How to "COPYCAT " the COLTS draft approach
by durst on Feb 7, 2010 3:16 PM EST
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For years we have heard that the NFL is a "copycat" league, but if that were true, why hasnt anyone tried to copy the colts??
Dont get me wrong, it wouldnt be easy right? draft a hall of fame QB, WR, RB ect.
But although the Colts have an unconventional approach, it is possible for many teams to copy it.
The Colts as we know them were started a few years BEFORE drafting Peyton Manning with the first pick in the 1999 draft.
Manning came into the league with a fighting chance because the foundation had been set.....in 1994 the colts drafted Marshal Faulk, and in 1996 got Marvin Harrison, both dependable and productive B.P. (before Peyton).
Then the year before drafting Manning, they spent both their 1st and 2nd rd picks on offensive tackles, Tarik Glenn and Adam Meadows. Manning had the foundation set for a good OLine, and RB that can both run and catch out of the backfield , a dependable WR in Harrison, and two more WRs (Jerome Pathon and EG Green ) drafted the same year as Mannying.
But this is where the Colts took the UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACH.....despite a pretty well stocked offense all ready in place, they have continued to add more and more weapons for Manning.....they drafted RB in the first round three more times, WR two more times, TE once, and traded a future 1st round pick in 2008 for a high 2nd rd pick in 2007 to draft Tony Ugoh (a person they hoped they could groom to be their next LT).
On the other hand, since drafting Manning in 1999, they only have drafted defense THREE TIMES (Rob Morrris, Freeney, Marlin Jackson).
In recent years, quite a few QBs have come into the league (Matt Ryan, Matt Stafford, Flaco, Mark Sanchez) that has the POTENTIAL to develope into really good QBs, but if their teams want them to be then NEXT PEYTON MANNING, they may want to consider drafting like the NEXT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS!!
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slight edit: manning drafted in 1998
for the sake of being complete, I meant to include that the three RBs drafting since 1998 were Edgerin James 1999, Joseph Addai 2006, and Donald Brown 2009, and WRs were Reggie Wayne 2001 and Anthony Gonzalezm 2007, and TE Dallas Clark 2003, they also traded out of the first round in 2004
To be honest...
I think teh Colts draft the way they do because they have Peyton Manning. Dungy was a big reason on their drafting defense later on, as the Tampa 2 style D seems to favor all the “rejects” that get drafted later on at the end of April.
There’s really no way to copy them and make it work unless you have #18. A Dungy styled Tampa 2 could allow finding those late round ‘gems’ that work so well in that system.
…but there’s really a reason why the Colts are so unique. Its cuz they have the GOAT playing QB for them.
Rectum? Damn near killed em!
Agreed Somewhat...
It’s kind of difficult to surmise the motivations behind team strategies without first hand evidence, which I’m not sure I believe exists out there in this case, but your theory is certainly plausible…
"A player who conjugates a verb in the first person singular cannot be part of the squad, he has to conjugate the verb in the first person plural. We. We want to conquer. We are going to conquer. Using the word 'I' when you're in a group makes things complicated." ~ Wanderley Luxemburgo, 1999
The Colts OL isn't that great without Manning
(changing plays at the line, avoiding sacks by getting rid of the ball). The WRs aren’t as good without Manning and the running game would be in even worse shape. The D would still have some pass rush, but they wouldn’t be as good without the ability to build up a decent-sized lead in the passing game.
Without Manning, the Colts are fighting for a playoff spot. You can’t just try to “build the Colts” unless you’ve got a clone of Manning stashed in cold storage.
Interesting...
Corrolation does not imply causation, but this is an interesting study…
"A player who conjugates a verb in the first person singular cannot be part of the squad, he has to conjugate the verb in the first person plural. We. We want to conquer. We are going to conquer. Using the word 'I' when you're in a group makes things complicated." ~ Wanderley Luxemburgo, 1999
Well it has worked to some extent
Which team do you think the Ravens has modelled itself on? a dominant run game with a good O-line and D? Sounds like Cowhers Steelers don’t it?
"Every Day I walk past 6 Lombardi trophies not 6 rushing titles" - Greatest Tomlinism ever.
by Josh Roberts (ESGB) on Feb 7, 2010 3:52 PM EST reply actions
I spose they did it too
"Every Day I walk past 6 Lombardi trophies not 6 rushing titles" - Greatest Tomlinism ever.
by Josh Roberts (ESGB) on Feb 8, 2010 12:57 PM EST up reply actions
Post-Super Bowl: that didn't work out
Saints beat Colts.
I’m betting the Colts draft defense this year. They could use some better players there.
I dunno...
that’s not giving credit to Brees and that offense.
Colts probably could use some defenders in the draft, but that’s only cuz they probably will be losing some FA’s.
Rectum? Damn near killed em!
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 7, 2010 10:58 PM EST up reply actions
6 straigth 12+ win seasons might still be something you want to replicate
Luck is probability taken personally, clutch is probability attributed to individuals.
by shake n bake on Feb 8, 2010 12:27 AM EST up reply actions
That works in theory....but
Peyton Manning (despite tonight’s loss) is a rare talent and one of the best QB’s of all time. This kind of thing doesn’t work with just any first round quarterback…
pretty much
Colts strategy:
1. Draft once in a generation QB
2. ???
3. Profit!
by microwave donut on Feb 8, 2010 4:03 PM EST up reply actions
What works is getting a decent line in place
so your Qb doesn’t get hammered. Peyton was intercepted a lot his first two years but he wasn’t sacked often. do you hear me Lions,St.Louis, and Browns!
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
Imbalance
Many would say that too much focus on offense and not enough on defense is the reason why Indy only has one Super Bowl win.
The team other teams are copying is the Pats – because they won three Super Bowls in the past decade.
So people have started videotaping practices?
"Every Day I walk past 6 Lombardi trophies not 6 rushing titles" - Greatest Tomlinism ever.
by Josh Roberts (ESGB) on Feb 8, 2010 12:58 PM EST up reply actions
The best way to draft?
Start with defense. Offenses can be passable with FAs and band-aids. Great teams (Patriots, Steelers, Colts in the ’06 playoffs (not regular season)) win with great defenses.
Start with your Defensive 7:
DEs, ILBs, DTs/NT, OLBs
THEN start formulating your O-Line while growing your secondary:
OTs, CBs, OGs, Ss, C
Finally starting drafting your offensive finesse positions:
RB (before franchise QB), then at least one WR, then your QB
And then you can flesh out your team. Teams like this years Jets, and last years Falcons and Ravens, were able to do well BECAUSE the rest of the team could pick up the slack the QB would create and minimize the damage the QB made.
Detroit could hit the Trifecta this year with a stud DT-1st, DE-2nd, and RB-3rd round.
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
by lifelongvike on Feb 8, 2010 10:51 AM EST up reply actions
The only problem with your system is that by the time it comes together all those
defensive players are UFAs and head off to greener pastuers.
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
by lifelongvike on Feb 8, 2010 10:53 AM EST up reply actions
I should really read all comments before posting anything.
Oh well, we think alike.
by microwave donut on Feb 8, 2010 4:04 PM EST up reply actions
The only problem with your theory is
if you start preparing so you can draft a QB 3 seasons later it will take at least 5 seasons before your team starts to win again. Very few owners will wait 5 seasons of losing to build a winner. So that Coach will be fired leaving the next one to recieve the fruit of his work. Based on history I can only think of one franchize that would give one coach alll that time: The Pittsburgh Steelers.
I getting tired of saying this: Dick LeBeau’s system is so complex very few rookies can make an impact.
Tennesee?
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
by lifelongvike on Feb 8, 2010 10:49 AM EST up reply actions
To win in this league you need competent QB play, a good defense, and a running game that can be counted on
Depending on how good each of the three are you can get away with worse at others (example Arizona, good QB, bad running game, average defense; Baltimore, average QB, good run game, GREAT defense.) I’m a fan of building through the draft and signing cheaper vets that can come in and contribute immediately while I draft for the future. I’d start with the lines, because that will likely get me a good defense and run game, two out of three of the ingredients for success.
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Feb 8, 2010 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
Forgot about Bud Adams
Gotta check to see who was the QB when Fisher was hired and when he drafted Mcnair.
I getting tired of saying this: Dick LeBeau’s system is so complex very few rookies can make an impact.
Chris Chandler
McShay, Todd McShay you hear me boy? It's me TJ and I'm coming for your damn job boy! Oh be scared, be very scared McShay.
And he drafted Mcnair the same year.
Fisher fits the problem stated above. the previous regim drafted a T in the first in 93: Brad Hopkins. Fisher was hired in 95 and immediately drafted his franchise QB
I getting tired of saying this: Dick LeBeau’s system is so complex very few rookies can make an impact.
Bit of an outdated theory...
The Saints and Colts proved that last night. Neither team ran the ball after half time and I didn’t see anything that looked like passable defense out there. Teams like Arizona and Green Bay are following in that same mold with quite a bit of success. A QB who can spread the field and a defense that can rush the passer is the new gold standard of the league.
You may be right. I read one study that said each team will need to carry 5 top notch CBs to combat the upcomming ariel assault.
Winning is not everything but it sure feels like it sometimes
I am not saying EVERYONE should copy the colts, esp since they lost, but....
but they have an NFL record 7 straight 12 win seasons, and a superbowl record of 1-1.
I dont think great teams like the steelers and patriots should change their ways, or even good but not great teams like GB, minn, ect.
but I am surprised that teams like Detroit, Rams, Clev, ect, that NOBODY has really tried that approach.
Take detroit for example. I fully expect them to draft DT McCoy or Suh, but I think the YEAR AFTER a team drafts their “franchise Quarterback” is an important one in terms of identity, they COULD go LT and then either Jahvid Best or another WR in the 2nd Rd. Then they would have 2 former 1st rd picks on the Oline, one stud WR in Calvin Johnson, the best TE in last yrs draft, and a RB by commitee lead by Best. yes a TERRIBLE defense, but you all but guarenteed
Stafford will be a good to great QB, and who knows…..maybe a HOFer?? one day.
Or as exhibit B, lets take the RAMS, they have a great RB already in place, two 1st rd picks at OT, and certainly COULD draft QB with the first pick (Clausen likely), then lets say they get Gresham, or the TE Hernandez (maybe a reach at the top of the 2nd, but is similar to Dustin Keller) and you have the begainings of a good offense, but they will still only win 5 games next year, and thus get a high pick….what if that pick ended up being EG Green, of Julio Jones, now you have an offense that has the POTENTIAL to be like the Colts, (or N.O.)
again, I am not saying everyone should copy the colts, but maybe someone….
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