Understanding the 2012 Colts draft.

by Peter Storgaard on Feb 7, 2012 3:12 PM EST

This have been a strange season for Colts fans. A very different season. Just to sum up:

-We didn't make the playoffs. We weren't even close. To be frank, we were crazy bad.

-We have been without our franchise QB all season, and a lot of people think we'll be without him forever.

Let us just assume that that is indeed the case. We are the worst team in the NFL and we have lost the face of our franchise for the last 13-14 seasons. That will probably lead to us drafting Luck, as he looks like the obvious replacement.

But what does all that mean to our draft strategy? Find the answer after the jump.

For the most of the last 10 seasons the Colts have been in win-now mode. And for just one reason: Peyton Manning.

Peyton is gone in this scenario, which means the win-now situation is over. Gone. Dead. And that should lead to us rethinking our draft strategy.

I have seen a lot of mock drafts, and just about every single one of them makes the same mistake. Going for position of need instead of value. That's a win-now way of thinking.

Sure, we shouldn't draft a second QB, but I don't see any problem in drafting TEs, WRs or RBs, if the value is there. We will probably be rebuilding for the next three seasons or so AT BEST, so we will have plenty of shots to fill out our most pressing needs. Reaching for a DT/NT, CB or S won't help us on the long run. Getting the best players available will.

Secondly, by drafting Luck we are signaling that we are giving the franchise to him. He is the most hyped rookie for a looooong time, and if we draft him, the pressure of that hype will follow him to Indy.

But we must remember that he is still a rookie. And just about every rookie struggles. That is just how it is. We can help him a lot, though, by putting him in the best possible situation. And that situation includes the best possible weapons - and the best possible o-line. So even though our biggest needs are on defense, going offense in the draft isn't the worst choice we could make. We should do everything possible to help Luck develop, and if that means using high draft picks on offense, I'll be okay with that.

All in all we should have to priorities: Getting the best players available - and helping out Luck. If we can do both, we should have a great draft. Regardless of needs. That is just my two cents on this year's draft.

Poll

What should the main focus of the 2012 Colts draft be?

Helping out Luck

42 votes

Fixing the defense

70 votes

Getting the best players available

80 votes

Other - please explain the comments

3 votes

195 votes | Poll has closed

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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Comments

Defense helps luck too.

I actually agree with your premise, best player available. But then it shifted to best player available on offense.

by mlc2656 on Feb 7, 2012 4:27 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Not necessarily

I want us to get the best player available. If those players happen to be offensive players, then hurray. If not, hurray as well.
I just think it would be great, if Luck could get off to a hot start. To lift some of the massive pressure from his young shoulders.

by Peter Storgaard on Feb 7, 2012 4:40 PM EST up reply actions

Good post..

But I’m gonna be pissed if the Colts let Manning get away and we have anything more than one down year. If Luck is as good as advertised (and he better fucking be) then I expect to be in the playoffs in 2013. I am way to old to go thru another late 70’s thru 90’s with this team.

by tim55 on Feb 7, 2012 5:07 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

TIM55

This is the best post so far!

by dave1251 on Feb 7, 2012 5:48 PM EST up reply actions

be prepared to be pissed

by BLOODontheTRACKS on Feb 7, 2012 6:04 PM EST up reply actions

That really is a foolish sentiment. The Colts will probably struggle next year and be middle of the pack. The reason is simple: they don’t have the talent level of many of the other AFC teams because of how GOOD they’ve been over the last decade. The Colts will probably miss the playoffs for 3 years or so while they get good talent from the early and middle rounds of the draft. That’s just how the NFL works.

by TrueBlue87 on Feb 7, 2012 8:09 PM EST up reply actions

not necessarily

Now I don’t think this team should be super bowl contending but they really should be in the playoff conversation again very soon if Luck is even close to adverstised. Deep playoff contenders might be a stretch but I expect them to be at least fighting for wild card spots again by 2013.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Feb 8, 2012 9:58 PM EST up reply actions

good post

i want a dominate defense. so thats what i voted for. i did that because best player available is just too easy of a pick

by omahacolt on Feb 7, 2012 7:56 PM EST reply actions

I'm a little more optomistic

In the NFL today teams can go from 6-10 to 12-4 in 1 year. 2-14 to 10-6 is unrealistic. But 8-8 is not, even with a rookie QB. In the AFC South we can be contending again in 2 years.

by modern_day_warrior on Feb 7, 2012 10:34 PM EST reply actions

I hope you are right.

My target is 2015, but if make it to the playoffs earlier, then hurray. The Texans look more than decent at the moment though.

by Peter Storgaard on Feb 8, 2012 9:29 AM EST up reply actions

There is no "perfect team" in the NFL today

U can’t have a dominant defense and the best offense in the NFL….See Green Bay….See New England….See Baltimore….See Giants.

The salary cap does not allow it. You have to take a philosiphy and run with it. Jim Irsay and Grigson seem to be on the track of loading up on defense and going for a more balanced attack on offense and the “stars” may be on the defensive side of the ball. Right now it’s hard to say. This draft and free agent off season may go a long way to answering those questions.

by modern_day_warrior on Feb 7, 2012 10:39 PM EST reply actions

Value picks, value picks, value picks.

Going for value over need will get you as close as possible to the “perfect team”. Reaching for players in the draft and overpaying veterans will get you further away from that.

A lot of it comes down to scheme and the key players though. The Peyton-era Colts could have/should have saved a lot of cap space on offense, since Peyton’s fast release puts less pressure on the O-line and Peyton’s overall skills continued to make mediocre receivers look like Pro Bowlers. We didn’t do that in all situations, but we did it to some extent.
But like any other rookie Peyton needed help at the start of his career, and he got that in 88, Edge etc.

We need the same thing with Luck. We need to put him in a situation, where he has some solid receivers and a good running game to remove some of the pressure. We don’t need Adrian Peterson and Calvin Johnson, but we need some solid players to help him out.

However, to me the primary target should be best player available.

by Peter Storgaard on Feb 8, 2012 9:28 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

trading down in later rounds ...

I sincerely hope that we take Luck with the #1 pick and in each subsequent round trade our pick to pick up 2 lower picks in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th rounds. We need talent infused into our new roster. With 3 or 4 extra picks we can address a lot of needs. IF that happened and it’s a BIG if. I could see us getting at least 2 OL, 2 DL (Nose Tackle and DE), SS, CB, and WR. I know it is a no-brainer we go QB with 1st pick, but this strategy in every other round could get us several new starters IF Grigson is as good with scouting as he is touted.

by actionjack853 on Feb 8, 2012 12:24 AM EST reply actions

You have to go for best value if they are not keeping Peyton

I’m still not 100 percent convinced that will be the case, but maybe it’s just cuz I have trouble letting go.

However, yes, go for the best value if Peytons’ gone. The only thing I would lean towards a little bit is OL/TE. I realize the line isn’t a huge concern but if you can strengthen your protection without reaching too much it’s worth it to protect a young QB.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Feb 8, 2012 10:02 PM EST reply actions

I think and maybe I shouldn't

be thinking, but we should help Luck with the early rounds 1,2,3. Build depth and maybe find a gem in the later rounds on the defensive side of the ball. Since we are changing to a 3-4 hybrid I believe we need to see what we have. See who can do what and play where etc… Add a few FA additions and draft with defense as our priority in the 2013 draft. This gives Luck a better chance to develope with better tools to include OL and WRs this year. Making our future more clearer.

"Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude."

by blue31 on Feb 9, 2012 8:53 PM EST reply actions