NFL draft, the aftermath

I know...I know...back to back posts on the NFL draft...how exciting. But I was pretty satisfied with what the Colts did this weekend.

The taking of a RB in the first round was receiving a lot of scrutiny today (thank you Indy sports talk radio) but I think taking Donald Brown was a solid movie.

One...the rushing attack last season was non existent. A lot of that can be placed on an offensive line that was often injured (Saturday, Lilja & Diem--who didn't play all year) and inexperienced with rookies. Nonetheless we were second to last in rushing and in the playoffs we were unable to pick up a key third and two that might have sealed the game. So clearly something was needed to improve on that. This doesn't mean that Addai is out or on his way out...all it means is that now we have two solid running backs. Since the current NFL seems to be a two back league than it makes sense to have two solid RB's. As Polian mentioned...this movies also helps Addai in that it extends his career as he doesn't have to carry the load himself. I was pretty hard on Addai last year because it looked at times that he didn't know what was going on but maybe this will also give him a little kick to the pants that he needs to step it up, which I think he is capable of. Plus...running back is the one position where a rooking can come right in and contribute. With the Colts being a perennial playoff team, than it is a must that a first round pick has to contribute from day one.

Second...they addressed the need for a defensive tackle in round 2 (Fili Mioala) and in round 4 with Terrance Taylor. Mioala was a great pick in round 2 and he might start from the get go. And Taylor provides depth at a position where they needed a lot of depth. I was somewhat surprised that they didn't address the DT problem in round one but when you look at the totality of the draft than it makes sense why they took a RB in round one.

I also liked the Austin Collie--WR pick. It sounds like this guy is will be a prototypical slot receiver. The assumption going into the draft was that we needed a replacement for Harrison. Well here's the thing...we already have his replacement...it's Reggie Wayne. And Wayne's replacement...that's Anthony Gonzalez. For some reason everybody thinks that Gonzalez is predetermined to be a slot WR--maybe because he's white and he reminds everyone of Brandon Stokely but the fact remains that Gonzo prefers to be on the outside and when he's been on the outside he's been very productive--like when Marvin was hurt two years ago. Clearly the thought was to draft a slot guy and Collie fits the bill.

And we also drafted Curtis Painter so that should make the boiler boys happy.

I promise this is the last post about the NFL draft.