A Change of Pace?

With the NFL draft a little over a month away, teams around the league are gearing up for what appears to be a very deep and solid draft. Free agency has slowed down, and most of the huge names are off the board. So teams will be unable to fill areas of need with game changing players.  This makes it imperative for teams who were unable to plug holes with top-notch players, to finish scouring the nation for talent and comple their draftboards with the upmost accuracy.

The Indianapolis Colts are clearly one of those teams who will be looking to improve and plug in holes through the draft, as they have been very quiet throughout free agency. As fans, it is hard to complain about a roster that was able to make it to the Super Bowl, and appears to be in very good shape for the season to come. Although this may be the case, it is clear that the Colts have several areas of need. Offensive and defensive line are two areas that need to be improved this offseason, and I look for the Colts to address these needs early in the draft. However, as you begin to take a closer look at this team, it becomes evident that they lack an explosive returner and running back.

I know that you are probally thinking, how can a team that just made the Super Bowl have so many needs in so many areas? Well I am not saying that the Colts cannot perform just as well next season as they did this year, what I am saying is that teams were able to expose the Colts in those areas and that is a problem. Staying stagnant in the NFL is like asking for a top 10 pick come April. The NFL has proven time and time again that teams can make major changes in one season, the worst to first mentality certainly applies to the NFL. The Jets have improved with the addition of Antonio Cromartie, the Jaguars just signed Aaron Kampman, and the rest of the NFL is scrambling trying to fill voids with premier talent. However, the Colts seem willing to wait until April to make their upgrades, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Back to my point, with this year’s draft being so deep, it opens up the opportunity to grab quality talent with later picks. More good news for the Colts is the fact that this year’s draft is also very deep at offensive line, defensive line, and electric backs, all areas of need. I believe the Colts first area of concern is the offensive line, and I believe that if the right player is available they should grab him. However, with this draft being so deep, they should not reach to fill a need. Many believe that there will be a fast and furious run on lineman in the first round, and if this is the case the Colts should turn their attention to defensive lineman or playmakers. Specifically I want them to take a long look in the first few rounds at some of the explosive backs in this year’s class.

Jahvid Best, Dexter McCluster, and C.J. Spiller are all running backs who come into this year’s draft with the lable of “electric.” Best and McCluster appear to be 2nd round players who the Colts should have the opportunity to draft with the 31st pick, but Spiller is believed to be a top 20 pick. All three are speed backs who can be placed in returner roles, and McCluster may be the lowest rated yet most versatile of the bunch. Ole Miss relied heavily on McCluster, as he was the teams best rusher, top special teams performer, and it could be argued that he was their best reciever. Now I understand that the Colts just spent a first round pick on Donald Brown, but neither he nor Addai offer the speed, quickness, and agility that these three do. The Colts have not had a “good” returner in years and these players would also offer the ability to step in from day one and be game-changers. As Colts fans, we get to see a game-changing speed back twice a year in Chris Johnson, and we have seen just how much of an impact one player can have on a game and a season.

There are certainly teams who have more needs and holes than the Colts. However, this is a critical draft for the Colts. They were right on the verge of winning the Super Bowl, and teams in the past who have suffered defeat in the Super Bowl have taken enormous steps in the wrong direction. It is crucial that the Colts do not stay complacent, and that they strive to stay atop the AFC. They are no longer the underdogs attempting to throwoff the Patriots or Steelers, now they are the lead dogs and everyone will be gunning for them.