I did a pre-draft assessment trying to identify team needs and how they would go about addressing them. Now I want to do a post-draft assessment of my pre-draft assessment, LOL.
Quarterback – Need: Low
Since they didn’t draft one, I have to assume I got that one right on the money.
Wide Receiver – Need: Low if Marvin can get back, moderate if he can’t.
I’ll take them drafting Pierre Garcon with the 4th pick in the 6th round as good news for Marvin. Not only did they pick him late, but he’s a project. He has good size and speed, they get him up to speed with his route running and adjusting to the ball, and he should be a keeper in a couple of years. I’ll take this one too.
Running Back – Need: I think moderate would be a bit of an understatement. Improving their 19th ranked run offense would be the easiest way to improve the overall offense. And the benefits of adding shelf life to Joe cannot be overstated.
I’m kinda right and wrong on this one. With waiting so long to pick Mike Hart, they obviously didn’t see it as much of a need as I did. But stealing him with the 3rd pick in the 6th round got the same result. As you may recall, I said a back in the mold of Addai would be perfect, I was just looking for a little more speed. How much closer can you get, since Joe was who they compared him to in his scouting report. Down and distance won’t determine who’s in, and they can run the ball more without wearing out either one. More speed would have been nice, but he's going to be a great addition.
Tight End – Need: With Utecht gone, the Colts need a blocking TE to give them the option of running two tight sets. Fletcher is more of a receiving TE and they have a couple of FA’s on the roster. If one of those guys can block well and catch some, the need is low. If they can’t, it’s at least moderate.
Looks like they replaced Utecht and Fletcher, so I’d say they saw it as a need, probably higher than I thought. Tamme can team with Dallas to give them a two tight set like they had with Pollard and Dilger, only better. They can teach Tamme how to block better. Santi is obviously the blocking TE to replace Utecht.
O-line – Need: Saturday will get a new contract after next year which leaves the O-line in pretty good shape, except for Gandy. He’s replacing Jake Scott and becomes a UFA after next year. They have 4 FA’s on the roster that potentially add depth. They need to develop a solid backup at tackle and have enough depth to carry 10 guys on their final roster. If they can’t get what they need from current backups/FA’s, then they have at least a moderate need to get guys in that they can develop. If Gandy leaves after next year, the need gets a bump.
Once again, they apparently saw it as a bigger need than I did. I thought it was their biggest need, but so many and so early? I’m not as confident that Jeff gets a new contract after next year. Not saying he doesn’t, but… Pollak has a chance to start at guard, Justice will also be developed at guard and both will develop at center. Between the two, Gandy is expendable after next season. I think they’re going to bulk up Richard and develop him as a guard and tackle. Howard Mudd will make all of them better, and they’ll be playing multiple positions on the O-line, you can count on that.
D-line – Need: In addition to these guys, they have 2 FA’s on the roster. I think if Johnson has another good season and stays out of trouble, he gets a contract. Dungy already said they’re leaving Dawson inside, plus with Pitcock, they’re good at Tackle. As long as Freeney is healthy, they’re good on the ends. He was the only one they couldn’t replace, but since Mathis and Brock were injured at the same time, I would have liked to see what those two could have done together. They’ll probably draft a guy to develop as a pass rusher, but then the question becomes who to cut. Since they only keep 9 D-linemen on the roster, they would have to cut both FA’s plus one of the guys I listed. Reid or Thomas after they’ve both just been signed? Charleston with 2 years left on his contract? In my opinion, the need is low.
With his speed, getting Marcus Howard in the latter part of the 5th is a good value. Polian said he looked like Mathis did in college. Hopefully he can add bulk without losing speed. Phillip Wheeler also played DE in college but indications are that he’s gonna be a LB. It could be argued that pass rusher was more than a low priority, but it wasn’t high enough to take one earlier.
Linebackers – Need: The rumor is that they’ll get Rob Morris back. That’s a good thing if they do, because he can play Mike or Sam. Brackett had a career year, and Keiaho, when healthy, was a beast at Will. Session looked pretty good in limited play and there are 4 FA’s on the roster. Still, with the way the Colts consider LB’s as disposable, and with all the injuries last season, I’d say the need is moderate or better.
Finally, a LB with good speed and decent size in Phillip Wheeler. I’d say he’s going to be a Sam because he’s got the size to back up Freeney on the run. Then again, he could become the Mike if Brackett leaves. He needs some work, but they have a whole season to work with him before contracts start coming up and LB’s start going away. I hope Brackett isn’t a cap casualty, but they’re not going to pay a LB big bucks. I still wouldn’t be surprised to see them bring back Morris. Since they only took one and I thought they’d take at least two, I overestimated the need.
Defensive Backs – Need: Somebody said Bethea becomes a RFA after next season and I didn’t check it out. He doesn’t become restricted until 2010. Some of these guys are on the roster as special teamers, but the Colts stocked up in last year’s draft. Although Hayden becomes restricted and Giordano becomes unrestricted after next seasonI think the need is low.
None drafted.
Kicker - Need: Some say he’s lost distance on his kickoffs, but he still kicks the ball further than Vanderjagt did, and the coverage still sucks. He had a bit of an off year with FG’s last season, but I want to see how he does this year before I push the panic button.Since they didn’t draft any, I’d say I was correct that the need was low.
None drafted.
Punter - Need: At the very worst, he’s better than mid-pack. And for no more than he has to punt the ball, why change?
None drafted.
Return Guy – Need: He was drafted to return kicks, and he tied for 25th among guys that had 20 or more returns last season. He had 31. He spends too much time doing the T.J. 2-step. Go north, young man!
Since they didn’t get one, and Dungy said they were happy with T. J. Rushing, I guess I missed this one. I’m going to remain stubborn on it though, LOL.
Overall, I’d say I did a pretty good job of needs assessment, I just stunk it up on how I thought they were going to address them. At first, I was a little disappointed with this draft. I figured since the existing team was in such good shape, Bill and Tony could take more of a trip through the candy shop. They didn't get anybody who's gonna light of the fantasy boards, but they solidified the depth of the team for at least the next couple of seasons. In retrospect, I see that as a much bigger accomplishment than what I was hoping for. I don't see a slide by the Colts anytime soon, so this draft is bad news for Jags fans.
