Colts first round pick: lock to be OL?

TAC, a Colts/USC fan thinks Casey might even be best off moving outside as a LE and Bailey would be the 2nd smallest DT on the team next to Eric Foster (who pretty much only plays passing downs the last 2 years).

I can’t see them going for Kerrigan either. Putting another 1st rounder into a DE who won’t start for his first 2 years? (Freeney is signed through 2012 and still playing on an elite level). There isn’t even the potential to get use from him before then as a backup/subpackage player since Hughes should be fully taking over those rolls next season.

Paea on the other hand I see as a very viable alternative to a first round O-lineman. I think the Colts believe the could go into next year with what they have and be a contender, but I expect they’ll look hard into ways to upgrade the OL. The price/pick will just have to be right.

1. Left Tackle

Charlie Johnson is not good enough (despite your attempt to argue the opposite), plus he cannot stay healthy. The Colts kept him through his relatively cheap sixth round contract, but he’s now an unrestricted free agent and now the Colts move on. Having already moved on from Tony Ugoh a few months earlier.

I’ve been thinking it over, and it’s still very early so it’s all very fluid, but I’m thinking Nate Solder as the top-ranked tackle for the Colts. I’d have to say he’s the prospect I want the most, with his athletic ability and the smarts, among other attributes. His issues look to be largely correctable (technique issues, upper body strength).

After Solder, I’m guessing Sherrod, Castonzo, and then maybe Tyron Smith.

I was a little more bullish on Castonzo recently, but I’ve tried to step back and think it over. His performance against Nevada might have been too fresh in my mind and maybe he’s not as athletic as I thought him to be. Plus of all the tackles, he’s very likely to have been exposed to the best coaching. I was a big fan of former BC Eagles center Matt Tennant last year who is very, very similar to Castonzo in many respects, I overlooked his faults then (he went much later than I expected) and wondered if I was doing the same with Castonzo … as I’ve said, it’s all very fluid and I’ve been (re)thinking things.

But that’s why I bumped Derek Sherrod ahead of him in the second spot, for what it’s worth.

I have Tyron Smith as a tentative fourth because, although he has great athletic ability that could very well see him as a Top 15 selection to come teams, I have concerns about his work ethic and the head on his shoulders. He’s a 20-year-old kid who missed the 2010 Emerald Bowl because of academics. He hasn’t played any left tackle. He may come into the Combine around 300 lbs but I wonder if his time at USC didn’t mainly consist of him coasting by on his physical ability. Some players at USC work hard and have the right attitude, but some others don’t (some of which have been termed “dogs” by scouts). I had very similar concerns about Charles Brown last year, although Smith is a better prospect than Brown. Too much of a risky project for the Colts to really consider imo.

I’m hoping Solder reaches the Colts’ pick, because I think they are definitely going to go offensive tackle in the first round.

2. First-Round (or Second-Round) Defensive Tackle?

For all of those Polian quotes you provided, you neglected to include the two most important ones. The first, during the season in I believe one of his Polian Corners, where he basically outright disparaged the play of the offensive tackles and the need to improve there. (See #1 above; also applies to Ryan Diem who will we return to in a bit.) If you want to include the quote about Rodger Saffold as an addendum to this, feel free.

The second, the very most recent quotes/comments by Polian, on the JMV show or whatever it’s called, where he said he was essentially fine with the defense returning next year and his greater aim is on the offense. He also added that they have to look to certain players on the offense with respect to their age, injuries, effectiveness … ie. more fuel to the fire that Polian will make the right move and cut the grossly overpaid, injury-prone Ryan Diem who is not a good enough NFL starting tackle either. There are no cap acceleration concern with releasing Diem, he’s in the last year of his deal and cutting him outright saves the Colts $5.4M that is much, much better off spent elsewhere.

Like say the defensive tackles. Polian’s comments above indicate the Colts aren’t likely to look at DT in the first two rounds, but both Antonio Johnson and Daniel Muir are unrestricted free agents. Presumably, for Polian to feel that way, he thinks he can get one if not both of Mookie and Muir re-signed.

3. Improving the OL from within?

Not sure I see this either. But I do think Polian’s aim is to finally improve the offensive line, especially as they now have contracts off the books, opening up roster spots.

I agree with you that Mike Pollak’s best fit is at center, I think he can be great there, but I think he’s turned into a very good guard. He dealt with injuries his first two years and then this year the Colts’ coaches made the moronic decision to bench him for Jeff Linkenbach (stupid beyond belief). To me he’s the best offensive lineman on the Colts right now. And he could move over to Left Guard if need be.

DeVan I don’t see as the ideal starter, but he’s incredibly value as a back-up who can step in at either guard spot and perhaps even center as well, he’ll go out there and battle to try and get the job done. He’s definitely a keeper in that regard, and maybe a candidate to be the starting center in 2012.

But the Colts need to upgrade their interior run-blocking-wise. Part of it is Jeff Saturday, he was never a road-grader but at times he looks to have declined/diminished to the point where he’s getting dominated physically more than ever. Yet I expect the Colts will give him his last year of his contract, he’s still a good if not great pass-blocker, SB XLVI is in Indy, and the Colts are likely working in at least two if not three new starting lineman this upcoming year already.

McClendon could be the center of the future. The Colts’ website has him listed at 6-3/324, but the Colts’ website is a joke and this is likely yet another example why. At the Tennessee pro day last year, McClendon measured in at 6-2/308. The Colts’ website also lists Jeff Linkenbach as 6-4/311 when he measured in at 6-6.5 in height. Don’t trust the Colts’ website.

Jamey Richard is terrible imo, although unfortunately I expect him to stick around because Polian loves the shit out of him. There’s that Polian comment above about Jaimie Thomas, but really he hasn’t shown anything. Those are two roster spots that could be better used on guards who can upgrade the future offensive line if not the current offensive line too, although if may end up as only one because of Polian/Richard.

All of which is why I’m thinking someone like John Moffitt to the Colts in the second round, especially if the Colts aren’t going defensive tackle/line in the second round. Moffitt steps in at one of the guard spots – I’m thinking of keeping him at left guard next to Nate Solder, that is the position Moffitt has been playing plus it’s looks like a strong combination of run-blocking and pass-blocking. Moffitt obviously gets the pub for his run-blocking (think I saw Gabe Carimi end up on the ground more than him), but I also think he does a good pass-blocking as well. Would prefer to see him lose a few pounds, but he’s an intelligent kid.

So yeah, I’m thinking/hoping for Nate Solder in the first and John Moffitt in the second, which would boost the Colts’ offensive line in a big (literally and figuratively) way. The Colts must improve the offensive line, and if they do that, then they are as serious as any contender in the league.