 PM EST reply actions

Agreed.

The line is having trouble blocking effectively. Gonzo is a hell of a talent when he isn’t hamstrung by freak injuries. And, as for Hughes, I agree Shake. I think the ability for him to produce in sub-packages or as a spot filler this season with be improved if he gets the opportunity. I still see where an OT would have made a better choice, but I think to call Hughes a bust or miss is just premature.

by AnotherWriter on Jan 27, 2011 8:22 PM EST up reply actions

yikes, typos

*Brown needs good blocking….

*Hughes is a victim of unrealistic expectations….

Choke/Clutch is the fetishization of the small sample size.

"In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' "- Stephen Jay Gould

by shake n bake on Jan 27, 2011 8:45 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks for the love guys

I was just stating the obvious..that’s all.

by DFree on Jan 27, 2011 6:54 PM EST reply actions

Sometimes around here,

the obvious needs to be stated.

Peyton Manning= Better.

by JesusNinja13 on Jan 27, 2011 10:18 PM EST up reply actions

Sure would like to have Ziggy Hood and Rodger Saffold

Although, at the time Polian thought Muir would be good. But he’s not. And thought Saffold would be another Ugoh project, but he’s not.

Does anyone else know why Brown didn’t touch the ball in our playoff loss? Or even after he won the AFC south for us against Jacksonville?

by BlueLagoon_18 on Jan 28, 2011 4:26 PM EST reply actions

Great comparison to Ugoh.

Ugoh played well his rookie year and regressed after. Saffold could as well. Not saying he will just that ya need to wait a couple years to fully evaluate.

As far as Brown… Addai was back at full speed. And behind Addai they wanted a chance of pace that Rhodes running style provides.

I think Brown was drafted to replace Addai not Rhodes. I’m thinking we draft a Rhodes type in a late round. I bet we only bring back one player between Addai, Rhodes and Hart.

So on the 18th day God created the Quarter Back, and his name is Peyton Manning.

Again, just my opinion. - The Oracle at Delphi.

by NoCuddleOffense on Jan 28, 2011 5:19 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Collie

Anybody hear anything lately? Last I read about him people in the star were suggesting retirement.
Hope he comes back. Having him, Tamme and Clark/Garcon/Wayne would be a nasty empty backfield combination.

by muddy cleats on Jan 31, 2011 4:17 PM EST reply actions

REALLY

Gonzalez who are you kidding,he never sees the field and likely will never be a big contributor.

by PTN391 on Feb 7, 2011 2:29 AM EST reply actions

I wouldn't be to high on our OLB

If Pat Angerer and Kavell Conner were sooooo good, then how come our rushing defense was utterly terrible? Philip Wheeler and Tyjuan Hagler are much better in my opinion. They both played on one of the top defenses in the league last season too. Gary Brackett is definitely the starting middle linebacker (also the defensive captain) for whoever brought that up and I think that Clint Session should be resigned.

by RamblinWreck7 on Feb 10, 2011 10:27 PM EST reply actions

Wheeler and Hagler are better?

Definitely not.

Peyton Manning- Screwing over Defensive Coordinators since 1998.

by JesusNinja13 on Feb 10, 2011 11:10 PM EST up reply actions

Middle of the D line was soft, with Johnson hurt

by caldwellmotivatesME on Feb 11, 2011 8:12 AM EST up reply actions

I'm sorry but you can't always blame it on the D-line

I agree that we could get better at DT but if you have 4 D-lineman and 3-linebackers then you should be able to stop 5 offensive lineman and a tightend blocking too. You have the extra guy but the problem is our linebackers did not play good this year. If Angerer and Conner can’t stop the run then they shouldn’t be in there. Last year with Wheeler, Haggler, Brackett, and Session we were much, much better.

by RamblinWreck7 on Feb 11, 2011 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

When Wheeler, Session, and Brackett were in

the run defense did not fare much better this year.

"I suppose that writers should, in a way, feel flattered by the censorship laws. They show a primitive fear and dread at the fearful magic of print." - John Mortimer
Proud driver of the Polian for President bus

by JesusNinja13 on Feb 15, 2011 8:48 PM EST up reply actions

Were they ever in together this year lol

I’m going to exclude week 1 against the Texans when Bob Sanders got hurt because that messed up the gameplan. In week 3 against the Giants, Wheeler, Bracket, and Session dominated. Against Kansas City, Wheeler, Bracket, and Session played very well again.

This year the combination of Wheeler, Brackett, and Session has played pretty well. They definitely played great last year together.

by RamblinWreck7 on Feb 15, 2011 8:54 PM EST up reply actions

Hmm...

Well, they only started 3 real games together: Week 1 vs Houston, Week 4 vs. Jax, and Week 5 vs. KC.
Total Rushing yards? 544.
Even without the Houston game, which is silly to take out in my mind, it’s 287. Not very good. Meanwhile, Conner, Angerer and Brackett had the lowest three game stretch of the season in the last three weeks. (all under 100 yards).

by JesusNinja13 on Feb 15, 2011 11:50 PM EST up reply actions

Yea Conner, Angerer, and Brackett had a couple of good games together.

But as displayed by the New York Jets, a team with a very inacurate Mark Sanchez during that game, ran all over us. The Jets didn’t even have to pass the ball because we couldn’t stop them from running it. Our defense knew what was coming, a running play, but we still couldn’t stop them at all. The worst thing of all in football is to watch a team burn 7 or 8 minutes off the clock just by constantly running the ball, a tactic which the Jets performed perfectly against the tandem of Conner, Angerer, and Brackett.

by RamblinWreck7 on Feb 16, 2011 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

So that bad game makes up for the

3 stellar ones? And it doesn’t change the fact that Session, Wheeler, and Brackett together weren’t very good.

by JesusNinja13 on Feb 16, 2011 9:02 PM EST up reply actions

I'd say they were better than Angerer, Bracket, and Conner but thats just my opinion.

If you can’t have consitently good linebacker play then what are the chance of them making it through the playoffs and to the superbowl. The Jets game proved that we were wrong about the improved run defense. It was better for a couple of games but it went back to normal.

by RamblinWreck7 on Feb 16, 2011 11:35 PM EST up reply actions