[Draft Rumors]

I found a seven round mock draft here http://www.draftsite...ock-draft/2012/ that actually is very interesting. It has us taking DT Brandon Thompson out of Clemson in the second round.

Thompson looks like a pretty decent prospect. He has his pros and cons. Here's a decent profile for him http://www.cbssports...randon-thompson

I like this part from the CBS Sports player profile link above:

Thompson was a classroom and weight-room fanatic since high school, which earned him Academic Honor Roll recognition in 2010 and the weight-lifting statistics of a tractor -- 450-pound single bench press, 36 reps with 225 pounds (34 at the Combine), 615-pound squat lift and 370-pound power clean.

On the field that translates to somebody smart enough to know what to do and strong enough to get it done. He explodes off the line with tremendous force and uses his wicked strong hands to gain an advantage. This helps him as a dangerous bull rusher, but he is not really a pass rush threat.

Nicknamed "Yams" in recognition of the huge thighs that help him clog the middle of Clemson's defense, Thompson is an immovable object willing and able to crush anything that tries to get past him. His college statistics may not be relevant because offenses tried to stay out of his way, even if it took two men to do so.

Thompson may be NFL ready right now, but he is already maximizing his physical ability and may have marginal upside.

[Colts Sign Nt Brandon Mckinney [Merge]]

CBS Sports has an interesting take on a possible nose tackle prospect for the Colts

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/rob-rang/18471790/projecting-the-draft-indianapolis-colts

NT Josh Chapman, Alabama (NFLDraftScout.com ranking: 108)

As the Colts transition to coach Pagano's 3-4 defensive scheme, the addition of a nose tackle to anchor the middle of that three-man front is imperative to the overall defensive success. The Colts' currently have Antonio Johnson and Brandon McKinney slated to share the nose tackle duties, but neither is considered the long-term answer and depth at this position is never a bad thing. Chapman (6-1, 316) manned the middle of Nick Saban's 3-4 defense in college and might be the most natural nose tackle in this draft class. He has been somewhat of an afterthought during the pre-draft process because he has been shelved after tearing his ACL, despite playing through the pain for several weeks. Chapman is still rehabbing from the injury, but would be a nice pick in the fourth round for Indy to groom as their nose tackle of the future.

[Mel Kiper Mock Draft 4.0]

This is an interesting thought from ESPN Insider about Nose Tackles in the draft. Brandon Thompson from Clemson is actually the third DT mentioned but Muench (the author) mentions the Colts as a good fit for him.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/blog/_/name/nfl_draft/id/7778503/2012-nfl-draft-plenty-quality-nose-tackles-available

Nose tackles hard to find, but not in 2012

April, 5, 2012

Apr 5

11:28

AM ET

By Steve Muench

Brandon Thompson, Clemson (85)

Thompson (6-2, 311) is capable of developing into an effective nose tackle regardless of the front. He has the first-step quickness and violent hands (35 bench reps at the combine) to excel in a penetrating one-gap scheme, as well as the power base and instincts to thrive in a two-gap scheme. His willingness to do the dirty work isn't a concern because he doesn't give up when two teams commit two blockers to him.

Thompson would be an interesting addition for the Indianapolis Colts with the 34th overall pick. That might be a bit of a reach based on his 2011 tape, but Thompson flashed first-round potential in 2010. New head coach Chuck Pagano and new defensive coordinator Greg Manusky have backgrounds in 3-4 defenses and will transition to that scheme, but Manusky has made it clear he will put his players in the best position to succeed, and Thompson's versatility could help make that transition smoother.

[Colts Sign Nt Brandon Mckinney [Merge]]

Mel Kiper has us signing defensive lineman Kendall Reyes in the second round.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2012/story/_/id/7766381/mel-kiper-fourth-mock-draft-two-rounds

Kendall Reyes

Defensive Tackle

88

SCOUTS GRADE

Grading Scale

• ConnecticutSchool
  
• Big EastConference
  

• 6'4⅛"Height
  
• 299 lbsWeight
  

• 33.2"Arm Length
  
• 9.4"Hand Size
  

• 36Overall Rank
  
• 5Positional Rank
  

CAREER NCAA FOOTBALL STATS

TACKLES FUMBLES FORCED INT 46 — —

2012 Draft Pick Info

TEAM ROUND PICK — — —

Possible Destinations

,

Scouts Inc. Player Evaluations

• Profile
  
• Conversation
  

Overall Football Traits

Production 2 "2007: Redshirt. 2008: (11/4) 20 tackles (3 TFL), 1.5 sacks. 2009: (13/12) 37 tackles (6 TFL), 3 sacks. 2010: (13/13) 39 tackles (10 TFL), 2.5 sacks. Career: 2 INT, 6 PBU." Height-Weight-Speed 3 Below average but adequate weight. Average height and above average top-end speed. Durability 2 "Injured ankle during 2008 Louisville game and missed North Carolina game the following week. However, has appeared in 37 games with 29 starts. " Intangibles 2 Named team captain for 2010 season. Has lined up at defensive end and defensive tackle.

1 = Exceptional2 = Above average3 = Average4 = Below average5 = Marginal

Defensive Tackle Specific Traits

Versus the Run 2 Could play with better pad level at times but rarely gave ground one-on-one and flashed ability to anchor against double teams despite lack of ideal size. Flashed ability to drive blocker into the backfield and can force back to redirect. Strong and can lift interior offensive linemen off their feet when wins the battle of leverage. Capable of stacking and shedding in a two-gap scheme. Above average instincts for an interior defensive lineman and located the ball quickly. Above average range for an interior defensive lineman and can make plays outside the tackle box. Pass Rush Skills 3 Too much of a one-dimensional power rusher at this point. Shed blocks quicker as a run defender than did as a pass rusher. Doesn't close as well as some other defensive tackles in class but has enough quickness and agility to develop into a productive interior pass rusher at the next level. Quickness (hands/feet) 2 "Above average first-step quickness for size. Showed above-average lateral mobility when scraping down the line of scrimmage. More than athletic enough to make a success transition to 5-technique in a base three-man front. Effective hand fighter that can shoot hands inside and lock on before most offensive linemen are able to lock onto his frame. However, could be more violent with hands when rushing the passer. " Toughness/Motor 2 Doesn't give much ground or back down in phone booth. Chased outside runs. Made plays with second effort and played hard late in blowout loss to Michigan in 2010. Inconsistent motor but fatigue may be bigger issue than work ethic.

1 = Exceptional2 = Above average3 = Average4 = Below average5 = Marginal

[Still A Chance Freeney Is Traded]

Hi everybody...a newbie here. I haven't seen any references to these links. It actually looks like the national talking heads are thinking Freeney stays. Thoughts?

http://twitter.com/#!/espn_afcsouth/status/180018193383960576

@ClaytonESPN doesn't see Colts trading or cutting Freeney. Thinks with all the low cost players, they can handle $19 M cap number

http://www.stampedeblue.com/2012/3/14/2871879/dwight-freeney-might-not-get-traded-or-released-colts-free-agency-nfl

Dwight Freeney Might Not Get Traded Or Released

by Brad Wells on Mar 14, 2012 5:08 PM EDT in Colts News

For weeks, everyone has been under the assumption that the Colts will trade or release All Pro defensive end Dwight Freeney. The reasons are the Colts are shifting to a 3-4 base defense, and Dwight is owed way too much money in 2012 for what he is currently worth. Freeney carries a staggering $19 million dollar cap hit for the Colts in 2012, and for a guy who is provided just 8.5 sacks last year and is on the wrong side of 30, that's too much.

Again, as I always say to crazy fans who think that sports is about "loyalty," the bottom line is this league is a bottom line business. Your play must validate your pay. When it doesn't, you are hurting the club.

Also, when asked directly last week about whether or not the Colts are attempting to trade Freeney, news that was first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, Colts G.M. Ryan Grigson gave a complete non-answer that, for me, translated, "We're trading Freeney." Add to this that the Colts just inked DE Cory Redding, and the writing on the wall suggested a Freeney-Colts divorce.

However, today we get two reports, one from NFL.com's Jason La Canfora and the other from ESPN's John Clayton, informing us that the Colts might not trade Freeney. They might not cut him either. He might actually remain a Colt in 2012.

La Canfora:

There was never a strong possibility that Freeney would be traded in the first place, but it is clear the Colts are making the defensive line a priority under new head coach Chuck Pagano

Chuck Pagano

The Colts have already reached an agreement with DE Cory Redding, a versatile lineman who Pagano coached in Baltimore and can play the end in a 3-4 scheme. The Colts also invested heavily in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/2808/robert-mathis">Robert

Mathis, who will now be an OLB as they switch to the new scheme.

The last piece is Freeney, who would also fit in as an outside linebacker under Pagano.

John Clayton simply stated, via ESPN's Paul Kuharsky, that he doesn't see Colts trading or cutting Freeney. With all the low cost players the Colts have either brought in or retained, they can handle Freeney's $19 mill cap number this season.

Back to La Canfora, he also reported several days ago that the Colts are looking into restructuring Freeney's final year (2012) so that the cap hit isn't $19 mill. Freeney recently hired CAA to represent him after his longtime agent, Gary Wichard, died last year. Having CAA rep him either means Freeney has them working to trade him out of Indy, or he needs them to re-work his contract.

So, it's still entirely possible that Freeney will be traded, but La Confora and Clayton just tossed a bucket of ice water on it.

[Colts Sign Zbikowski [Merge]]

Hi everybody...long time lurker, first time poster. I'm just trying to get my scorecard in order here. Going back to January 4, 2012 through this signing and including reserve/futures contracts I have the Colts adding the following to their roster:

• 5 offensive linemen
  
• 4 defensive linemen
  
• 2 wide receivers plus Reggie
  
• 1 running back
  
• 1 backup quarterback
  
• 1 line backer
  
• 1 corner back
  
• This safety
  

I guess my question is where do you think we really are looking at this thing big picture? I realize the reserve/future guys are many times special teamers at best but Grigson has at the very least been active. With this addition of Z...what is your vision of where we stand entering the draft?