What people seem to forget about Bill's latest draft

necessarily disagree with the post but it is very easy in hindsight to say who they should have picked. All these guys were picked right around where they should have been picked. There were no “reaches” here. Sometimes the talent level in a particular draft isn’t all that good. Check out the 2009 first round.

I also think that people focus to much on first round picks. It’s important to hit on these picks but successful drafts are made in the other rounds.

I know a lot of people on this board will disagree but if you can get 2 or 3 starters out of a draft you are doing very well.

First off, some jobs in the United States are judged on performance and results. If a financial analysts’ primary job is to forecast the stock market and individual companies, he’s allowed to be off every once in awhile. But if his recommended investments have lost $$$$ for 5 straight years, he would’ve been fired years ago. Make excuses all you want to defend the selections of Anthony Gonzalez, Donald Brown, and Jerry Hughes, but they have set this team back the past couple years. (And you didn’t even mention trading a #1 selection for Tony Ugoh).

And I disagree completely about Donald Brown’s selection. I, for one, was shocked when he was selected. I thought we had much greater needs that season – DT (I wanted Ziggy Hood), OL, and LB. Same thing with the Jerry Hughes’ selection. Was a 3rd pass-rusher a need? Absolutely, but you don’t spend a 1st round pick on a situational, 3rd-down rusher. Especially when you have glaring needs along the offensive line (which Bill Polian called out after the SB).

It’s great how everyone knew which prospects would pan out and which would be busts after the draft. Some even knew that draft picks would get hurt.
If you are going to blame Polian for the misses who gets the credit for Angerer, Conner,Powers,Collie, Mcafee, Wheeler and Garcon?
While you are at it, since we are going to have a really high pick this year can you tell us who we should stay away from because he is going to get hurt..

Connor Angerer and the others are not just steals they are really good players. Teams are not built on only first round picks. You find good players where you find good players. There is a misconception that all first round picks become pro bowl players. Some do, usually at the top of the first round, but most do not. Most other GMs don’t have a track record that is close to Polians. The one’s that are at his level have as many misses as Polian has had. It’s the nature of the draft.

The Colts are unique in that they have the one player on which everything rides. If healthy the Colts are a contender for a title every year. When he’s not they are toast. It’s pretty simple.
Without the injuries this team is 5-1 and a lock for the playoffs.

On this site akin to heresy. You can not do it and not get blasted, even though you maybe right. The only “busts” I will consider that the Colts have whiffed on is Donald Brown and Tony Ugoh in the first round. I understand everyone’s criticism on Brown because you can find a quality Back anywhere in the draft from the 1st to 7th round and even UDFA’s. Ugoh at the time looked like he was going to be solid he looked average during his rookie season which we would be happy with an average LT. Now we drafted two bookend OT’s last year and both look good when healthy. That is one aspect with this team the irks me to no end we always have key players that can not stay healthy and I know and understand that this is the NFL and players get hurt. But something has to be done we can not have 10-15 starters on IR every freaking year. Stafford is solid but he does not look like a LT to me. The Colts were right in their assessment that he is better suited to be a RT. I see him get bull rushed and get sealed off his block too much to be an franchise LT but he is a starter, that being said the Colts spent a 1st round pick on Hughes and I want him to get on the field and mix it up. The season is over at 0-6 Mathis is getting older so is Freeney there is no reason for not to see what Hughes can do on gameday. The Colts are not going to win anymore than 5 games this year anyway so lets see if Hughes can even be a situational pass rusher. Also I do not care were the Colts draft studs as long as there are studs on the team. But that being said I want to see what Hughes can offer to this team in the future and sitting on the bench and playing special teams will not cut it! We know it takes players time to develop and you can not magically get that much better by only practicing is he as good as Mathis and Freeney no. But how many DE’s in the league are? Let the man play what does the Colts have to lose?

I don’t mind getting blasted. I think those Colts fans who want to “clean house” are frustrated at the this train wreck of a season and need to blame someone. I think these fans lack perspective. If you analyze every successful GM you will find missed draft picks all over the place. It’s the nature of the draft. Polian has had his share of busts but has had many hits as well. His track record is better than most. What he can’t control are injuries and that is the single biggest reason this team is where it is.
I don’t agree on Brown. I think he has been held back by bad health and a lousy run blocking line. I think he’s the most talented back on the team and think he should get the bulk of the carries with Addai out. At worst they can find out if he can hold up and be productive. For those who didn’t like the pick at the time, check out the 2009 first round, its littered with busts.
I agree with Hughes. I think Mathis should be re-signed because defensive ends can be productive into there 30s before breaking down. By the way, I’m not sure this holds true for Wayne and wide receivers in general. That’s a tough call. The Colts should use this season to see if many of the these young guys can play. Hughes should get as much time as possible since we know what Freeney and Mathis can do.