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Fortunately, Bill Polian might have found a successor in Anthony Gonzalez, a guy who seems to have that special something that makes players great. His sideline ballet dance for a TD in the playoffs against San Diego was a big time big play, and special players make special plays on special days. But even with Gonzalez, the Colts need to replenish their WR corps. I will profile a few receivers (most of them late round guys) in the 2008 draft that could help, starting with a prospect who played his college ball just down I-65: Louisville's Harry Douglas.
When the Colts look at WRs, the typically do not emphasize the all misleading attribute known as "size." Seriously people, Wes Welker lead the league in receptions, and the guy is shorter than my mother. Marvin Harrison is listed at 6', but I've seen him up close. He ain't 6'. What the Colts look for are guys who A) Run great routes, and B)Catch the friggin' football. I'm paraphrasing here, but I recall once a radio interview with Bill Polian talking about drafting receivers. He said (and again, I'm paraphrasing) that he tells his scouts he doesn't want to hear about some guy who runs the 40 at such and such speed, or how tall a guy is. The Colts have the best QB in football, maybe ever. It's stupid not to draft someone who can't catch the ball, because you know Peyton will get it there on time.
That said, a guy like Harry Douglas would fit Indy's system, and unlike Gonzo (who is better flanked out rather than in the slot) Douglas would excel as a slot receiver in Tom Moore's "Check with Me" offense. Douglas is not a tall player, listed only at 5'11. He does, however, do the things the Colts look for:
Douglas was invited to the Combine, and impressed scouts:
When the passes weren't that great, Douglas did a fine job of adjusting. He used his lean frame on a 10-yard out as the quarterback nearly threw the ball over Douglas' head. He did a great job of using his entire body to reach up, get the pass and stay inbounds. He also adjusted well to an underthrown pass on a streak route. And, he made a fingertip catch on the sideline on a two-move route when Colt Brennan led him a little too far.
Overall, I was impressed. He catches the football fundamentally well, has good speed and quickness and controls his body well when he has to make the more spectacular catches. If you're looking for negatives, he may not accelerate as quickly off the line as other receivers and his cuts could be sharper.
Douglas is predicted to go in the late 4th or 5th round, and from what I've read he offers a lot as a potential slot option in the Colts offense.