NFL Draft 2015: Colts Select ILB Amarlo Herrera With 205th Pick
By Evan Reller
With the 207th pick in the NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Amarlo Herrera, inside linebacker from Georgia.
The Colts made a quick return to defense just two picks after taking running back Josh Robinson. Herrera will give the Colts some much needed depth at inside linebacker. It also helps that he was incredibly productive in the SEC.
Herrera played in 54 games for the Bulldogs and was a tackling machine. He finished his career with 334 tackles, including 21 for a loss. He also had five forced fumbles and three interceptions. In his senior campaign, Herrera put together an impressive stat line featuring 115 tackles, 10 for a loss, and three sacks.
Herrera is an excellent run stopper who is at his best when he just has to come up and plug a hole on the line. He’s good at recognizing a play but can overreact to his first read, which gets him into trouble if he’s wrong. He has the build you want at the position at just under 6-1 and 244 pounds.
He isn’t very good in coverage and will likely just translate to a first and second down backer. Despite boasting a 4.83 40 time, he struggles to keep up with tight ends and ends up chasing them instead.
He is good in pursuit or tracking down the ball carrier, taking solid angles and showing a tremendous amount of effort. Herrera can be inconsistent when it comes to tackling.
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One play he will wrap up and take down the ball carrier and the next he’ll go too high allowing for a few extra yards or a broken tackle all together. He struggles with too much space as well and can be felled by a juke or hesitation move.
The Colts only have two linebackers on the roster of starting caliber that are currently healthy: D’Qwell Jackson and Jerrell Freeman. Nate Irving is still recovering from a knee injury suffered last season, but does have starting experience.
The Colts have just one pick left near the end of the seventh round.