Necessity is the Mother of Invention
by Luke Paul Chandler
Clark Rucker looks at the draft needs of the Colts and Jaguars in this edition of Necessity is the Mother of Invention.
By Clark Rucker
In this weekly feature, the top three team needs of two NFL franchises will be highlighted, as will the potential draft solutions to those needs. Many of these needs may also be addressed in free agency, so the draft solutions are subject to change. With NFL Combine week upon us, it is time to analyze the draft needs of two AFC South archenemies, the Indianapolis Colts and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Indianapolis Colts: The Indianapolis Colts experienced a surprising end to their season at the hands of the San Diego Chargers. The 2007 season was one filled with setbacks, injuries, unfulfilled expectations, and even some pleasant revelations. The season began with injuries to Anthony McFarland, but in his place, rookies Ed Johnson and Quinn Pitcock played very well and now the Colts have one of the deepest defensive tackle rotations in the NFL. Furthermore, the essentially season-ending injury to Marvin Harrison allowed the Colts to develop Anthony Gonzalez, Aaron Moorehead, and Craphonso Thorpe. For a team that has traditionally based its success on an explosive offensive attack, the 2007 Colts were rooted on a top-five defense. What is more surprising is that the Colts defense played so well in the absence of franchise defensive end Dwight Freeney. However, the only goal for this team was to win another Super Bowl, and the playoff loss to San Diego has left a bad taste in the team’s mouth. As a result, look for the Colts to build up their depth to account for future injuries and to groom some of their 2008 draft picks for future starting roles. It is worth noting that the Colts do not pick until the late second round.
* Outside Linebacker: Cato June’s free agent departure in 2007 meant that the Colts had to rely on Freddie Keiaho, Rob Morris, and Rocky Boiman to man the outside linebacker positions. While all three were serviceable throughout the season, the Colts lacked the big-play impact that June provided. As a result, look for the Colts to address this position at some point in the 2008 draft. With their second round pick or another mid-round pick, look for the team to draft Xavier Adibi (Virginia Tech), Erin Henderson (Maryland), or Ali Highsmith (LSU). All three of these linebackers have the skill set to thrive in the cover 2 defense, where outside linebackers are required to be stout in coverage while also be able to stuff the run and put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Linebackers in this defense do not have to be physically imposing, but rather tremendous athletes, which is a common attribute all three share as well. Later round picks that seem to fall in line with the Colts defensive strategy include Tavares Gooden (Miami, FL), Geno Hayes (Florida State), and Wesley Woodyard (Kentucky). Woodyard is intriguing in that he is a smaller linebacker who is also being looked at as a safety. He could be a Cato June clone, as June spent his college career as a safety.
* Defensive End: Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis have been a tremendous pass rushing duo over the last few seasons, but 2007 was a season both would probably like to forget. Freeney struggled to get to the quarterback, as he was constantly double and triple teamed, and a mid-season foot injury ended his season prematurely. Mathis managed to post only seven sacks, even though he played nearly every snap in every game. Josh Thomas, Freeney’s replacement, did not provide the impact of Freeney, and with Freeney’s date of return still in question, it is imperative that the Colts address this position. In the second or third rounds, the Colts will likely have the option to select Quentin Groves (Auburn), Chris Ellis (Virginia Tech), or Tommy Blake (TCU). This may seem too high for Blake to be drafted, but it is important to remember he was considered a top-15 pick entering the 2007 season. In later rounds, Bruce Davis (UCLA), Chase Ortiz (TCU), and Jason Jones (Eastern Michigan) will be names that the Colts consider. The common denominator with all of these players is that they are smaller, incredibly athletic defensive ends who have great pass rush skills. This skill set falls in line with the Colts draft and defensive philosophy.
* Guard: it is no question that the Colts possess one of the strongest offensive lines in the NFL. Peyton Manning is rarely under duress and Joseph Addai usually has multiple running lanes to choose from. As was seen in 2007 with the retirement of Tarik Glenn and injuries to Tony Ugoh and Charlie Johnson, a great line can quickly become a huge question mark. Ugoh and Johnson have solidified the tackle positioin, but after starting guards Jake Scott and Ryan Lilja, there is little depth that the team can depend on. Consequentially, look for the Colts to address this position by drafting one or two guards in the 2008 draft. Roy Schuening (Oregon State) or Jordan Grimes (Purdue) would be great second or third round selections, as both are two of the highest rated guards in the draft and both immediately upgrade the guard position. If Scott or Lilja were to be injured or depart via free agency or release, either of the two would be good starters. If the team chooses to address guard depth in later rounds, Adam Kraus (Michigan), Kirk Elder (Texas A&M), and Will Arnold (LSU) all look to be good value picks.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars finally took that next step as a franchise in 2007, as many NFL pundits loved calling the team the “Yeah…Buts” due to the lingering question marks that always seemed to surround them. However, the team has found its franchise quarterback in David Garrard and it also has the most dynamic running back duo in the NFL with Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Combine that with a strong offensive line and an emerging wide receiving corps, the Jaguars’ offense could potentially be one of the most explosive in the NFL in 2008. The Jags also pride themselves on a dominating defense, but as the 2007 season wore on, it became evident that the defense needs some more playmakers like Rashean Mathis and Reggie Nelson. As such, look for the Jags to concentrate of defense in the 2008 draft, beginning with the 26th overall pick.
* Defensive End: Bobby McCray, Reggie Hayward, and Paul Spicer comprise the majority of the Jags defensive end rotation. Hayward was a free agency acquisition of two seasons ago, but he has not displayed the same abilities he did during his time in Denver. Spicer led the team in sacks with eight, but he is aging quickly and cannot be depended on to be a difference maker on the edge on a consistent basis. With the 26th overall pick, the Jags could very likely have their choice of Calais Campbell (Miami, FL), Phillip Merling (Clemson), or Derrick Harvey (Florida). The common denominator with these three players is the ability to collapse opposing backfields. In the middle rounds of the draft, Quentin Groves (Auburn) or Lawrence Jackson (USC), could be potential steals, as both posses first round talent. In the later rounds of the draft, Chase Ortiz (TCU) and Jeremy Geathers (UNLV) could improve the team’s depth at defensive end while also providing more of a pass rush threat on third downs. One wildcard to keep in mind is Marcus Howard (Georgia) who is an undersized defensive end who really came on strong at the end of the 2007 season. He could be the pass-rush specialist that this team has needed for over five seasons.
* Outside Linebacker: As it stands, Mike Peterson, Clint Ingram, and Daryl Smith comprise the Jaguars’ linebacker corps. Injuries affected the production of each at varying points in the season, and none of the three provide the impact that this defense truly needed. Look for the Jags to move Peterson back to the middle and draft a young playmaker in the 2008 draft. At pick 26, Keith Rivers (USC) and Shawn Crable (Michigan) could be available, and each would likely become an immediate starter. If the team addresses another of its needs with its first round pick, it may be best served by selecting someone like Beau Bell (UNLV), Erin Henderson (Maryland), or Xavier Adibi (Virginia Tech) in the middle rounds. Each of these three has top-tier speed for the linebacker position and could help the Jags pass rush by attacking off the edge. To build up its special teams and provide increased depth, late round picks like Bo Ruud (Nebraksa), Casper Brinkley (South Carolina), and Robert Killebrew (Texas) look like good gambles. Brinkley also has the ability to play middle linebacker, making him more versatile to the team that drafts him.
* Cornerback: Rashean Mathis has established himself as one of the five or ten best cornerbacks in the NFL, but the corner opposite him has been a question mark on the defense for the last few seasons. In 2007, Brian Williams was the designated starter opposite Mathis, and while he played decently, he is not a corner that opposing offenses fear. With the 26th pick, Mike Jenkins (South Florida), Leodis McKelvin (Troy), or Antoine Cason (Arizona) could potentially be available. The impending NFL Combine will go a long way to determining which player will be available. In the second and middle rounds of the draft, the Jags could come away with Justin King (Penn State), Simeon Castille (Alabama), or Chevis Jackson (LSU). King is the most intriguing of the three, as he was a sure-fire first round pick entering 2007, but a up and down season left his draft stock slowing sinking. DeJuan Tribble (Boston College), who struggled during Senior Bowl week, and Zac Bowman (Nebraska) look to be good value picks in the later rounds, as both have the skill set to succeed in the NFL, but injuries and inconsistency has left their draft stocks suffering.
If you have any questions or comments, please send an email to clark@newerascouting.com.