Colts scout RB David Fluellen and O-Line Joel Bitonio.

[IndyScribe]

I've never heard of either of these players, but it looks like the Colts attended their pro day.

 

First was Toledo's RB David Fluellen. Representatives from 18 teams attended his pro day, and the Colts were one of them: http://blogs.nfl.com/2014/03/12/toledos-david-fluellen-gets-close-look-from-colts/

Thoughts on Fluellen for those who have never heard of him: "Fluellen — a two-time first-team All-MAC selection — is a good running back, but because there are so many good running backs in the 2014 NFL Draft class, some are going to get passed over. If Fluellen is selected, it'll be in the late rounds. Or, he'll be a priority free-agent pickup following the event."

 

Second was offensive lineman Joel Bitonio from Nevada. Here's what happened: "The Bengals and Rams coaches worked Bitonio mostly at center on his pro day; the Colts and Chargers coaches worked him out at left tackle and at guard the following day. Bitonio (6-4 1/4, 305 pounds) stood on all of his numbers at the combine and had a very good workout. He'll probably be a second-round pick, some place between the 40th and 50th pick."

 

All of this was found on an IndyStar article. http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2014/03/16/colts-links-vick-ballard-david-fluellen-joel-bitonio/6490835/

 

So far the Colts have looked at(not including Combine)  S Jimmie Ward, RB David Fluellen, DT Will Sutton, and O-Line Joel Bitonio.

[PrincetonTiger]

Interesting info

[CR91]

I'd be happy with ward

[Coltscrazy]

Joel Bitonio looks like an exciting prospect.  I was hoping he would fall to the third.  He is athletic and aggressive.   I could see him as the left guard solution for years.  Let Thomas and Thornton battle it out for RG.  I've also heard great things about Weston Richburg a center from Colorado State.  He is described as a pancake machine who physically jolts defenders on impact.  I'm starting to lean OL over linebacker.  Guys like Borland and Smallwood have been getting some knocks for having leverage issues.  Two other guys I'm looking at are Brandon Thomas OG out of Clemson.  He is described as a explosive kneee bender.  He is outrageously strong.  I also like Marcus Smith out of Louisville.  He is an animal of a pass rusher who could replace Mathis someday.  We seem to run a Buddy Ryan system with a rush specialist.

[NewColtsFan]

Bitonio is a college left tackle who many teams appear to like as an inside guy on the NFL level.   Whether it's guard or center, this kid can play...

 

Likely 2nd round, and if he falls to the 3rd, it's hard to see him falling far enough to our pick which is 90th. 

 

So....   for me,  I don't see us spending a 2 on an OL (any OL, not just Bitonio) when we spent a 3 and a 4 last year.

[Gavin]

Watching Bitonio now he definitly is a strong mobile kid, The fact that the Colts worked him out at LT has to be a smoke screen, He is pretty clearly a LG/RG, He seems to stop his leg drive at times and not understand angles, needs to get stronger, Wouldn't touch him in the 2nd, Project player with high upside in my meaningless opinion, Love his mobility

[NewColtsFan]

Watching Bitonio now he definitly is a strong mobile kid, The fact that the Colts worked him out at LT has to be a smoke screen, He is pretty clearly a LG/RG, He seems to stop his leg drive at times and not understand angles, needs to get stronger, Wouldn't touch him in the 2nd, Project player with high upside in my meaningless opinion, Love his mobility

 

By the way....   I'm seeing nice write-ups on one of your favorites...   NC's Russell Bodine....   looks like a possible 3rd rounder to me for right now....    nice call by you!

[IndyScribe]

Watching Bitonio now he definitly is a strong mobile kid, The fact that the Colts worked him out at LT has to be a smoke screen, He is pretty clearly a LG/RG, He seems to stop his leg drive at times and not understand angles, needs to get stronger, Wouldn't touch him in the 2nd, Project player with high upside in my meaningless opinion, Love his mobility

They did work him out at guard.

[Gavin]

They did work him out at guard.

Right but Tackle to

[Gavin]

By the way....   I'm seeing nice write-ups on one of your favorites...   NC's Russell Bodine....   looks like a possible 3rd rounder to me for right now....    nice call by you!

A player I wouldn't mind trading down to the 3rd and drafting but prefer trading down to the 4th and drafting

[Manning1887]

I would have a hard time picking him earlier than the 3rd round.

 

I really don't see why we would be interested in Sutton. He seems to be a Drake Nevis clone to me, and they didn't seem to feel he was a good fit.

[DougDew]

Why work out Bitonio at guard?  We have Thomas and Thornton.

 

Perhaps Bitonio goes to LG and Thomas to C......"competition at the center position".

[Valpo2004]

Why work out Bitonio at guard?  We have Thomas and Thornton.

 

Perhaps Bitonio goes to LG and Thomas to C......"competition at the center position".

 

Thornton might get better but his performance last year was far from good and IMO his starting spot is open to be upgraded and competed for.  

 

There is no reason to work him out at tackle though unless we are considering him as a guy who could slide over in the event of injury.

[DougDew]

Thornton might get better but his performance last year was far from good and IMO his starting spot is open to be upgraded and competed for.  

 

There is no reason to work him out at tackle though unless we are considering him as a guy who could slide over in the event of injury.

 I think Bitonio is expected to go in round 3 if not 2.  That high of a draft pick s/b devoted to someone who has a legitimate chance at starting, not really a round where you want real competition with someone else on the roster.   Drafting Bitonio in the 2 or 3 to play guard would only make sense if Grigson has given up on Thornton, which is very highly unlikely.

 

I really can't see drafting a guard or a center this year.  How does anyone know if they will be any better than Thornton or Holmes?

[Superman]

 I think Bitonio is expected to go in round 3 if not 2.  That high of a draft pick s/b devoted to someone who has a legitimate chance at starting, not really a round where you want real competition with someone else on the roster.   Drafting Bitonio in the 2 or 3 to play guard would only make sense if Grigson has given up on Thornton, which is very highly unlikely.

 

I really can't see drafting a guard or a center this year.  How does anyone know if they will be any better than Thornton or Holmes?

 

Bitonio is kind of a swing tackle/guard prospect. A third might be too high for a player like that, but he would project to being a Joe Reitz kind of player. I'd rather wait til the 5th or 6th and take Michael Schofield.

[OffensivelyPC]

Interesting info

lol I've got to ask, this is like the 5th or 6th post today I've seen you type "Interesting info."  And you're always like the first or second reply.  It's starting to make me laugh.

[chad72]

What do you all think of Kadeem Edwards of Tennessee State as a 6th round guard?

[Valpo2004]

Bitonio is kind of a swing tackle/guard prospect. A third might be too high for a player like that, but he would project to being a Joe Reitz kind of player. I'd rather wait til the 5th or 6th and take Michael Schofield.

 

Based on the fact that the Rams and Bengals worked him out at center it sounds like he could play any position on the line.  

[Superman]

Based on the fact that the Rams and Bengals worked him out at center it sounds like he could play any position on the line.  

 

It depends on how those workouts went, of course. I didn't follow him or his team in college, so I don't know for sure, but I haven't read anything about him ever playing center. He kind of has a center's build, so working him out there makes sense. 

[Superman]

What do you all think of Kadeem Edwards of Tennessee State as a 6th round guard?

 

I've never watched him, but just read his Senior Bowl write-up, and I think he'd be more of a tackle prospect than a guard prospect. Long arms, good height, doesn't get great push in the run game but anchors well, has good agility, etc... Seems more like a tackle to me.

[chad72]

I've never watched him, but just read his Senior Bowl write-up, and I think he'd be more of a tackle prospect than a guard prospect. Long arms, good height, doesn't get great push in the run game but anchors well, has good agility, etc... Seems more like a tackle to me.

 

If a tackle is drafted (later rounds), would it be as insurance for Castanzo on the left side or as a future replacement for Cherilus for cheap?

 

We will have contracts for Castanzo, then T.Y., then Luck, Fleener and Allen all coming up one after the other, hence the question.

[Superman]

If a tackle is drafted (later rounds), would it be as insurance for Castanzo on the left side or as a future replacement for Cherilus for cheap?

 

We will have contracts for Castanzo, then T.Y., then Luck, Fleener and Allen all coming up one after the other, hence the question.

 

It would make more sense to me to draft a contingency plan for Castonzo. Cherilus' contract makes him mostly uncuttable until 2016. If we drafted a LT prospect, he might step in for Castonzo if a deal isn't reached. 

[Valpo2004]

If a tackle is drafted (later rounds), would it be as insurance for Castanzo on the left side or as a future replacement for Cherilus for cheap?

 

We will have contracts for Castanzo, then T.Y., then Luck, Fleener and Allen all coming up one after the other, hence the question.

 

We have Cherilus on contract for a while, he's not too old and he's likely the best player on the offensive line.  I doubt we would be drafting his replacement at this point.  

 

In the late rounds we would likely just be getting someone to be a solid backup.  

[Gavin]

I've never watched him, but just read his Senior Bowl write-up, and I think he'd be more of a tackle prospect than a guard prospect. Long arms, good height, doesn't get great push in the run game but anchors well, has good agility, etc... Seems more like a tackle to me.

He definitly has potential, moves well, But doesn't play with much aggression and doesn't show consistent knee bend and drops his hands at times, Untapped potential in my opinion if the light bulb turns on, As a 6th rounder he would be a player with a big upside in my opinion