With the 31st Pick in the 2010 Stampede Blue Community Mock Draft, the Indianapolis Colts select...

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Devin McCourty, CB - Rutgers

Pick made by me, so no blue boxes:

While CB may not seem like a glaring need, I've been beating the drum (along with BBS and shake) that in today's NFL, you have to do two things to win:

• Pass the ball
• Stop the Pass

The Colts clearly get this, as they are consistently ranked in the top 10 in ANPY/A year after year. This means a first round pick should address these main issues. Offensively, the Colts need a LT, but there are none available with the right value for #31. Anthony Davis nearly fell in my lap, but was snatched up before I could pull the trigger. If Davis would happen to fall past the Packers, I definitely see the Colts jumping over other teams who might take a T and snatching up Davis. However, for this draft, that wasn't possible.

The other guy who should be seriously considered here would be Brian Price, DT from UCLA. I think with trading up and taking Moala, and then not having him contribute significantly last year, will make Polian hesitate in taking Price here. He's been able to find adequate DTs later in the draft, so there is no sense taking a guy in the first round when you can get some value later on. Take a look at DTs drafted in the first 4 rounds by Polian's Colts:

• Josh Williams - 2000 - 4th Round
• Larry Tripplett - 2002 - 2nd Round
• Quinn Pitcock - 2007 - 3rd Round
• Fili Moala - 2009 - 2nd Round
• Terrence Taylor - 2009 - 4th Round

Tripplett started 30 games over 4 years for the Colts, and Josh Williams played off and on for 6 years, but this isn't shouting that DTs will be drafted high in the draft. Polian has much better success with other positions higher in the draft.

Which brings me to Devin McCourty. 5'11", 190, which might be a little small, but will fit in well with the Colts. He was terrific in run support, and plays the short zone well, making him the perfect Nickel CB, taking over for Marlin Jackson. He can play some man-to-man as well, which Coyer has thrown in more than under Meeks. He was also a Special Teams Ace, which is great news. He'll be able to help the team in some crucial areas.

How will he impact the 2010 Colts?

McCourty would be the Week 1 starter at Nickel, with Jacob Lacey moving to the Dime CB. You can never have too many Corners in this league, and the competition will only make them all better. He'll also at least return Punts, and could return Kicks as well if he can beat out Chad Simpson. I'm sure he'll also play Gunner on Punt Returns, something he did quite well at Rutgers.

If McCourty is taken #31 by the Colts, he would be the 1st CB taken in the first round by the Colts since 2005, when they selected Marlin Jackson #29 overall. He would also be the first CB from Rutgers taken in the 1st round, and only the 3rd Rutgers player taken in the first round: Kenny Britt, and Anthony Davis earlier in this draft.

McCourty's Scouting Report from Mocking the Draft

shake's WTHWTD profile on McCourty

The Saints, and palco, are on the clock...