Kelper, Bruce Paine, and I have made a recent tradition of watching the NFL together and we like to debate back and forth on our favorite players and who we think our team, the Indianapolis Colts, should select. Usually, the guy(s) that we want are not on the board when the Colts select and then there are the times that they pass on the guy(s) that we want. Actually, the only time I can remember the Colts taking a player any of us wanted, was when they took Mike Hart last season, much to the BP's delight. I'm sure he jumped up and down like a school girl and clapped his hands, because that is how he shows his emotion!
I want to take a look at who the Colts have drafted and who they could have/should have drafted. I'm only going to go back to the 2000 draft, because I feel that is where this team started to become what they are today. 1998 was Peyton's year and 1999 was Edgerrin James, so those drafts were very good.
Follow me after the jump to find out...for the rest of the story (sorry Paul Harvey!)
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2000: Rob Morris (LB), Marcus Washington (LB), David Macklin (CB), Josh Williams (DT), Matt Johnson (mainly special teams), Rob Renes (DT), and Rodregis Brooks (CB).
I previously mentioned that Manning and James were taken in 1998 and 1999, so the Colts were smart and went all defense with this class. Morris and Washington were going to be the LBs of the future and Macklin and Williams were going to serve as backups for their positions. Overall, a pretty solid class of defensive talent.
Who did they miss out on: They could have taken Keith Bulluck (LB) in the first round. He was taken two picks after Morris and has been one of the best in the game since. Other guys like Na'il Diggs, Clark Haggans, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila were all available as well. Bill Polian prides himself on finding hidden talent and he missed out on a few there.
2001: Reggie Wayne (WR), Idrees Bashir (S), Corey Bird (DB), Ryan Diem (G), Raymond Walls (DB), Jason Doering (DB), and Rick DeMulling (G).
After going with Wayne in the first round, it was back to the defensive side of the ball for the most part. Bashir and Bird were to be getting a lot of playing time in this defense. Diem and DeMulling were backups for the OL.
Who did they miss out on: This makes me sick actually looking at some of the players that were on the board and that we didn't take. Guys like Kendrell Bell, Ken Lucas, Adrian Wilson, and Shaun Rogers are just a few of the names that stuck in my head, but trust me, there were many more. I'd say this draft was a big miss for the Colts. Other than Wayne and Diem that is.
2002: Dwight Freeney (DE), Larry Tripplett (DT), Joseph Jefferson (DB), David Thornton (LB). There were four other picks, but none of any worth.
Staying on the defensive side of the ball was the theme again. Freeney and Tripplett were good picks to help that D-Line and Thornton was an amazing pick in the fourth round.
Who did they miss out on: Nobody of real consequence on the defensive side of the ball, but guys like Clinton Portis and Brian Westbrook were out there!
2003: Dallas Clark (TE), Mike Doss (S), Donald Strickland (S), Steve Sciullo (G), Robert Mathis (DE), Keyon Whiteside (LB), Cato June (LB), and Makoa Freitas (OL).
Getting Mathis and June in this draft were very nice late round surprises, but missing on Doss and Strickland really set the team back a little. Clark has been one of the best offensive tight ends in recent years.
Who did they miss out on: Lance Briggs, Ricky Manning, Lee Suggs (one of my favorite busts of all time), and identity theft survivor Brian St. Pierre.
2004: Bob Sanders (S), Ben Hartsock (TE), Gilbert Gardner (LB), Kendyll Pope (LB), Jason David (CB), Jake Scott (OL), Von Hutchins (DB), Jim Sorgi (QB), Dave Kimball (K).
Again, defense was the main theme of the draft weekend for the Colts and they were able to snag future NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Bob Sanders, in the 2nd round. However, the picks of Hartsock, Gardner, and Pope really dampened the day.
Who did they miss out on: Shaun Phillips, Landon Johnson, Demorrio Williams, Jared Allen, and Michael Turner are just a few of the players that were taken in rounds three through five that could have helped out this team.
2005: Marlin Jackson (CB), Kelvin Hayden (CB), Vincent Burns (DE), Dylan Gandy (G), Matt Giordano (S), Jonathan Welsh (DE), Robert Hunt (C), Tyjuan Hagler (LB), Dave Rayner (K), Anthony Davis (RB).
Jackson, Hayden, Giordano, and Hagler are all heavy rotational players, but the rest of the class was a bit of a wash.
Who did they miss out on: Marion Barber, Brandon Jacobs, Michael Boley, Trent Cole, and Darren Sproles were all out there to be had. Four of the five are now starters and Sproles destroyed the Colts in this year's playoffs.
2006: Joseph Addai (RB), Tim Jennings (CB), Freddy Keiaho (LB), Michael Toudouze (OL), Charlie Johnson (OL), Antoine Bethea (S), and TJ Rushing (CB).
Addai was the future at RB for the Colts after they let Edge James head off into the free agency world. This class has actually been decent for the Colts.
Who did they miss out on: Like I said, I'm pretty pleased with this class, but guys like Brandon Marshall, Ray Edwards, and Elvis Dumervil were available. Can you imagine Brandon Marshall in the slot for Peyton Manning?? That would be ridiculous.
2007: Anthony Gonzalez (WR), Tony Ugoh (T), Dante Hughes (CB), Quit Cockpit (DT - I changed his name), Brannon Condren (DB), Clint Session (LB), Roy Hall (WR), Michael Coe (CB), Keyunta Dawson (DL).
This draft was one of great pain for me. I did not want Gonzalez in the first round and then when the Colts traded their 2008 first round pick to jump up for Ugoh, I about split my gut open. This was also a time when I was waiting on hernia surgery, so splitting my gut would have been quite easy to do since it was already started. Hughes has been OK, Quit Cockpit "retired" before this season, Condren has done nothing, and Coe never really stuck out.
Who did they miss out on: Four of my targeted players for this class were Paul Posluszny, Marcus Thomas, Brandon Siler, and Ahmad Bradshaw. Siler was taken two picks before the Colts picked in round seven and Ahmad Bradshaw was pick 250 on the weekend.
2008: Mike Pollak (OL), Phillip Wheeler (LB), Jacob Tamme (TE), Marcus Howard (DE/LB), Tom Santi (TE), Steve Justice (C), Mike Hart (RB), Pierre Garcon (WR), and Jamey Richard (OL).
I actually feel like this class is going to be a very good one for the Colts. Although, I still don't understand why we took two tight ends on the weekend. Bruce Paine got his guy in Mike Hart and I got a couple new fan favorites with Garcon and Howard.
Who did they miss out on: Well, not having a first round pick this year sucked big time. We could have added a nice player at the end of the first round, but instead, we have Tony Ugoh from 2007. We could have taken a guy like Matt Forte, or guys like Dan Connor, Pat Sims, and Shawn Crable.
Overall, the Colts have done well in the draft, but they have passed on some guys that, in hindsight, shouldn't have been passed on. They have their fair share of misses in the draft too, but for the most part, they have been one of the best teams in the draft. I'll be interested to see what direction the team goes in this year with a new Head Coach and a new Defensive Coordinator.
This year's draft is only a couple months away, but like all obsessed wanna-be GMs out there, I am already running ideas through my head. I have my wishlist of players and I am counting down the days until the end of April.
Comments
"...considering the source." OUCH!
I really am just hoping for a draft of all defense and OL this year. The only way we should take a skill position player (minus TE) is if someone falls to us unexpectedly. And even then, I would work the phones something fierce to make a trade down or for a future first.
If Michael Oher (T) falls to Indy do you take him or someone like Peria Jerry (DT) if he is there?
Nice breakdown homey...although hindsight is 20/20 :)
If Mike Oher falls to Indy I will crap in my own hand.
Finally get to comment back to you guys
Ross...I agree!
Bruce...please take a picture of that if you do have to!
By the way. Who do you guys want to see or what position do you want filled first?
I thought this was a surprisingly good breakdown considering the source. The most interesting thing to consider is where we got players like Ryan Diem, Rick DeMUlling, and Jake Scott and then think about what we did to get Tony Ugoh. Doesn't quite fit the mold does it? Another thing to consider is the depth of talent we have released. Mike Peterson, Marcus Washington, and David Thornton are great players that we let go as part of an overall team concept, and that concept is not working. We need more balance on defense. Letting Thornton go is the worst for me, I thought he was a real good player with potential to be real REAL GOOD.