Maybe it was a good thing...

[Dark_Indy]

So if I asked you, by popularity what three free agents from last year the fans on this board would like to sign, you'd probably answer with, 

 

1. Alex Mack

2. Jarius Byrd

3. Brian Orakpo

 

Maybe not in that order, but those were three of the major names talked about when potential free agent signings were looming. Mack is the best C in the game right now, Byrd is a ballhawk safety, and Orakpo is a borderline elite pass rusher. All three would have filled in huge gaps on the team- and I doubt any one would truly complain that they were signed. 

 

However as fate would have it, all three of these ex-potential Colts are now on injured reserve. Maybe it was a good thing we passed on these gentlemen. 

 

It also seems, that despite the non-signing of these three players; relative no-name and undrafted players have stepped up in a huge way. 

 

Bjoern Werner has become a near force to be reckoned with 

Mike Adams is playing like a man possessed

Jonothan Harrison, minus a few bad snaps, has played solid on the O-Line.

 

Food for thought I guess.

[Nobody]

Orakpo definitely wasn't on the list, was he even a free agent? And most all of us knew Mack was impossible and we couldn't afford Byrd.

[Dr. Guildo]

Orakpo definitely wasn't on the list, was he even a free agent? And most all of us knew Mack was impossible and we couldn't afford Byrd.

Mack may have been an impossible pick up, but the masses sure wanted him in a Colts uniform.

[Superman]

Orakpo definitely wasn't on the list, was he even a free agent? And most all of us knew Mack was impossible and we couldn't afford Byrd.

Orakpo was on a lot of lists. People might not have heard his name as much because he wound up getting tagged.

We also could have afforded Byrd, very easily, as far as cap space goes. The question was whether he was worth the money.

And despite Mack being impossible, lots of posts revolved around his free agency and the potential for us to sign him.

[Bluefire4]

Everyone definitely wanted one of these three players but I wouldn't say we shouldn't have signed them because they got injured. Mack still would have been a good player. Grigs picked up good players in Adams and Harrison and it has definitely worked.

[shakedownstreet]

i can see 20/20 through my hindsight glasses. working on getting them patented 

 

[ProblChld32]

Ehhhhh disagree you cant predict that they would have gotten injured in the same exact manner in which they did had they came to this organization. 

[lollygagger8]

I'd rather have Mathis and Adongo off the IR than any of those guys. 

[21isSuperman]

The problem with injuries is you can't predict them.  It's very possible that if Alex Mack played for Indy, he wouldn't break his leg.  It's also possible that he would have torn his ACL in week 1 and been done for the season.  It's easy to say it now because we're looking in hindsight, but you can never predict injuries.

[ColtsHoosiersBB]

Let's just keep our team the way it is, the chemistry is amazing.

[rko_kero]

Ehhhhh disagree you cant predict that they would have gotten injured in the same exact manner in which they did had they came to this organization. 

 

Exactly what I always stress. Take Mack out of the game he got injured, he wouldn't have been in the same spot, in the same play, against the same opponent, making it all moot.

[Smurphy1]

I'd rather have Mathis and Adongo off the IR than any of those guys.

Would the Colts D be this good if Mathis was healthy though? From what I've seen it looks like the great play is mostly coming from adjustments made because Mathis wasn't going to play this year (the other part being Vontae Davis).

[Dark Superman]

With big contracts lurking ahead for us we need to save cap

[COLTS449]

Who is to say those guys would have gotten injured on another team?

[throwing BBZ]

Would the Colts D be this good if Mathis was healthy though? From what I've seen it looks like the great play is mostly coming from adjustments made because Mathis wasn't going to play this year (the other part being Vontae Davis).

 

 We wouldn`t have nearly as many 3rd and longs if Mathis was out there.

 

 And Mack is a top 5 center. Though a top run blocker, he gave up more (25) sacks/hits/hurries than Satele (19) last season. How bout them apples!

[Superman]

The problem with injuries is you can't predict them. It's very possible that if Alex Mack played for Indy, he wouldn't break his leg. It's also possible that he would have torn his ACL in week 1 and been done for the season. It's easy to say it now because we're looking in hindsight, but you can never predict injuries.

Yeah, the butterfly effect. But Byrd and Orakpo have a history of serious injuries, which is partly why they were available in the first place.

Mack was an ironman before this.

[Valpo2004]

The good news is that we've gotten solid play out of guys who are making close to league min for their experience level, with the exception of Werner who isn't that expensive himself.

[loudnproudcolt]

Free Agency signing seem to always be a bust, unless done very strategically. If you try and build a team in one or two years through FA, Miami, Tampa Bay, Washington, it never seems to work. Washington particularly should be held out as a warning sign. It just shows how important chemistry is, and make sure when you use FA, they fit the system and character of the team. Also, don't believe we ever thought how well we would do in the Free Agent area after the draft. We got some real keepers I believe!