I am not a professional sports general manager. Nor am I a coach or even a player (although I did have 3 1/2 week stint with the Indoor Pro team the Portland Prowlers). What I’m getting at here is that I have no expertise which would qualify as someone who would know better than the Colts brain trust when it comes to who to draft and who not to.
What I am is a fan and student of the game that has an outlet like this to express his opinions and concerns. I may not be a professional player, coach, or GM but I have played and watched this game for more than 25 years- I’ve learned a few things.
I agree with the first pick; at that time Jerry Hughes was the best player available. He will also fill a need if the Colts do not resign Robert Mathis or as a third lineman even if they do. However, I got to wonder what they were doing after that.
Of all the picks from the second round on, each one was considered a prospect that could have picked up in a latter round or even free agency. The only player they picked up that was even projected to go in the draft was Kavell Connor whom they got in the 7th (and was projected to be a 5th rounder).
What about the need for offensive linemen? The team had talked about beefing up te defense and it certainly drafted a lot of defense, but the offensive line is what has been holding the club back. Now they have made a few free agency pickups this offseason, but would it have not made sense to try and draft some young talent that could start for years to come? The Colts did pick up one lineman- Jacques McClendon from Tennessee (who was rated as a likely free agent pick up). In the round that he was taken there were three other guards drafted after him that are all better rated (Mitch Petrus, Chris DeGeare, and Marshall Newhouse).
Polian and company have one heck of a track record so I’m going to do what most of you have probably already done and have faith that the guy knows what he is doing. However, I will also be amongst the many ready to say ‘I tod you so’ when the defense performs about the same as always and the offens can’t run because they still don’t have linemen that can run block.