Werner

[CR91]

He has no business making the team. Couldn't make plays in a meaningless game against scrubs and played well into the second half. Adongo showed more promise for crying out loud. I'd be shocked if he's not cut.

[theanarchist]

I would say Adongo shows more promise and its probably time to part ways with Werner. If we were playing Tony Dungy's 4-3 I think Werner would have had a better shot at becoming a success but we dont and thats the way it goes.

[RomanianColtsFan]

Yes, unfortunately he will be cut.

[JH8788]

That pick looks worse & worse considering the players that were still on the board at the time in Rhodes, Hopkins, Frederick, Lacy, Bell, & Keenan Allen. Yeah it's time to part ways.

[IndyD4U]

I hope he gets cut, but others have explained why he won't.

 

Regardless, I can come off the edge and stay engaged with the blocker and not to squat

[AZColt11]

I like the guy.  He and Vinatieri signed something and talked to my kid at a private function.  But the guy is not an NFL LB'er.  He showed flashes last season but now is having trouble even competing with 2nd and 3rd stringers.  I think we should tell him to keep his phone handy in case of injury.  I think he could fill in for a game or two without hurting us too badly, and he knows the system, but he's just not a play-maker and expecting him to be now is foolish.  Him taking up a roster spot for 16 games is not needed.  Colts are set at the LB position right now.

[BleedBlu8792]

No matter how bad people believe he is, he's still going to back up Walden at the SAM spot. Now, let's just hope Walden stays healthy all season.

[Bluefire4]

A lot of people disappointed me yesterday, not just Werner. I was more worried about Newsome than Werner. You know what Werner does, but Newsome was suppose to improve this year.

[pgt_rob]

I don't think he gets cut, mainly for depth purposes.

[John Waylon]

http://indy.st/1Uw0BD1

That about sums it up.

The guy is simply junk. He fell significantly on draft day, and now we know why. It's just unfortunate that Grigson didn't catch what the others in front of him did, but there are a lot of unfortunate things about that offseason and Werner is just another log in the pile.

[Jackie Daytona]

A lot of people disappointed me yesterday, not just Werner. I was more worried about Newsome than Werner. You know what Werner does, but Newsome was suppose to improve this year.

So Newsome is all out of chances already huh?

[LJpalmbeacher2]

So Newsome is all out of chances already huh?

I'm sure Bluefire4 can speak for himself. But I don't think he meant Newsome should be cut. I think he is just disappointed that Newsome hasn't shown in the preseason of taking the next step from a statistically good rookie season.

[ColtsBlueFL]

I hope he gets cut, but others have explained why he won't.

 

Regardless, I can come off the edge and stay engaged with the blocker and not to squat

 

Was this one of the reasons?

 

Cutting him saves 1.1 million in payroll, but no savings in cap space this year, and costs us a million in dead money next year.  meh...

[IndyD4U]

Was this one of the reasons?

 

Cutting him saves 1.1 million in payroll, but no savings in cap space this year, and costs us a million in dead money next year.  meh...

 Something about that (I'm ignorant when it comes to the cap and salaries) and the fact that he was a 1st rounder. They won't give up on him yet.

[Superman]

I should go back to 2012 and dig up all the threads like this about Jerry Hughes.

[Dustin]

Yeah, he's terrible. 

[Superman]

Was this one of the reasons?

 

Cutting him saves 1.1 million in payroll, but no savings in cap space this year, and costs us a million in dead money next year.  meh...

 

His 2015 salary is fully guaranteed. Cutting him this year saves nothing, unless he's claimed on waivers. I'm not sure if he has any offset language in his contract.

[Dustin]

Never forget

 

http://www.mockdraftable.com/player/4288/position/19/

[theanarchist]

You can't afford to keep dead weight in the NFL just because it will cost  you a little cap space. 2 mil in cap space isnt a ton. Its dead cap for sure and no one wants that but if Werner isnt cutting it then theres no reason to keep him around.

[Dustin]

Was this one of the reasons?

 

Cutting him saves 1.1 million in payroll, but no savings in cap space this year, and costs us a million in dead money next year.  meh...

 

Sunk cost. That cap space is gone anyway. Better to use the roster spot on a higher upside player. 

[DougDew]

I've defended Werner. But I agree that he has been a disappointment in preseason. Reacting by cutting him would be extreme at this point, especially since his replacement would be worse, Adongo or Cam Johnson.

I know the guy is slow relative to an average edge player, but what bothers me is that he doesn't seem to be playing with much physicality or energy. Maybe he's still thinking and processing his responsibilities, but sometimes when you've been dancing with the blocker the past few plays, you just have to forget about your responsibilities and try to knock the guy down on his *. He seems to be content with just holding his position.

If he starts making more of an effort, I might start defending him again.

[theanarchist]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...When a GM misses on first round picks it will eventually cost him his job. Im not saying Grigson is in danger of losing his job but it looks like the Werner pick is going to be one of the worst selections we've had in the first round in quite some time. He also gave up #1 on Trent Richardson and obviously that was a bust. That's 2 busted 1st round picks in his time here.

 

One of the bigger things that eventually led to Polian's demise was the selection of Tony Ugoh, giving up a future #1 to draft him. No one can blame him for trying because the early retirement of Tarik Glenn(who by the way has to be one of the most underrated all time LT's)put him in a tight spot. Ugoh obvioulsy was a bust and I know the Manning injury had more to do with his demise but eventually whiffing on important draft selections led to the weakening of the roster and ultimately the end of Polian.

[ColtsBlueFL]

Sunk cost. That cap space is gone anyway. Better to use the roster spot on a higher upside player. 

 

I've never been a fan of his, and even though his salary is guaranteed (as pointed out to me by Supes) I won't shed a tear if he is let go and a better player in any capacity fills the roster spot.

[Superman]

I've defended Werner. But I agree that he has been a disappointment in preseason. Reacting by cutting him would be extreme at this point, especially since his replacement would be worse, Adongo or Cam Johnson.

I know the guy is slow relative to an average edge player, but what bothers me is that he doesn't seem to be playing with much physicality or energy. Maybe he's still thinking and processing his responsibilities, but sometimes when you've been dancing with the blocker the past few plays, you just have to forget about your responsibilities and try to knock the guy down on his *. He seems to be content with just holding his position.

If he starts making more of an effort, I might start defending him again.

 

I think Werner had a good preseason, until last night. He had been strong on the edge, beat some blockers, good in space -- basically exactly what a Sam is supposed to do. He was pretty bad last night.

[ColtsLegacy]

I think Werner had a good preseason, until last night. He had been strong on the edge, beat some blockers, good in space -- basically exactly what a Sam is supposed to do. He was pretty bad last night.

Agreed. Last night was bad, very disappointing, but he was good the rest of the preseason. Though, not many else will see it because they can't get past the fact that we drafted a poor pass rusher at OLB with a first round pick.

[Deano1818]

This is a classic example of drafting a player on NEED, vs best available

 

We needed a pass rusher, he was available we took him

 

 

There were better players at other positions, on the board......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hoped he would work out........ but........ Its time to move on

[ColtsLegacy]

This is a classic example of drafting a player on NEED, vs best available

We needed a pass rusher, he was available we took him

There were better players at other positions, on the board......

I hoped he would work out........ but........ Its time to move on

Werner was a top 5 prospect for awhile there. We really don't know what the Colts board was. He easily could have been their highest rated player left. We know and they know now that they were wrong but 90% of the draft consists of people being wrong.

[DougDew]

I think Werner had a good preseason, until last night. He had been strong on the edge, beat some blockers, good in space -- basically exactly what a Sam is supposed to do. He was pretty bad last night.

I trust your observation. I saw him make the deflection in the first game and some other energetic plays that game. But the other games when I've taken time to look, I've seen him do nothing except stand upright, extend his arms, and start pitter-pattering with the blocker.

[lennymoore24]

I had always backed Werner before believing he would be a better edge setter then rush LB.  But what really surprised me in the game last night is how TEs who I have never heard of would stonewall him.  It seems his ENTIRE game is he is good at coming off the snap.  But he has no moves, little power, and if he doesn't get around the blocker with his first step, he does nothing.  And it is like he never improves.   Adongo seems to have about as many moves, but at least he will move the blocker backwards.  With the way Werner gets stonewalled, you would think Anthony Munez was blocking him.  I don't think he will get cut because all our other LBs are rush LBs.  But he is pretty bad right now.   He seems like a good guy and I hope a miracle happens, but I just don't see it.

[Mr. Irrelevant]

Probably a very stupid suggestion - sorry about that in advance! - but can he do a transition to ILB? Or doesn't he cut it in the NFL?

[Grigs build the lines plz.]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...When a GM misses on first round picks it will eventually cost him his job. Im not saying Grigson is in danger of losing his job but it looks like the Werner pick is going to be one of the worst selections we've had in the first round in quite some time. He also gave up #1 on Trent Richardson and obviously that was a bust. That's 2 busted 1st round picks in his time here.

 

One of the bigger things that eventually led to Polian's demise was the selection of Tony Ugoh, giving up a future #1 to draft him. No one can blame him for trying because the early retirement of Tarik Glenn(who by the way has to be one of the most underrated all time LT's)put him in a tight spot. Ugoh obvioulsy was a bust and I know the Manning injury had more to do with his demise but eventually whiffing on important draft selections led to the weakening of the roster and ultimately the end of Polian.

The Werner and T Rich additions were obviously bad first round acquisitions, so that is the reason

Grigs went with a safe pick in Dorsett. This year's draft appears to be a grand slam or at least

a two guys on base home run with the draftees and udfa's looking to make the 53 man squad.

 

Keep in mind that Grigs and Pags were both rookies four short years ago at their new positions

and have made progress every year 'although Luck helped mask a lot of their mistakes', but I'm

not sure I would be willing to discard either one and watch them add onto their experience 

and flourish elsewhere. 'unless we could get Bruce Arians back on the sidelines'

[21isSuperman]

I've been very critical of Grigson and Werner, but this part of the article is just plain wrong:

 

Thing is, Grigson has admitted other mistakes from that disastrous 2013 offseason, when the Colts signed offensive linemen Gosder Cherilus and Donald Thomas, safety LaRon Landry and defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois. Some couldn’t stay healthy (Thomas). Some couldn’t play (Landry, Jean-Francois). Some couldn’t do either (Cherilus). All four were released after last season. That’s a strong GM right there, unafraid to admit defeat.

 

I thought RJF could play, but was just overpaid.  And Cherilus was a pretty good RT before his knee problems got so bad.  To say RJF couldn't play and Cherilus couldn't play or stay healthy is simply incorrect.

[AntonMcG]

Sensationalists... everywhere...

[Defjamz26]

He'll play for the Colts in 2015. I don't see him with the team after that though. Maybe a team offers a pick for him but I doubt it.

Every GM makes mistakes but this is starting to look bad. Richardson got cut from the Raiders and Bjoern looked bad against 2nd-3rd string guys. Dorsett should be good but Grigson has to get the 2016 draft right or he'll be on the hot seat.

[TKnight24]

I'm just confused in who honestly thought this guy was a top prospect. Which media head thought this was acceptable?

[Jackie Daytona]

I'm sure Bluefire4 can speak for himself. But I don't think he meant Newsome should be cut. I think he is just disappointed that Newsome hasn't shown in the preseason of taking the next step from a statistically good rookie season.

True, I'll give you guys that.  Newsome didn't stand out like he did most of last year.

[TKnight24]

True, I'll give you guys that. Newsome didn't stand out like he did most of last year.

Saving the juice for the real games. I'm not gonna believe Newsome was a one hit wonder. Can't go from sack leader to barely making an impact. I won't believe it lol

[ColtsLegacy]

Saving the juice for the real games. I'm not gonna believe Newsome was a one hit wonder. Can't go from sack leader to barely making an impact. I won't believe it lol

Newsome is great when nobody touches him.

[GoColts8818]

He'll play for the Colts in 2015. I don't see him with the team after that though. Maybe a team offers a pick for him but I doubt it.

Every GM makes mistakes but this is starting to look bad. Richardson got cut from the Raiders and Bjoern looked bad against 2nd-3rd string guys. Dorsett should be good but Grigson has to get the 2016 draft right or he'll be on the hot seat.

before we brand Grigson a bad drafter let's look at his draft classes, the 2012 draft looked really good. 2013 has been a bust for the most part. 2014 was small but has been solid other than Richardson who was a trade not a draft pick. 2015's class has been really good based on early reviews. It looks more to me that Grigson had a bad draft class and a bad trade. His other three classes have been good. His free agent signings have been a mixed bag but I don't think his drafting has been as bad as we make it out to be at times.

[ColtsLegacy]

I'm just confused in who honestly thought this guy was a top prospect. Which media head thought this was acceptable?

Pretty much everyone did. What's confusing? He was a stud in college. Scouting and the draft isn't exactly a perfected science.