3 replies to this topic

[loudnproudcolt]

As we all know the Colts desperately need another quality tackle and some guards. In most years it is tought to find a quality tackle, and that is without even considering what the price tag is going to be. So I have been reading the forum thinking about this for the past month, and then i came across an interesting little snippet from Peter King, in his MMQB article, in the "Ten things I think" portion. King writes: :" I think ProFootballTalk made a great point Saturday about one aspect of the free-agent market: the tackle conundrum. There are so many good ones who will be free -- Jake Long, Brandon Albert, Andre Smith, Jermon Bushrod, Ryan Clady (likely to be franchised), Sebastian Vollmer and Sam Baker -- that the value will go down. Teams can likely to get a good tackle for $7 million or $8 million a year if they're patient.

 

I really enjoy reading what King has to say even though he borrowed the though and expanded on it a bit. King is definitely one writer who I trust as a source in the NFL, and he seems to have very good thoughts and sources around the league.

I really had forgotten about Sam Baker, but he has had back problems the last two years, like Vollmer. Still though both are worth looking at if the hit FA, especially Vollmer. Still there are several quality starters there, and I also like what was written about the price tags. Don't know if this will be the case, but it would be great to see those prices for good tackles. I was also thinking about how Grigson will be in FA, in effect I believe he will be aggressive as far as the line. Well as I was reading, it seemed King was reading my mind, because he also had a little bit to say about teams who had the most cap room. Here is what he wrote:

 

What team is better positioned in free agency than Cincinnati, with 40 players under contract and $52 million available? Now, spending that money is another matter. The Bengals should re-sign Robert Geathers and Michael Johnson to keep their front seven strong, then go get one of the big receivers (Greg Jennings, Brian Hartline, Mike Wallace) ... Other potential big spenders: Indianapolis ($46 million under), Miami ($47 million under), Tampa Bay ($31 million under). Ryan Grigson, the Colts GM, with real money to spend? Dangerous proposition.

 

 

I loved what he had to say about Grigson. By the way, I don't believe you build a team through FA, but you definitely can make great additions, and Grigson showed how to do it last year when he was severely limited. King is right, with money, Grigson could be dangerous. Lets Hope so!

[The Peytonator]

I feel like I can't stress this enough; get a Right Tackle, let Castonzo continue developing as the Left Tackle. It is not as easy as people think to just go from playing on the left side your entire life to playing on the right side.

[Marcio James]

According to @JasonLaCanfora, the #Colts will make a run at Ryan Clady, Brandon Albert, and Jermon Bushrod (in order of importance).

[brett.stromberg]

I'm going to agree with Peytonator on this.  I think Castonzo plays better at LT with a stronger LG.  Clady will be franchised, Long will want too much money that he hasn't shown he's deserved of over the past two years.  Albert and Bushrod are "fine" but also play on lines better than ours that give up less sacks making them appear better than Castonzo.  Neither of which will be taking less money to go to the right side.  I don't think we need to address the TACKLE position until the draft.  Re-sign Justice cheap, and pick up Menelik Watson(6'6" 320lbs, Florida St.) somewhere in the 4th-5th.  He's a little raw but will add some much needed depth at RT. 

 

We won't get both, so either Vasquez or Levitre in FA.  Sign Henry Melton DT, William Moore S,  and Paul Kruger DE/OLB.  Draft Jonathan Cooper G or one of the top three DB's available(Rhodes or Banks) with the first pick.

 

 

Thoughts...?