INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Team Needs: Defensive Tackle, Offensive Line, Defensive End, Cornerback, Backup Quarterback.   For a more in depth looksy click here  http://www.draftseason.com/2010-nfl-draft-team-needs/indianapolis-colts-nfl-draft-team-needs/

Free Agent Losses:  Jim Sorgi QB

Free Agent Signings: Andy Alleman OG

Potential Draft Targets:  Round 1: DT Brian Price, DT Jared Odrick, DT Terrencey Cody, OG/C Maurkice Pouncey, OT Charles Brown, DE Everson Griffen. 
Round 2: DT LaMarr Houston, DT Cam Thomas, DT Arthur Jones, OG John Asamoah, OG Vladimir Ducasse, OT Selvish Capers, DE Alex Carrington, DE Corey Wootton
Round 3: DT D’Anthony Smith, DE Brandon Lang, DE Greg Hardy, OG John Jerry, QB Dan LeFevour, QB Tim Tebow, CB Javier Arenas, CB Brandon Ghee

Plan of Attack:  The Colts have big needs at defensive tackle and have been poor against the run for many seasons now.  The problem is that the top 5 DTs:  Suh, McCoy, Williams, Price, and Odrick will likely be off the board by the 31st pick.  With the front office pinning their Super Bowl loss on the offensive line, it’s a safe bet to think that is the area they will address with their first pick.  The top options who could still be on the board would be  G/C Maurkice Pouncey from Florida or OT Charles Brown from USC. 

If they do indeed address the offensive line with their first pick they should look at a defensive tackle in round 2.  Lamarr Houston from Texas is a hard working  player who gives his all on every play and would be a nice fit.  Cam Thomas is another defensive tackle they could look as he excels at using his large body to stuff the run.

In round 3 they could look at adding a backup QB since longtime clipboard holder Jim Sorgi has moved on to the Giants, and current backup Curtis Painter is downright terrible.  Dan LeFevour from Central Michigan would be an ideal pick if he’s still around or they could look at Tebow or maybe even Tony Pike at that point.

Starting with the Saints all the way down to the Rams with the first pick, Draftseason will be taking an in depth look at each team.  We’ll analyze their needs, track free agent gains and losses, and then figure out a plan of attack the team will take for the first three rounds of the draft.  Keep checking back as new teams will be added daily, and teams will be updated as new free agents are signed or lost.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

NFL Draft Team Needs: Outside Linebacker, Defensive Tackle, Defensive End, Safety.
For a more in depth look click here: http://www.draftseason.com/2010-nfl-draft-team-needs/new-orleans-saints-nfl-draft-team-needs/

Free Agent Losses: OLB Scott Fujita

Free Agent Signings: None

Potential NFL Draft Targets: Round 1: DTs: Brian Price, Jared Odrick, Terrence Cody.  OLBs: Sean Weatherspoon, Jerry Hughes
Round 2: DTs:  Lamarr Houston, Tyson Alualu, Arthur Jones, Cam Thomas.  RB: Dexter McCluster, OLBs: Thaddeus Gibson, Navorro Bowman, Daryl Washington.
Round 3: DEs: Greg Hardy, Lindsey Witten, Brandon Lang. S: Kam Chancellor, TJ Ward, Myron Rolle

Plan of Attack: The Super Bowl champions will have to sit and wait all evening to make their pick but chances are a nice player will fall to them at 32.  They would love to get their hands on one of the top defensive tackles but the only one they may get a crack at would be Terrence Cody and the jury is out on whether or not he’s first round material.  The best value at 32 would be at outside linebacker especially if the high energy Sean Weatherspoon is still on the board.  He gives them much needed youth at that position plus he is an upgrade over Scott Shanle and the recently departed Fujita.

 In round two the Saints can get that defensive tackle to pair with Ellis, and Arthur Jones could be just the man to fill that need if he checks out medically. 

In the third, they could go with a defensive end like Greg Hardy, or take a safety like hard hitting Kam Chancellor.  Saints fans should expect a heavy dose of defense early on Draft Day.

WINNERS

Chicago Bears – For Bears fans this free agency is their Draft and they have got to be excited with the results so far.  They got things  started off with Mike Martz’ boy Brandon Malumaluena, who is a fine blocking tight end but won’t catch many balls in the Bears new offense.  They then added RB Chester Taylor from division rival Minnesota.  Taylor is a very talented back who is a great receiver out of the backfield and is also very good in pass protection.  He will push Matt Forte as the starter and should see plenty of touches.  The Bears then made the big signing with Julius Peppers.  Peppers is one of the best pass rushers in the league and his presence on the edge will help give this Bears defense some of its swagger back.  These signings will help make them serious contenders for the division crown in 2010.

Detroit Lions – The Lions made the first big signing of the year when they inked Seattle WR Nate Burleson to a 5 year $25 million dollar deal.  They paid a lot for him, but Burleson brings veteran leadership to their offense, and is a very good receiver when healthly.  With him, Pettigrew, and Megatron in the fold, QB Matthew Stafford could make big strides in his sophomore campaign.  The Lions then addressed their defensive line, first by signing DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, who gives them the upper echelon pass rusher they have lacked for years.  The Lions then traded for Browns DT Corey Williams.  If they use that 2nd overall pick on Suh or McCoy as expected, the Lions suddenly have the ingredients for a dominating defensive line.

Falcons/Dolphins/Giants/Jets/Ravens – The Falcons, Dolphins, Jets, Ravens, and Giants are listed here together because they all signed someone who fills a major need and gives them more flexibility in the Draft.  The Falcons landed Dunta Robinson who takes care of their need at corner, and they can now take the best pass rusher on the board with the 19th pick.  The Dolphins inked Karlos Dansby and can now focus on taking a WR like Dez Bryant at 12 or addressing another need like OLB, or NT.  The Giants signed safety Antrel Rolle to a long term deal, and with Kenny Phillips playing opposite him, they now have one of the best safety tandems in the league.  This allows them to look either at DT with the 15th pick, or they can either move up for or hope that Rolando McClain falls to them.  The Jets were looking at a corner with the 29th pick but now that they traded for Cromartie they can go after a WR, or look at adding a new young body to their defensive front seven.  Finally the Ravens traded for Anquan Boldin and now have that no. 1 receiver they’ve lacked for decades.  This will allow them to either target a corner with their first pick or possibly take the best tight end available in Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham.

LOSERS

Arizona Cardinals – The Cardinals have took some major hits so far in this young offseason.  First they lose their starting QB Kurt Warner to retirement.  Then they lose two cornerstones of their defense in S Antrel Rolle, and LB Karlos Dansby.  They also traded stud WR Anquan Boldin to Baltimore for a mere third and fourth round pick.  They did sign Kerry Rhodes which will help offset the loss of Rolle, but this team looks it is going from the Penthouse of the NFC West to the very stinky bottom depths of the outhouse.

Karlos Dansby to the Dolphins – Giants fans will be happy that the Dolphins have filled a big need at inside linebacker with Dansby. This gives them a better shot at grabbin McClain at pick 15. Right now the only huge threat would be the Broncos, but depending on what happens with Brandon Marshall they could still be a lock to grab Dez Bryant.

Kyle Vanden Bosch to the Lions – Not that this really changed much, but the Lions will now more than ever be looking forward to grabbing whatever defensive tackle is on the board at #2. The Lions defensive line could quickly become respectable in 2010, something the Lions have lacked in years.

Antrel Rolle to the Giants – Fills a big need for the Giants, which will most likely steer them away from grabbing a guy like Earl Thomas in round 1. If McClain is off the board it will be almost a sure thing that the Giants go defensive tackle.

Dunta Robinson to the Falcons – Again, fills a good size hole for the Falcons, they could still use a mid to late round pick on a corner/safety. But look for the Falcons to go directly towards the defensive line and linebackers early.

Bruce Campbell OT, Maryland – Campbell impressed first at the weigh in as he measured in at 6′6 and 314 lbs.  He then shocked everyone in attendance when he ran a 4.85 forty yard dash.  Campbell performed well in the rest of the drills and helped his stock to the point where he is considered a sure first round pick.

Trent Williams OT, Oklahoma – Williams ran the second fastest forty time among offensive tackles with an impressive 4.88 seconds.  He posted the best vertical jump amongst the offensive lineman and showed good agility and athleticism.  Like Campbell, Williams has assured himself a spot in round 1.

Dorrin Dickerson TE, Pitt – Dickerson surprised many when he posted the best forty time among the tight ends.  He ran a blazing 4.40 forty.  He also had the best vertical and broad jumps in the entire tight end groups.  With fellow prospects Gronkowski and Hernandez unable to work out, Dickerson gained some ground with his impressive performance.

Golden Tate WR, Notre Dame – Tate headed into the workouts with a lot of eyes on him and he lived up to the pressure.  He ran a very solid 40 time of 4.42 seconds.  Tate ran very good routes and showed solid hands in drills and he did it all while wearing some fancy gold colored shoes.  He looks to have done enough to put him in the late first round with teams like Cincinnati, Baltimore, and New York Jets as possible landing spots.

Jacoby Ford WR, Clemson – Ford caught the eye of scouts with a pants dropplingly fast 40 time of 4.28 seconds.  He also ran very good routes, caught the ball well and stood out just about every chance he got.  With recent Combine burners like DeSean Jackson, Mike Wallace, and Johnny Knox finding early success in the NFL, teams will likely target Ford in the second or third round.

Ben Tate RB, Auburn/Toby Gerhart RB, Standford - Both bigger backs turned in some great 40 times (Tate 4.43/Gerhart 4.53), not bad for being a few of the bigger backs at the combine.  Both proved to be more of the overall athletic running backs in the 2010 class.

NFL Combine Losers

Dan LeFevour QB, Central Michigan – No prospect in the entire Combine took as much heat as LeFevour did for not throwing.  He chose not to, not because of injury, but because he wanted to throw to receivers he is comfortable with. NEWS FLASH Dan: When you get to the NFL you’ll be throwing to brand new targets, and scouts WANT to see you throw to unfamiliar receivers.  With this decision teams will question LeFevour’s competitive spirit and with good reason.

Tony Pike QB, Cincinnati – Just didn’t look all that great all day. Pike has the most to gain after the other top quarterbacks opted not to participate. Didn’t look absolutely horrible but didn’t stick out amongst the others as he should have. I like Pike and his potential so hopefully he comebacks at his pro-day to wow scouts.

Throughout the 2010 Draftseason, we’ll be pitting two highly regarded prospects against each other and evaluate them on different aspects of the game and see which one emerges victorious.  Today it’s a the battle to be the first rush linebacker off the board as Michigan’s Brandon Graham duels Texas’ Sergio Kindle

1. SIZE: Graham is listed on his team’s website as 6′2 and 263 pounds.  He is probably closer to 6′1 so he doesn’t exaclty have the ideal height teams are looking for.  Kindle on the other is listed at 6′4 and a generous 255 pounds so he is on the lean side, maybe too lean.  Teams will have to decide if they want to sacrafice height for bulk and vice versa.  Clearly a toss up.
ADVANTAGE: PUSH

2.  DURABILITY/CHARACTER: Kindle does have some concerns about both his durability and his character.  He has missed a few games over his career with ankle and knee injuries but the real red flag will be about his DWI in 2007 and the incident last year where he drove his car into an apartment complex and then fled the scene.  Graham missed one game in 2008 with an infection in his leg, and there aren’t any concerns about his character.
ADVANTAGE: GRAHAM

3. COVERAGE SKILLS – This is an area where Brandon Graham will really have to focus his rookie year.  He isn’t a natural athlete and played most of his college career with his hand on the ground.  He does move well for his build and he should be able to cover a tight end adequately.  Kindle is very athletic and did play some outside linebacker in a 3-4 in his time as a Longhorn.  His overall speed, athleticism, and experience gives him the edge in this category.
ADVANTAGE: KINDLE

4. PASS RUSH: Kindle relies on his speed and quick burst to get around lineman.   He uses his long arms to create separation and then will burn around the man trying to block him.  His closing speed is very good and he has a motor that just won’t quit.  Graham also shows a good burst off the line but uses strength and power to get to the quarterback.  He can fight through a block and get to the ball carrier but is also explosive enough to get around a lineman on speed alone.  This is an area where these prospects are pretty evenly matched.
ADVANTAGE: PUSH

5. VS. THE RUN: Graham is solid against the run as he his strong enough to battle through blocks and get down to the ball carrier.  His tackling is very good, and he plays with a lot of intensity and doesn’t quit.  Kindle  is also a sound tackler with good technique.  He can get overpowered but uses his elite speed to pursue the ball carrier and track him down.  His motor stands out on film as he seems to have an endless supply of energy and is always going 100 mph.
ADVANTAGE: PUSH

6. PRODUCTION: Kindle’s stat line looks like this: 148 tackles, 16 sacks, 1 fumble forced.  That was accomplished in 4 seasons at Texas.  Graham spent the same amount of time at Michigan and his stats are as follows:  138 tackles, 28 sacks, 0 fumbles forced.  Kindle leads two of these categories but Graham has a big lead in the sack department, and we all know guys with sacks get the chicks.
ADVANTAGE: GRAHAM

CONCLUSION: Graham edges out a 2-1-3 victory, but shouldn’t feel to comfortable in his victory as these prospects are very closely matched.  Graham will need to work on his coverage skills to be an effective 3-4 outside linebacker while Kindle will need to add some bulk to his frame to hold up in the NFL.  Kindle’s character issues could push some more teams Graham’s way, but in the end, both of these players could make an immediate impact in their rookie seasons.