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2013 Colts Roster might be Best Roster in NFL?


Caleb3502

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Colts' Roster  

14 members have voted

  1. 1. Should the Colts be in discussion for best roster?

    • Yes
      3
    • No
      6
    • In a few years
      7

blog-0297660001375995182.pngA lot of analysts have talked about the teams in the NFL with the best roster. They mentioned the Broncos, Seahawks, Texans, and 49ers but I think the Colts should be in the discussion. I know a lot of our players are not proven but we still have a good roster that is overlooked:

Quarterback - Andrew Luck*, Matt Hasselbeck, Chandler Harnish

A future NFL legend starting at QB with a veteran backup who has over 30,000 passing yards and made it to the Super Bowl and Chandler Harnish which I'll admit has done much but he made a half court shot

Running back - Ahmad Bradshaw*, Vick Ballard,* Donald Brown, Kerwynn Williams (KR), Delone Carter

Ahmad Bradshaw has proven he can get the job done with two 1,000-yard seasons the past 3 years. Vick Ballard came out later on in the season and rushed for over 800 yards. He would've gotten to 1,000 if he started all season. Kerwynn Williams is a good receiving running back and is very elusive when running. Williams will most likely end up as the kick returner and will show his ability to return kicks, something the Colts have not exceled at for years. Ignore Brown and Carter for now because they probably won't make the roster.

Fullback - Stanley Havili*, Dan Moore

The Colts have something special on this roster unlike many other Colts' rosters, fullbacks. Stanley Havili is a well rounded fullback who seems to be learning the system quite well which he needs to for a successful Pep Hamilton offense. Havili stands at 6 feet 245 lb. Moore stands at 5'11'' 240 lb. So Havili has the size factor on his side but Moore is a powerful runningback/fullback who the Colts may keep on the 53 man roster pending how he plays in preseason. I've heard a lot of good things about Dan Moore and I am eager to see how he plays in preseason. Who knows, maybe we have another Mike Alstott on our hands.

Wide Receiver - Reggie Wayne*, DHB*, T.Y. Hilton (PR)*, Griff Whalen, LaVon Brazil

The three starters on the team aren't exactly Thomas, Decker, & Welker but they are very good. You have a HOF player in Reggie Wayne, two very fast receivers in DHB and Hilton who are working hard on their dropped catches. If they stop dropping passes, they are better than Thomas, Decker, & Welker. Hilton is also a versatile punt returner who averages a good return on every one. Griff Whalen has his college coach back and is eager to play after spending last year on IR but before that he was doing very well. If LaVon Brazil gets his suspension out of the way and prevent it from happening again he is also a good option at wide receiver. They have a better receiving core than the 49ers right now, most of their receivers are injured or might get injured again (Collie).

Tight End - Coby Fleener*, Dwayne Allen*, Justice Cunningham

Coby Fleener is going to have a breakout year back from injury and reunited with Pep Hamilton. Dwayne Allen has worked over the offseason to get even better. Justice Cunningham could also make the team if he can block well. The Colts have two emerging stars at tight end and can become the next Hernandez & Gronk without the off the field issues.

Offensive Tackle - Anthony Castonzo*, Gosder Cherilus*, Jeff Linkenbach

Other than the last player there are two good offensive tackles that have proven they can play. Cherilus was one of the most efficient pass blockers last year and Castonzo is looking to improve.

Offensive Guard - Donald Thomas*, Mike MyGlynn*, Hugh Thornton

This is the only weak spot on the Colts. Donald Thomas plays decently at guard but let's not even mention the second one. Hugh Thornton could excel this year if they start him or he is not injured but for now it is the second one starting. :(

Center - Samson Satele*, Khaled Holmes

I actually like Satele and think he can make a decent starter. Holmes can play decent as well as was considered one of the top interior lineman in the draft.

NT - Aubrayo Franklin, Josh Chapman*, Montori Hughes

Franklin is an experienced veteran who can excel at stopping the run in which the Colts were in need of. Chapman is also a good option at nose tackle and is also one of the strongest one the team. I'm excited for Chapman to come back from injury, plus he can bench over 400lbs. Montori Hughes was a good selection in the draft and can be good as a situational DL.

DE - Cory Redding*, Ricky Jean-Francois*, Drake Nevis, Fili Moala

Cory Redding played very well last year for the Colts and does not get enough recognition. RJF has only started five games his entire four year career but as shown potential to become a starter. Nevis and Moala will battle for a spot on the roster after battling injuries last year.

OLB - Robert Mathis*, Björn Werner*, Erik Walden, Lawrence Sidbury

Mathis could also be a HOF if he continues his level of play. Björn Werner has not had experience as a 3-4 OLB but is learning from a master and he too in a few years will become a sack master like Mathis, I was overjoyed when they selected him. Sidbury has potential to become a situational pass rusher and Walden can even earn a starting role on the team.

ILB - Jerrell Freeman*, Pat Angerer*, Kavell Conner, Kelvin Sheppard, Josh McNary

Freeman is just a beast at ILB and has always been a strong tackler and should've been a Pro Bowler. Angerer is coming off an injury plagued 2012 season but has shown he can rack up tackles like Freeman. Conner also has been a starter and has shown he is a decent tackler. Sheppard has 150 tackles in two seasons and was a starter last year for the Bills. McNary has played football for a few years due to serving our country but was a great when he played at Army where he had 28 sacks, 195 tackles, and five forced fumbles.

CB - Vontae Davis*, Greg Toler*, Darius Butler, Cassius Vaughn, Teddy Williams

Davis was coming on late in the year after being injured the middle of the season. Toler was injured last year and in 2011 but when he played a healthy season he did not allow catches. In 90 targets thrown at him, only 50 were caught, which is extremely well if you can stop 40 passes being caught. Darius Butler was signed during the season by the Colts and showed that he was not a draft bust. Butler led the team in interceptions with 4 and had two returned for touchdowns. Butler is show great progress as a nickleback and will continue his success into the 2013 season.

S - Bethea*, Landry*, Boyett, Lefeged

Bethea has been making plays for the Colts since coming out of Howard in 2006. Landry has been injured two out of the last three years of his career but came back in 2012 with a Pro Bow selection. So you have two Pro Bowl safeties who can become the NFL's best duo. Thomas and Chancellor in Seattle are probably the NFL's best duo but after the 2013 season they may not be anymore. John Boyett played very well at Oregon but fell in the draft due to an injury that might keep him out this year, but when he does come back to play he will make an impact. Other than the gun charges, Lefeged earned the role as our Special Teams Captain with McAfee and if the Colts keep him he will make an impact on special teams.

K - Adam Vinatieri*

You got a future HOF inductee in Vinatieri for all the clutch kicks he has made over his career. I know he is 40 years old and the NFL's oldest player but he still can get the job done. Look at last year against the Vikings where he nailed a 53-yard field goal to win the game. Vinatieri's accuracy may be declining, but he will still be making clutch kicks for us in 2013.

P - Pat McAfee*

I'm glad I have his autograph. McAfee has grown to one of the best punters in the NFL and has become a very good kickoff specialist. McAfee is always booming punts towards the other teams for 60+ yards at times and will continue his success in 2013.

LS - Matt Overton*

When I saw that they cut him over Snow I was really surprised. Coming out of Arena Football, Overton did a great job being our long snapper last year and only had one blocked punt all of last year. He has really impressed me and will continue to impress in 2013.

*= starter (Ballard and Bradshaw are both starters because they will switch out every few carries, Allen and Fleener are both listed as starters because the Colts will run 2 TE sets most of the time with them.)

If you look at the starters on the team you can see that we got some really good to really great players starting for us. Plus, we have quality backup for the most part (OL is only place with not so great depth at backup) but some of the talent is not proven. After this year, though, people will be talking about the Colts' players a little more and might be thrown into the discussion for best roster.

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Don't overlook Dan Moore at running back. Should be a great addition to the roster. Give him the ball!

You're right, I forgot to put fullback.  My mad.  I insert fullback on the list and include Havili and Moore. 

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I've looked at our roster and have looked over other rosters in the league,  There are some surprisingly strong rosters out there , some with "Mega Talent" all up and down their rosters.  I'm not sure why the Colts couldn't bolster the roster with bigger names in the off-season but Grigson did what he could with what was available at the time --- he also missed a few gems (Welker), and many others.

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I've looked at our roster and have looked over other rosters in the league,  There are some surprisingly strong rosters out there , some with "Mega Talent" all up and down their rosters.  I'm not sure why the Colts couldn't bolster the roster with bigger names in the off-season but Grigson did what he could with what was available at the time --- he also missed a few gems (Welker), and many others.

If we got Welker our receiving corps would be unstoppable but yes there were some big name players Grigson decided not to go after.  He probably would have given them bigger contracts than he did with the players he did sign.

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On paper, no this roster is not the best.  I want it to be, and if we can "overachieve" again, the unit as a whole can be the best.  But duplicating last year's efforts with this roster is going to be next to impossible.  Colts this year have too many young players with too much to prove for it to be considered the best. 

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On paper, no this roster is not the best.  I want it to be, and if we can "overachieve" again, the unit as a whole can be the best.  But duplicating last year's efforts with this roster is going to be next to impossible.  Colts this year have too many young players with too much to prove for it to be considered the best. 

I see where you are coming from but if everyone that is starting performs to expectations we have a very good starting rotation but yes the backups need to prove themselves as football players.  But I see what you mean, because the Colts do have a lot of inexperienced players but they have the potential to be good or very good.  But yes this teams needs to play even better than what they are capable of to be the best.  Maybe with the next few years they can be considered the best depending on free agency and the draft and development of players.    

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Guest TeamLoloJones

Posted

I look at it like this. Offense: Great QB, great TEs, very good receiving corps, solid running back corps, but the offensive line still needs work.  If Holmes and Thornton turn out to be solid starters, we still have zero depth on the line.  Defense: Makings of a very good secondary, but little depth at the CB position.  Lb corps could use another big body on the inside, and another pass rusher outside.  The D-line is improved but still a work in progress and about 2 players away from being good.  The best thing going for the Colts is the large amout of franchise players we have that are young. (Luck, Ballard, Hilton, Allen, Fleener, Castanzo, Vontae, Champan, Werner)  We may not be in the discussion for best roster in the NFL, but in my opinion no one has a better core of young talent than we do.  COLTS!!!!!!!!!

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I look at it like this. Offense: Great QB, great TEs, very good receiving corps, solid running back corps, but the offensive line still needs work.  If Holmes and Thornton turn out to be solid starters, we still have zero depth on the line.  Defense: Makings of a very good secondary, but little depth at the CB position.  Lb corps could use another big body on the inside, and another pass rusher outside.  The D-line is improved but still a work in progress and about 2 players away from being good.  The best thing going for the Colts is the large amout of franchise players we have that are young. (Luck, Ballard, Hilton, Allen, Fleener, Castanzo, Vontae, Champan, Werner)  We may not be in the discussion for best roster in the NFL, but in my opinion no one has a better core of young talent than we do.  COLTS!!!!!!!!!

Yes I see where you are coming from and we might have the best potential among young talent.  If our young talent develops very well and we find solid backups to add depth (O-line, D-Line, Cornerbacks, at least one more good pass rusher) we could be the best roster like you said.  I think in a few years we will be at that point of being one of the best rosters if we develop our young talent into great backups and starters.  Next year's draft we should focus on the offensive and defensive lines but go cornerback in the 1st or 2nd round. 

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Guest TeamLoloJones

Posted

Yes I see where you are coming from and we might have the best potential among young talent.  If our young talent develops very well and we find solid backups to add depth (O-line, D-Line, Cornerbacks, at least one more good pass rusher) we could be the best roster like you said.  I think in a few years we will be at that point of being one of the best rosters if we develop our young talent into great backups and starters.  Next year's draft we should focus on the offensive and defensive lines but go cornerback in the 1st or 2nd round. 

I agree...also have to keep in the back of our minds drafting Reggie's heir apparent.  Even if DHB turns out to be really good, he still is best utilized as a #2 WR, and Hilton is such a nightmare in the slot.  

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I agree...also have to keep in the back of our minds drafting Reggie's heir apparent.  Even if DHB turns out to be really good, he still is best utilized as a #2 WR, and Hilton is such a nightmare in the slot.  

As soon as Reggie retires which should be in two years Grigson will find a good wide receiver through the draft.  Grigson as done well so far, so I trust him to complete the roster and make it the best.  The Colts have fixed a lot of holes in the roster and will complete the finishing touches in the next few years.  By that time we will be legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

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