Tag Archive | "indianapolis"
Posted on 21 April 2012. Tags: career, indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, network, nfl, source, super, super-bowl, team, yahoo
With the NFL draft quickly approaching, fans everywhere hope their team doesn’t make a pick that will become a bust once they reach the NFL. The Indianapolis Colts hold the first overall pick and should get a reliable quarterback with the selection. Indianapolis has had its share of busts out of former first round draft selections though. The following players are the five biggest busts in franchise history.
Trev Alberts
Alberts is one of the biggest busts ever for the Indianapolis Colts. He was chosen fifth overall in the 1994 draft and only played parts of three seasons in the NFL. He struggled from injuries throughout and never made a real impact in the NFL. Alberts represents every teams biggest fear from such a high draft selection.
Steve Emtman
Emtman was the first overall selection in the 1992 NFL draft. This pick came at a time when the franchise was struggling and really needed value out of the first overall selection. He only played until the age of 27 and was never very successful during an injury filled career.
Anthony Gonzalez
Gonzalez was added shortly after the team won the Super Bowl following the 2006 season and never was able to stay healthy enough to make a big impact. He had a decent rookie season and then constantly battled injuries throughout his career. Gonzalez was selected with the 32nd overall selection in 2007 and shows how late picks in the first round can be a reach sometimes.
Donald Brown
Brown is another recent selection by the Indianapolis Colts. Brown has played three seasons in Indianapolis and only played well in spurts. A lot more has been expected out of him as a first round draft pick. Fans still hold out hope that Brown can have a successful career. So far he can be labeled a bust after being selected in the first round in 2009
Jerry Hughes
Hughes has only played two NFL seasons but is already being considered by many to be a bust. Hughes was the 31st overall selection in the 2010 draft. Fans hope that he can turn around his career with the upcoming switch to a 3-4 defense under coach Chuck Pagano.
Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and has been a lifelong fan of the Indianapolis Colts. He attended Super Bowl XLIV in Miami and follows the team closely. He also runs the blog www.coltsfansonline.com that covers the team. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.
Source:
Indianapolis Colts draft history
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Posted in 1, colts-news, Indianapolis Colts
Posted on 20 April 2012. Tags: Baltimore Ravens, chicago, colts, Curtis Painter, horseshoe, indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, nfl, painter, playoffs, rest, team, white
You can’t win them all, I suppose. At least that’s the message that I took from the mixed bag of quarterback news that befell the Indianapolis Colts on April 19 and 20. First, word broke that the Colts have informed former quarterback Andrew Luck that they will take him with the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft next week, a forgone conclusion for most of us since the 2011 season ended. With the report swirling from every corner of the Internet and Colts owner Jim Irsay not refuting it, I guess we can consider this at least a semi-official announcement. While it’s great to know that Indianapolis fans will have another living legend at quarterback in a jiffy, the really devastating blow came on Friday, when we learned that Curtis Painter has signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Not only did we lose Peyton Manning this off-season, but now we have absolutely no chance of seeing Painter’s unique blend of talents under the Horseshoe helmet anytime soon.
When Manning failed to show up for the 2011 season, courtesy of his recurring neck issues, Painter waited nervously in the wings, much to the horror of the Indy faithful. We were saved from destruction, or so we thought, when the geriatric Kerry Collins was signed as a stopgap during the preseason and Painter was again relegated to carrying a clipboard. When Collins proved skittish and fragile, though, the Colts had little choice but to turn to Painter, a graduate of nearby Purdue University. In his first few games, Painter stunk on ice like the rest of his team, but he did manage to build himself into something resembling a capable NFL backup in the middle part of the season.
As it became clear that the Colts were firmly in the chase for Luck’s services during the second half of the season, I got the distinct impression that there was little urgency on the organization’s part to put up any wins and jeopardize their draft standing. As a consequence, Colts players began dropping like flies, begging off for the rest of the season for “injuries” that may or may not have sidelined them were the playoffs on the line instead of draft position.
Aside from the coaching staff and the front office, Painter was the main victim of this strategy, because he is simply not talented enough to carry a team on his shoulders. Had the rest of the team been at full-strength, the lad with the long locks would have looked a lot better as a quarterback prospect than he did from the Colts ultimate 2-14 vantage point. Predictably, Painter was unceremoniously shown the door this winter along with so many others.
Curtis Painter will never be a star in the NFL, but he might be a decent backup IF there is a team around him. The Baltimore Ravens have lost several pieces this off-season, some of them to the Colts, but they still have designs on the playoffs. I won’t be shocked to see Painter in post-season action long before Andrew Luck ever sniffs eight wins in a season.
Adam Hughes was raised, and still lives, in rural Indiana. He has been a Colts fans since the team arrived in Indianapolis on a snowy morning in 1984. The Blue and White eventually replaced the Chicago Bears as his #1 team, and Super Bowl XLI was a dream come true.
There is the quick update of the day.
Posted in 1, Baltimore Ravens, colts-news, Curtis Painter, Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning
Posted on 17 April 2012. Tags: alabama, draft, hebron-fangupo, indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, middle, network, nfl, nose, position, source, team
One of the biggest needs for the Indianapolis Colts is at the nose tackle position. This seems to be an area the team is determined to improve in the upcoming NFL draft. The following are five players who are possibilities at the nose tackle position for Indianapolis.
Alameda Ta’amu
Ta’amu is a big player and may be the best natural nose tackle in the draft. He stands six-feet-two inches and weighs 348 pounds. This would be a great pick for the team to shore up a major position of need. Ta’amu could be an instant starter and rotate with the recently signed Brandon McKinney. Ta’amu is just the player Indianapolis needs to clog up the middle of the defense and help stop the run.
Akiem Hicks
Hicks would be more of a developmental player at the position. He weighs close to 320 pounds and could be selected in the middle to late rounds of the draft. Hicks is similar in size to Haloti Ngata and Pagano would be thrilled if he could get a player to develop into the role Ngata plays in Baltimore.
Josh Chapman
Chapman comes from a great program in Alabama and faced strong competition in the SEC. He’s just 315 pounds but is a very strong player and played nose tackle for the defending national champions. Chapman could fall in the draft since he’s currently rehabbing an ACL injury suffered last season. If he’s healthy I think Chapman is a player the team could insert and be an impact player right away.
Hebron Fangupo
Fangupo played nose tackle at BYU and is a big body for a smaller player. At 325 pounds, Fangupo fits the type of player Indianapolis is likely looking for on the defensive line.
Nick Jean-Baptiste
Nick Jean-Baptiste played the nose tackle at Baylor and had four sacks at the position in 2011. Baptiste weighs 335 pounds and would be a big addition to the team. I think this would be a great selection around the fifth round and one where the team could maximize value and fulfill a major need.
Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and has been a lifelong fan of the Indianapolis Colts. He attended Super Bowl XLIV in Miami and follows the team closely. He runs a blog about the team at www.coltsfansonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.
Source:
3-4 nose tackle rankings
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Posted in 1, colts-news, Indianapolis Colts
Posted on 16 April 2012. Tags: assumption, blair-white, colts, indianapolis, michigan-state, nouvel-catholic, Peyton Manning, returning-seven, said-the-colts
SAGINAW, MI — Blair White doesn’t want it to end.
His back, however, may have other ideas.
The Indianapolis Colts released White on Friday, making the former Nouvel Catholic Central and Michigan State University receiver a free agent after two years with the Colts.
“It’s tough being released,” White said. “But it’s all part of the deal, all part of the NFL.”
White was undrafted out of MSU despite catching 70 passes for 990 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior all-conference receiver.
The concern then, as it is now, is White’s back.
“The back’s been bothering me … I understand why the Colts released me,” White said. “If I’m playing tomorrow, I’d be fine.
“I’ve had three back surgeries in the past five years. It’s tough. I’m rehabbing my back, getting stronger. We’ll see what happens.”
White, 25, had surgery for a herniated disc on Dec. 20.
“I should know in the next month or so if I can go,” White said. “Hopefully, this doesn’t end.”
White caught 36 passes for 355 yards and five touchdowns in 2010, but injuries cut short his 2011 season. In seven games, he did not catch a pass. He played seven games, returning seven punts for 22 yards.
“I appreciate all the support … everyone’s been great to me,” White said. “The Colts were great about everything. Tom Telesco is their director of player personnel, and he personally called me to let me know.
“He said the Colts appreciated everything I did for them. I don’t blame them. They were just waiting for my back to get better.”
If White can play again, there is the assumption that he would fit best in Denver, where former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is the quarterback.
“That seems to be the popular assumption,” White said. “But it’s too early to tell much about anything.”
White intends to keep playing football, but understands that may not be an option. If not, he is ready to enroll in dental school.
“People shouldn’t feel too bad for me,” White said. “I’ve had a lot of fun doing what I’ve done. I’m leaving all my options open.
“Getting released is not fun, but it’s not the end of the world.”
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Posted in 1, colts-news, Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning
Posted on 14 April 2012. Tags: Austin Collie, indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, network, release, roster, source, super-bowl, team, time, upcoming, veteran, white, wide, yahoo
The Indianapolis Colts have cut another veteran player! Fans can relax this time. The announcement came on April 13 that wide receiver Blair White was waived by the team.
This move is somewhat of a surprise because of the teams severe lack of depth at the wide receiver position. White was one of very few players on the roster who had actual game experience in the NFL. White played quite a bit during his rookie season in 2010 when filling in for an injured Austin Collie. Fans shouldn’t get too worked up over the release of White. While he is one of the few experienced relievers on the roster, he simply wasn’t a quality player. I didn’t see how he fit with the new coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians prefers players with speed and White was one of the slowest in the league at his position. He can easily be replaced with a younger rookie in the upcoming draft.
This move ensures that the team is going to use at least one or two high draft picks on wide receivers. Indianapolis will select their future quarterback in the first round and then should look to add weapons for that quarterback shortly after. I think that it’s an almost certainty that either a second or third round pick will be used on a receiver. I recently wrote about five options the team could consider at the wide receiver position. Each of these players would be a major upgrade over the departed Blair White.
I was surprised to see many fans reacting to the release of Blair White. I suppose the reactions come from the release of yet another familiar player that had been with the team during times of success. In the end, this loss will not affect the team and may even make them better moving forward. This presents yet another reason for fans to look forward to the upcoming NFL draft from April 26-28.
Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and has been a lifelong fan of the Indianapolis Colts. He attended Super Bowl XLIV in Miami and follows the team closely. He runs a blog about the team at www.coltsfansonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.
Source:
Colts waive White
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Posted in 1, Austin Collie, colts-news, Indianapolis Colts
Posted on 13 April 2012. Tags: indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, offense, Reggie Wayne, source, super-bowl, team, yahoo
The Indianapolis Colts have a major need a wide receiver. The position is a major need for the team and one they must improve in the draft. I think that a big hint at the type of player Indianapolis may draft can be seen in looking at the wide receivers of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is now in Indianapolis and will try to install his offense with the team. Arians commonly prefers speed over size in receivers. Pittsburgh receivers Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, and Emmanuel Sanders are all fast and each fall between five-foot-ten inches tall and six foot and are between 180 and 200 pounds. A big target like Stephen Hill would be nice but other players appear much more likely to be targeted by Indianapolis.
Rueben Randle
Randle would be a nice selection for the Colts. He played at LSU where he played against top competition but never had a great quarterback throwing to him. He’s a big, fast, and physical receiver and would add something that Indianapolis has not had recently. Randle falls on the taller side at six-foot-three and weighing 210 pounds but may be tough to pass up if he’s there either in the second or third round.
Mohammed Sanu
Sanu stands six-foot-one inches tall and weighs 213 pounds. He plays fast though and has great hands. I think he would due a great compliment to a possession receiver like Reggie Wayne. Sanu would be a good fit within the offense and a quality addition to the team. He may be a reach in the early second round but would be a steal if he were to fall to the third.
AJ Jenkins
Jenkins ran a 4.37 40 yard dash at the scouting combine and is a very fast and explosive player. I think he would fit in perfectly within the offense and would be an immediate weapon for Andrew Luck and the Colts. Jenkins is six-foot, 190 pounds and reminds me a lot of Antonio Brown. This would be a very popular pick and addition to the Indianapolis Colts.
Joe Adams
Adams is five-foot-eleven inches and weighs 183 pounds and is a fast receiver. Adams is a playmaker that would be a very nice addition alongside Wayne and Austin Collie. Adams could also make an impact on special teams as a returner. This would be another major addition to the team.
Chris Givens
Givens is one of the fastest players in the draft and fits the mold of a Bruce Arians receiver. He’s very quick and stands five-foot-eleven inches and weighs 195 pounds. Givens is also a player that could be had in the middle rounds while using the earlier selections to focus on other areas of need.
Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and has been a lifelong fan of the Indianapolis Colts. He attended Super Bowl XLIV in Miami and follows the team closely. He runs a blog about the team at www.coltsfansonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.
Source:
2012 NFL draft wide receivers rankings
That’s all for today.
Posted in 1, Austin Collie, colts-news, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Reggie Wayne
Posted on 11 April 2012. Tags: Dallas Clark, draft, indianapolis, janoris-jenkins, Jerraud Powers, nfl, roster, source
The Indianapolis Colts enter the 2012 NFL draft with several needs across the team. They have room for improvement at several positions and need to take good advantage of each and every draft pick. The following are the five biggest needs currently facing the team.
Quarterback
This one is the easiest and most obvious choice. Quarterback is a huge need and they are likely to solve that by selecting Andre Luck number one overall. This is the first major building block to turning the franchise around. If Luck is anywhere near as good as the hype, the team hit a home run with this pick. I wouldn’t be surprised to even see the team use a late round pick on a developmental backup as well. Ryan Grigson is known for his scouting background and may be able to find a small school player that the team can look to develop behind Luck. Indianapolis learned more than anyone the value of a backup quarterback this season.
Nose Tackle
Nose tackle is the key position to a successful 3-4 defense. Newly signed Brandon McKinney is the only player currently on the roster who projects to play there. There are several great options available early in the draft for Indianapolis. The most well known targets are Alameda Ta’amu from Washington, Josh Chapman from Alabama, and Nick Jean-Baptiste from Baylor. Indianapolis almost has to draft one of these players.
Cornerback
Jerraud Powers is the only viable option currently on the roster at cornerback. The team needs to select one or two players who can be good corners in man coverage if their defense is going to succeed going forward. A player like Stephon Gilmore, Chase Minnifield, or Janoris Jenkins would be great selections for Indianapolis.
Tight End
After releasing Dallas Clark, Indianapolis suddenly has a major need at tight end. With just Brody Eldridge on the roster, Indianapolis needs a receiving threat that can develop along with their young quarterback. This is a major need the team needs to address in the draft. Many fans are hoping the team has the ability to draft Luck’s college teammate Coby Fleener with their second round selection.
Wide Receiver
Indianapolis suddenly finds themselves very thin at wide receiver entering the 2012 season. The return of Reggie Wayne gives them a clear cut number one option and Austin Collie gives the team one of the best slot receivers in the game. After that there is currently nothing but unproven players who have little experience. The team could very well use a high draft pick on a player like Mohammed Sanu or Reuben Randle. I think this is another position where the team could select multiple players in the upcoming draft.
Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and has been a lifelong fan of the Indianapolis Colts. He attended Super Bowl XLIV in Miami and follows the team closely. He also runs the blog www.coltsfansonline.com that covers the team. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.
Source:
Indianapolis Colts roster
There is the quick update of the day.
Posted in 1, Austin Collie, colts-news, Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts, Jerraud Powers, Reggie Wayne
Posted on 10 April 2012. Tags: before-the-team, decide-on-luck, hold-the-first, indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, irsay, monster, nfl, stanford, team
Andrew Luck was in Indianapolis on April 10 visiting with the team most likely to select him in the draft. The Indianapolis Colts hold the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft and appear destined to select Luck as their next quarterback. This visit could prove to be the final step necessary before the team makes their decision on the pick. Indianapolis already saw Luck at his pro day and also conducted a private workout of Luck on April 3 on the Stanford campus.
Following the visit, Jim Irsay tweeted: “Met with A Luck#12 n Indy 2day for 3 hrs;it’s easy 2c why the #1 pick n this Stanford phenom has been synonymous with each other 4over 2 yrs”.
Irsay’s twitter account has been a source of breaking news for Colt fans everywhere over the past year. If he’s this enamored with Luck, the next move is to announce the teams intentions and sign him to a contract. It’s the move every Colt fan is eagerly awaiting and wants to see. Of course, fans hardly get what they want when they want it. After such a difficult offseason, Irsay owes a little something to the fans though. A great move would be to decide on Luck, sign him to a contract and have him in Indianapolis on draft day to attempt to ignite the fan base.
I was sold on Luck long ago but became even more excited recently when reading Tom Moore’s comments about the quarterback. Moore praised Luck and said that he would be a special player in the league. At this time, nobody knows if Luck will turn out to be a Pro Bowl quarterback in the NFL. Colt fans are ready to watch him develop and find out if he someday will. It’s a new era in Indianapolis and the next step toward “Building the Monster” is drafting Andrew Luck and getting a franchise quarterback. It seems Jim Irsay already knows that. At the latest, everyone will find out on April 26.
Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and has been a lifelong fan of the Indianapolis Colts. He attended Super Bowl XLIV in Miami and follows the team closely. He runs a blog about the team at www.coltsfansonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.
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Posted in 1, colts-news, Indianapolis Colts
Posted on 10 April 2012. Tags: Baltimore Ravens, covers-the-team, defense, Dwight Freeney, freeney, indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, network, role, source, suggs, super-bowl, team, terrell-suggs
Dwight Freeney is going to remain a member of the Indianapolis Colts in 2012. Despite the purge of many veterans and a very large contract for this season, Freeney will remain with the team amidst its transition to a hybrid 3-4 defense. His new role will be as the rush linebacker, similar to Terrell Suggs‘ role in Baltimore.
I think Dwight will have a lot of success in this role as a rush linebacker in the 3-4. The benefits to this are that the three defensive lineman in a 3-4 front are generally bigger players whose goal is to occupy space and hold gaps for linebackers to roam free. The new attacking defense will also bring more pressure than before. In past seasons, every opponent knew that Freeney and Mathis would bring the pressure and not much else would come from the Colt defense. This defense will be drastically different. The addition of Cory Redding alongside Freeney will add a player who can also provide pressure on the quarterback.
Coach Chuck Pagano recently stated that in the new defense, Freeney will play the role similar to Terrell Suggs in the Baltimore Ravens‘ defense. I think this is a great move by coach Pagano and one that could lead to a lot of success for the defense. Despite Suggs being slightly taller, the two are similar in build. I think it will take some time to learn the scheme and become comfortable, but fans will still see Freeney primarily rushing the passer from his traditional right side. That won’t change even with the new defense.
For fans, Pagano’s attacking defense is a welcome change after playing such a boring defensive style for so long. I’m excited already to see what the defense can do this upcoming season. It’s also nice to have a familiar face in Dwight Freeney returning for the team. If he can play at a level even close to what Suggs did for the defense in Baltimore, fans are going to be very happy next season. I think fans are going to be pleasantly surprised with the quick transition of the defense under the new coaching staff.
Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and has been a lifelong fan of the Indianapolis Colts. He attended Super Bowl XLIV in Miami and follows the team closely. He also runs the blog www.coltsfansonline.com that covers the team. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.
Source:
Colts will use Freeney as Ravens used Suggs
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Posted in 1, Baltimore Ravens, colts-news, Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Colts
Posted on 10 April 2012. Tags: colts, denver, denver-broncos, draft, famer-peyton, indianapolis, nfl, plain-dealer, remainder
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland Browns and NFL fans, it’s time for you to say who all of the teams should pick in the first round of the draft on April 26.
From today through April 22, via polls, we’re asking you to make first-round picks for each of two teams. The polls go up on cleveland.com at approximate 12-hour intervals, around 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day. We list 10 prospects for you to pick from in each poll — even for the first two picks.
On April 23-24, you’ll be asked to make the picks for each of three teams (at approximate eight-hour intervals), completing the 32-pick first round.
Meanwhile, continue to check The Plain Dealer for Browns and NFL coverage.
The first pick in the first round of the draft belongs to the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts finished the 2011 season with a 2-14 record.
The Colts’ most urgent need is at quarterback. Future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning missed all of last season after undergoing multiple neck surgeries, and after the Colts decided to pass on the remainder of his contract, signed with the Denver Broncos as a free agent.
Indianapolis could use help almost anywhere else, too. Their most glaring weaknesses, besides at quarterback, may be the receiving corps and at cornerback.
Indianapolis Colts on the clock: Who should they draft with the first pick in the first round?
That’s all the news for today.
Posted in 1, Cleveland Browns, colts-news, Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning
Posted on 09 April 2012. Tags: Dwight Freeney, game, indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, janoris-jenkins, middle, network, nfl, receiver, Reggie Wayne, super-bowl, team, time, yahoo
Little suspense remains for the Indianapolis Colts and their first overall draft pick. It’s widely suspected that Andrew Luck will be chosen to be their next quarterback. The bigger question fans now have is who will be the next player selected with the teams second round draft pick. I see five candidates out there who could be the selection at number 34 overall.
Coby Fleener, TE
Fleener is the popular pick for Indianapolis in the second round. He fills a major need for the team at tight end and also has close connections to the expected new quarterback. Luck and Fleener had great chemistry at Stanford and would be lucky to continue that connection in Indianapolis. It’s certainly possible that a team could select Fleener in the first round, but if he’s there, I see Indianapolis selecting him.
Alameda Ta’amu, DT
Ta’amu would fill a major hole for the team at nose tackle. With the switch to a 3-4 defense, the team will need someone to clog the middle and stuff the run. The signing of Brandon McKinney is nice, but a solid young player is still needed. Ta’amu would give the team a young player they could develop in the middle of the defense. Someone will have to be selected at this position and I think Ta’amu would be a great choice.
Janoris Jenkins, CB
Jenkins is a very good player who may fall in the draft because of concerns of his character. Cornerback is a huge need for the team and one they must improve in the draft. If a player this talented were to fall to the second round, I think it would be very difficult for Indianapolis to pass him up. Jenkins may be able to step in immediately as the best corner on the roster. Jenkins is also coming to Indianapolis for a visit with the team soon.
Reuben Randle, WR
Whichever quarterback is selected first overall is going to need more talent around them at the receiver position. Randle would add a big, fast target that the quarterback could grow with. He still can develop as a player and would get to learn from one of the best in the game, Reggie Wayne.
Andre Branch, OLB
I think it wouldn’t be a surprise to get a good player who would be a natural fit in the new defensive scheme in Indianapolis. Branch would get a season to learn behind Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney and be able to ease his transition to the NFL and to the outside linebacker position. Freeney is likely gone after this season and the new front office may see Branch as the future at outside linebacker. This move would be difficult for fans to understand because the team has several other glaring needs at this time.
Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and has been a lifelong fan of the Indianapolis Colts. He attended Super Bowl XLIV in Miami and follows the team closely. He also runs the blog www.coltsfansonline.com that covers the team. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.
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Posted in 1, colts-news, Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Colts, Reggie Wayne, Robert Mathis
Posted on 06 April 2012. Tags: covers-the-team, indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, middle, network, option-the-team, source, super-bowl, team, terrance-cody, time, yahoo
The Indianapolis Colts finally have their nose tackle for their new 3-4 defense. Well, they at least have someone on the roster who can play nose tackle now. After being very active through the first two weeks of free agency, things slowed down in Indianapolis and the team was left without a big body to many the middle of the defense. On April 5 the team helped solve that problem by signing free agent defensive tackle Brandon McKinney.
As a fan of the team, McKinney is the kind of player I have been begging for for years. McKinney stands six-foot-two inches tall and weighs 345 pounds. It’s no secret that the Indianapolis defense has long struggled against the run. Anthony “Booger” McFarland is the last defensive tackle I remember that did a decent job defending against the run. Shortly after coach Pagano was hired, I remember looking at the list of free agent defensive players from Baltimore and noticing McKinnney’s name. A 3-4 defense is not complete without a big body in the middle that can occury defenders and create space for others to work. At this time, McKinney appears to be the best option the team has at that position.
The addition of McKinney isn’t something fans should get too exited over. He’s never been a great player and never seen consistent playing time at either San Diego or Baltimore. He has played behind some very talented players though and hopefully learned a lot from them. Fans can only hope that McKinney soaked in a lot playing in Baltimore and watching Haloti Ngata and Terrance Cody every day. Maybe this will be a chance for McKinney to finally prove his worth and have a breakout season.
Like the rest of the offseason signings, fans have to like the new general manager Ryan Grigson isn’t afraid to take chances on players in the free agent pool. McKinney is another low risk signing that could pay off for the team. If he doesn’t, the team can go with a younger alternative in his place. If he does, it’s another signing that could go a long way toward helping Pagano build a monster on defense in Indianapolis.
Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and has been a lifelong fan of the Indianapolis Colts. He attended Super Bowl XLIV in Miami and follows the team closely. He also runs the blog www.coltsfansonline.com that covers the team. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.
Source:
Colts add tackle
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Posted in 1, colts-news, Indianapolis Colts
Posted on 26 March 2012. Tags: call-on-monday, colts, colts-grigson, indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, nfl, robert-griffin, team
The Indianapolis Colts will have a special guest in the next couple of weeks when Stanford quarterback and likely 2012 NFL Draft first round draft pick Andrew Luck holds a private workout for his likely future team.
Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said during a conference call on Monday that Andrew Luck was ready to workout with the team but he would not yet confirm exactly when that workout would occur.
In the meantime Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III will not practice with the team although members of the Colts organization did watch Griffin during his pro day at Baylor University.
While Robert may not practice individually for the Colts Grigson says his teams evaluations are continuing and the Colts have not yet made up their mind about which player they will choose as their No. 1 choice and future leader of the Indianapolis Colts organization.
Whatever decision the Colts make they will not begin negotiating with that No. 1 draft before the 2012 NFL draft.
If Luck goes No. 1 as is expected the Washington Redskins are the likely choice to pick up Robert Griffin III.
The Redskins secured the No. 1 draft pick after the St. Louis Rams who secured No. 1 draft pick QB Sam Brady in 2010 traded the draft pick to the Redskins during a blockbuster trade.
Andrew Luck managed to rack up more than 3,000 yards for 35 touchdowns during his last season of play at Stanford. With those numbers its safe to say Indianapolis is probably not going to deviate from their original No. 1 draft choice.
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Posted in 1, colts-news, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Redskins
Posted on 26 March 2012. Tags: colts, draft, evaluation, griffin, indianapolis, Indianapolis Colts, irsay, luck-as-peyton, nfl, Peyton Manning, redskins, robert-griffin
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay says his team likes Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III and hasn’t decided which of the two star quarterbacks it will take with the No. 1 pick in next month’s draft.
“I think they’re both outstanding young men,” Irsay said during a break in the owners meetings here Monday. “I don’t think it’s either-or, where only one of them is going to succeed. I think they’re both going to be great.”
It’s long been assumed the Colts would take Luck with the first pick, and after the Washington Redskins traded up to get the No. 2 pick in the draft, it’s been assumed that they’d take Griffin. In truth, the Redskins are expecting the Colts to take Luck and excited to have Griffin. But if the Colts did take Griffin instead, the Redskins would be thrilled to have Luck fall to their spot.
Since they have the No. 1 pick, the Colts could, if they so choose, do a contract with Luck (or Griffin, or any player they want, actually) in advance of the draft.
“If we decided to do a deal early with one of them, that’s something we could definitely look into,” Irsay said. “But we’re still in the evaluation process right now.”
It’s possible the Colts have always been and remain set on taking Luck, and that the public interest in Griffin is a negotiating tactic Irsay is attempting to use with Luck. The Colts have been enamored with Luck for a long time. ESPN analyst Bill Polian, who was the Colts’ GM until a couple of months ago, has said last week on NFL Live that he believes Irsay is set on Luck as Peyton Manning’s successor in Indianapolis.
The key thing to remember, though, if you’re a Redskins fan, is the team believes (as Irsay says his team does) that there are two can’t-miss quarterback prospects in this year’s draft, and the trade the Redskins made with St. Louis ensured they will get one of them. Which one it is doesn’t matter as much as the fact that the Redskins believe that No. 2 pick sets them up at quarterback for years to come.
There is the quick update of the day.
Posted in 1, colts-news, Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning, Washington Redskins
