Will Indy Finally Address The Ol Next Draft?

[BProland85]

This OL has been mediocre at best since this new regime arrived. I for one hope we invest high draft picks on talented OL players along with help at pass rushing LB, ILB, and NT.

I know this is very early to be discussing this, but what's your prediction on how things will unfold next offseason?

[IndyD4U]

This OL has been mediocre at best since this new regime arrived. I for one hope we invest high draft picks on talented OL players along with help at pass rushing LB, ILB, and NT.

I know this is very early to be discussing this, but what's your prediction on how things will unfold next offseason?

 

I think it depends on how a number of things shake out this year. Like, How Mewhort adapts to playing tackle. We know we'll have to replace Herremans, as he isn't a long term solution, if a solution at all. There is too much unknown across the entire line, except for Castonzo.

 

If Mewhort does ok and Holmes steps up, I think we'll go after a mid-late round guard to compete with Herremans and rely on Thornton and Louis for the left side.

 

If RT and C are still an issue after this year, you have no choice but to go big in the draft and get high caliber O-linemen, IMO

[CR91]

besides the first two drives to start the game, the o-line was fine

[Derakynn]

Finally? Sure, if we exclude the 5 picks or so we've used on the line, then we haven't drafted an Olineman. High doesn't mean they will work out, especially instantly. 

[21isSuperman]

I don't put much meaning into preseason games.  The last time we saw the OL play a meaningful game, it was in the playoffs last year.  From what I remember, they did really well against Cincy and Denver (and I think they did better than advertised against New England, but I don't recall).  It's possible the line continues to play well when the games start to matter.

[Flash7]

Yes. They will draft a 7th rounder that no one has heard of (John, Good) and pick up a free agent that has a history of injuries (Herremans, Cherilus), and then get some guy from Arena football and problem solved.

[crazycolt1]

You are right. It is premature to judge anything at this point. We have yet to see the full lineup of starters so don't put too much into pre season.

[akcolt]

I think people really get to worked up over the preseason. We have 37 guys seeing action that won't be on the team at the start of the season. We have been able to run the ball vs 1,2,and 3's except when Tipton or Ballard totes the rock. That appears to me what we have focused on this preseason.

 

I think the biggest thing will be to get out of these next two games injury free. Thorton hopefully will be close to return by week 1 maybe before. We have shown the ability to run the ball much more effectively.

 

I am not convinced the O Line is the mess everyone seems to think it is. I will reserve judgment until after the Bills and Jets game. Those two defensive fronts week 1 and 2 should give us a pretty good idea where we are.

 

That being said I think we will continue to add to the trenches in the draft.

[BrentMc11]

We could go back 6 or 7 years(more?) to copy and paste the answers we would type today.

 

The starting line needs a chance to gel together. We had an ugly line all of last year with all of the injuries and such.  I think we are fine when we get to pounding Gore, Josh R. and Boom Herron through there in a coordinator attack.  This offense will shred defenses and the offense will gain confidence.  

 

It is too early to discuss when we have seen the OL for a total of 6 series so far.  Bring on the Bills and get the party started.      

[NewColtsFan]

Yes.........

 

Even if Mewhort is good at OT,  the Colts will spend a high pick -- a 1 or a 2 -- on an OL.   A guard if Mewhort works out,  and a tackle if he doesn't.

 

That's my prediction.

[Defjamz26]

It depends who is there. If a guy like Ronnie Stanley is there by some miracle then yes. But it would have to be good value. We've already put a lot towards the O-line. Hugh Thorton was a 3rd round pick, Mewhort a 2nd, and Holmes a 4th.

But I think they'll almost be forced to somewhat draft for need. You can't take another WR, and TEs are rarely worth 1st round picks. CB is unlikely unless there is a surprise faller. More than likely they'll draft some defensive lineman or an ILB. I'm not sure this coming class will have that many 1st round O lineman. The talent seems to be on defense for this coming class.

[Colts_Fan12]

Prolly not our mediocre GM thinks its necessary to build up every position on offense BUT the O line while also allowing the D to be made up of old and average players

[Boiler_Colt]

The problem is not too many guards are worthy of a first round pick on a given year and typically any instant impact tackles are taken off the board in the first 15 picks. ILB, OL, and DB (If Toler not retained and Smith doesn't show anything) should be the top priorities.

[Superman]

No.

[Gavin]

If an O Lineman is the BPA then sure according to Grigsons board, Otherwise no. To say otherwise in my opinion means you either have not listened or either understood what Grigson has clearly stated is his overall draft philosophy OR your letting the fact that we do have weak spots on the team cloud your judgement of talent.

[Rhane19]

Yes. They will draft a 7th rounder that no one has heard of (John, Good) and pick up a free agent that has a history of injuries (Herremans, Cherilus), and then get some guy from Arena football and problem solved.

 

So, what you are saying is... we will draft a real late pick with a 4 letter last name from a real small school, then pick up a guy with an interesting longer last name that has played in the NFL, and then some player from a random league (my hope being the women's lingerie league).  

 

I like it, got to keep with trends.

[Buck Showalter]

Prolly not our mediocre GM thinks its necessary to build up every position on offense BUT the O line while also allowing the D to be made up of old and average players

bwahahaha

[BProland85]

I question this teams ability to scout talent on OL and defense with the many many misses in both free agency and the draft.

Since 2012, here are some of the main misses...

Bjoern Werner

Hugh Thornton

Gosder cherilus

Laron Landry

Donald Thomas

Josh chapman

Montori Hughes

Tbd- Art jones, Jonathan newsome, Kendall Langford, Todd herremans

My basic point here is that outside of offensive skill position players, this scouting group has dropped the ball of many players and hopefully this isn't a trend.

[chad72]

Ryan Diem - Round 4

Ryan Lilja - Undrafted

Jeff Saturday - Undrafted

Jake Scott - Round 5

Tarik Glenn - Round 1

 

These were the guys who blocked their behinds off to win us a SB and win us so many games as a unit. So, let's not get carried away with where an OL is drafted. Yeah, the Cowboys have 3 first round picks, the 49ers had 2 or more first round picks on their OL as well, none of them have a SB win lately, do they? 

 

Coaching and line up continuity are big parts of the puzzle I feel the Colts need to look into.

[cholstein]

More than likely not considering how we should be picking in the 30's and the premier OL usually go in the top 20 in the draft.

Hopefully Grigson might get some of the old mentality of protecting his elite QB like our recent HOF Polian.

It does appear the recent drafts and signings have us set with a lot of young key players on the O for Luck.

But I strongly agree with getting great protection up front that can establish great things for years to come.

Use your second rounder's on the D.

[Moncrief]

What I would give to have that line back.. Ahh

Ryan Diem - Round 4

Ryan Lilja - Undrafted

Jeff Saturday - Undrafted

Jake Scott - Round 5

Tarik Glenn - Round 1

 

These were the guys who blocked their behinds off to win us a SB and win us so many games as a unit. So, let's not get carried away with where an OL is drafted. Yeah, the Cowboys have 3 first round picks, the 49ers had 2 or more first round picks on their OL as well, none of them have a SB win lately, do they? 

 

Coaching and line up continuity are big parts of the puzzle I feel the Colts need to look into.

[ColtsfaninTexas]

We  need to get tougher in the trenches no doubt, but I would be hesitant to start spending money on the defensive side of the ball. If we can play ball control on O and still be explosive, our D will reap the rewards. I'm not saying we need a patchwork defense, but we've clearly made big investments on the offensive side so let's finish that off before we start tossing money in different areas. No one wants a half assed defense and offense. 

[Track Guy]

Castonzo is by all accounts the long term solution at LT. Even if Mewhort can prove he can be that guy at RT and Holmes can prove he can be that guy at C, both of our starting guards are most certainly not long term solutions.

 

Grigson is very much a BPA drafter, but I think you'd have to be out of your mind not to at least be heavily eyeing going O-line in round 1 or 2.  

[Gavin]

Not if the talent don't warrant a 1st round pick

[NewColtsFan]

If an O Lineman is the BPA then sure according to Grigsons board, Otherwise no. To say otherwise in my opinion means you either have not listened or either understood what Grigson has clearly stated is his overall draft philosophy OR your letting the fact that we do have weak spots on the team cloud your judgement of talent.

 

I think there are many examples of Grigson not going for BPA.    He had targeted players and took them.

 

He does NOT always go for BPA.

[BOTT]

If an O Lineman is the BPA then sure according to Grigsons board, Otherwise no. To say otherwise in my opinion means you either have not listened or either understood what Grigson has clearly stated is his overall draft philosophy OR your letting the fact that we do have weak spots on the team cloud your judgement of talent.

Stop with the 100% BPA no matter what approach. Nobody does it that way.

[aaron11]

we have taken o line men in the past 2 drafts

 

one of them was with our first pick

[aaron11]

 Nobody does it that way.

sure they do.  we could take another WR next year too.  depth at a position can change over night,  look at the 49ers linebackers

[BOTT]

sure they do.  we could take another WR next year too.  depth at a position can change over night,  look at the 49ers linebackers

Not in the first. there are kinds of caveats that go along with BPA. Even Bill Polian said all the BPA talk is all just words.....it's about building a team. You taking a guard or running back in the top 5?

What if Tyler Lockett had been available for the colts to draft in the 3rd...you selecting him? Go ahead, but you going to end up with an unbalanced team.

[Gavin]

I think there are many examples of Grigson not going for BPA.    He had targeted players and took them.

 

He does NOT always go for BPA.

I just know what he said, BPA is ultimately in the eye of the beholder, If you have for example to find another linebacker or two or a 3rd TE you can always do that in FA UNLESS that linebacker fall into your lap or TE on your board as BPA

[Gavin]

Not in the first. there are kinds of caveats that go along with BPA. Even Bill Polian said all the BPA talk is all just words.....it's about building a team. You taking a guard or running back in the top 5?

What if Tyler Lockett had been available for the colts to draft in the 3rd...you selecting him? Go ahead, but you going to end up with an unbalanced team.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider

/post/bill-polian-key-to-success-is-drafting-best-player-available/2012/04/24/gIQAGvLPeT_blog.html

 

He said the exact opposite here and here

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/23170/on-best-player-available-and-other-strategy

[OffensivelyPC]

....it's August

[aaron11]

Not in the first. there are kinds of caveats that go along with BPA. Even Bill Polian said all the BPA talk is all just words.....it's about building a team. You taking a guard or running back in the top 5?

What if Tyler Lockett had been available for the colts to draft in the 3rd...you selecting him? Go ahead, but you going to end up with an unbalanced team.

i would spend a top five pick on a young AP, walter payton or barry sanders.  i wouldn't take a guard there but it would not be unheard of to take one in the 8-15 range

 

sure there are some caveats to BPA... i just think that dorsett was in fact a good pick.

 

as for lockett, that would have been intriguing and i may have in fact pulled the trigger if he was there.    moncrief would probably hit the trade block after that

[BOTT]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider

/post/bill-polian-key-to-success-is-drafting-best-player-available/2012/04/24/gIQAGvLPeT_blog.html

He said the exact opposite here and here

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/23170/on-best-player-available-and-other-strategy

Bill has been known to contradict himself lol. I prob agree with you for the most part....I just don't think they apply it as strictly as you think.

[BOTT]

i would spend a top five pick on a young AP, walter payton or barry sanders.  i wouldn't take a guard there but it would not be unheard of to take one in the 8-15 range

 

sure there are some caveats to BPA... i just think that dorsett was in fact a good pick.

 

as for lockett, that would have been intriguing and i may have in fact pulled the trigger if he was there.    moncrief would probably hit the trade block after that

Well, I said a "no matter what" approach to BPA. For the most part it is BPA....just gotta use common sense IMO.

What I wrote had nothing to do with Dorsett. But I wasn't thrilled with the pick.

[NewColtsFan]

I just know what he said, BPA is ultimately in the eye of the beholder, If you have for example to find another linebacker or two or a 3rd TE you can always do that in FA UNLESS that linebacker fall into your lap or TE on your board as BPA

 

And what Grigson has said is that if a player is available and he has a much higher grade than anyone else,  Grigson will take him even if it is NOT at a position of need.

 

But that all other things being equal -- if a group of players are on his board with roughly the same grade -- THEN he will take the player at a position of need.   

 

That last line Grigson said after he took Dorsett.   He might've even said it before he took Dorsett.

 

So, when he's using a phrase like "take the player at a position of need" he is CLEARLY saying he doesn't always go with BPA.

[aaron11]

Well, I said a "no matter what" approach to BPA. For the most part it is BPA....just gotta use common sense IMO.

What I wrote had nothing to do with Dorsett. But I wasn't thrilled with the pick.

well like others have said, we can argue BPA all day but there really is no such thing as a consensus BPA.  its in the eye of the beholder

[Dark Superman]

Offensive, Defensive and Safety all need to be addressed next offseason.

[Track Guy]

I have a few ideas of guys I'd like to have playing at the guard position that we could draft next year. Maybe a guy like Denzelle Good could develop into a starting guard in time too, we'll see. 

[crazycolt1]

More than likely not considering how we should be picking in the 30's and the premier OL usually go in the top 20 in the draft.

Hopefully Grigson might get some of the old mentality of protecting his elite QB like our recent HOF Polian.

It does appear the recent drafts and signings have us set with a lot of young key players on the O for Luck.

But I strongly agree with getting great protection up front that can establish great things for years to come.

Use your second rounder's on the D.

Protecting Manning was a lot different than protecting Luck. Manning had a very quick release while Luck does not. How many sacks and hits did Manning avoid with his quick release? Making the Grigson-Polian comparison is silly because of the differences in the two QBs.