NewColtsFan

Well…. I wasn’t trying to debate the issue either. I was only trying to understand something that made no sense to me. I’m not trying to win some debate by inviting in the two moderators who understand this best. I’m only trying figure this out. Honestly, that’s all.

Took me a while, but I think I’ve figured it out. DFS stands for Daily Fantasy Sports. These grades you posted are for fantasy purposes, I don’t believe they’re for grades that Colts fans or fans of any NFL team focus on week to week or even season to season. Here’s a for instance. PFF graded 79 guards last year. Using your grades that you posted as our guide, do you know how many guards would be considered starters? 17. That’s it, 17 out of 79. And coincidently the 17th graded guy is none other than Quentin Nelson. 17 guards in the entire NFL would be considered starter level. That’s nonsensical. So I’m confident there is a different way to view the regular PFF grades. But the PFF website can be a maze. I’ve called PFF in the past and they used to answer the phone. More recently it goes to voice mail. Perhaps @w87r and @Superman can chime in…. Guys, can you look at this exchange with @Zoltan and I and offer some views? Thanks in advance.

You’re correct! No video today which means it’ll likely play out as you said. One video sometime before the draft and the second video about a week after the draft. Props to you!

I think you’re a little off on saying grades in the 60’s are for backups. Without even looking I can say with confidence that all 32 teams have starters with grades in the 60’s. In other words, it’s not the 90’s are an A, the 80’s are a B, the 70’s are a C and the 60’s a D. PFF grades don’t work that way at all. If you’ll notice, any player with grades in the 60’s have a light green color. The 70’s have a darker green color. Green is a starter level grade. Honestly, I’ve seen some players who start have grades in the 50’s. It happens. You just don’t want it too often. Hope that clarifies. If you have questions I’m always here.

Off the top of my head, the Bears gave up two 3’s and a 4. Might’ve been one 3, and two 4’s. The points are the difference at the top of the draft when a team is moving up from 3 to 2. As for everything else, we’ll just agree to disagree.

Perhaps I should’ve been more clear. When I say there was no negative reaction back then, I’m not talking about the fan base. I’m talking about the media that covers the NFL — people in the know. Rare is the time I care about what fans think. I just don’t. Fans are not informed enough. But media-wise, I don’t recall any media reaction expressing shock or surprise that Chicago took Trubisky over the other two. NOTE: please see my post to 2006CBE about my view of Trubisky. I was not a big fan of his, but I also wasn’t a hater. So I’m not defending him.

To be clear…. I was NOT a Trubisky fan. He only started one season for North Carolina. I think he only started 13 games (like AR). His one year was very good, but still he had so little experience. But I don’t remember any outrage over Chicago taking Trubisky over Watson or Mahomes. Maybe there was and I’m misremembering. FWIW: There are video’s on YouTube about how much KC LOVED Mahomes. But they didn’t want to trade up to 2. So they hoped he’d fall to 10, which he did, and KC traded two 1’s and a 3 to move up and take him. KC thought Mahomes was not only the best QB in that class, they thought he was one of the best QB prospects they’d ever seen. Their view was Texas Tech had a terrible defense and so Mahomes played every game knowing he had to score a minimum OF 35 points to win, and in some cases 45-50 points. KC thought he was brilliant. Props to them, they got it right. Now, I should look for videos about the Bears drafting Trubisky. Try to gage reaction back in 2017 and see what the reaction was in real time. Interesting stuff on YouTube.

Your response was fine. Right up to the last comment about the Bears and Trubisky. Oh, it looks good today, but you claimed back then everyone knew. That’s false. Sorry.

Lamar Jackson says hello! Josh Allen says hello! Justin Fields says hello! The Colts didn’t draft Anthony Richardson just to change him after one year.

I know the desired arm length for corners are 32”. I’m not aware if a desired length on LB’s. I’m sure there is one, I just don’t know it. EDIT: I’ve looked up the arms of our linebackers. Loooong!! Leonard: 34 3/8. 2nd round Okereke: 34 1/2. 3rd round Speed: 33 1/4. 5th Franklin: 31 3/4. 7th

For whatever it’s worth…. The period of time known as “legal tampering” is two or three days before FA opens which is March 15. So any deals made at the combine are very illegal. Teams would be fined and probably a loss of draft pick or picks as well. Just saying….

Perhaps. You might be right. That’s why I said I might be misremembering. That was a really STRANGE year!

Fair point. I suppose we might only get two. You’re right, we only got two last year. Hope that doesn’t happen, but it’s possible.

So the combine starts Tuesday. And I believe the Colts “with the next pick” video series has always had the first video BEFORE the combine. Videos don’t drop on the weekend, so I’m guessing Monday is the day. I suppose it’s possible the first video could drop AFTER the combine, and they could use video from the combine. Whenever it arrives, I’m looking forward to it as I’m sure many here are.

If I had to guess, the final decision will likely be heavily influenced by the new highly regarded DL coach from Pitt. He’ll get to work with everyone for 6-8 weeks and get an idea at least. If that happens, I’d expect the decision to come in the days right after the draft. Now watch decisions come out next week!

No worries…. You had my back on the tag deadline. Wanted to return the favor. Sorry my post was so long.

Just to clarify…. The story does not talk about the size of linebackers getting smaller. It talks about some teams using linebackers less and less because situationally they come off the field more and more. They’re replaced by corners and safeties so the defense can match up better in passing downs. And the story says that as a result, a fair number of teams (half of those that play a 4-3 defense) will only use a Day Tgree draft pick on a linebacker. That the position has been deeply discounted the same way RB has on offense. Sorry, just wanted to clarify any misunderstanding.

I feel the need to respond here. Kwity Paye does not play the LEO. He basically hasn’t since his rookie year, 2021. Oh, he might play a handful of snaps at RDE on any given game, but it’s a small handful. The last two years Kwity’s primary position has been the LDE. After his rookie year, when he played primarily the LEO, the front office noticed Kwity was slower off the ball at RDE. And it was learned he had an eye condition which has been corrected by contacts. But in 22 and 23, Paye’s primary position has been LDE. There are stories about it on the internet. In 22, the LEO was manned by Ngoukwe, Dayo and Lewis. In 23, the LEO was staffed by Ebukam and Dayo. To be sure, all of our DL have position versatility, but Kwity has been mostly at LDE. Turns out, I wrote about the RDE several times this year. I wrote that Ebukam was getting the vast majority of snaps at the RDE, and Dayo was getting most of the rest. And I said Dayo isn’t playing the RDE because it’s his best position, I don’t think it is. Dayo is not fast or twitchy or even light footed. His game is mostly power. But he’s playing RDE because the Colts need him to when Ebukam gets a test. There's more to say in this but I think the point has been made. I’m sure there are websites that might confirm position played by snaps, but I don’t know what they are? Anyone?

FWIW: I don’t know if this answers your question, but the Colts have the 4th most cap space. So they should be sitting pretty to do whatever they want to do.

@Superman @w87r Don't the Colts (all teams really) have a year to pick up the 5th year option? So if the Colts don’t do it in Feb or Mar can’t they still do it in the summer or before the start of the season or even during the season? Thats my understanding. Just thought I’d try to confirm…

This is a story I saw about 6 months ago and sat on it until now — draft season. There was an interesting story in a Bucky Brooks column and it might be Colts related. He says he surveyed every team that runs a 4-3 defense and for half of them linebacker is now a deeply discounted position, the way RB is on offense. The story says that for those teams linebacker is now only a Day 3 draft pick. They will no longer spend a Day One or Day Two pick on LB. The column did not break things down by team, so no way to know who thinks this way until the next draft when we see which 4-3 team spends only a Day 3 pick on LB. Part of the thinking is this…. If a typical game has 65 snaps for the defense, a 4-3 team is only in their base defense roughly 12-15 snaps a game. Thats it. The rest of the time 4-3 teams are pulling LBers for more DBs. Teams are running a 4-2-5, or 4-1-6 or 4-0-7. So linebackers become much less important in a 4-3 defense. If Ballard spends a day 2 pick in LB, then he’s trying to replace Leonard. But if not, if he spends only a Day 3 pick on LB, then CB has had a change of philosophy and has joined other teams in this new defensive thinking. We’ll know in two months.

Perhaps I’m not understanding you…. But at this time of year, I believe we’re in 90-man roster mode. I don’t think we go to the 53 man roster until approx Sept 1 and the start of the new season. Apologies if I’ve inadvertently confused matters and made things worse. If I’m wrong I’m sure someone will correct me.

A statistically bad year for Mahomes is better than most. Good enough to win a Super Bowl.

Well….. You might go years before you find your next quarterback. You can draft one, but it’s no guarantee he’ll ever turn into what you hope for. Quarterback has a high rate of not panning out. Kansas City won because they have Mahomes and Kelcie, plus a very good defense and coordinator plus a great head coach. I appreciate your frustration over where Minnesota is…. A bit between a rock and a hard place. But this might end up being a case of be careful what you wish for, you might just get it. Appreciate that a Vikings fan is a Colts moderator! Much love and respect.

FWIW: In an interview that Joe Burrow gave I think around December, he said Bengals management promised him they’d keep Higgins either by extension or tag. Thats now a promise kept. Good for Cincy.