PFF: Colts Draft Needs and Prospect Fits

[stitches]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/draft-needs-and-prospect-fits-for-the-indianapolis-colts/

 

 

Quote

 

Draft needs and prospect fits for the Indianapolis Colts

Analyst Josh Liskiewitz identifies prospect fits for the Indianapolis Colts' top three draft needs.

Josh Liskiewitz | 2 days ago

 

The Colts were very active in free agency, as they brought in Jabaal Sheard, Sean Spence, John Simon, and Barkevious Mingo to bolster a weak LB corps, as well as WR Kamar Aiken, who should have the opportunity to make a significant contribution working with a quarterback the caliber of Andrew Luck. However, this roster is still likely the least-talented in the AFC South, thus Indianapolis needs to strike gold at the end of the month in order to keep pace with the rest an improving division.

Need: Running back

Indianapolis running backs averaged just 3.8 yards per carry last season, and collectively the Colts’ run game forced just 32 total missed tackles on 409 carries. Frank Gore is still the feature back, averaging under 4.0 yards per carry each of the past two seasons, and he had his worst season of his career in terms of elusiveness. Considering he turns 34 next month, finding a long-term option at the position is paramount for the Colts.

 

Early-round target: Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

McCaffrey is a no-brainer option should he still be on the board at No. 15 overall, as he is a patient runner who sets up his blocks well and is a constant home-run threat once in the open field. Over the past two seasons at Stanford, he forced 115 missed tackles with just three fumbles on 589 carries, and also hauled in 83 passes while forcing another 35 whiffs as a receiver out of the backfield. His ability to be such a versatile threat (he’s also a dynamic returner) makes him an ideal pairing with Luck.

 

Mid- or late-round target: Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State

Speaking of elusiveness, there is no one in college football that has done a better job of making defenders look foolish over the past three seasons than Pumphrey. The former Aztec forced a ridiculous 208 missed tackles on 938 carries in that time span. Despite his stature, he isn’t afraid to attack between the tackles, and also looks to have a knack for the end zone, with 54 touchdowns on the ground since 2014. He also hauled in 80 catches in that time span, a skill that would likely be more heavily utilized in Indianapolis.

 

Need: Cornerback

Vontae Davis is one of the top defensive players on the Indianapolis roster, but outside of him, the Colts lack a sure-fire No. 2 or nickel cornerback. Rashaan Melvin showed some flashes down the stretch with six pass breakups and just 25 catches allowed on 47 targets during the final eight games of the season, but regardless of how he progresses this season, the departure of Patrick Robinson for Philadelphia leaves a vacancy. The Colts are in luck, however (no pun intended), as this is one of the deepest cornerback classes in the last decade.

 

Early-round target: Tre’Davious White, LSU

Tre’Davious White is a hyper-aggressive corner who plays with excellent instincts and gave up completions on just 41.7 percent of passes thrown into his coverage last season. He also displayed excellent ball skills, with 14 total passes breakups in 2014. He also proved to be a solid tackler, missing just five last year. While his combine 40-yard-dash time of 4.47 seconds seems more in line with his play than his reported 4.33 from his pro day this past week, he is still a solid athlete with the all-around game to warrant a pick this high.

 

Mid- or late-round target: Channing Stribling, Michigan

At 6-foot-1, 188 pounds, Stribling has a similar size profile to Melvin, and was able to use that length to help him pick off four passes and break up another 11 in 2016, while yielding a minuscule 22.7 QB rating on throws into his coverage. While he isn’t a top athlete and needs to improve his play against the run, his draft stock is being hurt more so by the depth of this class than his play on the field. He should be available on Day 3, despite looking like a potential starter at the next level.

 

Need: Nose tackle

Nose tackle David Parry’s 45.1 run-defense grade in 2016 should be cause for concern, as he played more than 200 total snaps than any other defensive lineman on the Colts’ roster last season, and at a well-below average level. T.Y. McGill showed some promise as a pass-rusher (20 total pressures on 244 rushes), but Indianapolis would do well to upgrade the position, especially the run-defense aspect.

 

Click the link above to read more

 

 

Mod edit: please don't copy/paste entire articles as we could run into copyright issues

[SP_21]

They didn't tell us anything we didn't know. And I'm not a fan of any of those guys 

[twfish]

Sounds like pff really has mcaffery ranked high

[James Ducheteau]

2 hours ago, SP_21 said:

They didn't tell us anything we didn't know. And I'm not a fan of any of those guys 

I don't, Stribling isn't bad, I've often grabbed him in the 5th as a 2nd CB pick

[DougDew]

Got the needs correct.  I don't like the players.

[Jason_]

Even though mingo, Simon, sheard and Spence were signed in FA, I'd still rather the first round pick be a LB.  Got no problem taking CBs in rounds 2 and 3 though.

[jvan1973]

8 minutes ago, J@son said:

Even though mingo, Simon, sheard and Spence were signed in FA, I'd still rather the first round pick be a LB.  Got no problem taking CBs in rounds 2 and 3 though.

Just depends on who is available

[AZColt11]

I can't believe they don't have any LB position on there.  I know we signed some guys but we let a lot of guys go too.  LB HAS to be addressed at some point.  I would even list it #1.  Put it this way, I like our RB corp of Gore and Turbin better than I do our LB corp at the moment.  I do think we need to add a RB in the mid to later rounds though.

[LJpalmbeacher2]

7 hours ago, stitches said:

However, this roster is still likely the least-talented in the AFC South, thus Indianapolis needs to strike gold at the end of the month in order to keep pace with the rest an improving division.

Need: Running back

Indianapolis running backs averaged just 3.8 yards per carry last season, and collectively the Colts’ run game forced just 32 total missed tackles on 409 carries. Frank Gore is still the feature back, averaging under 4.0 yards per carry each of the past two seasons, and he had his worst season of his career in terms of elusiveness. Considering he turns 34 next month, finding a long-term option at the position is paramount for the Colts.

 

Well said

 

I think this forum is the only place that doesn't see our run game as a weakness.

Also they are on point regarding our talent vs our division rivals.

[BOTT]

7 minutes ago, LJpalmbeacher said:

 

Well said

 

I think this forum is the only place that doesn't see our run game as a weakness.

Also they are on point regarding our talent vs our division rivals.

I think most people see the run game as a weakness.

[jvan1973]

8 minutes ago, LJpalmbeacher said:

 

Well said

 

I think this forum is the only place that doesn't see our run game as a weakness.

Also they are on point regarding our talent vs our division rivals.

Frank Gore had similar numbers to Lagarrent Blount.   You don't need a dominant running game to be successful.

[jvan1973]

2 minutes ago, BOTT said:

I think most people see the run game as a weakness.

Behind many others

[Defjamz26]

McCaffery and Pumphrey. What's with this idea that the Colts don't need a traditional running back, and instead need some scat back/receiving RB? I'd much rather have Cook than Mcafferey, and a guy like Hunt over Pumphrey.

[a06cc]

2 hours ago, LJpalmbeacher said:

 

Well said

 

I think this forum is the only place that doesn't see our run game as a weakness.

Also they are on point regarding our talent vs our division rivals.

I don't and my statements were call "ignorant" by TMoney

[Jason_]

6 hours ago, jvan1973 said:

Just depends on who is available

 

Obviously

[MPStack]

5 hours ago, Defjamz26 said:

McCaffery and Pumphrey. What's with this idea that the Colts don't need a traditional running back, and instead need some scat back/receiving RB? I'd much rather have Cook than Mcafferey, and a guy like Hunt over Pumphrey.

I`ve seen Pumphrey listed as light as 169lbs on some sites. If he`s that small he`ll be on the I.R. in no time.