The Colts "Big Board" - 30 Nov 2017

[sherck]

Article from Stampede Blue on folks the Colts might look at if they drafted today. They would have the #4 overall pick if the season ended today (article here (https://www.stampedeblue.com/2017/11/30/16690056/indianapolis-colts-2018-nfl-draft-big-board-november)).

Condensed List (in the writer's priority order):
1. Saquon Barkley | Running Back | Penn State | 5-11, 223
2. Quenton Nelson | Offensive Guard | Notre Dame | 6-5, 329
3. Bradley Chubb | Edge Defender | NC State | 6-4, 275
4. Minkah Fitzpatrick | Defensive Back | Alabama | 6-1, 201
5. Harold Landry | Edge Defender | Boston College | 6-3, 250
6. Arden Key | Edge Defender | LSU | 6-6, 260
7. Maurice Hurst | Defensive Lineman | Michigan | 6-2, 282
8. Roquan Smith | Linebacker | Georgia | 6-1, 225
9. Derrius Guice | Running Back | LSU | 5-11, 212
10. Calvin Ridley | Wide Receiver | Alabama | 6-1, 190

Nelson is a STUD. A quote from the Walter Football bio (whom I respect quite a bit on their talent judging) says "Some league sources say that Nelson is the highest-graded guard they've ever scouted, which includes the likes of Logan Mankins, Brandon Scherff and David DeCastro."

I typically don't like using a pick that high for an OG but if we could get a 10 year superior starter out it (like we are hopefully getting with Ryan Kelly), then it would be worth it.

1. Re-sign Jack Mewhort as a starting OG
2. Sign an UFA starting OT (Nate Solder, Greg Robinson, Donald Stephenson, Bryon Bell)
3. Draft Quenton Nelson in the 1st round of the draft
4. Draft another O-Line prospect in the 3rd or 4th round of the draft
5. Bring forward Castonzo, Kelly, Haeg, Good and Clark from this year's line.

Starters = Castonzo / Mewhort / Kelly / Nelson / FA OT
Depth = Haeg, Good, Clark, lower round draft pick

That would be a lot of talent for a new O-Line coach to work with. Having 3 "depth" guys with lots of starting experience and a new 3rd/4th round rookie pick would be pretty great depth.

2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th - 7th round plus a pile of free agency money to then be spent on defense and upgrading depth at offensive specialty positions.

Walk Worthy,

[FatDT]

I still have a hard time picking a guard top 5. Chance Warmack and Jonathan Cooper were supposed to be generational guard prospects too. I want to protect Luck but if Chubb is an elite pass rusher can we really pass on him for a guard?

[JMichael557]

I would go with Conner Williams OT Texas. I cannot believe that this article was written and he was left out.

[Pez]

I think it will depend on free agency and how much we can solve before the draft.

I have a hard time seeing Ballard as passing on Chubb to pick Nelson, as the overall value of Chubb seems to be higher, and most of what I've read of ballard suggests that he drafts for value over need. Add to that the fact that Chubb would address both value and need and I dont see us getting a guard in the 1st if Chubb is still available.

The browns will be looking for a QB or RB, but the 49ers need interior OL badly. Early assessments on the giants have them looking for a QB or RB before OL.

If the draft started today and the niners didnt pick Nelson, I would do pull the trigger and pass on Chubb.

[sherck]

I still have a hard time picking a guard top 5. Chance Warmack and Jonathan Cooper were supposed to be generational guard prospects too. I want to protect Luck but if Chubb is an elite pass rusher can we really pass on him for a guard?
Yes.

The Peyton years showed us that having, and keeping healthy, a top tier QB will keep this team competitive pretty much by itself.

Add to that a good running game because of that O-Line who is also protecting the QB and a commitment by our young GM that he WILL NOT neglect the defense and it all adds up to a much more balanced team than we ever had under Polian with Peyton.

However, protecting the QB and helping the run game fuels the entire domino effect.

While Luck has not shown himself to be an elite QB, yet, gander at these numbers:

First 5 years as starter of career:

Pick from:

Peyton Manning =
Tommy Cheater =
Drew Brees =
Matt Ryan =
Aaron Rodgers =
Andrew Luck =
Russell Wilson =

A) 80 games / 2,281 attempts (28.5 apg) / 1,476 completions (18.5 cpg) / 64.7% / 18,193 yards (227.4 ypg) / 127 TD / 045 INT

B) 78 games / 2,545 attempts (32.6 apg) / 1,576 completions (20.2 cpg) / 61.9% / 18,029 yards (231.1 ypg) / 123 TD / 066 INT

C) 80 games / 2,817 attempts (35.2 apg) / 1,749 completions (21.9 cpg) / 62.1% / 20,618 yards (257.7 ypg) / 138 TD / 100 INT

D) 70 games / 2,651 attempts (37.9 apg) / 1,570 completions (22.4 cpg) / 59.2% / 19,078 yards (272.5 ypg) / 132 TD / 068 INT

E) 74 games / 2,336 attempts (31.6 apg) / 1,466 completions (19.8 cpg) / 62.7% / 16,545 yards (223.6 ypg) / 105 TD / 064 INT

F) 78 games / 2,606 attempts (33.4 apg) / 1,717 completions (22.0 cpg) / 65.9% / 31,332 yards (273.5 ypg) / 170 TD / 043 INT

G) 78 games / 2,637 attempts (33.8 apg) / 1,654 completions (21.2 cpg) / 62.7% / 18,957 yards (243.0 ypg) / 127 TD / 060 INT

Not far off from each other, are they?

Luck is in the hunt of being elite; build him an excellent offensive line and a good defense and we will be knocking on the door every year with hopefully better results than in the Peyton years.

So, yeah, we can use a top 5 pick on the best Offensive Lineman available in the draft.

Walk Worthy,

[sherck]

I would go with Conner Williams OT Texas. I cannot believe that this article was written and he was left out.
Injury history is scaring off a ton of teams, from my understanding.

Agreed, Williams is a talent but if teams are worried about his recovery....


Walk Worthy,

[1965southpaw]

Is there any quality oline talent coming available in free agency?

[Brylok]

Is there any quality oline talent coming available in free agency?
Nate Solder, LT, Patriots. Maybe we could get him and move Castonzo over to the right?

[VeveJones007]

I would go with Conner Williams OT Texas. I cannot believe that this article was written and he was left out.

That's a massive miss.

[VeveJones007]

I think it will depend on free agency and how much we can solve before the draft.

I have a hard time seeing Ballard as passing on Chubb to pick Nelson, as the overall value of Chubb seems to be higher, and most of what I've read of ballard suggests that he drafts for value over need. Add to that the fact that Chubb would address both value and need and I dont see us getting a guard in the 1st if Chubb is still available.

The browns will be looking for a QB or RB, but the 49ers need interior OL badly. Early assessments on the giants have them looking for a QB or RB before OL.

If the draft started today and the niners didnt pick Nelson, I would do pull the trigger and pass on Chubb.

It'll be LT or EDGE.

[VeveJones007]

The hope right now is that the Colts lose out, get the 3rd or 4th pick, and the earlier picks go any combination of QBs and/or Barkley. That will give the Colts their pick of any OL or EDGE.

[omahacolt]

I still have a hard time picking a guard top 5. Chance Warmack and Jonathan Cooper were supposed to be generational guard prospects too. I want to protect Luck but if Chubb is an elite pass rusher can we really pass on him for a guard?

Fuck no you don't

[omahacolt]

Nate Solder, LT, Patriots. Maybe we could get him and move Castonzo over to the right?

Solder sucks

[Racehorse]

Yes.

The Peyton years showed us that having, and keeping healthy, a top tier QB will keep this team competitive pretty much by itself.

Add to that a good running game because of that O-Line who is also protecting the QB and a commitment by our young GM that he WILL NOT neglect the defense and it all adds up to a much more balanced team than we ever had under Polian with Peyton.

However, protecting the QB and helping the run game fuels the entire domino effect.

While Luck has not shown himself to be an elite QB, yet, gander at these numbers:

First 5 years as starter of career:

Pick from:

Peyton Manning =
Tommy Cheater =
Drew Brees =
Matt Ryan =
Aaron Rodgers =
Andrew Luck =
Russell Wilson =

A) 80 games / 2,281 attempts (28.5 apg) / 1,476 completions (18.5 cpg) / 64.7% / 18,193 yards (227.4 ypg) / 127 TD / 045 INT

B) 78 games / 2,545 attempts (32.6 apg) / 1,576 completions (20.2 cpg) / 61.9% / 18,029 yards (231.1 ypg) / 123 TD / 066 INT

C) 80 games / 2,817 attempts (35.2 apg) / 1,749 completions (21.9 cpg) / 62.1% / 20,618 yards (257.7 ypg) / 138 TD / 100 INT

D) 70 games / 2,651 attempts (37.9 apg) / 1,570 completions (22.4 cpg) / 59.2% / 19,078 yards (272.5 ypg) / 132 TD / 068 INT

E) 74 games / 2,336 attempts (31.6 apg) / 1,466 completions (19.8 cpg) / 62.7% / 16,545 yards (223.6 ypg) / 105 TD / 064 INT

F) 78 games / 2,606 attempts (33.4 apg) / 1,717 completions (22.0 cpg) / 65.9% / 31,332 yards (273.5 ypg) / 170 TD / 043 INT

G) 78 games / 2,637 attempts (33.8 apg) / 1,654 completions (21.2 cpg) / 62.7% / 18,957 yards (243.0 ypg) / 127 TD / 060 INT

Not far off from each other, are they?

Luck is in the hunt of being elite; build him an excellent offensive line and a good defense and we will be knocking on the door every year with hopefully better results than in the Peyton years.

So, yeah, we can use a top 5 pick on the best Offensive Lineman available in the draft.

Walk Worthy,Which line is which QB?

[sherck]

Which line is which QB?Guess without looking.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Luck4Reich]

Guess without looking.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk


Knowing Peyton didn’t miss a game and threw a lot of INTs early on he would be C?

[Luck4Reich]

A) 80 games / 2,281 attempts (28.5 apg) / 1,476 completions (18.5 cpg) / 64.7% / 18,193 yards (227.4 ypg) / 127 TD / 045 INT

Matt Ryan

B) 78 games / 2,545 attempts (32.6 apg) / 1,576 completions (20.2 cpg) / 61.9% / 18,029 yards (231.1 ypg) / 123 TD / 066 INT

Aaron Rogers

C) 80 games / 2,817 attempts (35.2 apg) / 1,749 completions (21.9 cpg) / 62.1% / 20,618 yards (257.7 ypg) / 138 TD / 100 INT

Peyton Manning

D) 70 games / 2,651 attempts (37.9 apg) / 1,570 completions (22.4 cpg) / 59.2% / 19,078 yards (272.5 ypg) / 132 TD / 068 INT

Andrew Luck

E) 74 games / 2,336 attempts (31.6 apg) / 1,466 completions (19.8 cpg) / 62.7% / 16,545 yards (223.6 ypg) / 105 TD / 064 INT

Russel Wilson

F) 78 games / 2,606 attempts (33.4 apg) / 1,717 completions (22.0 cpg) / 65.9% / 31,332 yards (273.5 ypg) / 170 TD / 043 INT

Drew Brees

G) 78 games / 2,637 attempts (33.8 apg) / 1,654 completions (21.2 cpg) / 62.7% / 18,957 yards (243.0 ypg) / 127 TD / 060 INT

Tom Brady


Was I close?

[Puck]

It will be BPA as it should be

[omahacolt]

It will be BPA as it should be

Unless the bpa is a position we don't want. Like center.

[Puck]

Unless the bpa is a position we don't want. Like center.

Well just looking at the players in the draft I don't think we have to worry about that..... but last yr I don't think anyone would've thought with Geathers and a newly re signed Butler we would have taken a Safety but he was BPA

[omahacolt]

Well just looking at the players in the draft I don't think we have to worry about that..... but last yr I don't think anyone would've thought with Geathers and a newly re signed Butler we would have taken a Safety but he was BPA

Geathers had a broken neck and butler was never a safety. Bad example


A wr, rb, te or cb would be retarded in the 1st

[smitty46953]

Quenton Nelson would be fine with me guy is a Manster ... :cool:

[YDFL Commish]

Geathers had a broken neck and butler was never a safety. Bad example


A wr, rb, te or cb would be retarded in the 1st

Normally I would agree with you on this.

But have you seen Saquon Barkley play? If I had to compare him to another RB, I guess it would be LaDanian Tomlinson, although Barkely is much stronger.

So in this case, I have a different criteria: "Once In A Lifetime". When you have the opportunity to take a "Once In A Lifetime" player you don't pass that up.

[Puck]

Normally I would agree with you on this.

But have you seen Saquon Barkley play? If I had to compare him to another RB, I guess it would be LaDanian Tomlinson, although Barkely is much stronger.

So in this case, I have a different criteria: "Once In A Lifetime". When you have the opportunity to take a "Once In A Lifetime" player you don't pass that up.

My guess is if he is there we take him because he would BPA

[omahacolt]

Normally I would agree with you on this.

But have you seen Saquon Barkley play? If I had to compare him to another RB, I guess it would be LaDanian Tomlinson, although Barkely is much stronger.

So in this case, I have a different criteria: "Once In A Lifetime". When you have the opportunity to take a "Once In A Lifetime" player you don't pass that up.

i see your point. but that would be retarded.

you don't take a rb there. period. once in a lifetime rb with a line that can't block is worthless.

also having zero pass rush will get us nowhere. as you can see.

[VeveJones007]

i see your point. but that would be retarded.

you don't take a rb there. period. once in a lifetime rb with a line that can't block is worthless.

also having zero pass rush will get us nowhere. as you can see.

To sum it up another way, there’s a difference between the best football player and the player that will move the needle the most in making your franchise better. A very good LT or pass rusher would do more for the Colts than a HOF caliber RB.

[Coltsalr]

Geathers had a broken neck and butler was never a safety. Bad example


A wr, rb, te or cb would be retarded in the 1st

I liked this post, though I wouldn’t be enraged by Minkah Fitzpatrick in the 1st.

He’s being hyped as a guy that could play any position in the secondary, though.

[FatDT]

RBs get hyped every couple of years as generational prospects and they never live up to it.

[Colt Classic]

RBs get hyped every couple of years as generational prospects and they never live up to it.

...and then a guy right under the Colts' noses from IU goes late round to the Bears and would have been a nice pickup here.

[Mr. Session]

RBs get hyped every couple of years as generational prospects and they never live up to it.

Barkley looks every bit of good as Elliot looked in college. He's been playing at a high level since he was a freshman.

I don't think we should take him as early as it looks we'll be picking, but the dude has the juice. I really think the fact we haven't had a true gamer at the RB position has held Indianapolis back, and it would be huge for Luck.

I also think we need linebackers and pass rushers more (I'd even take the guard who can take folk's lunch money too), so I'm not losing any sleep, but Barkley is fucking good.

[FatDT]

I have no doubt Barkley is good, he's just not worth a top 5 pick.

[Puck]

I have no doubt Barkley is good, he's just not worth a top 5 pick.

Imagine how bad the colts would be without Gore and either Mack or Ferguson starting

[Hoopsdoc]

I have no doubt Barkley is good, he's just not worth a top 5 pick.

I would lose all faith in Ballard if he took Barkley in the top 5.

[VeveJones007]

Imagine how bad the colts would be without Gore and either Mack or Ferguson starting

The Colts would be an absolute disaster without Gore's 50 yards per game.

[VeveJones007]

I would lose all faith in Ballard if he took Barkley in the top 5.

Yeah, I was trying to rationalize a scenario where I wouldn't be upset. The closest that I got was if the grades on the OL/EDGE players are just so much lower, but in that scenario, the plan should be to trade back, acquire more picks, and get OL/EDGE later in the 1st.

[omahacolt]

Good is playing well so far today

[smitty46953]

Good is playing well so far today

Good ... :cool:

[omahacolt]

Good is playing well so far today

Dumbass

[smitty46953]

Dumbass

Talking to yourself ? :rolleyes:

[omahacolt]

Talking to yourself ? :rolleyes:

YEp

[DrSpaceman]

No to a RB in the first round

You just can't ride a RB to a title like teams used to do. Not since TD retired has that happened.

And a first round RB does no good if the line sucks.

And at this point I don't care if it is a guard and a top 5 pick. If they are even a solid starter in this league and you can solidify a position on the OL, take him.

Now if you can trade down and get him still, fine, do it. But I wouldn't worry too much about taking somehow too high if they are projected to be a decade long starter.

Dwight Freeney.......EVEYRONE claimed the Colts too him too high. Who cares, he was the cornerstone of the D for a decade.