2012 Colts Draft Preview

            It has been a mind-numbing period since the Peyton Manning departure in March. Once that decision was made by the Colts’ front-office, there was nearly a constant stream of Colts players leaving the organization. Name after name, for almost a week, of players that were released sent fans into frenzy. All of a sudden, the team we had grown to know and love for the past decade was almost unrecognizable. More importantly, all of our jerseys were suddenly outdated.

Here is the list of players that were released since the end of the 2011 season:

Peyton Manning (QB), Dan Orlovsky (QB), Curtis Painter (QB), Joseph Addai (RB), Pierre Garcon (WR), Anthony Gonzalez (WR), Blair White (WR), Dallas Clark (TE), Jacob Tamme (TE), Ryan Diem (OT), Jeff Saturday (C), Mike Pollack (OG), Jamaal Anderson (DE), Eric Foster (DT), Ernie Sims (LB), Gary Brackett (LB), Jacob Lacey (CB), Melvin Bullitt (SS)

            
            When was the last time a team went through such an overhaul just a year after making the playoffs? All those guys were key in the Colts winning games and winning the AFC South in 2010. Now they will join other teams.

Am I surprised to see any of these players getting cut? No. Am I happy to see them gone? Yes, actually I am (sans Peyton Manning). Addai has never, and will never, be an elite running back. Garcon was quick but he never had consistency in catching the ball. Gonzalez could be great but he was always injured. White was ok but he can be replaced easily. Diem was good but aging. Tamme was good but can be replaced. Saturday, Clark, and Brackett are guys that I will miss. They were great leaders, on and off the field. Not only do you have to find replacements that have the same talent as them, but also the same character. That will be a challenge.

The new Indianapolis Colts era begins tonight at the 2012 NFL Draft. All winter long, we went through the “Andrew Luck vs. Robert Griffin” contest, even though we all knew Luck would be the first pick. Well, as it turns out, Luck will be the first pick. The new Colts’ General Manager, Ryan Grigson, announced earlier this week that the Indianapolis Colts will select the Stanford quarterback with the number one overall pick.

For those that have been living under a rock for the last year, Luck has been hyped as the greatest college quarterback since Peyton Manning. He’s actually been more hyped than that, because everybody thought Peyton was the second-best quarterback in his 1998 draft class. How fitting, or ironic, is it then, that the team that picked Peyton is also the team that will pick Luck? Luck is a 6’-4”, 235 lb., and 23 year-old graduate of Stanford University. In his three years of playing as the starting quarterback, Luck amassed 9,430 yards, 82 touchdowns, and just 22 interceptions. Luck never put up gaudy numbers like Cam Newton or Robert Griffin III, but it’s the way he plays that has NFL scouts drooling. While at Stanford, the offensive system he was a part of was very similar to the type he will run in Indianapolis. Luck isn’t a guy that runs around the field looking to make plays with his feet. He drops back, scans the field, waits for receivers to get open, and then launches the ball downfield. He makes plays with his arms and brain. His play resembles that of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Eli Manning.

I was never overly impressed with Luck when I watched his games. However, I believe, with the right people around him, he can win a Super Bowl with the Colts. How can he not succeed? He already has the arm strength of many passers in the NFL and has a desire to be one of the best quarterbacks ever. 
            Other needs for the Colts are running back, tight end, linebacker, cornerback, and safety. It also wouldn’t hurt to pick up an offensive linemen or defensive linemen. In other words, every position is a need. We have 10 picks in this draft and it will be vital that they are used on quality players that will remain on the team while we rebuild. There isn’t much room for error for picks to be used on guys that may or not be huge superstars.

Many projections have the Colts selecting Stanford tight end, Coby Fleener, with the 34^th pick. That would be a great pickup because Luck would definitely be comfortable throwing to his former teammate. Fleener is also big enough to offer extra protection on the offensive line. Not to mention, great tight ends are hard to find.

Another key position where the Colts have to improve is at running back. Addai had a couple of good seasons but has never been the kind of running back that made defenses worry about somebody other than Peyton Manning. A talented running back could take a lot of pressure off of Luck. It’s unfortunate the Colts won’t be able to get Alabama running back, Trent Richardson, because he is going to be a future Pro Bowler.

On defense, there are holes to fill everywhere, especially at linebacker. New head coach, Chuck Pagano, is instituting a 3-4 defense, rather than a traditional 4-3 defense. This means there will be three defensive linemen and four linebackers (this is the system the Ravens and Steelers use) on the field. The Colts currently have 12 linebackers and 7 defensive linemen on the roster. Six of those 12 linebackers are actually defensive ends, including Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis! I don’t if those two will end up playing at that position during the season, but that would be incredible to watch. The current defensive linemen are pretty good and a draft pick shouldn’t be wasted on that position. The real room for improvement is on the linebacker unit. We need to acquire actual outside linebackers and quality middle linebackers. Fortunately for us, there is a plethora of linebackers that have a lot of potential in this year’s draft.

The first round of the 2012 Draft is on tonight. The second and third rounds are tomorrow night. The final four rounds will be Saturday. Every round will be aired on ESPN. Expect more coverage than any normal human being actually needs.