Josh Ferguson!!!!!

[GOCOLTS_ROLLTIDE]

Sure he's a udfa and looks to be a Longshot at making the team right now. ..  but I believe he has what it takes to not only make the team but contribute this year.... he is the Type of back we have needed  for yrs now. I thought he was better than lasco,Smallwood, and Jordan Howard... the boy can flat out  toat the rock 

Edited May 5, 2016 by GOCOLTS_ROLLTIDE

[Patagonia Chris]

If Vick Ballard could make the team last year then there isn't a player alive who could be considered a long shot to make this team...

[Carlos Danger]

I hope you're right.. We are going to need someone to back up Chubb next season..

[GOCOLTS_ROLLTIDE]

19 minutes ago, Carlos Danger said:

I hope you're right.. We are going to need someone to back up Chubb next season..

Chubb I'd an absolute monster but I want us to get leonard furnette

[COLTS449]

I fully expect Ferguson to make the roster considering the other options. He and Gore could be a nice duo. Some considered Ferguson a 4th-5th round pick.

[Qcolts]

Would work really well in a change of pace- gio Bernard type role

[AZColt11]

I was hoping we would get Jordan Howard personally, but I hope this kid works out.  Best of luck to him.

[MPStack]

He catches the ball well and especially downfield. Ferguson could end up being a good 3rd down option. I have no idea what he brings to the table on ST`s.

[NewColtsFan]

5 hours ago, GOCOLTS_ROLLTIDE said:

Chubb I'd an absolute monster but I want us to get leonard furnette

 

Odds are next year we'll be taking an OLB in the first round.

 

Perhaps a RB in the 2nd.     He'll be a very good back,  but he won't be Fournette or Chubb or McCaffrey.

 

But he'll be very, very good.       Next year's class is shockingly deep and talented.    A very rare class of RB's.

 

We should be able to get a very good one in the 2nd round.

 

[Wesk7]

From what I've read he's a good change of pace/skat back type player. Trey Williams is the only other back we have like him I think. So he has a chance to make the roster as a 3rd or 4th back depending on how many we keep. 

[akcolt]

1 hour ago, NewColtsFan said:

 

Odds are next year we'll be taking an OLB in the first round.

 

Perhaps a RB in the 2nd.     He'll be a very good back,  but he won't be Fournette or Chubb or McCaffrey.

 

But he'll be very, very good.       Next year's class is shockingly deep and talented.    A very rare class of RB's.

 

We should be able to get a very good one in the 2nd round.

 

The OLB class looks good too. We won't have a shot at Garnett unless we pull a Ditka. I hope we can get to Carter or Barnett. The 2017 draft I would consider moving up in the 1st to get that pass rusher we need. 

 

If we could get Lorenzo Carter 1st and Royce Freeman 2nd. With Floyd and Jenkins gone Carter should explode this year.

 

Freeman may be the best NFL back in the Pac 10. Cook from FSU if he last until the 2nd. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out. You are absolutely right the RB class is insane. We will be able to get a very good RB day 2. 

 

If Ferguson can hold on to the ball he could be that scat back I have always dreamed of for the Colts. I saw him projected as high as the end of day 2 a couple of places.

 

It should be a good TC and preseason. There are a few guys I really want to see from the UDFA group. Ferguson, Maggitt if his hip is good he could be a steal.

 

Thompson has huge upside. He's probably a pass rush specialist until he gets better vs the run. He was a 4 star recruit as a TE when he arrived at the Cuse. He has a knack for forcing fumbles a little like another Colt from the Cuse. 

 

I like the WR from Iowa too. Tevaun Smith. I would not be shocked if all 4 found their way to the 53 man. OLB is wide open as is RB. We need depth at WR. 

[GOCOLTS_ROLLTIDE]

5 hours ago, NewColtsFan said:

 

Odds are next year we'll be taking an OLB in the first round.

 

Perhaps a RB in the 2nd.     He'll be a very good back,  but he won't be Fournette or Chubb or McCaffrey.

 

But he'll be very, very good.       Next year's class is shockingly deep and talented.    A very rare class of RB's.

 

We should be able to get a very good one in the 2nd round.

 

Don't forget dalvin cook

[LJpalmbeacher2]

Our Division Rival's rb's are Lamar Miller, D. Murray & Henry, Ivory & T.J. Yeldon and we are excited about a UDFA and next years rb draft class.

[jchandler7]

2 minutes ago, LJpalmbeacher said:

Our division Rival's rb's are Lamar, D. Murray & Henry, Ivory & T.J. ,Yeldon and we are excited about a UDFA and next years rb draft class.

Gore Is just as good as any of them guys IMO. Yeldon Is the best one In our division, Ivory Is decent but not going to put the fear Into any team. Miller goes down at first contact, Murray and Henry are a good combo but same style of rtunner, down hill, need a big hole to run through type. Im not worried about our RB's, we will be fine If o-line Improves.

[Qcolts]

13 minutes ago, LJpalmbeacher said:

Our Division Rival's rb's are Lamar Miller, D. Murray & Henry, Ivory & T.J. Yeldon and we are excited about a UDFA and next years rb draft class.

So our division rivals are starting a bunch of avg nfl rbs. Sounds good to me. 

[Steamboat_Shaun]

24 minutes ago, LJpalmbeacher said:

Our Division Rival's rb's are Lamar Miller, D. Murray & Henry, Ivory & T.J. Yeldon and we are excited about a UDFA and next years rb draft class.

 

For the sake of playing devil's advocate: we've got Andrew Luck, and our division rivals are excited about Bortles/Osweiler/Mariota.

[jvan1973]

44 minutes ago, LJpalmbeacher said:

Our Division Rival's rb's are Lamar Miller, D. Murray & Henry, Ivory & T.J. Yeldon and we are excited about a UDFA and next years rb draft class.

Where is the beast RB in that group?

[LJpalmbeacher2]

16 minutes ago, Steamboat_Shaun said:

 

For the sake of playing devil's advocate: we've got Andrew Luck, and our division rivals are excited about Bortles/Osweiler/Mariota.

 

Yeah your right. But I believe  all three were drafted in 1st round( not sure about osweiler).

[krunk]

5 hours ago, akcolt said:

The OLB class looks good too. We won't have a shot at Garnett unless we pull a Ditka. I hope we can get to Carter or Barnett. The 2017 draft I would consider moving up in the 1st to get that pass rusher we need. 

 

If we could get Lorenzo Carter 1st and Royce Freeman 2nd. With Floyd and Jenkins gone Carter should explode this year.

 

Freeman may be the best NFL back in the Pac 10. Cook from FSU if he last until the 2nd. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out. You are absolutely right the RB class is insane. We will be able to get a very good RB day 2. 

 

If Ferguson can hold on to the ball he could be that scat back I have always dreamed of for the Colts. I saw him projected as high as the end of day 2 a couple of places.

 

It should be a good TC and preseason. There are a few guys I really want to see from the UDFA group. Ferguson, Maggitt if his hip is good he could be a steal.

 

Thompson has huge upside. He's probably a pass rush specialist until he gets better vs the run. He was a 4 star recruit as a TE when he arrived at the Cuse. He has a knack for forcing fumbles a little like another Colt from the Cuse. 

 

I like the WR from Iowa too. Tevaun Smith. I would not be shocked if all 4 found their way to the 53 man. OLB is wide open as is RB. We need depth at WR. 

 

Cool thing about Ferguson other than his outstanding feet and hands is him being 200lbs.  He's a little bit bigger than most scat back Darren Sproles type of backs. He moves like Darren Sproles but bigger than Sproles. I want to see him play live because with a couple pounds here or there he may even be able to be a full time starter, especially in a zone scheme.   He's the same height as Frank Gore, maybe 15 to 17 lbs lighter.

[jet1968]

He played pretty good at Illinois on a very sub par team.

[jvan1973]

1 hour ago, LJpalmbeacher said:

 

Yeah your right. But I believe  all three were drafted in 1st round( not sure about osweiler).

So was JaMarcus Russell,  Johnny Manziel,   Brady Quinn and a host of others.

 

Osweiler was drafted in the second

[Boiler_Colt]

Ferguson could be a good receiving back, but it seems like there are very few teams that actually know how to use those guys effectively. New England being the Gold Standard, which is why no one could figure out how to use Dion Lewis but them. I would like to think this guy could be our Lewis, but I have no sample size from Chud to say he knows how to utilize scat backs.

[OffensivelyPC]

15 hours ago, Carlos Danger said:

I hope you're right.. We are going to need someone to back up Chubb next season..

The running back you were looking for was Dalvin Cook.  

[el duderino]

3 hours ago, LJpalmbeacher said:

Our Division Rival's rb's are Lamar Miller, D. Murray & Henry, Ivory & T.J. Yeldon and we are excited about a UDFA and next years rb draft class.

 

not too long ago they had Foster, MJD and CJ2K so I´m fine... I like our D-Line

[GOCOLTS_ROLLTIDE]

2 hours ago, el duderino said:

 

not too long ago they had Foster, MJD and CJ2K so I´m fine... I like our D-Line

Funny you say this. .. judging by the past it seems it's always been this way jax,hou,tenn have always had the good backs in the league while always have had the deciding factor... a legit top 5 qb... which is why we have owned  the division 11 out of the past 14 yrs

[LockeDown]

3 hours ago, el duderino said:

 

not too long ago they had Foster, MJD and CJ2K so I´m fine... I like our D-Line

I always feared playing MJD.  

[krunk]

4 hours ago, Boiler_Colt said:

Ferguson could be a good receiving back, but it seems like there are very few teams that actually know how to use those guys effectively. New England being the Gold Standard, which is why no one could figure out how to use Dion Lewis but them. I would like to think this guy could be our Lewis, but I have no sample size from Chud to say he knows how to utilize scat backs.

 

We threw the ball to our backs a lot last season under Chud.  More than I've ever seen them utilized with Pagano as the HC. Should be very interesting.

[LockeDown]

I enjoyed watching his highlights.  He has some great cuts and seems to have good vision.

[Defjamz26]

I'm telling you he's going to be our Giovanni Bernard. Can make plays and do a lot of different things but isn't a bell cow guy. 

 

And like the Bengals, the Colts can draft a Jeremy Hill next year. But I could see Ferguson being used like how Dallas used Dunbar as well. 

[krunk]

Really like this dude!

[JasonABrown]

If he is or could be "our Giovanni Bernard", I would be extremely excited! 

[OffensivelyPC]

10 hours ago, Defjamz26 said:

I'm telling you he's going to be our Giovanni Bernard. Can make plays and do a lot of different things but isn't a bell cow guy. 

 

And like the Bengals, the Colts can draft a Jeremy Hill next year. But I could see Ferguson being used like how Dallas used Dunbar as well. 

Dunbar was incredibly underrated.

[JohnnyP]

On 5/5/2016 at 11:21 PM, GOCOLTS_ROLLTIDE said:

Sure he's a udfa and looks to be a Longshot at making the team right now. ..  but I believe he has what it takes to not only make the team but contribute this year.... he is the Type of back we have needed  for yrs now. I thought he was better than lasco,Smallwood, and Jordan Howard... the boy can flat out  toat the rock 

I didn't love him, to be honest. ....he's got ability out of the backfield in the passing game ...which we could use, but i don't see him as a guy that's going to be a factor.  I actually think Todman is going to do a good job for us this year. ..he's got a gear in him that we haven't seen in a while on this team.

[IndyD4U]

So I'm the guy that links the wrong player to this thread....SMH...I need more coffee

 

 

[GOCOLTS_ROLLTIDE]

5 hours ago, IndyD4U said:

So I'm the guy that links the wrong player to this thread....SMH...I need more coffee

 

 

lol

[GOCOLTS_ROLLTIDE]

5 hours ago, JohnnyP said:

I didn't love him, to be honest. ....he's got ability out of the backfield in the passing game ...which we could use, but i don't see him as a guy that's going to be a factor.  I actually think Todman is going to do a good job for us this year. ..he's got a gear in him that we haven't seen in a while on this team.

Todman is more of a straight ahead spec guy. . So yea he's faster than Ferguson but Ferguson is much quicker and from comparing styles on film,  runs more patiently which is ideal for ZBS

[krunk]

Ferguson runs a 4.4 so that is plenty fast enough.  Faster than any back currently on this roster.

[RockThatBlue]

22 hours ago, LockeDown said:

I always feared playing MJD.  

He always brought his A game against the Colts for sure. Saw a stat a few years back saying he averaged almost 120 yards against us his entire career. The jags still didnt beat us often but when they did MJD played a big role in it.I'd love to see us get a RB like him one day, small but runs over people.

[stitches]

http://rotoviz.com/2016/05/my-favorite-rookie-landing-spot-josh-ferguson-to-the-colts/

 

 

Quote

 

Josh Ferguson is a Rookie Draft Value with the Colts

May 6, 2016 |  By Ben Gretch

 

Josh Ferguson landed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent. I’m a big fan of his potential going forward because of his landing spot and because he fits the mold of a popular new trend on NFL rosters.

 

The Rise of the Pass-Catching Back

I’ve written a bit this offseason about a changing dynamic in the NFL of an increase in passing completions, a coinciding decrease in depth of target, and what that means for pass-catching backs.

In a piece about whether Danny Woodhead’s age is a bad sign for his future, I noted how few comps Woodhead has in our Sim Scores App. Since the Sim Scores take into account age, and given the recency of the increased popularity of pass-catching backs, my hypothesis was there just aren’t many backs like Woodhead and Darren Sproles to actually reach their 30s.

“Study the past if you would define the future.” – Confucius

Back in 2014, Shawn Siegele coined terms for three types of successful backs. At the time, he noted Profile 3 backs were passing-down or in-space backs for whom historical trends were not as favorable. But while Profile 2 backs may still be the ideal, changing NFL trends (even just in the past two years) suggest we should target Profile 3 backs (at least at the expense of bigger, less versatile Profile 1 options). It doesn’t hurt that Profile 3 backs are nearly always undervalued because they are labeled as undersized to handle the necessary workload to succeed at the NFL level.

 

Ferguson’s Profile

One thing Siegele notes about Profile 3 backs is they are generally sub-200 pounds with elite agility scores, usually under 11-flat. Ferguson comes in at 198 pounds, but unfortunately we don’t have an agility score for him.

I’m not sure that matters, however. In the last two years, players like Theo Riddick have emerged. Riddick is a poor athlete overall¹ but gets by on his agility. While his speed score, burst score, and bench press all don’t surpass even the 20th percentile among RBs, his 50th percentile agility score of 11.31 is his best physical attribute.

But Riddick also had an impressive collegiate receiving profile, and as a 201-pound back he turned in the RB18 season in 2015 largely on the strength of 80 receptions. Woodhead and Shane Vereen are two more examples of backs who have succeeded as NFL pass-catchers despite smaller frames² and less-than-elite agility scores.³

For all we know, Ferguson could have elite agility. Since we can’t assume that, the question becomes whether it’s a requirement for him to find success. Riddick, Vereen, Woodhead… some of the best receiving backs in the league didn’t break even 11.2 agility. I’m not trying to argue we should redefine a Profile 3 back, but I do think we’re capable of projecting success if Ferguson has the receiving chops and he’s in the right fit.

If you watch him, he certainly seems to fit the bill of a space back with shiftiness. I’m not going to go all amateur film analyst⁴ but I did notice in some of his tape on Draft Breakdown that Illinois lined him up in the slot sometimes, and he’d actually run some downfield routes. At the very least he looks comfortable as a pass-catcher, as evidenced by his collegiate lines.

Year	G	Att	ruYds	ruAvg	ruTD	Rec	reYds	reAvg	reTD
2012	10	75	312	4.2	0	29	251	8.7	0
2013	12	141	779	5.5	7	50	535	10.7	4
2014	13	146	735	5	8	50	427	8.5	2
2015	9	129	708	5.5	3	37	280	7.6	2

One of the interesting things about Ferguson is he was better in 2013 and 2014 than last season. In fact 2013 was undeniably his best statistical season. Overall, those numbers equate to a 16-game pace of 60 receptions. It’s no wonder he finished among the top receiving backs in each of the three evaluation methodologies Jon Moore used.

And keep in mind, Ferguson was invited to the combine, which is a good thing for UDFA RB success.

 

Ferguson’s Landing Spot

The Colts are heading into 2016 with a running back depth chart that is extremely thin behind Frank Gore, who turns 33 years old this month. According to Ourlads, Robert Turbin, Jordan Todman, Trey Williams, and Tyler Varga make up the rest of that list.

Of those backs, only Williams profiles as anything close to a Profile 3 back. The 5-foot-7-inch former Aggie weighs in at 195 pounds and clocked a 10.96 agility score. That said, Williams caught just 38 balls in his collegiate career, and spent last season bouncing around four different rosters. It wouldn’t be fair to simply cast him aside, but Ferguson does have a massive production advantage in terms of collegiate receiving chops.

If Ferguson can beat out the 5-foot-7-inch Williams and earn a slot alongside Frank Gore as his career winds down, there probably couldn’t be a more perfect fit. I called Indy “the money spot” for a rookie RB pre-draft based on both the depth chart and the fact that Gore was so inefficient last season.⁵

But don’t take my word for it. Kevin Cole’s updated opportunity scores had Indy at number four in terms of available RB opportunity going into the draft.

With a healthy Andrew Luck, this is expected to be an improved offense where defenses have to respect the 4.4-or-better deep speed of T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, and Phillip Dorsett. The team also spent four of eight draft picks on offensive linemen, including first-round center Ryan Kelly and third-round tackle Le’Raven Clark.

And while he was a UDFA, Ferguson was the only rookie back the Colts added.

 

Statistical Comps and Final Thoughts

Since we don’t have Ferguson’s agility score, one thing we can do is look at some statistical comps. I focused on receiving categories — and mostly career numbers, to wit — because that’s where we get the best picture of what Ferguson has accomplished.

 

Guy has some pretty solid comps when draft position is ignored. Of course, draft position should be considered, and Riddick and Lance Dunbar are the only two who make the list once it is.

But what I’ve tried to argue here is being the new-age Riddick or Dunbar⁶ is a great fit for today’s NFL, and it’s the type of role that can rack up fantasy points via receptions. And while he may never win you a fantasy title, grabbing a potential weekly starter in the late rounds of your rookie draft is hardly a poor investment.

Josh Ferguson is a strong receiving back going into a situation with an elite QB, speedy WRs, a potentially pass-heavy offensive scheme, and a backfield with a very old incumbent and no other rookies to compete with. Things probably couldn’t have shaken out any better.

 

 

[JR Indy]

I like Josh ability and potential, but whether or not he makes the team (and I hope he will) is all on him.  If he comes to the rookie camp. training camp, and pre-season games hungry, I mean starving to make a play. And above all not turning the ball over.  He stands a strong chance of making this team and playing a big role. But if he comes in here like he's has already made it, this guy is going home quickly.

 

I can't wait to see this guy play.  The o-line will be in place.  The speed from Ty, Donte, and Dorsett. And Andrew with time.  This will be a big year for the Colts.

 

Tenn, Jacksonville, and Houston drafted well, but a healthy Andrew Luck with TIME overrides everything they done so far.