Colts to sign Trent Cole, 2 years, $16m (update)

[dw49]

Jeesh, Bring in some big name players and people still are not happy...Not surprising

 

 

Never going to make everyone happy. I like the signings also.

[Dark Superman]

hes going to replace werner as the starter.  cole actually has some speed and pass rush moves. 

 

6 sacks is more than werner has ever done

Wouldn't he be replacing Walden? And Mathis will be back on the left side again.

[NewEra]

I think we overpaid because Mathis is NOT going to be ready when the season starts.

Candidate for PUP list.

Cole and Newsome on the rush/weakside

Walden and Werner on the edge/strong side

Mathis on the PUP list.

That's my prediction and I'm sticking to it until proven otherwise......

I actually like that thought. Helps us put Werner in Waldens side where I think he is better suited. He's still developing his pass Rush but he seals the edge real nice

[aaron11]

Wouldn't he be replacing Walden? And Mathis will be back on the left side again.

well maybe, assuming all are healthy it seems like cole and mathis would be the best options for passing down edge rushers. newsome would be the back up pass rushing olb..  kinda leaves werner with no role, other than run stuffing edge setter, but i like walden better for that job

 

i wonder if mathis will be ready to go for week one let alone play 16 games though.

[dgambill]

And Darius Butler developed under the colts coaching staff and not the patriots. Should we blame Belichick and his staff? Many times it's just young guys finally growing up.

I agree...the whole point was that it was still a good pick. Polian got it right...and he was drafted to replace freeney/Mathis and he clearly could have. That was my only point. I still think we could have done a better job developing players under the old regime...we certainly have done better with our young corners since pagano has been here...no doubt about that. We all have questioned some moves...the Hughes one has always puzzled me...like it wasn't a grigson guy and he got chopped a little fast for my taste when they paid freeney a ton of cash in that failed experiment at olb. But again...point always was it was a good pick.

[rock8591]

It's pretty much a 1-year guaranteed deal, needed the signing with Mathis possibly starting next year on PUP.

[GoColts8818]

Cole, Newsome, and maybe Mathis is one heck of a trio of pass rushers.

[Jason_]

hes going to replace werner as the starter. cole actually has some speed and pass rush moves.

6 sacks is more than werner has ever done

He certainly won't if he can't effectively set the edge and play the run. He would likely be the edge rusher opposite mathis in nickel and dime looks but highly doubtful he'd be the starting Sam backer. If anything he may replace mathis as rush backer in the base front depending on how well mathis heals and how his endurance is, especially early in the season after not playing all of last year. They may save him as a situational pass rusher, at least early on.

[mattceinicram]

Trent Cole's GTD $$$ is a $2M signing bonus, $2M 2015 base salary, $3M 3/24/15 roster bonus & $1M 15th day of 2016 league year roster bonus.

— Joel Corry (@corryjoel)

March 11, 2015

 

Cap hit in 2015 should be $6m.

A little better I suppose

[aaron11]

He certainly won't if he can't effectively set the edge and play the run. He would likely be the edge rusher opposite mathis in nickel and dime looks but highly doubtful he'd be the starting Sam backer. If anything he may replace mathis as rush backer in the base front depending on how well mathis heals and how his endurance is, especially early in the season after not playing all of last year. They may save him as a situational pass rusher, at least early on.

he can play the run though.  hes a 4-3 DE that also plays rush lb.  i dont think hes really a strong side LB though so it could get interesting to see how he spilts snaps with walden and werner. 

[Dark Superman]

well maybe, assuming all are healthy it seems like cole and mathis would be the best options for passing down edge rushers. newsome would be the back up pass rushing olb..  kinda leaves werner with no role, other than run stuffing edge setter, but i like walden better for that job

 

i wonder if mathis will be ready to go for week one let alone play 16 games though.

You're right about needing to have everyone healthy. Either way, the depth looks good. A lot better than last year.

[Dark Superman]

A little better I suppose

So what's his cap hit?

[Kamran98]

Guys whats happening about Andre. Apparently we haven't signed him and he's going to seattle now. Please don't tell me its true. We need this guy.

[Kamran98]

Guys whats happening about Andre. Apparently we haven't signed him and he's going to seattle now. Please don't tell me its true. We need this guy.

[gacker65]

How?  He's being brought in to be an edge rusher.  He'll be an edge rusher whether as a DE in a 4 man front, or as a RushLB in the 3-4 front.  His primary job will be to rush the passer. 

 

 

He reminds you of Werner?  How?  The one thing Werner has not been good at is rushing the passer.  He's been better at playing SamLB.  Cole is a pass rush specialist.  How are they similar?

 

 

Hmm...so Cole played better for the 9 years he was a DE than he did the first year they converted him to OLB?  That's supposed to come as a surprise?  We're not talking about a college player, we're talking about an 11 year NFL veteran pass rusher that was brought in to....wait for it....rush the passer.  If he wants to put his hand in the dirt to rush the passer, I'm pretty sure the staff will let him.

As a DE.  Not every DE can convert like RM did.  I see Werner 2.0 and have every since Cole went to OLB.  Sack numbers dropped for Cole.  Cole better with hand in the dirt, same as Werner.  

[TKnight24]

Trent Cole was released though wasnt he? Fair game.

So was

DeSean Jackson

LeSean McCoy was traded

Pointing out the dumb moves Chip Kelly is making isn't validating your disappointment

Cole is still a very good player in this league

[gacker65]

Please explain to me in what way he reminds you of Werner?

Since Eagles went to 3-4, Cole has had trouble. Sacks went.  Trouble setting edge.  Cole is a better at DE than OLB.  REminds me of Dwight trying to play OLB.

 

I am not upset, just wondering why.

[lollygagger8]

I'm good with this signing. 

 

Hopefully Cole makes the name Trent a good name in Indy again. 

[backshoulderfade]

So was

DeSean Jackson

LeSean McCoy was traded

Pointing out the dumb moves Chip Kelly is making isn't validating your disappointment

Cole is still a very good player in this league

What?

[Gavin]

Since Eagles went to 3-4, Cole has had trouble. Sacks went.  Trouble setting edge.  Cole is a better at DE than OLB.  REminds me of Dwight trying to play OLB.

 

I am not upset, just wondering why.

Cole has done just fine, He has has been responsible for more then just pass rush, That's why his numbers are down, He appears to be able to set the edge consistently from what I see, He is violent in it. Im on ly his first game last season though but I don't get the big deal so far, He can still round the corner just fine as well, He also lined up at different spots, Not just at rush linebacker

[gacker65]

 Yet we play 4-2-5 about 30% of the time.

I understand.  It's the other 70% of the time I wonder about.  If Cole has to play during that 70%, you have to worry about our Defense.  If we played a 4-3, IMO, this would be a great signing.  

[gacker65]

Cole has done just fine, He has has been responsible for more then just pass rush, That's why his numbers are down, He appears to be able to set the edge consistently from what I see, He is violent in it. Im on ly his first game last season though but I don't get the big deal so far, He can still round the corner just fine as well, He also lined up at different spots, Not just at rush linebacker

You have surprised me.  I thought, you would be one of them that would understand what I am saying.

 

Cole's numbers dropped last season.  I attributed to change from DE to OLB.  

 

I even understand the reason ( to give Werner and Newsome another year to progress).  I also see, that this will not help our Defense much in the upcoming season, unless one of pass rushers go on a tear.

[Gavin]

You have surprised me.  I thought, you would be one of them that would understand what I am saying.

 

Cole's numbers dropped last season.  I attributed to change from DE to OLB.  

 

I even understand the reason ( to give Werner and Newsome another year to progress).  I also see, that this will not help our Defense much in the upcoming season, unless one of pass rushers go on a tear.

I think the Trent move was a win now move, Werner and Newsome are not win now type players yet, I also think Grigson saw what we were without Mathis last year and having to create ways to get pressures and sacks without being able to do it naturally with pass rushing talent consistently, With Cole and Mathis back if they stay healthy Manusky wont have to try to re-invent the wheel trying to find a way to get some pass rush, I don't think with Mathis coming off of IR Grigson wanted to take a chance on having to rely on Newsome taking another jump and Werner doing the same only to get the short end of the stick if Mathis gets re-injured or does not return to form (Both very possible at his age)....Just what I think Grigson was thinking with this move for Trent....Could be way off

[coltsfanatic24]

Cole is a DE not a OLB. He struggled last year against the run and he isn't good in space. None of these signings have impressed me. Should have went after players in their prime.

[Superman]

Cole is a DE not a OLB. He struggled last year against the run and he isn't good in space.

 

None of this is true.

 

Players convert from 4-3 to 3-4 all the time. Robert Mathis wasn't an OLB until he was. Cole has been for two seasons now, and has shown plenty of pass rush ability. He would have been our best pass rusher in 2014, easily.

 

He didn't struggle last year against the run. He was very good against the run. He had several stops, he doesn't miss tackles, and he sets the edge well. He's probably more sound setting the edge than Mathis.

 

And he's fine in space. He dropped into coverage on 13% of his total snaps, 22% of passing snaps, and did a decent job of covering the short area and limiting gains on the 11 targets he saw. 

[aaron11]

Cole is a DE not a OLB. He struggled last year against the run and he isn't good in space. None of these signings have impressed me. Should have went after players in their prime.

he can play both.  hes more versitale than anyone we have other than mathis. 

[Jason_]

As a DE.  Not every DE can convert like RM did.

 

I understand that.  Many of them can though because it happens literally every year.

 

  I see Werner 2.0 and have every since Cole went to OLB.  Sack numbers dropped for Cole.  Cole better with hand in the dirt, same as Werner.

 

 

It's not surprising that his numbers dropped.  It was not only his first year in the new defense, but every other player on that defense as well.  So not only did Cole need to adjust, but every single other player around him did as well.  Any one guy not sticking to his assignment could hurt the other players on defense.

 

Also, as has been pointed out already, Werner already plays with his hand in the dirt a lot of the time, and Cole will be able to as well. 

[BOTT]

I agree...the whole point was that it was still a good pick. Polian got it right...and he was drafted to replace freeney/Mathis and he clearly could have. That was my only point. I still think we could have done a better job developing players under the old regime...we certainly have done better with our young corners since pagano has been here...no doubt about that. We all have questioned some moves...the Hughes one has always puzzled me...like it wasn't a grigson guy and he got chopped a little fast for my taste when they paid freeney a ton of cash in that failed experiment at olb. But again...point always was it was a good pick.

Yeah, I never had a problem with the pick. I never understood people who though it was a bad idea to have a 3rd pass rusher. Just took a while for him.

[gacker65]

I understand that.  Many of them can though because it happens literally every year.

 

 

It's not surprising that his numbers dropped.  It was not only his first year in the new defense, but every other player on that defense as well.  So not only did Cole need to adjust, but every single other player around him did as well.  Any one guy not sticking to his assignment could hurt the other players on defense.

 

Also, as has been pointed out already, Werner already plays with his hand in the dirt a lot of the time, and Cole will be able to as well. 

you are correct.  Many college undersized DEs get converted, but many do not excel as they did in college.  For every one that does well converting, there is 4-5 that don't (see Werner).

 

Watching Cole last season reminded me of Dwight in 2012.

[gacker65]

I think the Trent move was a win now move, Werner and Newsome are not win now type players yet, I also think Grigson saw what we were without Mathis last year and having to create ways to get pressures and sacks without being able to do it naturally with pass rushing talent consistently, With Cole and Mathis back if they stay healthy Manusky wont have to try to re-invent the wheel trying to find a way to get some pass rush, I don't think with Mathis coming off of IR Grigson wanted to take a chance on having to rely on Newsome taking another jump and Werner doing the same only to get the short end of the stick if Mathis gets re-injured or does not return to form (Both very possible at his age)....Just what I think Grigson was thinking with this move for Trent....Could be way off

We both are looking at this as a positive, but for different reasons.

 

My problem with this signing is the money.  IMO, Cole should be depth or rotational not a starter and we gave Cole starter money.  We should not slow the growth of Werner and Newsome.

 

I have been looking at RM coming back as being the extra for the Defense.

[dgambill]

Yeah, I never had a problem with the pick. I never understood people who though it was a bad idea to have a 3rd pass rusher. Just took a while for him.

I got you...don't have anymore likes because of the good news but I know Polian gets a bad rap sometimes (and deservedly sometimes) but he had a plan for him and you could see it with Freeney and all his money at the end and how we had to re-sign Mathis....likely we would had to have Hughes because no way we keep Mathis when we had Peyton's money and Freeney money. I imagine we likely would have cut Freeney and paired up Hughes with Mathis.

[ColtStronger]

And if you are wrong I'll be happy to remind you.

Feel free to...  I said that not knowing what the guaranteed money was, but that is hefty contract for him I feel.

[ColtStronger]

he was never a free agent unless im mistaken.  didnt he get the franchise tag? which means we had no chance to sign him

Yes he was tagged.  I didn't know that until after I posted that.  I just heard he was unhappy with the offer the Cheifs gave him.

[Swimmy]

Eagles fan here. Not sure why some of you are unhappy about this. You signed a solid player who immediately improves the team and isn't a liability. He's also missed very few games,. 

 

Trent Cole has always been one of the most underrated Ends in the league.  Probably the best most balanced DE in the league if he can return to 2011 form.  His production has dropped off but that may be due to a combination of his age and the fact that he was playing in a 3-4 for the last couple of years. However, Trent wasn't terrible in the 3-4.

 

Also someone said that Trent cant play the run. You have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. Cole is pretty good against the run and isn't just a situational pass rusher.

 

The only issue with Trent Cole was that near the end of the season he would be worn down.

Edited March 13, 2015 by SteelCityColt

[gacker65]

Eagles fan here. Not sure why some of you are unhappy about this. You signed a solid player who immediately improves the team and isn't a liability. He's also missed very few games,. 

 

Trent Cole has always been one of the most underrated Ends in the league.  Probably the best most balanced DE in the league if he can return to 2011 form.  His production has dropped off but that may be due to a combination of his age and the fact that he was playing in a 3-4 for the last couple of years. However, Trent wasn't terrible in the 3-4.

 

Also someone said that Trent cant play the run. You have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. Cole is pretty good against the run and isn't just a situational pass rusher.

 

The only issue with Trent Cole was that near the end of the season he would be worn down.

Welcome to the forum first.

 

I'm unhappy, because we paid starter money to a player that should be rotational at best and 3rd depth at least.  IMO, Cole is not going to give us double digit sacks, this year or next.  Newsome's numbers was almost as good as Cole's in a part time role.

 

I agree that Cole was an under rated DE.  He excelled on the Wide 9 Defense your team use to play.  IMO, Cole's production went down when he converted to 3-4 OLB.  He does not look comfortable out there.  Tackles might have went up slightly, but sacks went down.  Pass rushing OLBs need the sack numbers.  He played like Werner did at Sam OLB.  We don't need another Sam OLB, but a pass rusher.

 

Age and converting to OLB has hurt Cole.

[backshoulderfade]

Welcome to the forum first.

I'm unhappy, because we paid starter money to a player that should be rotational at best and 3rd depth at least. IMO, Cole is not going to give us double digit sacks, this year or next. Newsome's numbers was almost as good as Cole's in a part time role.

I agree that Cole was an under rated DE. He excelled on the Wide 9 Defense your team use to play. IMO, Cole's production went down when he converted to 3-4 OLB. He does not look comfortable out there. Tackles might have went up slightly, but sacks went down. Pass rushing OLBs need the sack numbers. He played like Werner did at Sam OLB. We don't need another Sam OLB, but a pass rusher.

Age and converting to OLB has hurt Cole.

The big issue here is you measuring an OLBs impact only by sacks.

[Swimmy]

Welcome to the forum first.

 

I'm unhappy, because we paid starter money to a player that should be rotational at best and 3rd depth at least.  IMO, Cole is not going to give us double digit sacks, this year or next.  Newsome's numbers was almost as good as Cole's in a part time role.

 

I agree that Cole was an under rated DE.  He excelled on the Wide 9 Defense your team use to play.  IMO, Cole's production went down when he converted to 3-4 OLB.  He does not look comfortable out there.  Tackles might have went up slightly, but sacks went down.  Pass rushing OLBs need the sack numbers.  He played like Werner did at Sam OLB.  We don't need another Sam OLB, but a pass rusher.

 

Age and converting to OLB has hurt Cole.

90% of Trent coles success and career wasn't even in  the wide 9. 

 

 

If you're looking for a pure pass rusher you signed the wrong guy . You signed a Balanced DE who can play every down. You shouldn't be unhappy as he immediately improved your defense.

[gacker65]

The big issue here is you measuring an OLBs impact only by sacks.

No, the problem is paying starter money for a rotational/3rd string pass rusher.  We don't need a player coming in a taking snaps from Newsome, who took a big step forward in his playing progress.

 

You are correct, that I am basing Cole's performance on sacks, because that is exactly what is expected him from the FO/Coaching Staff.

 

Cole's play has dropped off in the last 2 years.  Earlier in the thread, I attributed to moving, but he could be slowing due to age.

[backshoulderfade]

No, the problem is paying starter money for a rotational/3rd string pass rusher. We don't need a player coming in a taking snaps from Newsome, who took a big step forward in his playing progress.

You are correct, that I am basing Cole's performance on sacks, because that is exactly what is expected him from the FO/Coaching Staff.

Cole's play has dropped off in the last 2 years. Earlier in the thread, I attributed to moving, but he could be slowing due to age.

Incorrect, better luck next time.

[gacker65]

Incorrect, better luck next time.

Why is it incorrect?  Please explain.