next years' starting lineup

by modern_day_warrior on Feb 11, 2012 6:07 PM EST

I've been reading a lot of posts about how the roster is so far off that one year won't turn the team into a contender. I agree with that to a certain extent. As it stands right now I believe manning will be cut and the team will be looking 2 to 3 years down the road. I hope I'm wrong but I'm afraid that I'm not. So, here's my take on the starting lineup for next year and no, I don't think the sky is falling and I do not believe that the roster is in complete shambles. Unlike some others here, I do believe that we will run a 3-4 defense next year. Maybe not 100% of the time but I think it could be our base defense next year. So, here's my thoughts:

QB: Luck RB: Addai FB: Carter WR: Garcon WR: Collie LT: Costanzo LG: Reitz C: Pollak RG: Evan Mathis(Grigson has to bring a player or 2 from Philly) RT: Ijalana TE: Dallas Clark(Yes, I think he will be back) DE: Nevis NT: Dontari Poe*(2nd round selection) DE: Freeney LB: Mathis LB: Brackett(yes I think he's gonna be back) LB: Angerer LB: Jerry Hughes(yes, and he surprises everyone by fitting in really well in a 3-4) CB: Powers CB: chase Minnefield*(3rd round selection) S: Bethea S: Bullitt(I think the Colts stick with him even though I'd look to replace him) It's not a terrible lineup. Throw in Jamal Anderson for depth at a 3-4 DE. The colts will sprinkle in a few FA pickkups here and there. I may be all wrong but I see Nevis being a good 3-4 DE and Hughes looking good at a standup rush LB in a 3-4. We actaully have some players here that are suited for 3-4 defense.

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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Couple of things. Chase Minefield will be LONG gone by the time the Colts pick in the third. If they’re lucky, the Colts will be able to get him at 34 because the guy has first round talent.

Second, I know a lot of people here love the idea of Poe but I think it’s a terrible pick, especially at 34. Poe has physical tools, yes, but hasn’t shown any consistency in the weak Conference-USA. Personally, I think Poe will flop and the Colts would be better off going for Josh Chapman in the third/fourth or Brandon Thompson in the second (Thompson has a similar build to Chapman and is on record saying he wants to be either a 3-tech or a nose tackle)

by TrueBlue87 on Feb 11, 2012 6:38 PM EST reply actions

I really like Chapman.

I know he is not quite as big weight-wise when compared to Poe or Ta’amu, but I think Chapman has got a better motor. Your NT needs to command double teams. I also like the fact we should be able to get him in the third round. Another possibility is Baylor nose tackle Nicholas Jean-Baptiste who we can develop behind a cheap veteran free agent.

I think we draft Coby Fleener in the second round if he is available. Tamme is a free agent and Clark is in his last year. He has obvious familiarity with Luck.

by Radcolt on Feb 11, 2012 11:49 PM EST up reply actions

taking a tight end in the 2nd

is a bit of a waste. way too many other issues on this team. te should not be a priority

by omahacolt on Feb 11, 2012 11:55 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with you

Look at that. An engaging opinion without insulting somenoe. Keep it up. I agree. If they can sign Tamme and Clark can stay healthy, it would be a wasted pick. Colts have many other needs.

by shoospa on Feb 12, 2012 12:15 AM EST up reply actions

horrible post

by omahacolt on Feb 12, 2012 12:23 AM EST up reply actions

lol

by omahacolt on Feb 12, 2012 12:23 AM EST up reply actions

Fair enough

Everyone thinks that we need to get a CB in the second round, but this draft is deep at CB. I think the guys you draft in the mid rounds may turn out to be just as good as those drafted in the second and early third rounds. Draft grades vary widely depending on who you read. Grigson is supposed to have made his mark by scouting and having an eye for talent and hope he can find some gems in this draft.

by Radcolt on Feb 12, 2012 2:20 AM EST up reply actions

DT

I would much rather see the team get a true NT in free agency. Paul Soliai is probably going to be let go by Miami. He’s only 28, and he’s a proven commodity. I would rather see them sign a NT, because they are so hit and miss when you draft them.

by PeytonTheManning on Feb 13, 2012 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

I agree...

There are a couple of guys who can be taken in later rounds. Chapman just had knee surgery for a torn acl and meniscus. Although he played with the injury, he probably falls to the 4th round. Jean-Baptiste and the kid from BYU (Hebron Fangupo) who can be drafted in later rounds have less risk and can be developed under a vet like Soliai. Not all quality nose tackles are early round picks.

by Radcolt on Feb 13, 2012 8:06 PM EST up reply actions

Minnifield has Tampa-2 talent, which means, he is slow

by Ty46 on Feb 12, 2012 6:25 AM EST up reply actions

i dont see any way

that our base d is going to be a 3-4

by omahacolt on Feb 11, 2012 7:22 PM EST reply actions

3-4

Like I said, I could be wrong but I don’t think that our personnel is that far off for making the switch. It’s gonna be real interesting.

by modern_day_warrior on Feb 11, 2012 7:29 PM EST up reply actions

our personnel

is very far off from making the switch.

by omahacolt on Feb 11, 2012 7:34 PM EST up reply actions

And so was Houston's

Last off-season

www.Coltsider.com
check out the new Colts blog!

by kmbryant09 on Feb 12, 2012 9:48 PM EST up reply actions

you think so?

i dont know man. they had some pieces in place. especially considering the type of 3-4 that wade phillips runs. his system doesnt require that wilfork type of nose.

hitting on watt was huge for them. as well as shoring up that secondary with manning and joeseph

by omahacolt on Feb 13, 2012 1:10 AM EST up reply actions

Isn't that why we got Pagano?

The guy is very knowledgable defensively and a great people person. He’ll understand his personnel better than any of us and adjust the defense that way. I’m not saying we’ll be top 10 next year, but Pagano will set the pieces to move in that direction.

We will probably experiment a bit next year

by DoItAlone on Feb 13, 2012 9:10 AM EST up reply actions

Yep

And I’d argue that the Colts have a few (very few) pieces in place. A great Safety, a great OLB (the 2nd most important position in a 3-4), and at least some prototype 3-4 DE’s on the roster.

My point being that it doesn’t necessarily take 3-5 years to re-do a defense. Coaching is huge. Getting away from the Tampa-2 will be huge. Hopefully they can plug 2-4 starters in the draft/free agency, and become a much improved defense.

I’m not expecting Baltimore’s defense from Day 1, but our defense has been horrible enough over the years, that the only direction we can go is up.

www.Coltsider.com
check out the new Colts blog!

by kmbryant09 on Feb 13, 2012 10:36 AM EST up reply actions

TrueBlue

I’ve not seen any publication that has Minnefield ranked any higher than 6th best CB available. Things change after the combine and he very likely could be gone by the top of the 3rd round but hey, I’m optomistic.

by modern_day_warrior on Feb 11, 2012 7:27 PM EST reply actions

Hope

I would like
D. Nevis – B. Thompson – J.Anderson.

J. Hughes K. Conner P. Angerer R. Mathis

J.Jenkins J.Powers

G. Iloka A. Bethea

by lopgar86 on Feb 11, 2012 7:34 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I think we will be playing alot of hybrid 3-4 similar to the Ravens

I would make these changes. Fili Moala at one DE spot and Jamaal Anderson (assuming he is resigned at the other DE). I think Freeney plays the Rush OLB and may move to the seaside DE on obvious passing downs. Nevis is a heck of a player, but I don’t know where he fits. I am going to go out on a limb, but I see Chris Rucker starting opposite of Powers over a rookie. I think he will get coached up by Pagano’s staff and he started to play better later in the year. I think we will try to pick up a cheap veteran NT to start and backed up by a rookie.

by Radcolt on Feb 11, 2012 9:59 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

meant Freeney as a weakside DE on passing downs, not seaside. :)

by Radcolt on Feb 11, 2012 10:02 PM EST up reply actions

I hope youre right about Rucker. For no real reason I really liked the pick, and I would like to see him succed.

by Booyah!Blue on Feb 12, 2012 5:46 PM EST up reply actions

*succeed

by Booyah!Blue on Feb 12, 2012 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

Agree. Very interesting situation with freeney and Nevis. How will they fit?!

by Nojan on Feb 11, 2012 11:14 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Nevis

I think Nevis can fit nicely at a DE in a 3-4. I really do.

by modern_day_warrior on Feb 12, 2012 12:37 AM EST up reply actions

i dont

he is short and has short arms. not exactly the prototypical 3-4 de

by omahacolt on Feb 12, 2012 12:49 AM EST up reply actions

I didn't say prototypical

I said I thought he could fit there. Is he Richard Seymour? No. IMo the overall philosiphy of the 3-4 is to get your best atheletes on the field. Nevis is one of those. So, you have to find a way to line him up with his hand on the ground, whether that be at DE or NT in certain situations. I don’t think that Pagano and Manusky, both 3-4 guys, are gonna come here and coach and not run some form of that defensive alignment.

by modern_day_warrior on Feb 12, 2012 11:34 AM EST up reply actions

i imagine they will

but some guys just wont fit if they try. nevis is probably one of those guys

by omahacolt on Feb 12, 2012 12:30 PM EST up reply actions

Yep. As athletic as freeney and Nevis are, they won't fit in 3-4 at all

Their game is more finess than power moves with a DE needs in 3-4. At least in the base defense. It doesn’t make sense to pay that much money for situational pass rushers!

by Nojan on Feb 12, 2012 2:23 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Also they are not tall enough

And… Freeney wants sack, not to hold the OT all game long!

by Nojan on Feb 12, 2012 2:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

time will tell

I stated in another post that Freeney may be the biggest question mark in a 3-4. But I think they can create some alignments to suit him. I compare Nevis to Glen Dorsey. He’s similar in size and made the switch to DE in a 3-4 just fine.

by modern_day_warrior on Feb 12, 2012 4:28 PM EST up reply actions

i wouldnt say dorsey is doing just fine

he is holding his own but i am sure they would like an upgrade there

by omahacolt on Feb 12, 2012 4:45 PM EST up reply actions

well put

Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible.
Escher, M.C.

by motrepip on Feb 12, 2012 11:12 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

horrible post

by PeytonTheManning on Feb 13, 2012 9:24 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

lol

by James Broschat on Feb 14, 2012 12:29 AM EST up reply actions

i love this new trend

say something stupid to me and you get recced

by omahacolt on Feb 14, 2012 7:58 PM EST up reply actions

Didn’t Pagano say we will be doing more of a hybrid 3-4/4-3?

by Booyah!Blue on Feb 12, 2012 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

A nice little explanation on the difference between a hybrid 3-4 and a standard 3-4

http://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2010/4/9/1412079/football-101-the-ravens-hybrid

I think the Colts will go with a 4-3 on obvious 3rd and long passing downs by putting all of their pass rushing DTs with Freeney and Mathis at DE just like last year.

by Radcolt on Feb 12, 2012 8:33 PM EST up reply actions