NFL Talk

Originally posted by forumcrew
Mathis has only started 11 games in the last 2 years. Freeny has not played a full season since 2006. Even in 08/09 when he was pretty healthy he is taking more plays off. Look at the Giants team when they won the superbowl they had never ending pass rushers coming in. Maybe they have bigger needs, but you can't have enough pass rushers. Especially when you just lost the superbowl to brees who was 32/39, no fumbles, no int's, and you only sacked him once. Clearly they could have used more pressure.

Granted, but our main problem is undersized DTs in terms of pressure. Freeney and Mathis combined to have the most forced fumbles of any two DEs in the league in 09.

And while it's true that you can't have enough pass rushers, a lot of our other problems on the defensive side lies with mediocre cornerbacks. Especially with the release of Marlin Jackson, I would have made our secondary the biggest priority.

Either that, or I'd get a guard or OT to create space for our non-existant running game.

Sometimes teams can't draft on need when the need talent isn't there.

For example. Maybe the Colts wanted to draft a CB but didn't want too because no prospect was worth a first rounder and Jerry Hughes was.

Speed rushers is something the Colts needed so it filled a hole.

Yea it is always a balance between most pressing need and the talent available.

I like the Panthers, they took 3 QB's and 3 DB's. Guess they figure if they take enough 1 must work out.

And you can't really complain about a Colts draft.

They have made the playoffs for an entire decade almost.

Originally posted by forumcrew
I am kinda really hoping we get Gerhart tonight if not him maybe Dwyer.

Originally posted by Smasandian
Sometimes teams can't draft on need when the need talent isn't there.

For example. Maybe the Colts wanted to draft a CB but didn't want too because no prospect was worth a first rounder and Jerry Hughes was.

Speed rushers is something the Colts needed so it filled a hole.

Problem is, there were plenty more positions that needed to be filled on the Colts roster that were of a higher priority than DE. And there was plenty of talent left, especially in the 1st round, to satisfy those needs.

Originally posted by Smasandian
And you can't really complain about a Colts draft.

They have made the playoffs for an entire decade almost.

Watch me. 313

Not for CB. Most of the 1st rounders hopefuls were picked.

So they picked a DE, which the Colts need help with.

Originally posted by Smasandian
Not for CB. Most of the 1st rounders hopefuls were picked.

So they picked a DE, which the Colts need help with.

Not when you have Mathis and Freeney. It certainly becomes less of a priority than other positions.

Also, a guard or OT position had plenty of potential talent to be taken which we need, as we have no run game.

Who has been injured for the past few years.

In the end, Hughes could be the player you guys need. A pass rusher who can spell for both. Also, Brock was cut so you had a hole. Did you need CB, yes, but I'll take Bill Polian and writers assessment on the lack of quality CB at that spot your assessment.

As for O-line, I'm pretty the Colts thought the talent wasn't worth the pick and saw good talent later on in the draft so that why they went with Hughes.

That's great, but if you look at it from the standpoint that Mathis and Freeney combined to have the most sacks and forced fumbles of any DE duo in the league, then it becomes a problem. In other words, we're paying Hughes a first round salary to basically sit on the bench for the majority of the time/season.

Do I think Hughes could be an asset or playmaker for this team? Maybe, although it would come at too high of a price. Like, for instance, if either Mathis or Freeney got seriously injured.

If you think that Hughes was a good acquisition for Colts, then that's fine. All I'm saying is that a back up DE should have been saved for another round where the money wouldn't have been as steep, which would allow for us to have that amount of money be appropriately paid to a starter.

Originally posted by batdude123
In other words, we're paying Hughes a first round salary to basically sit on the bench for the majority of the time/season.

I think this is where you are confused. He will play in a meaningful amount of plays in every game and that is with Freeny and Mathis healthy (which I am not sure has ever happened) DE is not like OT's they rotate a lot more often, which is why having more than 2 is just fine and far from a waste. If they had the choice of a 1st round talent pass rusher or a 2nd round talent CB that they would have to over pay I think they made a good choice.

Perfect example?

The Giants when they won the Super Bowl. They had 3 DE's that can pass rush.

In the end of the first round, draft for talent instead of need aside from a few instances like a QB or something. But DE? Why not.

Originally posted by forumcrew
I think this is where you are confused. He will play in a meaningful amount of plays in every game and that is with Freeny and Mathis healthy (which I am not sure has ever happened) DE is not like OT's they rotate a lot more often, which is why having more than 2 is just fine and far from a waste. If they had the choice of a 1st round talent pass rusher or a 2nd round talent CB that they would have to over pay I think they made a good choice.

Nah, I understand just fine. Thing is, with the way the Colts play Mathis and Freeney, Hughes will end up being a 3rd or 4th down back.

Not to mention, DE is one of those positions that's extremely hard to translate from the college level to the professional level.

I wouldn't think that.

I think all positions are. I would actually think that DE was one of the easier to do because its a lot of the position is athletic ability. Sure, pass rushing moves are important but if your not quick enough, it doesn't matter.

That's why you see a lot of DE's do well while CB's are different story.

I would.

Think about it, the OTs in the NFL are bigger, stronger, and faster than the ones in college. And to be a successful pass rusher, you've got to be TWICE the athlete that the OTs are, especially if you're being double teamed by the TE.

Tebow had the #1 selling NFL Jersey in April lol.

If I could throw in my $0.02 about DE's and DT's vs. OT's, I'd like to point out that OT's play every snap while D-Linemen are regularly shuffled in and out of the lineup. You could count the number of 3rd downs Casey Hampton plays in a year on one hand.

Of course, that's not to say that lugging 300+ poinds back and forth from the sidelines to the LOS isn't tiring. 😉

Edit: I think Forum pointed out something similar to that in an earlier post, but I think he was referring more along the lines of roster spots.

Wow, first post in 3 months! Who watched the Hall of Fame game? And who got their popcorn ready and still had popcorn left by the time J.T. O'Sullivan was in the game?

I watched the first bit of it. Just the starters and the first series of backups.

I knew it was going to be boring but I'm looking forward to the season. Hopefully the Cowboys do something this year but I highly doubt it. Somebody huge will get injured.

And speaking of huge, at least it won't be Flozell Adams. We signed his tank a$$ last week. Hopefully he can just fall on rushers and not get called for holding.