Stampede Blue: All Posts by Matt Grecco

2013 NFL Draft: Colts Undrafted Free Agents Round Out Draft Weekend

2013-04-27T23:58:49Z

Jeff Saturday, Gary Brackett, Arian Foster, Fred Jackson, Wes Welker, James Harrison, Antonio Gates. Just a few players that went undrafted that made (and some still make) significant contributions to their teams. Even after the seven rounds of drafting are complete, front offices around the league are just getting started for the evening. Tonight we'll see anywhere from 8 to 15 players signed by every team, finalizing rosters before mini-camps begin.

The Colts will assuredly be busy, most likely at both WR and CB, two positions they ignored during the draft. I'm sure they'll be looking at more Offensive and Defensive Line players as well. Some notable guys who were not drafted include WR ~~Da'Rick Rogers~~ (Bills), OLB ~~Chase Thomas~~ (Saints), OT ~~Xavier Nixon~~ (Redskins), and OG Alvin Bailey.

I'll be updating this list as we learn about the signings. Just leave them in the comments with a link and I'll add them to the list.

Lanear Sampson, WR - Baylor (via @NEPD_Loyko)
Daxton Swanson, CB - Sam Houston State (via his Twitter @DSwan7)
Dan Moore, FB - Montana (via @Colts_101)
Brandon McManus, K - Temple (via @Colts_101)
C.O. Prime, ILB - Wagner (via his teammate)
Michael Josifovski, K - Marian (via his Twitter @M_Josifovski) - Invited to Rookie Mini-Camp
Emmett Cleary, OT - Boston College (via Mike Chappell).
Nigel Malone, CB - Kansas State (via Dan Kadar)
Denodus O'Bryant, RB - Lindenwood (via his Twitter @Denodus)
Sheldon Price, CB - UCLA (via his HS Coach)
Jamal-Rashad Patterson, WR - Stanford (via his Twitter @JamalRashad_Pat)
Nick Driskell, S - Mount Union (via his father)
Rodrick Rumble, WR - Idaho St (via ISU's Twitter)
Jordan Bright, DL - Indiana St (via his Twitter @IAmMegetron513)
Jerome Cunningham, TE - Southern Connecticut St (via teammate's Twitter)

The Colts only have seven roster spots open (90 max), so some of these guys won't make it past the Colts Rookie camp on May 9.

2013 NFL Draft: Vikings Take Three Players Between 23 And 29; Smith, Te'o Still Available

2013-04-26T04:16:14Z

Bengals No. 21 pick - TE Tyler Eifert (Notre Dame)

The Bengals have lost two consecutive years to the Texans in the Wild Card Round, and it was mostly because they couldn't generate any Offense consistently. By adding a playmaker in Eifert, it'll help free up A.J. Green and TE Jermaine Gresham to generate more points.

Eifert can catch, run, and block, a complete TE. His 2012 numbers weren't good mostly because teams normally doubled him. Alabama had #9 overall pick Dee Milliner lined up on him in the BCS Title game. That's pretty high praise.

Falcons No. 22 pick (from WAS via STL) - CB Desmond Trufant (Washington)

We've seen over the years that when the Falcons like someone, they aren't afraid to give up picks to go get their guy, and they've seemingly done that with Trufant, who has two brothers already playing in the NFL (Marcus, Isaiah). The Falcons were incredibly thin at CB, having only Asante Samuel as a competent NFL CB. Trufant will start Week 1.

Vikings No. 23 pick - DT Sharrif Floyd (Florida)

In one of the more surprising developments of Round 1, Sharrif Floyd dropped all the way down to pick #23 to Minnesota, their first of what turned out to be three First Round picks. Floyd had widely been mocked to the Raiders at pick #3, and was passed over by several other DTs before taken by Leslie Frazier to play along side Kevin Williams and Jared Allen. It was clear in Floyd's post-selection interview he already has a chip on his shoulder about dropping that far, which is good for Minnesota fans.

Colts No. 24 pick - DE Bjoern Werner (FSU)

Addressed a big need for the Colts with the best guy available. Full post from me in the morning on Werner, but for now go read all about Werner in our other Stream.

Vikings No. 25 pick (from SEA) - CB Xavier Rhodes (FSU)

Getting more help on the Defensive side with a big, physical CB, something desperately needed in the NFC North, where both Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall call home. Rhodes will start immediately on the outside, and should be a very good pick, which they got from the Percy Harvin trade with Seattle.

Packers No. 26 pick - DE Datone Jones (UCLA)

I was not shy about how much I liked Jones, as I think he can play multiple positions on the Defensive Line, and will be difficult to handle one-on-one, which most teams will have to do when they also have to take care of Clay Matthews. Jones reminds me a lot of Justin Tuck, in that he can play both outside on running downs and inside on passing downs, making him quite valuable. Packers did really well.

Texans No. 27 pick - WR DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson)

Want to see something scary as a Colts fan? Go watch the 4th quarter of the Chick-Fil-A Bowl from this past season, then imagine one of the top 3 WR in the NFL lining up on the other side of Hopkins. Everyone knew the Texans would go WR here, and nobody helped the Colts out by reducing the choices Houston had (other than the Rams taking Tavon Austin, but he was never lasting this long). The Texans were very good last year, and they only got better today. Yikes.

Broncos No. 28 pick - DT Sylvester Williams (North Carolina)

For a team with few holes, the Broncos could take who they felt was the best player available, which was a DT that'll be able to play all three downs. It won't help their pass rush much (they lost Elvis Dumervil in the offseason), but he'll be a steady force in the middle for a team looking to win the Super Bowl now.

Vikings No. 29 pick (from NE) - WR Cordarrelle Patterson (Tennessee)

The Vikings gave up a slew of picks (their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 7th) to the Patriots to go get a playmaker who they thought wouldn't be around at this spot, making it three First Round picks. He'll be able to learn under newly acquired Greg Jennings, trying to fill the role that Percy Harvin had been playing. Patterson has a bit of a checkered past, but this is one of the best locker rooms in the NFL, and they'll keep him in line. It cost a bit, but I think a great decision by Minnesota.

Rams No. 30 pick (from ATL) - OLB Alec Ogletree (Georgia)

The Rams made two trades in Round 1, moving up to get Tavon Austin, and moving back to accumulate picks with the Redskins pick they got from last season, and they got an explosive LB that can get it done on the field, but has several issues off of it. Head Coach Jeff Fisher had no problem last season taking another guy with lots of off-the-field issues in Janoris Jenkins, who turned out to be an excellent player last season. Ogletree could end up being in the same boat. Have to trust the guy who's been doing it for 20+ years.

Cowboys No. 31 pick (from SF) - C Travis Frederick (Wisconsin)

They must really like Frederick, who gets a slight upgrade due to being from Wisconsin, because they probably could have easily gotten him in the next round. Centers don't often get chosen in Round 1, and the ones that are are usually pretty special, and I just don't see it with Frederick. It did extend the Big Ten's run of at least one player drafted in the First Round another year, which dates back to 1953. Not sure what the Cowboys are thinking here, but we'll find out.

Ravens No. 32 pick - S Matt Elam (Florida)

What does a team do that loses one of the best Safeties to ever play the game in Ed Reed? Go get another guy in the same mold, who loves to hit people (sometimes against NFL rules), but someone who they hope will patrol the defensive back end for years to come. The Super Bowl champs lost two long-time players, and it made sense to replace one of them with this pick, and they did just that. Elam is a perfect fit for this Defense.

Notable Players still available: QB Geno Smith, LB Manti Te'o, RB Eddie Lacey, WR Justin Hunter, OT Menelik Watson, DE/OLB Damontre Moore

2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Cornellius 'Tank' Carradine - OLB, Florida State

2013-03-29T15:00:13Z

Injuries can be a cruel reality for NFL Draft prospects, dropping them farther in the draft order than their talent and on-field performance warrants, which means less up-front cash. For the teams, however, the opposite is true: they can get a steal on a guy, betting on whether that player will make a full recovery and play like they did in college. This is especially true at the top of the draft, where Cornellius 'Tank' Carradine of Florida State finds himself.

Carradine had a fantastic senior season in 2012, one that started as the 3rd DE on the Seminole depth chart behind Bjoern Werner and Brandon Jenkins, but a foot injury to Jenkins opened the door for Carradine, and he never looked back. He had 80 tackles on the season, including 13 for a loss and eleven sacks in 12 starts. He was flying up draft boards with his cohort Werner, but in a bad case of irony Carradine himself suffered a season-ending ACL injury against Florida in their last regular season game (Nov. 24), tempering the high expectations for the April draft.

He started his college career at Butler Community College in Kansas after having some academic issues after signing on at Illinois, and he blew up the CC competition he faced (unsurprisingly). He had 26 sacks in his two seasons, including 16 as a sophomore, which meant every major football program was interested in the pass-rushing specialist. His first season at FSU was successful despite not starting a single game, accumulating 38 tackles with 5.5 sacks, which is pretty productive for a guy who played behind two other top-100 NFL draft picks.

Just as concerning as the rehab from his ACL injury is whether Carradine will be a "one-year wonder", with a good chunk of his production coming at a JUCO and only having one really good season. The guy looks like he could be an excellent pass rusher, likened to Julius Peppers or DeMarcus Ware, but whoever drafts him will be going way out on a limb given the injury and production risks. The further down the draft he goes the more the risk is mitigated, but unfortunately that does not help the Colts.

The Colts need a lot of help at OLB, having not addressed the position with a pass rusher through Free Agency, so we should expect at least one on draft weekend. The question becomes whether the Colts can afford to use pick #24 on a guy with one big year of production, and a guy who is coming off ACL surgery in November. It's one thing to lose a 4th round pick for an entire season (Josh Chapman), but to lose a coveted #1 pick could be really bad for a team looking to avoid the "sophomore slump". If it wasn't for the injury I think Carradine would be a definite possibility for the Colts at #24, and while I've seen mock drafts where he's gone higher than that, I don't think the Colts can afford to take that kind of risk right now, even if he is the best player on the board, based on talent and production. Should be interesting to watch where he ends up.

Scouting Profile from NFL.com:

Strengths

Carradine flashes explosion off the snap to challenge the lateral agility of right tackles, and can swipe them away with strong hands to slingshot into the pocket. He also plays with the leverage of a shorter player, brings a strong initial punch to bull lesser tackles off the ball, and simply shoves tight ends away like ragdolls in the run game.

Weaknesses

Though Carradine shows most all of the physical attributes teams covet in a defensive end, his lack of experience is a negative. And if he isn’t on the field for any extended period of time in 2012, it might be tough for scouts to give him a starter’s grade because they don’t know what his level of stamina against better competition.

NFL Comparison

Justin Tuck

CBS NFL Draft Scout Profile:

Strengths: Good-looking athlete with agile feet and very good closing speed. Natural bend and flexibility around the edge with smooth lateral quickness and redirection skills. Quick in pursuit to force the issue and has the athleticism to recover from a false step. Very good footwork to sidestep blockers to flatten and close on the pocket. Shows fluid movements and short-area burst, but also rangy.

Weaknesses: Still growing at the position and developing his pass rush moves. Didn't become a starter until his senior season with most of his playing experience coming at the JUCO level. Needs to continue adding strength and bulk to his frame, can be overpowered at times in the trenches.

Stats from Sports-Reference.com

Combine Measurements:

Height	Weight	40 Time	Bench	Broad Jump	Vertical	3 Cone Drill	20 Yd. Shuttle
6'4"	276	N/A	28	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Margus Hunt - DE, SMU

2013-03-28T14:00:13Z

The NFL doesn't have many foreign-born players, as the game wasn't really that popular overseas until the last decade or so, so young kids haven't grown up idolizing and trying to be like NFL players. Add in a lack of competition, and it makes it very difficult for a non-American to make a splash, unless they come to the States to play. One guy in this year's draft didn't come to the U.S. to play football, but may have turned himself into a first round draft pick. That guy is Margus Hunt from SMU.

Hunt, 25, is originally from Estonia, and he came to SMU in 2007 to train and participate on the Mustangs Track and Field team. Back in 2006 he won gold medals at the World Junior Track and Field Championships in both the shot put and discus, where he still holds the Junior world record. Talk about strength and body control. Unfortunately the SMU Track program could not be revived from the ashes (the program had been cut the previous year, and it was thought Hunt could bring money back to them), Hunt decided to join the football team. Nice career decision.

He mainly played special teams as a Freshman, but had an incredible impact, blocking seven kicks, which was one short of an NCAA record. I guess being quick and 6'8" has its advantages. He went on to block ten more kicks in his last three seasons, falling just two short of the NCAA record of 19 blocked kicks. As a special teams player, Hunt is off the charts. How well did he play on Defense? For his career he totaled 112 tackles, 28 for a loss, and 16.5 sacks, including 8 last season. He started each game of his sophomore and senior seasons, as well as two as a junior, making that 28 starts in 52 career games for a guy who had never played a down of football in his life before.

Hunt is obviously being labeled a "workout warrior", and it's clear, at least right now, he's way more of an athlete than he is a football player. He still has quite a bit of technique work to put in, and it showed in games for the Mustangs. His height will also be a detriment, as he'll have to learn to bend even more than most people, and he'll be susceptible to misses in the open field because of his length, and just needing fractions of a second longer to change directions. "Freak" athletes usually don't pan out in the NFL, although the last guy labeled that was Jason Pierre-Paul of the Giants, and he turned out to be one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL.

The Colts haven't addressed their need for pass rushers in Free Agency, which means they'll undoubtedly take somebody, preferably high in the draft. I've seen Hunt go as high as 15th overall, and some have him going in the 2nd round. It won't be a reach to see Hunt drafted at pick #24, but if we are to believe Colts GM Ryan Grigson, the Colts will take the Best Player Available, and I can't make an argument that Hunt will be the best player available at pick #24. If the Colts were to trade back into the 30s I think an argument can be made, but not at #24. Clearly Hunt looks like the classic "boom or bust" pick, but I don't think the Colts are in the position to use a coveted first around pick on a guy like that, at least not yet.

Scouting Profile from NFL.com:

Strengths

Tall, thick but athletic lineman with loads of potential. Much quicker than you’d expect off the snap given his size, and his long first step helps him pressure the outside shoulder of tackles when outside and win the gap at three-technique. Shows the ability to anchor from both the 3-tech and 5-tech spots. Has the speed to run the arm and beat tackles off the edge. Fast and strong hands stun his man, extends his arms to keep leverage. Uses his length very well to keep blockers off his body.

Weaknesses

Must be cognizant to play with bend due to his height, pops up off the snap and will stand upright during the play if tired, losing leverage. Agile for his size, but is still a linear athlete with questionable change of direction and flexibility. More mobile quarterbacks and quick running backs will elude him in the backfield.

NFL Comparison

Calais Campbell

CBS NFL Draft Scout:

STRENGTHS: Certainly looks the part. Possesses a long, tapered build with room for additional muscle mass. Boasts a surprisingly quick first step and gains ground efficiently due to his long strides. Closes quickly on the ballcarrier due and can provide a thump on arrival. Naturally powerful defender who can simply bull-rush his opponent deep into the pocket.

WEAKNESSES: Highly inconsistent. Has a tendency to make a splashy play and then disappear for long periods of the game. Struggles with pad level and can get blown off the ball against the run because he loses the leverage battle. Like a lot of taller defensive ends, Hunt is stiff in his upper body and he struggles to re-direct when attempting to break down and tackle agile ball-carriers.

COMPARES TO: Corey Wootton, DE, Chicago Bears -- Wootton was a productive player at Northwestern who slid on draft day due to injury concerns. Optimistic talent evaluators preached patience as Wootton had shown the length, power and surprising speed to be successful once he acclimated to the NFL and healed sufficiently. While the concern with Hunt lies with his relative inexperience and inconsistency, the team that gambles on Hunt could be similarly rewarded with a future standout.

Stats from Sports-Reference.com

Combine Measurements:

Height	Weight	40 Time	Bench	Broad Jump	Vertical	3 Cone Drill	20 Yd. Shuttle
6'8"	277	4.60	38	10'1"	34.5"	7.07	4.51

2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jawan Jamison - RB, Rutgers

2013-03-26T15:25:17Z

We all know that the longer Running Backs stay in college, the more wear and tear they have on them, making them less valuable at the NFL level. Every carry, every hit a RB takes just shortens his career, which is a harsh reality for an important position. On occasion we see a player, mostly at RB, leave with two years of college eligibility left (redshirt junior), and you can blame the kid for doing it. It's exactly what Jawan Jamison from Rutgers did.

Jamison started both years while playing for the Scarlet Knights, rushing 486 times for 1976 yards (4.1 avg) in those two years, including 13 touchdowns. He also caught 36 passes out of the backfield (28 last season), making him a duel threat, much like another guy from Rutgers that won the Super Bowl for the Ravens last season, Ray Rice. Not to be outdone, he also threw a TD pass against Army. He was named second team All-Big East last season. Even though he only played two seasons, he had plenty of opportunities to show off his talent.

He is a bit undersized (5'7", 203 lbs), which means he has little chance to be an every down back, but there aren't many of those left in the NFL anyway. He can make guys miss in the open field, but he'll have to run behind an Offensive Line that can create holes for him, as he isn't the bruising type of RB. A key for Jamison will be whether he can pass protect, as being a potential third down back means he'll have to block a blitzer on several occasions throughout a game. If he can learn to pass protect well, he'll have a spot in the league.

Jamison is being projected in the 4th or 5th round, which was a good spot for a RB for the Colts a season ago (Vick Ballard). There's a good chance the Colts will be looking in that range once again this season, and Jamison would be a nice complement to Ballard, assuming he can pass block. He was a productive back at Rutgers, can catch the ball, and while being undersized, could play a key role on third downs, and potentially returning kicks. Don't be surprised if we hear Jamison's name being called by the Colts.

CBS NFL Draft Scout Profile:

STRENGTHS: Versatile back who can provide production as a runner between the tackles and as a receiver out of the backfield. Elusive runner who isn't afraid of contact.

WEAKNESSES: While he has a tough mentality when running with the ball, Jamison is still undersized at 5-8, 200 pounds and likely lacks the bulk to be an every-down back in the NFL.

COMPARES TO: Ray Rice, RB, Ravens -- Jamison has a build -- and game -- similar to his fellow former Rutgers star, demonstrating the elusiveness expected of a back his size and the hard-running mentality of one much bigger.

Stats from Sports-Reference.com

Combine Measurements:

Height	Weight	40 Time	Bench	Broad Jump	Vertical	3 Cone Drill	20 Yd. Shuttle
5'7"	203	4.68	20	9'2"	29"	N/A	N/A

2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Adrian Bushell - CB, Louisville

2013-03-21T19:50:38Z

Most people enter the college football world expecting to be there four (or sometimes five) years, leave having their best year as a Senior, then being drafted by an NFL team. Every so often, though, guys either don't fit in, don't get along with coaches, etc., and they transfer somewhere where they'll either get more playing time, or they will at least enjoy themselves. I think both happened with Louisville CB Adrian Bushell.

Bushell started his career at Florida where he spent two seasons, but only played as a Redshirt Freshman, playing in all 14 games for the Gators, but the following spring several issues arouse both off the field (academics), as well as not getting along with the coaching staff (rumored to have walked out of meetings, refused to participate in practices, etc). It was obviously a bad situation with both sides to blame.

He transferred to Cedar Valley Community College (near his home), where he played all over the field (11 tackles, 2 interceptions, 69 yards rushing, 29 yards receiving, and six kickoff returns. His one year away from big-time college football helped him get some things straight, and he followed his former Defensive Coordinator Charlie Strong to Louisville, where he'd just been named the Head Coach. Bushell clearly liked the new school, as he was named First Team All-Big East each of his two seasons with the Cardinals, totaling 111 tackles, intercepting two passes, averaged about 24 yards per kickoff return, and blocked two kicks and a punt. Clearly something clicked for him.

Bushell isn't very big, so he'll most likely line up on the inside, especially to start his career. His vertical (33") isn't anything to write home about, which is why he's being projected in the 6th round. His greatest contributions will come on special teams, where he obviously had much success both returning and covering, and would be an instant upgrade for what the Colts are going to do. On the surface I wouldn't think the Colts would look specifically for a Special Teams only player, but they've made mention of looking to improve special teams play, so what better way than a low round pick that could help on the Defensive side, even if in a limited capacity. They'll have to look into the behavior issues before taking him, but if he checks out, not a bad choice.

Scouting Profile from NFL.com:

Strengths

Confident outside cornerback with good length. Good short-area quickness to adjust to receiver moves off the line, stay with them on double moves, and avoid their blocks in the run game. Gives good effort as a tackler, fights through stiff-arms from larger receivers to drag them down and will shove ballcarriers out of bounds—not simply escort them. Solid in run support, rips off blocks outside and will crash inside when uncovered; also effective cutting down backs in space with his shoulder.

Weaknesses

Possesses only adequate size to play man-up against more physical receivers, who can also carry him for a few yards after contact if he isn’t the aggressor. Needs work using his hands at the line of scrimmage to knock receivers off their route; better receivers use theirs to get inside or outside position.

NFL Comparison

Tramon Williams

CBS NFL Draft Scout Profile:

Strengths: Natural footwork and looks fluid in space with smooth hip action to quickly redirect his momentum. Good speed to stick with receivers up and down the field, staying in their hip pocket. Heady player and good feel in coverage. Good route anticipation and recognition, displaying good eye use to bait-and-drive on throws. Nice job avoiding blocks and throwing his body around in run support.

Weaknesses: Average size with a narrow frame and limited bulk. Needs to stay disciplined in his backpedal and doesn't always play with proper technique, tending to freelance a lot. Bites hard on fakes and doesn't always play assignment sound as his aggressiveness will get him in trouble at times.

Combine Measurements:

Height	Weight	40 Time	Bench	Broad Jump	Vertical	3 Cone Drill	20 Yd. Shuttle
5'9"	186	4.58	17	9'8"	33"	6.92	4.25

2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Brian Schwenke - C, California

2013-03-19T19:59:04Z

There are times when you look at a guy, and you can guess how quick they, how strong they are, etc., just by glancing quickly at them, and you'll be right about 85% of the time. For example, if I were to go play in a pickup basketball game, I wouldn't be one of the first few selected, and they'd find out during the game that their presuppositions would be correct: I'm slow and can rebound a little, but that's about it. If you glanced at Brian Schwenke though, you'd be dead wrong on your assumptions.

Schwenke played in 48 of Cal's 50 possible games during his career, starting in 36 games. His first three years he was a Guard exclusively, and played it really well. Over the spring, however, he made the switch to Center, and played it even better. He was named to the First Team All-Pac 12 by the league's coaches. All told he made 16 starts at Left Guard, 12 games at Center, and 8 at Right Guard, so he easily can play any position on the interior of the Offensive Line.

By far the most fascinating thing about Schwenke is his deceptive speed and quickness, something you'd never guess by just looking at him. He ran a 4.99 40 at the Combine, flying for an OL. He also ran the 3 Cone Drill in 7.31 seconds, tied for the 2nd fastest by any OL. When you look at him, he gives no indication of this sneaky quickness, but he's extremely light on his feet. Just think if he could improve his physique...

Schwenke wouldn't be automatically given a job on the Colts Interior OL, but I think he'd earn a spot at either Guard or Center over one of the guys that's currently there. He's being projected in the 3rd Round, a pick the Colts could go in any number of directions. I think the Colts should get a pass rusher with one of their first two picks, so a G/C might not be feasible at this spot, but the fact that Schwenke has played both positions so well, I'd certainly be ok with a guy like Schwenke.

Scouting Profile from NFL.com:

Strengths

Extremely quick off the snap, gets his hands on his target very quickly. Quick to provide assistance on a double team, and aware of who needs help. Plays with a good, low pad level. Constantly wins the leverage battle. Gets his hands inside of the chest plate of defenders.

Weaknesses

Not an impressive body type. Needs to do a better job of being able to sit back into his blocks in pass protection. Lacks great power. Shotgun snaps are often placed low.

NFL Comparison

David Bass

CBS NFL Draft Scout Profile:

STRENGTHS: Possesses a compact build well-suited to interior line play. Has a naturally low center of gravity and uses it, along with a wide base and excellent use of leverage to anchor against bigger, more powerful bull-rushers. Possesses an exceptional initial burst off the snap to turn and seal off defenders. Quick, active hands and shows an explosive pop on contact.

WEAKNESSES: Has only one season at center. Struggled at times with low shotgun snaps in 2012 (Ohio State). While possessing very good quickness to the second level, shows only average change-of-direction and awareness in re-directing to make effective downfield blocks. Must improve in his sustaining of downfield blocks.

COMPARES TO: Max Unger, C, Seattle Seahawks -- Like the former Oregon Duck standout, Schwenke's value lies not only his versatility but in his short-area quickness, reliability and smarts.

Combine Measurements:

Height	Weight	40 Time	Bench	Broad Jump	Vertical	3 Cone Drill	20 Yd. Shuttle
6'3"	314	4.99	31	9'0"	26.5"	7.31	4.74

Colts Sign Former Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck

2013-03-19T14:41:38Z

The Colts have now made official what everyone was reporting last night, that former Titans and Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck has been signed to play backup QB to Andrew Luck. There are few details at this time, but speculation last night was the deal would be for two years, $8 Million (from Bob Kravitz). A bit steep, but the Colts have been pretty generous this offseason already, so why stop now?

Hasselbeck became available earlier Tuesday when the Titans released him after signing former Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to a two year deal, presumably to compete with Jack Locker. Hasselbeck was due to make over $5 Million in Tennessee this coming year, making it the obvious move to cut him loose, and the Colts swooped in and grabbed what owner Jim Irsay called an "Insurance Policy", which is exactly what it is. To be honest, though, if Hasselbeck has to play for an extended amount of time, it isn't going to be good for the Colts.

The best part of this deal, which I do like, is that Luck will be able to run ideas by him, and Hasselbeck will be able to share his fourteen years of experience with him (although I hope it isn't about scoring on the first possession of Overtime). He'll be able to go over Defenses, describe tendencies of certain Defenses (playing for the Titans last year means he saw almost the exact same Defenses Luck saw in Indy), etc. It's a win-win, but let's hope that Hasselbeck never has to see a snap. That'll mean good things for the Colts.

I see lots of talk about how this is the Colts learning their lesson from 2011, but without 2011, there's no Andrew Luck (although, to be fair, there'd be Peyton Manning), and there'd be no Chuck Pagano, no Ryan Grigson, etc. Sometimes things work out for a reason. Nobody should confuse this move with the Colts looking to win games if a catastrophic injury befalls Andrew Luck. In some ways, it's better to take your lumps, get a better draft pick, and come back firing the next season. Hasselbeck will help mostly with the mental aspect of playing QB, which I'm perfectly fine with. If he had to play it, though, it's still bad news for the Colts.

What do you think about the new backup QB?

Poll

What do you think of the Colts signing Matt Hasselbeck to backup Andrew Luck?

Great signing. He'll be a great help to Luck and the Colts.

316 votes

Good signing, although it's for too much money.

224 votes

Good signing, as Hasselbeck can still win games if Luck gets hurt.

150 votes

Bad signing. Way too much money for a guy holding a clipboard.

93 votes

Bad signing. Hasselbeck is not a good QB.

18 votes

801 votes | Poll has closed