Don't forget James Harrison.

800 yards from a 1st round WR is a waste of a pick. Those guys have to be true difference makers.

I could be wrong, but Dorsett is not one of those guys unfortunately.

A good slot receiver......maybe???

I've stuck my flag squarely in the "Dorsett sucks, regardless the coaching" camp. We'll see if I'm wrong, but all I've seen is a guy who can stretch a defense.

I agree, I know some were ok with that pick... However, I fired Grigson right after that pick in my mind. :cool:

Let's see, Dorsett is on the verge of being a bust, and Collins is an All-Pro, I think the defense would be light years better, not to mention that had the Colts drafted Collins they probably would not have drafted Green!!

One Safety is not going to make this D "Light years" better.

I'm not going to disagree. To this point Dorsett has sucked. But at the same time I believe that he's not being used properly.

How many times has been thrown a slant?

How many times has he been thrown a bubble screen?

How many times has he been thrown a crossing pattern?

None of the passes I mentioned above are difficult route concepts, even for a college WR. So, it's not that Dorsett can't run the routes.

I don't know what it is, but since Arians left, Pep and Chud have basically made defense only have to defend the middle to the deep portions of the field vertically.

I don't know if it's Luck's preference or a Pagano thing. But you just can't win in this day and age without making the defense defend the whole field.

You can't be saying that with a straight face

Huh? You really think 1 player let alone a Saftey would makes this D somehow good last season? the lack of pass rush and terrible LB play would not be made up for by even a Bob Sanders.

With the additions in FA our division rivals made I'd expect us to draft O line in the1st to secure that unit vs the tough D lines the will play 6 times

Foster/Cunningham/Davis in the 1st and then Williams/Lawson/Barnett in the 2nd.

Remake our LB corps and then start on the rest.

Cunningham is widely viewed as a 2nd round pick. Reddick/Cunningham sounds like a great first two rounds, though.

That's what I had previously thought, but he seems to be rising up the boards lately. PFF has him as their #2, behind only Foster and as a Day One guy:

https://www.profootballfocus.com/dra...m_campaign=nfl

I'd love Reddick/Cunningham too, but I think the reality is that it's likely that all of Davis/Cunningham/Foster will be gone by the time we choose at 2/15. With that, I think the need to go ILB in the 1st is that much more pressing since I'm not high on Raekwon McMillian. I'd be fine with trading back in the 1st, if you don't see Davis/Cunningham as being worth #15 overall, but I do think we should ensure we come away with ILB on day one.

There are too many times that he doesn't separate from a LB. That's egregious for a WR of his supposed skill-set.

I don't recall that happening once

Me either.

Meh. Don't have a pass to archived games. Feel free to ignore it now, but try to watch for it in 2017.

More and more, I'm really thinking that we should look to trade back in the 1st round.

Feel free to play around with the numbers, but the bottom line is, at #15, the value for that pick would be trading it for #25 and #57 (no we won't be getting those particular picks, Houston has them, but you get the idea, play around with the numbers) which I would do in a heartbeat. There's going to be plenty of value in the 1st/2nd round it appears, so getting more picks is the way to go, particularly when you consider the complete talent depletion that we have, we seem very primed to do so.

This is of course all contingent on how the board plays out. If Reuben Foster drops unexpectedly, then by all means, stay put.

Edited to add, here's the NFL Draft value chart:

http://www.drafttek.com/NFL-Trade-Value-Chart.asp

I am certainly not opposed to that idea if the right deal is there. We need so many pieces.

I think the best bet would be if Trubisky and Watson are off the board and a team wants to make sure they get their QB (Mahomes? Kizer?) at 15.

I really like Reddick, but feel that he is far more suited to play in a 4-3 defensive scheme, as he is a bit too light to handle the outside duties in a 3-4. I don't want to be drafting guys who 'might' fit our scheme, i want guys who have already proven that they fit at the position we will be using them in. Not projects moving from college DE to a 3-4 OLB role.

It's the same with Anthony Walker from Northwestern....i think that he is going to end up being a tremendous MLB in a 4-3, but he needs to be covered up by the defensive line and free to make plays......and is not strong enough to be the same player in a 3-4.

Hassan Reddick 6'1 237

Robert Mathis 6'2 245
James Harrison 6'0 242
Clay Matthews 6'3 245

Can we just pin this for when people say that Reddick is too light to play EDGE?

My bad guys, I forgot to add the NFL Draft Value Chart, here it is below as well:

http://www.drafttek.com/NFL-Trade-Value-Chart.asp

He could come to Pucks next cookout and be 250 with no problem ... :cool:

I hesitate about James Harrison because he is stout and pretty thick and can hold that edge.

His problem was length.

Pass rushing is one thing, but holding your own against a tackle in the run game is another.

And don't forget Collins sucked his rookie yr. And would've continued to suck here because we have no one that could have coached him up

Can we also add that teams regularly draft players and have them add 10-15 pounds of good weight through their offseason strength and conditioning program?

All of these examples of undersized players at the position are of exceptional players.

That doesn't make me feel better, it makes me apprehensive.

Is the tape so great that Reddick looks like a future HOF/All Pro player at the position? I liked his tape but I don't come away feeling that way.

To me he looks like a guy in the right system, with the right coaching, playing his best position and with the right weight and conditioning program, could become a great one.

But that's a lot of if's.

Reddick and Jabril Peppers are kind of wildcards, I love their talent and motors...but dowe have the staff to take them to the next level?

1) Reddick looked like an impact player on all the tape I watched of him. He also didn't seem weak in any area while being used all over the field. He stuck with WRs (albeit collegiate ones) in coverage, typically played his assignments well, showed a great talent for bending the edge, and displayed some pass rush moves that could improve, but weren't completely undeveloped. No one's tape is of a future HOF/All-Pro until they get into the league and prove it, but if you go back and look at the ones who did get there, you'll probably see a lot of tape like what I described above.

2) The point is that his size is not something that eliminates his ability to play 3-4 OLB. Of course people are going to point out the best examples, but that doesn't mean other examples don't exist. Sure, the "prototypical" 3-4 OLB is 6'4" 260, but if you look around the league, a lot of teams that run a 3-4 have OLBs that are closer to 6'2" 250.

The draft is a crapshoot. You could say there are "if"s about just about any player, even Myles Garrett. Typically the player that has the least "if"s about him goes 1.1.

Look back to the UKColt post I originally responded to. Due to Reddick's size, UKColt ruled out Reddick as a 3-4 EDGE.

All I did was invalidate the assumption that someone Reddick's size could not succeed at 3-4 EDGE.

PFF Ranked their "Top 100" Draft Prospects today (located here).

In the 1-15 range:
12. Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
13. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
14. Carl Lewson, OLB, Auburn
15. Solomon Thomas, 3-tech DT or 5-tech DE, Stanford
16. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
17. O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
18. John Ross, WR, Washington

In the 2-14 range (#46 overall):
43. Caleb Brantley, 3-tech DT, Florida
44. Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
45. Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
46. Justin Evans, S, Texas A&M
47. Takkarist McKinley, OLB, UCLA
48. Quincy Jones, CB, Florida
49. Taylor Moton, OG/OT, Western Michigan

In the 3-16 range (#80 overall):
77. Tanzel Smart, 3-tech DT/5-tech DE, Tulane
78. Carolos Henderson, WR, Louisina Tech
79. Delano Hill, S, Michigan
80. Ryan Anderson, OLB, Alabama
81. Mack Hollins, WR, North Carolina
82. Budda Baker, S, Washington
83. Tanoh Kpassagnon, 3-tech DT/5-tech DE, Villanova

Not that it will work out this way, but give me D-Line Solomon Thomas in the 1st round, CB Sidney Jones in the 2nd round and OLB Ryan Anderson in the 3rd round and I would be thrilled.

Add CB, TE and RB in the 4th round and a NT in the 5th round and call it a draft.

I know that where folks are actually drafted will almost always be very different than were every pundit in the world puts them but that is why mock drafting is SO much fun! :)

Cheers,

Good chance Solomon Thomas is gone by our pick. But I'd like to have him on the team.

I don't disagree with you but it has been interesting to see him "sliding" a bit in a lot of mock drafts from a sure-fire top five pick two months ago to a top ten pick last month to a top 15 pick in a few mock drafts over the past couple of weeks.

I honestly don't see him lasting until #15 but there are a lot of guys that "experts" say every year "should" be picked here or there that the NFL ends up disagreeing with.

However, I am working on studying some guys but I am becoming more firmly convinced that there is great value at the bottom of the 1st round to be had and that the Colts could pick up some more picks in the 3rd and 4th round range by moving back and still getting a quality prospect that I like nearly as well (or better) than the guys projected in the mid-round range.

In the end, the draft is a crap-shoot. I hope Ballard picks good ones no matter where we are picking from.

Cheers,

Marrying up two things:
Along with the PFF "Top 100" Draftee ranking chart (located here), we get:

1-26 T.J. Watt, OLB, Wisconsin
The biggest concern with Watt is whether or not he’s a one-year wonder. Physically, though, there’s not much he can’t do. At 6-foot-4, 252 pounds, Watt put up fantastic explosive and change-of-direction numbers at the combine. That meshes with what we saw of him at Wisconsin, where he was arguably the most impressive of anyone in this class at closing on ball carriers in space. He’s still raw as a pass-rusher, as a good deal of his 56 QB pressures a season ago came unblocked, but the ability is there.

2-14 Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
Wilson didn’t grade as well as the stats would indicate, but he capped his Florida career allowing a passer rating of only 45.8 into his coverage over the last three seasons. He moves well for his size and knows how to play the ball in both press and off coverage. He’ll get beaten at times when trying to press, but there’s a lot to like about his game, and he’s diverse enough to fit multiple schemes.

3-16 Tanzel Smart, 3-tech DT, Tulane
Although shorter than ideal at just a shade over 6-foot, Smart monopolizes that advantage in leverage consistently. Sufficient length offsets his height deficiency significantly. A low center of gravity and powerful arms combine to facilitate probably the best bull-rush in the class. It is a joy to watch Smart tossing and toying with lineman who are helplessly hoping to re-anchor against the tide that is the former Green Wave product. Attempts to blow him off the ball in the ground game are also fruitless. In fact, Smart is much more likely to win his battles against the run. He flashed astounding ability to change direction in the backfield, consistently regaining his balance to fly to the football and generate tackles for loss. Smart could stand to improve as a tackler, but he represents one of the more consistently disruptive interior defenders in the class. (Would allow Anderson to play 3-tech DT or 5-tech DE as scheme required.)

3-18 Delano Hill, S, Michigan
What Hill lacks in flash he makes up for with consistency. He proved at the combine that he has the size and athleticism to translate his game to the NFL (4.47-second 40 at 6-foot-1 and 216 pounds), and his senior year production also bodes well. He allowed just 22 receptions on 40 throws into his coverage last season, and defended a total of seven passes.

3-26 Raekwon McMillan, ILB, Ohio State
Running a 4.61 40 at the combine was critical for Raekwon McMillan, because his play in coverage at Ohio State is likely to leave some NFL teams worried about his viability on third down. He finished his college career in style with 25 stops in his last four games, and is a very good tackler who consistently wraps up. While some teams may like his leadership and production enough to take him early on Day 2, his average change of direction and playing speed, combined with some struggles against blocks, suggests he is a better value toward the end of Day 2 in the third round.

Use our three 4th round picks on CB, RB, TE and our three 5th/6th round picks on NT and depth and we would be cooking on oil.

Anyway, I am sure that Ballard's draft looks nothing like this but....

[[OF NOTE: The only player on this list that can be found to be "rated" wildly different from PFF ratings is that McMillian would be available at the bottom of the 3rd round. Chad Reuter over at NFL.com has him going in the middle of the 2nd round in his 5 round mock. Walter Football has him being draftable anywhere from the 2nd round through the 4th round. However, Walter Football's Mock Draft has him going at 3-15 (#79 overall) so that is within the ball park.]]

Anyway, I want more draft picks!

Cheers,

Okay, last post for a while in the draft thread. I found a 5-round mock on Walter Football that indicates that someone understands the weaknesses of the Colts:

1-15 (#015) ILB Reuban Foster, Alabama
Foster is a vicious hitter with elite playmaking range and an ability to toggle between 225 and 240 pounds. Athleticism gives him cover ability that former teammate Reggie Ragland never possessed. Has Pro Bowl potential as a 3-4 inside linebacker or a 4-3 weak-side linebacker, but concerns over his medical history could be a consideration, according to some teams.

2-14 (#046) OLB Charles Harris, Missouri
High-cut pass rusher with good athleticism but concerns regarding his ability to drop anchor against the run. Ironically, Harris might be best suited as a penetrator which is something he fought against this season. His hands can be improved as pass rush weapons, but he has agility and footwork that can't be taught. Harris can play on the edge in a 4-3 or 3-4 front and should be the next in a line of early contributing defensive ends coming out of Missouri.

3-16 (#080) CB Cameron Sutton, Tennessee
Four-year starter with the fluidity to handle man coverage on the outside, but lacking desired physicality and run-support traits that zone teams covet. Sutton flashed outstanding ball production his first two seasons but saw his per-game production drop since. Could be forced inside due to a lack of size on next level. Punt-return ability could be what gets him on the field first.

4-15 (#121) ILB Anthony Walker, Northwestern
Has packed muscle onto his frame that looks good in the uniform but might be limiting his flexibility and athletic ability. A productive, downhill linebacker who misses too many tackles and struggles as a take-on player. He checks all the desired boxes for football and personal character and can be counted on to do what it takes to improve his game. He could become a decent starting linebacker within his first few years.

4-31 (#137) RB Samaje Perine, OklahomaPerine is a physical runner who can create additional yardage through power and can be a complimentary "banger" for a team who already has a slasher. Perine doesn't have the burst or play speed to be a dynamic lead back, but he can handle a heavy workload if needed and he should become an immediate short-yardage and goal-line option.

4-38 (#144) CB Rasul Douglas, West Virginia
Douglas has rare size for the position and his 2016 interception total will add to the level of intrigue for NFL teams. There is no doubting Douglas' ability to make plays on the ball when he's in position, but his lack of long speed and closing burst could make his big senior season an anomaly. Douglas is a zone corner with press and trail ability but needs to run a reasonable time at the combine to solidify his draft slotting. (Note: Ran a 4.59 at combine.)

5-14 (#158) NT Josh Tupou, Colorado
Does one thing and one thing only -- eat up space. Doesn't have enough reactive quickness or even functional movement to find himself in many plays that aren't right at him, but his size and anchor gives him a shot with a team who values pure girth for early downs.

Foster in the first and Harris in the 2nd round are probably stretches for being available but this kind of draft could really help the Colts.

Cheers,

I'll take Thomas, McKinley and Baker and be thrilled !!!!