The Colts have had some good success selecting players from the University of Iowa, so even though this seems like a reach by the Colts, I'm optimistic that, based on his college production, LB Pat Angerer will turn out to be a stud, much like Dallas Clark and Bob Sanders.
It's pretty clear the Colts really value college production over professional expectations, and Angerer is no exception. Time to look at some numbers:
| Year | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | INTs | PBU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 107 | 6.5 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| 2009 | 145 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 258 | 11.5 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
Can you guess which years he was a starter? It's also pretty clear (like shake told us earlier) Angerer was asked to drop into pass coverage much more than he was asked to rush the passer. I could see a role for him where he'd come in on obvious passing downs, and play with Gary Brackett. He seems like a perfect fit for that role. Angerer's true test will be when he has to cover the top TEs in the league. He will have a great teacher in Brackett too, which is great for the Colts future.
The sheer number of tackles is also very impressive. In 2009, his tackles / game (11.2) ranked 4th nationally, and his Big Ten only numbers (12.8/game) was best in the conference. This is something that is absolutely required for a Colts LB, as I'm sick of seeing big RBs break tackle after tackle. His toughness will be a welcomed asset to the defense.
Angerer seems like the perfect plug-and-play LB for the Colts defense. While he played MLB at Iowa, and will fit in best there in the NFL, I think he could play either OLB spot in a pinch, and will play a critical role in the Passing game. For the 2nd pick in a row, the Colts addressed Stopping the Pass on defense. I like it.