Create a roster with seven priority positions

[Superman]

I posted this four years ago, back when Jacoby Brissett was the starter and people were coping by downplaying the importance of the QB position (at least that's how I saw it). Just an exercise to discuss how to construct a roster, in theory. I think it would be good to revisit, now that the Colts have drafted a new QB, but have a RB holding out for a new contract.

 

In this exercise, the idea is you're building a roster from scratch for the Colts, a dome team in the AFC South in 2023, with our present coaching staff. You can have seven "current top five" type players on your roster. What positions would you choose to fill with these top five players?

 

By top five, I mean perennial Pro Bowl, high quality, near All Pro caliber players. At tight end, you'd get someone like Travis Kelce / Mark Andrews. 

 

And for the other 46 players on your active roster, you'd get average, JAG level players. You're not getting a guy who's just outside of the top five. At tight end, you're not getting Cole Kmet. You'd get someone like Logan Thomas / Will Dissly. 

 

Just to clarify, based on some confusion from the last time we did this... You're not picking specific players like fantasy football, just pick which positions at which you'd like to have top five talent. You're also not picking seven all time great players. Your list can be in whatever order you choose, you don't have to rank your seven positions in order of importance.

 

Also, the cap isn't a factor; assume you have a master capologist who will figure that part out. Nor are we talking about how to use draft picks; you might not use a first rounder on a RB or a kicker, but maybe you think those positions are still important enough to include in your top seven. And lastly, we're not trying to discuss the best way to build a SB roster; if you think it would be better to have 4 top five guys and the rest are JAGs, that's fine, but it's not the point of the exercise.

 

So, what seven positions are you taking to start your roster?

 

Offense: QB, RB, OT, OG, C, WR, Slot, TE

Defense: DT, DE, Will, Mike, Sam, CB, Nickelback, FS, SS

ST: K, P, LS

[stitches]

My positions would be the following:

 

1. QB... no comment. 

2. WR1... I think legitimate playmaking receiver not just helps the QB but also helps the rest of the offensive skill positions by taking away attention from them. Top QB +top WR is a recipe for top 10 offense almost regardless of what else you have on the roster. 

3. LT(for right handed QB) - I think year after year we see the importance of the LT position. Yes, you have to be solid at all OL positions, but we continuosly see that teams with weak LT, struggle to pass protect and make up for that weakness. So... if I can, I want one of my strengths to be there.

4. WR/TE (One of the two... probably depends on the offensive system you are running but if we are system-agnostic - I don't really care which one it is), I want a second top tier playmaking weapon. If you are going to be exceptional on one side of the ball IMO aiming for offensive dominance is the way to go. 

 

The defense kind of again depends on the system you are running so I will assume we are system-agnostic and will talk in generalities. 

 

5. CB - I want a shutdown corner. I want us to be able to leave one side of the field for my shutdown corner to deal with and not be worried about it. Then scheme help for the other more vulnerable parts of the secondary. 

6. DE - I want a real disruptor at the EDGE, a player that needs planning for, a player who can still eat even though the opponent is chipping him and helping against him, etc. 

7. pass-rushing 3T - again... my philosophy is pretty obvious and it focuses on two things - efficient passing game on offense and disrupting the opponent's passing game. I think one of the the things Buckner has been missing in his tenure with us is legitimate top DE uplift both his and other DL's play. Well here in this dream scenario I have them both - top DE and top 3T. 

 

The exact order I'm not so sure about but again - overall I would prioritize the offense....

[w87r]

QB

WR

OT

DE

DT

CB

DE

[craigerb]

26 minutes ago, stitches said:

LT (for right handed QB) 

I suggest “BT” = Blindside Tackle

[csmopar]

QB

WR1

WR2

WR3

DE

DE

DT/NT(depending 4-3/3-4 D scheme)

[John Hammonds]

If you're building from scratch.

And you can take the best player at each of the top 5 positions.

Which positions do you take?

#1 - QB, QB, QB, all day, all night, forever.

#2 - LT - Yes, above the skill positions.  We saw this up close last year.  Without a LT, the skill positions can't do what they're paid to do.  At all.  This position first.

#3 - RDE - Again, above the skill positions.  You gotta have someone who instills fear in the opposing offensive coordinator.  You gotta have someone that must be accounted for.  You gotta have a defensive presence that can single-handedly disrupt an entire offense.

#4 - WR1 - It was once said that if a car were a football team, and the different positions were the different parts of the car, the WR would be the radio.  That's not true anymore.  If you have a WR that dominate against anyone he faces, you have an offense that can do anything it wants.  Anywhere.  Anytime.

#5 - CB - If you have a prime time corner (Deion Sanders, anyone?), you can match him up man-on-man against the opponent's best weapon By Himself.  Makes it easy to divide the defensive workload among the rest of the players when this guy needs No Help.  None.

[Superman]

20 minutes ago, John Hammonds said:

If you're building from scratch.

And you can take the best player at each of the top 5 positions.

Which positions do you take?

#1 - QB, QB, QB, all day, all night, forever.

#2 - LT - Yes, above the skill positions.  We saw this up close last year.  Without a LT, the skill positions can't do what they're paid to do.  At all.  This position first.

#3 - RDE - Again, above the skill positions.  You gotta have someone who instills fear in the opposing offensive coordinator.  You gotta have someone that must be accounted for.  You gotta have a defensive presence that can single-handedly disrupt an entire offense.

#4 - WR1 - It was once said that if a car were a football team, and the different positions were the different parts of the car, the WR would be the radio.  That's not true anymore.  If you have a WR that dominate against anyone he faces, you have an offense that can do anything it wants.  Anywhere.  Anytime.

#5 - CB - If you have a prime time corner (Deion Sanders, anyone?), you can match him up man-on-man against the opponent's best weapon By Himself.  Makes it easy to divide the defensive workload among the rest of the players when this guy needs No Help.  None.

 

To clarify, you're not getting the best player at your top five positions. You're getting a current top five level player, at SEVEN positions. So you have two more positions to select.

[Btown_Colt]

Offense = QB, OT, WR (3)

Defense = DT, Edge Rusher, CB (3)

These are must haves.

The 7th for me for the Colts would be another WR or TE.

[Indianapolis-Colts-Fan]

QB

WR

WR

TE

OT

DE

DT

[legend300]

QB

OT

WR

DE

DT

CB

TE

[RollerColt]

QB

OT 

WR 

DE 

CB 

DT

K

 

I know… a kicker?!?! But hear me out. We’ve learned the past couple of seasons how important it is to have a reliable kicker for important games. 

[Kyle]

QB

DE

DE

T

T

MLB

CB

 

 

[NewColtsFan]

On offense:

 

QB

LT

WR1

TE1

 

 

On defense:

DRE

3-tech

CB1

 

 

 

[VikingsFanInChennai]

QB

WR

CB

EDGE

OT

C

SS

 

When you've a top 5 QB, it's important to give him protection and have a great defense to complement too. Having a top 5 WR would be more than enough for a top 5 QB on the offensive side, skillwise. 

 

I'd take a top 5 Center, as he would need to understand what defenses are trying to do and get the communication over to the offensive line with QB in tandem. 

[CR91]

1.QB

2.LT

3.Edge

4.WR

5.CB

6.Interior DL

7.Interior OL

 

[2006Coltsbestever]

1. QB

2. WR

3. DE/Edge

4. OT/Blind Side

5. CB

6. TE

7. KICKER

 

I didn't list RB but I still feel like we should get Taylor signed. It is because he is an OUTLIER. He is just a rare great RB like Derrick Henry as far as importance. I wouldn't Break the bank to re-sign him but something like 3 years for 39 Mill with a nice sign on bonus of maybe 25 Mill. 13 Mill a year won't hurt our Salary Cap much and he is a great player.

[2006Coltsbestever]

35 minutes ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

1. QB

2. WR

3. DE/Edge

4. OT/Blind Side

5. CB

6. TE

7. KICKER

 

I didn't list RB but I still feel like we should get Taylor signed. It is because he is an OUTLIER. He is just a rare great RB like Derrick Henry as far as importance. I wouldn't Break the bank to re-sign him but something like 3 years for 39 Mill with a nice sign on bonus of maybe 25 Mill. 13 Mill a year won't hurt our Salary Cap much and he is a great player.

I meant 25 Mill guaranteed. Tried to edit but was too late. 

[Superman]

8 hours ago, VikingsFanInChennai said:

QB

WR

CB

EDGE

OT

C

SS

 

When you've a top 5 QB, it's important to give him protection and have a great defense to complement too. Having a top 5 WR would be more than enough for a top 5 QB on the offensive side, skillwise. 

 

I'd take a top 5 Center, as he would need to understand what defenses are trying to do and get the communication over to the offensive line with QB in tandem. 

 

Strong safety is an interesting pick. Any reason you would prioritize that position, as opposed to free safety? 

[2006Coltsbestever]

3 minutes ago, Superman said:

 

Strong safety is an interesting pick. Any reason you would prioritize that position, as opposed to free safety? 

I had FS at #7 but changed it to Kicker, too funny . To me FS would be important considering so many teams like to throw deep, like KC, Cincy, and Buffalo.

[Superman]

Here's the link to the first version of this from 2019. Meant to include it yesterday.

 

https://forums.colts.com/topic/63532-start-a-team-with-seven-positions/?do=getNewComment

[Dingus McGirt]

8 hours ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

1. QB

2. WR

3. DE/Edge

4. OT/Blind Side

5. CB

6. TE

7. KICKER

 

I didn't list RB but I still feel like we should get Taylor signed. It is because he is an OUTLIER. He is just a rare great RB like Derrick Henry as far as importance. I wouldn't Break the bank to re-sign him but something like 3 years for 39 Mill with a nice sign on bonus of maybe 25 Mill. 13 Mill a year won't hurt our Salary Cap much and he is a great player.

Do I understand correctly?  3 years for a total of $64 million?  How much of that 39 would be guaranteed?

[AwesomeAustin]

Going a little bit different route and counting on QB to be super efficient like Brady, Mahomes and Manning Etc. Less weapons and more defense and a great kicker that can win close games. Give an elite QB one top weapon and a defense that will get him the ball back, he will win a lot of games for you. 

QB

WR

DE

DT

CB

S
K

 

[VikingsFanInChennai]

4 hours ago, Superman said:

 

Strong safety is an interesting pick. Any reason you would prioritize that position, as opposed to free safety? 

As I already have a top 5 cover man, a top 5 SS would get to do a lot in many aspects, mainly in run support, blitzing and covering big body TEs in the intermediate field. That combined with a top 5 edge rusher will give defense overall ability to complement the offense with an elite QB. 

 

Depending upon the scheme though, different positions could become more important than others, so different coaches could prioritize some position groups higher than others. 

[VikingsFanInChennai]

10 hours ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

9 hours ago, 2006Coltsbestever said:

I meant 25 Mill guaranteed. Tried to edit but was too late. 

 something like 3 years for 39 Mill with a nice sign on bonus of maybe 25 Mill. 13 Mill a year won't hurt our Salary Cap much and he is a great player.

 

1 hour ago, Dingus McGirt said:

Do I understand correctly?  3 years for a total of $64 million?  How much of that 39 would be guaranteed?

@Dingus McGirt I think he edited later the info you asked. See above. 

[BlackTiger]

I'd go with a team geared towards the kicking game

 

Kicker

Punter

Long snapper

Kick returner

Punt returner

Kick blocking specialist

Gunner 

 

[NFLfan]

QB

LT (Protects blind side)

EDGE (Explosive player opponents have to account for on every play)

CB  (shut down corner)

WR (Separation, speed, great route runner, make difficult catches)

Middle LB (Defensive captain)

TE  (great at blocking and catching)

[DeepseaColt]

1. QB, 2. WR, 3.LT, 4.TE, 5.DE. 6. RT, 7. CB. 

[Superman]

4 hours ago, BlackTiger said:

I'd go with a team geared towards the kicking game

 

Kicker

Punter

Long snapper

Kick returner

Punt returner

Kick blocking specialist

Gunner 

 

 

What's your kicker's personal best? 70 yards? If so, if you can get a return to the 30, and one first down, you can just kick a FG every possession, average 3 yards/drive. Not bad...

[2006Coltsbestever]

8 hours ago, Dingus McGirt said:

Do I understand correctly?  3 years for a total of $64 million?  How much of that 39 would be guaranteed?

I edited, see above. I didn't mean sign on bonus. I wish we had an hour to go back and edit initial posts. A half hour goes by pretty quick.

[John Hammonds]

On 8/7/2023 at 6:40 PM, Superman said:

 

To clarify, you're not getting the best player at your top five positions. You're getting a current top five level player, at SEVEN positions. So you have two more positions to select.

True.  But the more I think about it, the more I believe that positions 6 and 7 are scheme-dependent.

 

If you are running a 4-3 defense, then the 3-Technique DT is very important.  However, if it's a 3-4 defense, the NT, though important, isn't as much.

Or, if you are running a Cover-3 (like we are), a top notch Free Safety with range, coverage, and the ability to get interceptions is super important.  But if you are running a Cover-2, very much less so.

If you are running an Ernie Zampese offense, then you also need a great 2nd Receiver.  But if you are running an Andy Reid offense, it's the Tight End that needs to be exemplary.

 

So....  Positions 1-5 are pretty much universal.  6 and 7 are scheme dependent.

[Superman]

32 minutes ago, John Hammonds said:

True.  But the more I think about it, the more I believe that positions 6 and 7 are scheme-dependent.

 

If you are running a 4-3 defense, then the 3-Technique DT is very important.  However, if it's a 3-4 defense, the NT, though important, isn't as much.

Or, if you are running a Cover-3 (like we are), a top notch Free Safety with range, coverage, and the ability to get interceptions is super important.  But if you are running a Cover-2, very much less so.

If you are running an Ernie Zampese offense, then you also need a great 2nd Receiver.  But if you are running an Andy Reid offense, it's the Tight End that needs to be exemplary.

 

So....  Positions 1-5 are pretty much universal.  6 and 7 are scheme dependent.

 

So, for whatever you expect the Colts to do in 2023, which positions would you go with for 6 and 7? Seems like FS and 3T?

[John Hammonds]

19 hours ago, Superman said:

 

So, for whatever you expect the Colts to do in 2023, which positions would you go with for 6 and 7? Seems like FS and 3T?

Sounds about right.

[RunTheBall]

On 8/8/2023 at 1:31 AM, NewColtsFan said:

On offense:

 

QB

LT

WR1

TE1

 

 

On defense:

DRE

3-tech

CB1

 

 

 

Your list is probably ideal.  I might have two great OTs instead of the TE.  The TE market isn't terribly expensive for a good one.  Since it is harder to build a good defense, I might go with two pass rushing DE and two good man corners, and go with two great bookend tackles to go with my expensive QB.

[RunTheBall]

Anybody think they can build a running team with only seven superpriced options?  To get the line dominant enough, the defense would suffer.