2011 NFL Draft Needs: Indianapolis Colts

He will not be back. His level of performance last year was woeful, and the organisation needs to have a serious word with itself if they do hold on to him.

Surprisingly enough to some, WR is also a need. We have a very precarious receiving corps in terms of injury, and Reggie Wayne is definitely on a downward slope in terms of his skill set.

Sanders has played nine games in the last three seasons. The Colts have filled his position and moved on. Yes, they could use an upgrade, but they certainly have more pressing needs than at Safety. How about at Outside Linebacker? A lot of injuries and a lot of poor play.

1. Offensive tackle: Manning is one of the best in the league at getting rid of the ball quickly, but that shouldn’t mask the need for help along the line. The Colts need to find someone to replace Charlie Johnson at the ever so important left tackle position. Ryan Diem is still serviceable on the right side, but they could use an upgrade on that side as well.

Charlie Johnson is just as if not more servicable at left tackle than Ryan Diem is at right tackle. Both are injury-prone sub-par starters who are pitiful at run-blocking, but Diem is a pylon in pass-protecting who in particular allowed some brutal shots on Peyton last year. And in mentioning an upgrade at right tackle, there’s no mention whatsoever of young Jeff Linkenbach (2010 UDFA) who filled-in at both left tackle and right tackle due to injuries last season – including starting at right tackle in the playoff game against the Jets. What sterling evaluation.

Although lacking an elite talent at the position, the Colts will be able to find a good offensive tackle with the 22nd overall pick. The top tackle on a lot of people’s boards is USC’s Tyron Smith and the rising junior most likely won’t make it Indianapolis. Luckily for the Colts, one of these other prospects will be there: Nate Solder, Anthony Castonzo, Gabe Carimi or Derek Sherrod.

It doesn’t matter if Tyron Smith reaches the Colts’ pick as he doesn’t have the intelligence and production (the Colts are the “unlikeliest” team in the entire league to draft a project in the first round) for them to consider drafting him. And if the Colts’ specific purpose is to upgrade at left tackle as you said earlier, because Ryan Diem is “servicable” apparently, that wouldn’t likely include Gabe Carimi who some NFL scouts consider a right tackle only because of his lack of left tackle feet and athleticism. If the person writing had a clue, that is.

The ignorant will point to the fact that Carimi plays in the Big Ten and that Bill Polian loves Big Ten players. Polian who loves Big Ten players so much that he passed on Beanie Wells, Shonn Greene, and Rodger Saffold to draft deservingly higher-rated players in Donald Brown and Jerry Hughes the last 2 years in the 1st round. Again, the ignorant.

2. Defensive tackle: The rotation of Dan Muir, Fili Moala and Antonio Johnson doesn’t exactly strike fear into the eyes of offenses around the NFL. The Colts can’t solely rely on the talents of Freeney and Mathis for another season. Some first round fits at the position could be Stephen Paea, Drake Nevis and Corey Liuget. My guess is Indianapolis will address this position in the second round and some possibilities there could be: Marvin Austin, Jarvis Jenkins and Allen Bailey.

In terms of pure need, defensive tackle is the most prominent because Daniel Muir and Antonio Johnson are unrestricted free agents, unless the RFA tenders in the absence of a new CBA are upheld for this season.

Drake Nevis isn’t a first round or second round consideration for the Colts, he doesn’t have the intelligence. Similarly so with Allen Bailey, who additionally has poor explosion off the snap and is a terrible fit to fill the need at starter if that’s the goal. Marvin Austin isn’t a second round consideration, which his history, his concerns, and his lack of production. That these are suggestions, especially Austin, show how little the writer knows about the Colts.

3. Strong safety: I almost went guard with this need, but a young safety is needed for the future at this position. Even though Sanders has missed a lot of time in the past few years, he’s the perfect example of the kind of impact a good player at this position can have . Along with defensive tackle, improving at safety will help get the Colts defense off the field quicker, which will result in more opportunities for Manning and company. In a weaker safety class, Tyler Sash of Iowa and Joe Lefeged of Rutgers might be options for Indianapolis in the second or third rounds.

At least one thing in this entry is right on the head, strong safety is a bigger need than guard.

In terms of pure need, strong safety is definitely among the top three. Because the Colts have released Bob Sanders, Melvin Bullitt is a free agent (pending RFA tender upheld as above, which isn’t likely), Aaron Francisco is a free agent, and Jamie Silva is recovering from a torn ACL injury. So the Colts as of right now are looking as Al Afalava as their starter.

However the issue is the idea of the Colts addressing strong safety early. Strong safety is a fungible position, like runningback on offense, given the physical demands and the propensity for injury. It’s often not worth investing big money or early picks into, something the Colts learned the hard way after the Bob Sanders’ con job. And the Colts proved it all last year making the playoffs with Aaron Francisco. Who they can easily re-sign and is familiar with the defense as he’s been present both years in Larry Coyer’s defense.

If there were a great prospect with great speed and athleticism to consider in the 2nd round, like say Taylor Mays last year or Bob Sanders in his draft year, then maybe you look at strong safety early. But that’s not the case this year with this pitiful safety class. Tyler Sash is a nice little college player but he lacks the athleticism, when he already wasn’t known for being the most fearsome tackler. He’s going to fall farther than people currently expect, and maybe the Colts do draft him in the 6th round, but certainly not the 3rd which is a ridiculous suggestion. Which is par for the course in this written entry.