Noah Spence - Interesting NFL.com Article

[rockywoj]

http://www.nfl.com/theascent

 

I've really been of the mind that I want the Colts to use their 1st rounder on an offensive lineman.  After reading the article, though, I kind of find myself cheering for Spence.

[CheezyColt]

Nice story. I like it!

[Two_pound]

Yea, It's nice to root for a guy and hope he turns his life around and succeeds, but do you know who another defensive rush linebacker was who was booted from Ohio State and transferred to another school to finish his college career? His name was Jonathan Newsome, and we all know where he is now. I wouldn't even consider Spence, but at the same time I hope he does well.

[Colts_Fan12]

I'd take him at 18 

[CheezyColt]

3 minutes ago, Two_pound said:

Yea, It's nice to root for a guy and hope he turns his life around and succeeds, but do you know who another defensive rush linebacker was who was booted from Ohio State and transferred to another school to finish his college career? His name was Jonathan Newsome, and we all know where he is now. I wouldn't even consider Spence, but at the same time I hope he does well.

Didn't Newsome have the charges he was facing (that got him kicked off the Colts) dropped? I'll admit I didn't follow it too closely, but I think we may have been a little hasty. 

 

I see your point but the talent level is much different between Spence and Newsome (as evidenced by their draft projections). Maybe I'm just a sucker for redemption stories, but I'd have no qualms with Spence at 18. The risk is there though.

[Two_pound]

Honestly, I always hope any guy with off field issues cleans himself up and does well, but I just wouldn't risk the 18th pick on someone with that much baggage. Sports Ill. also had an article on him in last weeks issue. As for Newsome, I don't know about his legal situation now, but he did not play near as well last season as his rookie year. I was expecting 10 sacks from him last year(up from the 6.5 he had as rookie) but he was virtually ineffective the entire season. Was he "partying" too much? I don't know.

[Larry Horseman]

50 minutes ago, Two_pound said:

Yea, It's nice to root for a guy and hope he turns his life around and succeeds, but do you know who another defensive rush linebacker was who was booted from Ohio State and transferred to another school to finish his college career? His name was Jonathan Newsome, and we all know where he is now. I wouldn't even consider Spence, but at the same time I hope he does well.

 

41 minutes ago, CheezyColt said:

Didn't Newsome have the charges he was facing (that got him kicked off the Colts) dropped? I'll admit I didn't follow it too closely, but I think we may have been a little hasty. 

 

I see your point but the talent level is much different between Spence and Newsome (as evidenced by their draft projections). Maybe I'm just a sucker for redemption stories, but I'd have no qualms with Spence at 18. The risk is there though.

 

The situations are similar, except Spence is going to have to be a first round pick, making it much riskier. That said, if Newsome would have produced last year, he would still be on the team. 

[BleedBlu8792]

44 minutes ago, Two_pound said:

Yea, It's nice to root for a guy and hope he turns his life around and succeeds, but do you know who another defensive rush linebacker was who was booted from Ohio State and transferred to another school to finish his college career? His name was Jonathan Newsome, and we all know where he is now. I wouldn't even consider Spence, but at the same time I hope he does well.

 

He wasn't booted, technically. He became academically ineligible and transferred to Ball State himself. 

 

Regardless, Spence has proved enough that with the weekly drug tests, for over a year now, he can stay clean. I would be perfectly comfortable with Spence if he's our pick at 18.

[southwest1]

Mr. Spence does seem like his priorities are straight now & the beauty of hitting rock bottom is that you have nothing left to fear anymore.

 

Once what you love to do is placed in jeopardy & you get a 2nd shot at football, you're hungry, you're relentless, & you're not gonna embarrass your teammates or coaching staff ever again. 

 

You root for a guy like this whether we take him or not. 

[LockeDown]

I was strongly opposed to him before, but after that story and Grigson's comments about red flags, it seems like he's changed his mind about somebody....sure sounds like it could be Spence.  

[MSColtsFan]

I like him, I'll even root for him, but I hope the Colts don't draft him.  I don't think his skills are any better than others who could be available much later (Blair, Judon), and he isn't any better than those in the same grade range (Dodd, Correa).  I think he is one dimensional, he'll be a specialist, can't play DE, so lacks that dynamic quality I hope the Colts could find at #18. 

[loudnproudcolt]

I liked the article also. It seems he really focused more on the little things, which is what impressed me. Not taking plays off, working his butt off in practice. He seems like a changed person, has great parents, and I know

how easy it is for these kids in college to get on the wrong track. When you are BMOC at a college like Ohio St. as an 18 year old, it becomes very hard to follow the right path. We sometimes forget about that.

 

I personally have stated who I want so many times, who is on the other side of the ball, I won't go there. The one thing I do believe is this is Grigson's most important draft yet. We don't know what Dorsett will become, but as far as the First round, Luck was a gimme. His others first rounders have missed horribly. I won't paint him with the broad brush all do because he has found some talent in the later rounds, which I like. I believe we have some gems coming back for their second year from last years draft.

 

Grigson can talk about the red flags and feeling comfortable with players, but I don't believe the logic as far as the first round. I just don't believe he can take a gamble on a kid with any flags in his background. The one caveat is I believe the draft process this year will be a little different, with more input from Pagano and the coaching staff. I believe after last year, and all that happened after, Pagano and the coaching staff will have more input. We may not see or hear about it, but Pagano being allowed to what he has to his staff speaks

volumes how things have changed at the Colts Complex.

[richard pallo]

Very nice article.  It changed my perspective of the kid. If we really have him rated as the BPA in the ER position of need I could support the pick.  What we don't know is if they rank PON when making the pick.  All things being equal, that is the players have the same grade,  would they draft IOL first or ER first?  

[funktacious2]

Read it this morning. I was already warming up to Spence, but now I'm sold. A top 10 talent at a position of great need that can be had possibly at 18? I'll bite.

[OHColtfan]

Have no problem with him at #18 on talent & pro day results. Seems like he has straightened some things out. Would rather take him than Robert Nkemdiche who seems to enjoy his problems.  Although if Floyd and Spence are at #18, it would be a tough choice.

[ColtsBlueFL]

He has come a long way since the combine, it seems.  At the combine, both his interviews and performance were shaky.

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000639754/article/gm-i-dont-know-if-i-can-trust-nfl-draft-prospect-noah-spence

 

Senior bowl performance and post combine interviews seem to have worked.  (Some) teams will not pass on Spence in round 1, methinks.

 

 

[BlueShoe]

No way in H, E, double hockey sticks I even think about touching him at #18. 

 

I would take him at #48 though. 

 

He is a gamble no matter the overall number he is selected, but we are usually picking the mid 20's. We do not normally get opportunities to have a valuable first round pick. We would be crazy to roll the dice with it.

 

I would rather trade back. If Paxton Lynch is still on the board then we should be able to move back. I am OK with going all the way back to #31. I might take him there, because we would pick up the extra second and fourth.

 

In the end, it doesn't matter what I think, because the front office is going to make the decision. 

 

Really step back and think about this for a moment. Take any bias out of the equation. How many people would give a drug addict millions of dollars? That is what you would be doing by drafting him in the first round. Because the fact is, Spence will always be a drug addict. He may never user again, but he will always have that demon riding shotgun. 

[krunk]

Personally I'm cool with trading back and taking Austin Johnson at the end of the first round while picking up 2 second round picks if we can.  I think he's every bit as good if not bettter than Andrew Billings.   We can pick up 1 if not 2 pass rushers in the second round that are equal to the guys that are available in the first round outside of Shaq Lawson who I anticpate will go in the top 15.

[Smonroe]

If anyone is concerned that he didn't face top competition at EKU, believe me, he was on his way to being a first team all American at OSU.  

 

I like him him and I like the fact that he has to prove himself every week.  The CBA makes it tough to put incentives in rookie contracts, but they can do things like stretch out his bonus, I think.

 

IMO it's our most needed position.   

[JRnINDY]

I hope we take Spence at 18....

true edge rusher