Fun with Colts Cap.net

First of all it's an awesome site that gives you info that isn't around anywhere else. Check it out.

Armed with the amount each player currently under contract with the Colts will count against the 116 million dollar 08 salary cap, I'm going to take a look at where all the money is going, where it's money well spent and the one spot that it's not.

5 Great Values (underpaid players)
Antonie Bethea $462,250
Freddy Keiaho $551,000
Tony Ugoh $786,666
Kelvin Hayden $801,666
Joseph Addai $1,561,750

What do all these players have in common? They were great draft picks made by Bill Polian and are still on their rookie contracts. Bethea has filled in the role of underpaid pro-bowl safety after 2007 DPOY Bob Sanders got his well deserved mega-deal after spending his first four seasons playing for second round draft pick money. Bethea and Hayden's contracts end after the 2008 season making them RFA's if the Colts don't sign them to extensions. Both are vital pieces to the best defense the Colts have had in a very long time. They are big physical DBs that lay the big hit and have cover skills exceeding what is needed for the cover-2. Keiaho and Addai's deals go through 2009 and Ugoh is locked up until 2010.

5 Biggest Money Players (Superstars and paid like it)
Peyton Manning $18.7million
Marvin Harrison $12.0million
Bob Sanders $ 8.2million
Reggie Wayne $ 6.7million
Robert Mathis $ 6.7million

The highest paid defensive player in the NFL is third in cap charge on his own defense and is second on the D-line (third if you count the elephant on the cap below*). Manning deserves every penny and Marvin may have to restructure his deal, but won't actually need to give up any money.

The Free Agent Disaster
Corey Simon $ 6.0million

*=I'm not that good at fat jokes.

Help decide the Colts (mock) pick

I seriously doubt anyone who reads my blog isn't a regular reader of Stampede Blue (and if you're not, why the hell aren't you? Even if you just love me I post there a lot more than I do here, GO, now) But just in case and because people who read my blog get to have more influence on me than people who don't here it goes;

The Mocking the Draft fan mock draft is tomorrow and I'm making the Colts pick.

So here's a chance to help me with the draft board.

I've got;

1. Chris Johnson (non-negotiable)
   
2. Trevor Laws
   
3. Marcus Howard
   
4. Cliff Avril
   

5/6 Matt Forte/Xavier Adibi (not sure which I like better)

Another pass rusher is probably the Colts biggest need so if the subject of my man-crush is taken before my pick I'll choke back my tears long enough to hopefully fill that need with one of the Laws, Howard, Avril trio.

I like Forte, but he has a big skills overlap with Addai. I'd prefer a #2 RB (Chris Johnson) that brings something else to the table instead of just a less explosive, but maybe better blocking version of Addai.

Adibi would be a monster at LB for the Colts. He fits the system and is more talented and polished than most Colts LB picks. LB isn't a big need, but he's someone I'd be glad to settle for.

Anyone want to shuffle the rankings or add on?

Note: The whole reason I do this (blogging) is to talk to people that share my interest in the Colts and the NFL, so speak up if you have anything to say, even if you just agree with me, but especially if you disagree with anything. This goes for everything I post.

Favorite Prospects-2nd rounders

While reading up on all the possible Colts picks there have been a few prospects that I really liked. Exciting players that fit what the Colts do. When these guys are taken there will be a response from me, either an excited fist pump as the Colts select them, a disappointed head in hands sigh when another team drafts them or a moment of frustration followed by a calm "In Polian we trust," if the Colts pass on a favorite.

Possible 2nd rounders
Chris Johnson- I joke about liking the East Carolina runningback so much it's become physical attraction, but he really is my favorite and no other pick by the Colts would be as exciting. Johnson can backup Addai, return kicks and line up in the slot providing depth at WR too. He's a threat to go for a TD every time the ball is in his hands and the Colts wealth of other options will keep him from being overworked or made ineffective by misuse as an every-down
up the middle pounding, back (see Bush, Reggie). How's this for a dangerous set, Wayne and Marvin split wide, Clark at TE, Peyton in the shotgun flanked by Addai and Chris Johnson. 5 elite receiving targets on the field and it's a legitimate running formation because of Clark's solid blocking at TE and former fullback Addai ready to lead Johnson through the hole.

Trevor Laws The end of 2006 and start of 2007 showed how the Tampa-2 is suppose to work, two fast safeties covering deep with the big physical corners playing short and the athletic linebackers filling the middle of the zone. The seven men in coverage blanket the field allowing no quick throws. Up front the DEs fly up the field and around the tackles. The QB looks to step up out of danger, but sees penetration from the DTs and can't. He's is forced into a bad throw into tight coverage or to eat the ball for a big sack.
Disruptive DTs have been what the Colts have lacked, likely because it's the only position where the Colts don't specifically look for a type of player that most teams don't like (slower but strong tackling corners, small fast linebackers and safeties who cover and undersized pass rushing DEs). The kind of DT that the Colts really need is the kind of D-linemen every other team wants. Big enough to play the run, but quick with pass rushing moves to penetrate or push the pocket. Anthony McFarland is that kind of DT and Raheem Brock seemed to be becoming one before his injury. With McFarland cut and now signed with Pittsburgh the Colts lack a big pass rushing DT. Ed Johnson can hold up against the run, but does little to pressure the QB. Trevor Laws can do both. He's slightly undersized but holds up against the run and he can pressure the QB. A pass rusher in the very solid, but unspectacular Ed Johnson's spot is the piece missing from the Colts starting lineup.


Marcus Howard

Q: Who started their career with this 3 year stat line?

Year Age Tm G GS Sk Int Yds TD Lng PD FF Fmb FR Yds TD Tkl Ast Sfty 2003 22 IND 16 0 3.5 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 1 0 0 18 3 2004 23 IND 16 1 10.5 6 0 3 26 0 32 4 2005 24 IND 13 0 11.5 0 0 0 0 2 8 0 0 0 0 46 10

A: a fifth round pick who was dismissed as a "tweener" and pass rush specialist who racked up 25.5 sacks in 3 years in that role, became a starter in his fourth season and led the Colts in sacks in both the seasons since he entered the starting lineup, Robert Mathis.

The Colts need a backup DE who can rush the passer more than ever with Freeney returning from a season ending injury and last season revealing that none of the current backups are effective pass rushers. A second round pick is not too much a cost to fill this role and a player like Howard can definitely be a situational rusher early and grow into a staring role. Marcus Howard is likely to have a bigger immediate impact and progress faster because he is making the jump to the NFL from a higher level of competition than Mathis faced in D1-AA and is a more highly regarded prospect.

Andre Caldwell-just because O_O

Matt Forte- A HB/FB hybrid that blocks well and can catch the ball out of the backfield. He's basically Addai shifted further towards the FB end of the RB spectrum.

Xavier Adabi- Everything in his profiles screams Colts linebacker, but he's probably to highly touted to become one. He will be flying all over the field from the WILL for some lucky team very soom.

Back

I'm back from a great Spring Break in Mexico (maybe I should have mentioned it). I had enough internet access to keep up with the sports news, but didn't have the time to post. It's a slow part of the offseason (which is the slow part of the NFL year), but after a bit of sleep I'll be right back at it.

46 days to the draft

That means another set of mocks with a few new names thrown out there:

DT, Dre Moore Quick off the line with rare speed in pursuit and has the size (6'4" 307) and strength (31 bench reps at the combine, set school weightlifting records) to hold his ground, he seems perfect of the Colts athletically. He is, but the best athletes aren't always the best football players. Got a late start to football, is inconsistent and needs work on his technique. He improved in these areas as a senior, but is still far from his potential.

RB Dantrell Savage (3rd round) A small back with good speed and hands. Size and injury history are concerns. His blocking was good at the college level but 5'8" 190lb RBs can't be expected to be very effective pass blockers in the NFL. Has the skill set of a return-man, but wasn't a kick returner in college.

Manning-Favre

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Here's some Favre hate to make it up to you all. It was written before last season while arguing with a packers fan friend so some numbers might be outdated. Wins and playoff result is to try to gauge the team around the QB, using wins to rate QBs is ridiculously stupid.

Best Seasons: (Their Prime)
Favre:
Year Completion% Yards TDs INTs Record Playoffs

1994 62.4 3882 33 14 9-7 lost in Divisional
1995 63.0 4413 38 13 11-5 lost NFC champ
1996 59.9 3899 39 13 13-3 Won Superbowl
1998 63.0 4212 31 23 11-5 lost in Wild Card
ave. 62.1 4102 35.3 15.8 11 wins
career best 65.4 4413 39 13 13 wins
career ave 61.1 3833 27.6 18 9.9wins

Manning:
2000 62.5 4413 33 15 10-6 lost in Wild Card
2003 67.0 4267 29 10 12-4 lost in AFC champ
2004 67.6 4557 49 10 12-4 lost in Divisonal
2006 65.0 4397 31 9 12-4 Won Superbowl
ave. 65.5 4409 35.3 11 11.5wins
career best 67.6 4557 49 9 14 wins
career ave. 64.0 4176 30.6 15.4 10.2wins

Rookie/1st year as starter
Manning (rookie) 56.7 3739 26 28
Farve (rookie) 0 for 4 2INTs
Farve (1st full year as starter)
60.9 3303 19 24
Playoffs/awards Favre Manning
Playoff record 11-9 7-6
Superbowl wins 1 1
Superbowl MVPs 0 1
Probowls 8 of 15 seasons 7 of 9 seasons
League MVPs 3 in 15 seasons 2 in 9 seasons

But Farve didn't have the same kind of weapons Manning has:
(Player)career best-Catches yards TDs
Sterling Sharpe 112 1423 18
Marvin Harrison 143 1722 15
Antonio Freeman 84 1424 14
Reggie Wayne 86 1320 12
Javon Walker 89 1382 12
Donald Driver 92 1295 9
Dallas Clark 37 488 5

-Manning's career bests are better
-Manning's Top 4 seasons are better (Their Primes)
-Manning's Rookie Season was better than Farve's 3rd or 4th season in the NFL
-Their Teams have been almost the same in wins over their careers .3 wins per year difference
-Manning and Farve have had similar playoff sucess and awards, but Manning has done it in 6 less seasons and is still a member of a contender
-Manning has had an all-time great reciever in Marvin Harrison, but Farve has had great recievers too

Farve is one of the best QB's ever to play in the NFL and a sure Hall of Famer but his best seasons and career are not better than Manning's
So unless the criteria is how awesome you thought they were when you were 7. Farve's prime was not better than Manning's best seasons so far.

Colts Free Agent List Updated

http://shakennbaken.blogspot.com/2008/02/colts-free-agent-list.html

I'll keep adding as guys are signed