Greg Cosell - Analysis of the Colts' Draft

[stitches]

Greg Cosell was on Tennessee radio and they went through the division spending good 10 minutes on every team's draft, including the Colts.

 

The part about the Colts starts at about 10:00:

 

 

 

Here are some highlights:

- a team that's trying to rebuild from the inside out. Even if Luck is ready, the team needs to be physical, not put everything on Luck

- Quenton Nelson will start right away at left guard - clearly the best guard in the draft and some may say best G prospect in a long time

- He likes Braden Smith - he will end up the starting right guard sooner rather than later - 4 year starter, 41 consecutive starts - high level of consistency in terms of execution, awareness, savvy... doesn't jump off the film like Nelson, but he very rarely loses reps, not many bad plays(this might explain why he was ranked this high, #3 guard in the draft, by PFF - they are big on not losing snaps and not having bad plays rather than completely dominating in some snaps). If you need him to kick out to tackle, he can do it.

- Darius Leonard - off-the-ball stacked linebacker - really good small school prospect. Really good size, length, really easy movement, really good play speed and range to play inside out, sideline to sideline. "The more I watched him the more I believed he's a high level linebacker, who can be a 3 down linebacker in the league". 

- Tyquan Lewis - will be ready to push for snaps week 1 - he can play DE and he can play DT - really solid, consistent, good player, maybe he can develop into meaningful pass-rusher from the inside as he grows in the NFL

- Kemoko Turay - fascinating guy - his size, his length, his explosive movement traits are first round level, but his production didn't match that and that's why he's drafted in the second round rather than the first. But he's got 1st round physical traits off the edge. "If they can develop him... 6'5 250lbs, long arms, ran well... this guy is  highly, highly athletic and he has explosive closing speed". 

- Nyheim Hines - Frank Reich comes from the Eagles, who didn't have a foundation back, so the expectation is the Colts will have RB by committee Mack, Hines, Wilkins, Turbin. He's a shorter back, but close to 200lbs, ran phenomenally well at the combine. Quick, dynamic feet, great change of direction, showed that jump cut ability that always looks cool. He's got great lateral quickness, he's got speed through the hole, burst and he's a good receiver. Really intriguing pick. 

- Deon Cain - can become productive WR. He was an enigma based on 2017 tape, had to go to 2016 tape, which gave a much better barometer about the type of prospect he is. He was more smooth, more fluid in 2016. He looked more explosive and dynamic. And those are good traits - 6'2" over 200 lbs, ran well... 10 yard split was phenomenal... there must be something else there for him to not be drafted higher? 

 

 

[LockeDown]

Greg Costello just loves Leonard.  This is the 2nd different interview I've seen with him and his praise for DL is high.  

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3 minutes ago, LockeDown said:

Greg Costello just loves Leonard.  This is the 2nd different interview I've seen with him and his praise for DL is high.  

I can confirm. I am a bit of a fan of Cosell and I like him the best from every single draft analyst out there and I've heard him heap praise on Leonard on multiple occasions(like... at least 4 different interviews I would say, he's definitely his favorite LB outside of the top 4 that were selected in round 1). 

[throwing BBZ]

at the Clueless that lament where players proper value is in the draft.

Next we listen to More Lamentation about what they think, about what they heard, after a week of training camp, a pre-season game, the first couple games of the season.
 I look forward to seeing what this draft class looks like in 2020 and after.

[lollygagger8]

[Cynjin]

1 hour ago, throwing BBZ said:

at the Clueless that lament where players proper value is in the draft.

Next we listen to More Lamentation about what they think, about what they heard, after a week of training camp, a pre-season game, the first couple games of the season.
 I look forward to seeing what this draft class looks like in 2020 and after.

1

 

The bolded I agree with.  As far as the rest of the post, talk about clueless.

[horseshoecrabs]

That's what the off season FA, Draft, More FA, Pre season hopeful brings  to rebuilding teams (HOPE)

on paper.  Then the regular season reality eventually set's in.  

[aaron11]

3 hours ago, throwing BBZ said:

at the Clueless that lament where players proper value is in the draft.

Next we listen to More Lamentation about what they think, about what they heard, after a week of training camp, a pre-season game, the first couple games of the season.
 I look forward to seeing what this draft class looks like in 2020 and after.

its just off season talk, if not for this stuff then we might as well shut the forum down this time of year.  

[Fisticuffs111]

The man’s gotta voice for the radio along with great scouting. Doesn’t hurt that he’s heaping praise on our rookies.

[indyagent17]

Very insightful, I thought Leonard was a steal and could have gone higher. he becomes the Will on day one.. Nelson and Smith will most likely be our starting guards for years to come.  Hines is a nice, fast change of pace RB which we do not have. I see Mack, Hines and Turbin getting most if now all of the carries. Two solid D line prospects and then to top it off we get Cain in the 6th? there is no downside here. He will easily outplay his draft selection. 

 

As with any draft it takes 3 years to really review it and Ballard is definitely on the right track with this class.

 

Cant wait to see them all as many as 7 new starters for 2018

[LJpalmbeacher2]

7 hours ago, horseshoecrabs said:

That's what the off season FA, Draft, More FA, Pre season hopeful brings  to rebuilding teams (HOPE)

on paper.  Then the regular season reality eventually set's in.  

Sometimes the reality sets in in training camp and preseason lol.