Ryan Diem Sort Of Sucked In 2010

by Brad Wells on Feb 11, 2011 12:07 PM EST in 2010 Colts News

Look, I've met Ryan Diem and he is a super nice guy. He'll go to the mat for anyone on his team. In my humble opinion, he is one of the most unsung Colts players ever; in the same way Dominic Rhodes, Hunter Smith, and Terence Wilkins are unsung.

But last year, Ryan Diem was simply dreadful as a right tackle for this Colts football team. That opinion was shared by many, including NFL site Pro Football Focus:

Moving On Up: TE Jacob Tamme (-2.2 to +4.5)

Truth be told everyone else on the Colts team that played well this year either played well last year or didn’t play on the team last year. So we kind of have no alternative but Tamme. After barely playing last year, Tamme was forced into the starting role because of an injury to Dallas Clark. He became a reliable target for Peyton Manning, catching 7 or more balls in his 11 games. Tamme finished with our fourth best receiving grade for tight ends.

Had a Bad Year: RT Ryan Diem (+9.4 to -25.1)

Not many players regressed as much as Diem did this season. The right tackle had an up and down 2009, and this year there was a lot more down. He allowed 12 more pressures in two less games, and was consistently grading a bit below average in run blocking. This year wasn’t pretty for the Colts, and Diem was one of the reasons why.

Give This Guy More Snaps: LB Kavell Conner (+2.7 in 316 snaps)
Pretty much everyone who deserved to see more snaps in 2010 got their chance because of all the injuries the Colts suffered. Conner was pushed into the starting role late into the season to play in the base defense and performed nicely against the run, including a very strong game against the Titans. Linebacker isn’t a strong point for the Colts, so Conner deserves a shot to keep his starting job.

Not surprised to see Tamme and Conner valued so highly in PFF's system. I'm also not shocked that Diem went from +9.4 in 2009 to -25.1. Upgrading both tackle positions has to be the no. 1 roster priority of this club, aside from re-signing Peyton Manning.

I cannot stress this enough (because we stressed it repeatedly during the draft last year): If the Colts do not upgrade their o-line in a big way, there is simply no reason to watch them in 2011. They'll be one-and done again, if they are lucky.

And with a hopefully re-signed 35-year-old Peyton Manning, one-and-done is simply not acceptable.

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Comments

O line

Just a quick question hoping a few more knowing fans could help with. Say we get a left tackle and move cj to guard. Is his runblocking at guard any better than tackle?

by asned on Feb 11, 2011 12:28 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I think we need more help on defense than anything else.

We can win w/ a bad o-line but we need slight upgrades. Still, if I see a stud DT on the board and only a so-so LT, I’m taking the DT. Really, we just need better luck w/ injuries. We’ve had 5 seasons in a row in which we’ve had significant injuries in some area. Just by law of averages, we have to have a season where things could go solid injury wise.

Hell, we almost beat the Saints a year ago w/ an O-Line that wasn’t that much better than last season’s. What hurt us this year was the receiving core outside of Wayne was changing each week.

"Pressure is something you feel if you don't know what the hell you're doing."-Peyton Manning

by P0RKINS2 on Feb 11, 2011 12:29 PM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

Thank you.

The o-line is average at best. That said, the Packers did not have a very good line and the Steelers’ line was downright bad. The 2009 Colts offensive line was not better than the 2010 version.

Anyone who has a problem with Joseph should stop watching Colts football. It's unfair to expect a back to replace Edge, and Addai has been excellent in all areas when he is healthy.

by DontHateAddai on Feb 11, 2011 12:48 PM EST up reply actions

Really? 2009 wasn't better than 2010?

I disagree with that. Very much so. Diem was far worse, and Lilja is much better than our Guards.

Peyton Manning- Screwing over Defensive Coordinators since 1998.

by JesusNinja13 on Feb 11, 2011 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

When you say that by the law of averages the Colts should have a season with only a normal amount of injuries, it’s no coincidence that the Colts are a team made up of primarily smaller players and have significantly higher injuries. And the fact that you mentioned the 5 year history proves that the injuries are a trend more than an just bad luck.

by BleedBluenWhite on Feb 11, 2011 5:12 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

Sorry to do this it's nothing personal

But I would disagree with your other point that DT should take precedence over Oline help. I think that the Colts proved that they could win regardless of running totals or time of position (Miami game) But when the Colts really get in trouble is when they can’t protect Peyton (Chargers & Dallas game)
However I do agree with your point that the Colts should take the best player possible.

by BleedBluenWhite on Feb 11, 2011 5:21 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

+1

I’ve been saying this for years. The injuries are more a result of the type of players the Colts have on the roster than just “bad luck” as they would have us believe. There needs to be a continued fundamental change in the type of players the Colts have on the roster, primarily on defense, to keep starters on the field more often.

I don't always drink beer....but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.

by AceOfSpades on Feb 11, 2011 6:07 PM EST up reply actions

"If the Colts do not upgrade their o-line in a big way, there is simply no reason to watch them in 2011"

That’s a little drastic

"Are you f*cking kidding me???"

by danorocks17 on Feb 11, 2011 1:37 PM EST reply actions

You must be new here.

Anyone who has a problem with Joseph should stop watching Colts football. It's unfair to expect a back to replace Edge, and Addai has been excellent in all areas when he is healthy.

by DontHateAddai on Feb 11, 2011 2:05 PM EST up reply actions 10 recs

Rec'd

I’ll have no problem if this comment turns green.

"It's an easy game, man. Easy game."
~Edgerrin James

by 87 Rides A Surfboard on Feb 11, 2011 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

lol

"Are you f*cking kidding me???"

by danorocks17 on Feb 11, 2011 4:52 PM EST up reply actions

if almost 3 years is new then yes

"Are you f*cking kidding me???"

by danorocks17 on Feb 11, 2011 4:50 PM EST up reply actions

LOL

So true. This comment pissed me off, but I’m used to it by now.

My blood-type is Colts and FORD blue.

by Stew Blake on Feb 13, 2011 10:32 AM EST up reply actions

Moala not rising and Muir not falling

I kinda figured both of the those guys would be on the list. I think Muir’s problem was that he lost wight to play the UT and got moved over to NT. I still like him better at UT and Mookie at NT, with Moala backing up Muir

Moala was inconsistent and didn’t have a great year based on the basic number stats., I just did not think he had the break out year that was talked about. He did have his best games when A Johnson was next to him.

I think that both are absent from this list shows the Moala did not have as good as year as most thought and Muir wasn’t as bad as most thought

Defense is more important than breathing.

by BetterD on Feb 11, 2011 2:07 PM EST reply actions

What's with all of these short articles with just quotes from other pages?

Shouldn’t they be FanShots?

Peyton Manning- Screwing over Defensive Coordinators since 1998.

by JesusNinja13 on Feb 11, 2011 2:43 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

Was Ryan Diem really that bad?

Or did he just have a ton of false starts? He’s huge at 6’6" 320lb and only 31 years old. Did he have a bad run blocking and pass blocking year too? He has to improve next year considering that he’s not that old.

by RamblinWreck7 on Feb 11, 2011 4:37 PM EST reply actions

He was that bad

I agree with everything PFF said. Supports my OT review.

Writer for Stampede Blue.

by Collin McCollough on Feb 11, 2011 5:51 PM EST up reply actions

"Was Ryan Diem really that bad?"

Yes.

Peyton Manning- Screwing over Defensive Coordinators since 1998.

by JesusNinja13 on Feb 11, 2011 6:12 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe he just misses the other Ryan.

by coltsfoot85 on Feb 11, 2011 5:15 PM EST reply actions

@coltsfoot85
We all miss him.

Colts fan since Tony Dungy's 48th Birthday.

by ColtsFan504 on Feb 13, 2011 7:10 PM EST up reply actions

Not enough being said about this

Linebacker isn’t a strong point for the Colts, so Conner deserves a shot to keep his starting job.

Brackett deserved his contract last year, but is on the downside of his career and can be upgraded. Conner has ability, but is very young and inexperienced….same with Angerer.

The SAM position is currently a trainwreck.

At WILL, Session is tough, but his tackling technique is flawed, just like many of the players on the Colts defense (what I like most about Brackett is his fundamental tackling ability).

The team needs to address DT, LB and SS this season and learn how to stop the run with consistency and get off the field on 3rd downs. Period.

I don't always drink beer....but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.

by AceOfSpades on Feb 11, 2011 6:03 PM EST reply actions

I disagree about the LB's.

Conner and Angerer have a lot of potential, and have played well in their time. I don’t think LB is a need at all. They may be young and inexperienced, but that gets better the more they play.

Peyton Manning- Screwing over Defensive Coordinators since 1998.

by JesusNinja13 on Feb 11, 2011 6:11 PM EST up reply actions

Problem is...

Year after year, the Colts LBs are labeled as “young and inexperienced” and that never changes…I don’t give a shit how fast they are and how they love to “fly to the ball” if they aren’t going to make plays afterwards.

These LBs are counted on to do well in pass coverage and they are average at best. Since they are average at pass coverage, they must be good at stopping the run at least, right? Nope, not that either.

All of the blame for being able to stop the run falls on the D line’s shoulders. LB is the most important run stopping component and unfortunately Polian has never placed an emphasis on having smart, physical LBs on these Colts teams. Brackett is the only player in the past 5 years or so that could be considered smart and, if not physical, at least fundamentally sound as a tackler.

I don't always drink beer....but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.

by AceOfSpades on Feb 12, 2011 8:30 AM EST up reply actions

Well, drafting more LB's won't fix the

“young and unexperienced” thing. And I can’t think of any FA’s we could get cheap either.

Peyton Manning- Screwing over Defensive Coordinators since 1998.

by JesusNinja13 on Feb 12, 2011 10:57 AM EST up reply actions

True

But IMO the Colts should trend towards more physical LBs that have size to help with the general failures of run defense. Instead of focusing on UFAs and 6th and 7th rounders, I would like to see a continued emphasis on early round LBs and DTs to improve the overall skill level at those positions.

Basically I’ve been waiting for this for 5 years now and, aside from Moala and now Angerer, the Colts haven’t paid as much attention to DT and LB as I wish they would.

I don't always drink beer....but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.

by AceOfSpades on Feb 12, 2011 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

AceOfSpades you are a genius!

Thats what most of these colts fans don’t get is that linebackers are extremely important in stopping the run. Unfortunately, all of our tiny, undersized linebackers can’t tackle, can’t hold up in pass coverage, and most definitely can’t stop the run.

For all of you colts fans out there, keep praising Conner and Angerer while we continue to get bulldozed over in the run defense department.

by RamblinWreck7 on Feb 13, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions

The funny part is that Philip Wheeler is our biggest linebacker.

Put him in the game coach!

by RamblinWreck7 on Feb 13, 2011 2:54 PM EST up reply actions

I don't care if Philip Wheeler weighs 300 pounds.

Size doesn’t help a guy make tackles if he gets blocked out of every single play.

Anyone who has a problem with Joseph should stop watching Colts football. It's unfair to expect a back to replace Edge, and Addai has been excellent in all areas when he is healthy.

by DontHateAddai on Feb 13, 2011 5:18 PM EST up reply actions

What if he weighed 400 pounds?

Then he couldn’t be blocked and he would just get in the way of the blockers to stop the run. Sounds good to me!

by RamblinWreck7 on Feb 13, 2011 6:25 PM EST up reply actions

need a franchise offense L tackle

and need a big D Tackle to clog the middle,, if the Colts are going to make Peyton the highest paid player then get him another Tarik Glenn so he can play the entire length of his contract!!!!!!

by OBGYNOSUPREME on Feb 11, 2011 6:15 PM EST reply actions

Conner and Angerer

saved this draft since #1 was worthless this year and #3 never even played

by OBGYNOSUPREME on Feb 11, 2011 6:16 PM EST reply actions

If they played so well then how come we still sucked against the run???

by RamblinWreck7 on Feb 11, 2011 8:34 PM EST up reply actions

I don't know...

Maybe because our Defensive line is tiny?

Peyton Manning- Screwing over Defensive Coordinators since 1998.

by JesusNinja13 on Feb 11, 2011 8:41 PM EST up reply actions

Thats what everyone thinks

Turns out that most of our DT’s are over 300 lb. Foster is a situational guy used in pass rushing and other situations. I agree that we need to improve up front but I think that there will be some competition for the starting SLB spot between Wheeler, Haggler, and Angerer. I’m assuming that we will resign Clint Session, and Gary Brackett will definitely start at MLB.

And if one more stupid person tells me that Wheeler sucks then get off the bandwagon and prove it to me.

by RamblinWreck7 on Feb 12, 2011 12:21 AM EST up reply actions

Oh Lord.

Wheeler does suck… yeah. That’s about all that needs to be said on that subject. You can’t really prove it without game tape… but… he sucks. Never started more than 7 games in a season (though he was always healthy), only had about 40 tackles last two years (as opposed to 88 and 57 for KC and PA). There’s a reason Conner and Angerer are playing, and not Wheeler and Hagler.

Peyton Manning- Screwing over Defensive Coordinators since 1998.

by JesusNinja13 on Feb 12, 2011 1:13 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed about Wheeler

I like Hagler and think he is a good backup LB and a solid special teams player. I trust Hagler to come in and play well if needed. But Wheeler is NOT a starting LB in the NFL and has no business being on the field more than on special teams.

I don't always drink beer....but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.

by AceOfSpades on Feb 12, 2011 12:41 PM EST up reply actions

There's also a reason why we continue to get steamrolled on the ground every Sunday.

by RamblinWreck7 on Feb 13, 2011 2:56 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed, Diem sucked.

Thankful for all he’s done. Love the guy…good chance he’s cut.

So on the 18th day God created the Quarter Back, and his name is Peyton Manning. And thank the Lord he plays for the Polianapolis Colts.

"Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime." - Potter Stewart

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

by NoCuddleOffense on Feb 11, 2011 10:22 PM EST reply actions