2011 NFL Draft: Colts Interested In Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor

by Brad Wells on Apr 18, 2011 3:46 PM EDT in 2011 NFL Draft

Earlier today, we touched on the Colts visiting with 346 pound defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis from Hampton. Now, we have a report from National Football Post that the Colts have interest in 6'3, 334 pound monster Phil Taylor out of Baylor.

Ellis is viewed as a second round prospect. Taylor is a mid-to-late first rounder.

It's encouraging to see Indy taking an interest in 'anchor-style' defensive tackles and not three-technique guys. Players like Fili Moala and Daniel Muir are nice if they don't have to hold their ground and stop the opponent whose running at them. In years past, Antonio Johnson has been the guy to do that, and before him it was Ed Johnson, Anthony McFarland, and Corey Simon.

Last season , Antonio 'Mookie' Johnson lost his starting job to Moala, who was pretty terrible as the 'nose tackle' in Indy's Tampa-2 defense. The Colts allowed over 2,000 rushing yards in 2010 (4.6 a carry), and the run defense did not start to improve until the last four games of the regular season, which also happened to coincide with Mookie getting his starting job back. Mookie sat out the playoff game against the Jets, who racked up 169 rushing yards on Indy.

Finding a true, legitimate anchor for this defense is critical. Maybe not so critical as a quality offensive linemen, but important nonetheless.

The knock on Taylor entering the draft is his health, especially the status of his feet. However, NFP is reporting that:

Phil Taylor's feet checked out fine at the NFL scouting combine medical recheck, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

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I heard about the foot problems

Seems as if the bones in his feet are beginning to fuse together. Crazy condition.

Looks like an amazing prospect who could do wonders for our defense though. I would love to have him if he’s still around in the second (which his health problems may cause him to be)

Peyton Manning = GFQTWHESINTHOEF

by coltsjunkie44 on Apr 18, 2011 4:18 PM EDT reply actions

so this means the Colts will draft Stephen Paea in the first (if it’s defense) since I haven’t seen anything about the Colts working him out.

by Peter Bowman on Apr 18, 2011 5:03 PM EDT reply actions

Extremely happy for Taylor if healthy

I would be very happy w/ Taylor or Paea in the 1st round, if a OT is not available or Colts do not grade as a 1st. The article is good, most fans (mocks) to not understand between an anchor, which we desperately need and a penetrating 3 tech.

by Team2 DaBears on Apr 18, 2011 5:42 PM EDT reply actions

Fili

Moala plays the 3-technique, not the nose. Once in a while he’ll line up over center for variety, but he’s almost always outside the guard.

Cookie Cookie Cookie starts with C!

by willyduer on Apr 18, 2011 6:18 PM EDT reply actions

the colts better get the country's best podiatrist and orthopedic man

to examine those feet, I am far from an expert on feet even though I see a lot of them in my job , but Colts cannot afford injury problems if he goes 1st or 2nd round

by OBGYNOSUPREME on Apr 18, 2011 7:20 PM EDT reply actions

Not just a pain tolerance issue

I had a relative who had bones fuse together. He was in constant pain; however, the issue can be bigger. If the bones in his feet fuse together, this will also affect how he walks and runs. He won’t have normal movement in his feet.

by Kayaker on Apr 18, 2011 11:19 PM EDT reply actions

I concur, Phil Taylor is too much of a risk

What is not mentioned in the article is that Phil also has off the field issues. He is a half year wonder and an underachiever. For these reasons I would be shocked if the Colts picked him. Let a team like the Bengals or Raiders deal with him.

by BleedBluenWhite on Apr 18, 2011 11:39 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Phil Taylor will be drafted by the Jets.

For obvious reasons.

"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West

by insertscreenname on Apr 19, 2011 4:54 AM EDT reply actions

I had a bone issue like this my junior year in HS

…it was in my knee, hurt like a mofo, I played soccer and I could barely run up and down the field…after about a month it went away…MRI showed a separation of bone right below my kneee…said it was a growth issue and it would correct itself.. It did unfortuantley my junior year got cut short as a back issue from the year b4 flamed up after the knee corrected itself…sucked ass, at least I made it back for post season play

What I had sounds a lil bit like what Taylor has, though he should be done growing by now…but what do I know, I am no expert, this just sounds very familiar

by dezznutz1001 on Apr 19, 2011 1:33 PM EDT reply actions