SB Nation - Jaimie Thomas

2009 Colts Rookie Mini-Camp: Final wrap-up

BigBlueShoe — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:24:56 -0000

More photos » by Tom Strattman - AP

7 months ago: Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell during a news conference after football minicamp at the Colts headquarters in Indianapolis, Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

Browse more photos »

Obviously, we're not going to get much out of a rookie mini-camp designed to help these kids transition from college to the pros. There is no evaluation. No game plan implementation. Only drills, play book introduction, and interviews, interviews, interviews. Really, what this camp does is introduce the rookies to us (the fans) as well as the NFL. And so far, the introduction as felt a very positive first impression on everyone.

Austin Collie gives a nice interview on Colts.com. Seems like an intelligent guy, though in the interview it seemed he was looking off at something else while Jeffery Gorman asked his questions.
Interesting note on Collie: When drafted people said he was Indy's "Wes Welker." Most of us Colts fans chuckled at this because Wes Welker is actually New England's "Brandon Stokley." Stokley gave Bill Belichick nightmares when he played slot receiver in Indy, and when New England implemented an offense similar to Indy's a few years ago, one of the first things they did was signed Wes Welker to play the "Stokley" role. Back to Collie, the reason Austin fell to to the 4th round because of his 40 time (4.60), leaving some to ask "How can this guy be a Stokley or Welker-type receiver?" Well, Stokley ran a 4.54 at his Combine in 1999, and Welker ran a 4.60 at his. Slot receiver is more about precise route-running, finding holes in the zone, and catching EVERYTHING thrown at you. Not necessarily timed speed. Oh, and guess who Bill Polian compared Collie to: Brandon Stokley.
Collie and second year WR Pierre Garcon will likely dook it out over the starting slot receiver spot. Edge right now: Garcon.
Jerraud Powers may have been the WTF pick for us Colts fans, but when interviewed he seems like a high character guy.
This has been made clear by Colts brass: Joseph Addai is the starting running back; Donald Brown is the back-up. The Colts are going to use even more Two-Back sets in 2009. I know this is often a VERY heated discussion here, but opinions aside, here is how the Colts will start things in 2009: Addai starting; Brown backing up.
I agree with John. Mike Hart has the edge on Chad Simpson and Lance Ball as the #3 back. Lance Ball is the wild card though. If he has an impressive training camp and pre-season, he could push Hart out the door.
Starting offensive line wil likely be LT Tony Ugoh, LG Jamey Richard, OC Jeff Saturday, RG Mike Pollak, RT Ryan Diem. I have no faith in Ryan Lilja's health. If he comes back, YAY! That's gravy! I'm not getting my hopes up. Guys like rookie Jaimie Thomas are nice depth, but unless Pollak or Richard really suck in TC, they won't lose their jobs.
Another year, another Penn State undrafted rookie with a troubled past.
I get the sense Jim Caldwell really liked Curtis Painter. He talked about him a great deal on draft day. Caldwell was a QB coach for years. If anyone on the club knows what to look for when it comes to QB play, it's Caldwell. So, if he like Painter, then Painter has to have some serious potential.

With rookie camp closed, OTAs will start as we forge ahead with the post-Draft off-season. As we do so, we will continue breaking down the Colts roster, looking for Training Camp battles and areas that need improvement.

Go Colts!

2009 Colts rookies get assigned their jersey numbers

BigBlueShoe — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:12:44 -0000

With rookie camp starting today, the Colts have assigned numbers to their drafted and un-drafted rookies.

1ST ROUND PICK - RB DONALD BROWN, UCONN - #31

2ND ROUND PICK - DT FILI MOALA, USC - #95

3RD ROUND PICK - CB JERRAUD POWERS, AUBURN - #49

4TH ROUND PICK - WR AUSTIN COLLIE, BYU - #17

4TH ROUND PICK - DT TERRANCE TAYLOR, MICHIGAN - #62

6TH ROUND PICK - QB CURTIS PAINTER, PURDUE - #7

6TH ROUND PICK - P PAT MCAFEE, WEST VIRGINIA - #1

7TH ROUND PICK - OG JAIMIE THOMAS, MARYLAND - #73

The undrafted rookies are not listed on the team page at this time. Jersey numbers for all rookies are subject to change as camps open, players get released or signed, etc.

[UPDATE 4:59PM] Colts.com has now updated their roster page with undrafted rookie jersey numbers.

2009 NFL Draft Grades: QB Curtis Painter and OG Jaimie Thomas

BigBlueShoe — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:35:59 -0000

The draft grades come to a close as we evaluate the worth of Purdue QB Curtis Painter and Maryland OG Jaimie Thomas. Both players were late round picks, and both offer depth at positions many feel there was already enough depth to begin with. So, the question hovers, Why draft them?

Curtis Painter, QB, Purdue
Round 6, Pick #201

Jaimie Thomas, OG, Maryland
Round 7, Pick #236

Let's just get this out in the open right now: Curtis Painter was indeed brought in to compete with Jim Sorgi as the back-up QB to Peyton Manning. He was also brought in to, maybe eventually, replace Peyton Manning. If he wasn't, then this was a total waste of a draft pick, and Bill Polian should have his head examined. I know what Bill said about this issue. I think he is either delusional or, more likely, full of sh*t:

Polian said the selection of Painter is not a reflection on Jim Sorgi. "This is nothing that has to do with Jim Sorgi," Polian said. "We talked about committing to carrying the third quarterback. We've not done that in the past. That's been a practice squad spot. That's not ideal."

Yes, it does have something to do with Sorgi, Bill. If the Colts just wanted a third QB, there are plenty of guys they could pluck off the street to carry a clipboard and fetch Peyton Manning his Gatorade. Some of these guys (lke Josh Betts or Quinn Gray) are veterans who Indy can sign for next to nothing and have a pretty solid understanding of the Colts offense. So, don't feed me the "This is nothing that has to do with Jim Sorgi" line. It insults my intelligence. We all know Jim Sorgi is a VERY limited QB. He showed that in pre-season last year. His arm strength is crap and he cannot get the ball in the endzone inside the 20s.

Curtis Painter can get the football down the field, unlike Jim Sorgi

Photo: www.blackshoediaries.com

Painter was drafted to replace Sorgi, and eventually replace Manning (maybe). If he wasn't, then this was a wasted pick, and better players who could fill bigger needs should have been taken.

So, we will just assume that Polian's statement regarding Sorgi is the BS we all know it to be (again, I love ya, Bill; but I know a steaming pile of BS when I see one). Who is Curtis Painter? Is he another Jim Sorgi, or, unlike Sorgi, can this guy actually throw the ball down the friggin' field?

Unlike MasterRWayne, I have no bias against Purdue players. Purdue's football program is a helluva lot better than Indiana U.'s, and produced better overall players. Sorry IU faithful, but that's just the facts. When IU produces a Drew Brees, then you can talk trash. Like Brees and Kyle Orton, Painter is trying to follow the tradition of Purdue producing solid NFL starting QBs. From Hammer and Rails, SB Nation's Purdue blog:

Painter could easily have a career much like Kyle Orton in that it takes him a few years to develop.

If you read Painter's scouting report, he offers more talent (it seems) than both Brees and Orton:

Strengths:
Terrific height and bulk...Arm strength is more than adequate...Solid mechanics...Quick delivery...Good anticipation and timing...Has a lot of big-time experience...Very productive...Decent program pedigree.

Painter is roughly 6'3, and he can really fling the ball down the field. Unlike Josh Freeman, he has good QB mechanics, knowing how to release the ball so his spirlas remain tight, allowing the ball to can maximum velocity. And unlike many other college QBs, he is capable of putting the ball where receivers are going, not where they are. In college, QBs throw to were receivers are. If you do that in the NFL, that a pick 6 the other way. In the Man's League, the throws must go to where the receiver is supposed to be, especially in this offense. Painter also sells the play-action fake very well, another big plus in Tom Moore's scheme.

So, lots of positives, right? Why was he drafted so late?

Weaknesses:
Not a great athlete...Can be wildly inconsistent...Lacks great accuracy and touch...Makes too many bad decisions...Tends to stare down his targets...Isn't very mobile...Footwork will have to be tweaked...Did not play in a pro style offense..Leadership ability has been questioned.

A big issue with Painter is his footwork, which needs a lot of work. Feet placement and leg drive are everything for NFL QBs. Feet must get set, shoulders square to the target, and legs ready before the ball can get thrown. Painter really struggles with this, and it often leads to "poor decisions" (a phrase roughly translated into "interceptions").

But, under new QB Coach Frank Reich, Head Coach Jim Caldwell (a QB guru in his own right), Tom Moore, and Peyton Manning, this kid Painter could develop into a pretty good player. He has the arm strength and the size to develop, and being an Indiana boy, he knows first hand just how awesome the Colts organization is and how they develop their players internally.

Hammer and Rails, one more time:

Curtis went 201^st overall to the Colts. It is safe to say he isn't exactly going to challenge for the starting job. It's a high-risk, high reward opportunity for Curtis. If he can make the roster (and beat out long-time backup Jim Sorgi) there are few better quarterbacks in the league to learn from. Unfortunately, the odds are against him even making the regular roster. Sorgi is fairly entrenched as Manning's caddy, and the Colts rarely have three quarterbacks on the active roster because Manning is so durable. Painter may find himself on the practice squad for a year or two, which is still a very good place to learn from Manning. I would honestly be shocked if he played a down in the NFL this regular season.

Make no mistake, this kid wasn't just drafted for gits and shiggles. He was drafted to push Jim Sorgi out the door. Sorgi is certainly not "entrenched" as Manning's "caddy." That honor belongs to Anthony Gonzalez, also sometimes referred to a "Daddy Peyt's Golf Bitch."

If Sorgi were entrenched as the primary back-up QB, then the two veteran QBs Indy signed in Training Camp last year wouldn't have been brought in. And if carrying three QBs is an option Polian and the Colts are seriously considering, they need a reality check. A third QB is a wasted roster space. With the injuries we've typically had and the amount of defensive and special teams rotations we use in games, we need as many warm bodies as we can get. So, unless Polian expects Painter to play on special teams as a gunner, its a waste to have him active on gamedays as a third QB.

The final pick we will "grade" is Maryland OG Jaimie Thomas. For the second year in a row, the Colts end the draft picking an offensive lineman with the first name pronounced "Jay-me." Last year it was Jamey Richard, who played a ton in 2008 as a center and guard. This year, it's Jaimie Thomas, a 6'4, 322 pound monster from Maryland.

Jaimie Thomas must feast on his daily diet of two DBs per

day in order to remain satisfied.

Photo: media.collegepublisher.com

Right now, Thomas is the biggest guy on the team. To give you some perspective, he is an inch taller than last year's top draft pick (OG Mike Pollack), and outweighs Pollack by nearly 25 pounds!

Strengths:
Excellent height and bulk with long arms...Physical and aggressive...Is stout at the point...Gets a good push in the run game...Decent lateral agility...Strong hands...Great awareness...Good motor...Experienced.
Weaknesses:
Average athleticism and quickness...Is not real strong...Doesn't always play with proper leverage...Limited range...Struggles in space...Can improve his hand use...Conditioning issues...May lack a killer instinct.

Thomas is yet another Bill Polian late round player that he will hand off to offensive line coach Howard Mudd to mold into yet another draft gem. With Ryan Lilja's career totally up in the air because of his lingering injuries, drafting Thomas (and signing Kyle DeVan and Brandon Jones) seems to suggest the Colts do not have a lot of faith in Lilja's health. The simple reasoning is if Lilja is healthy and ready to go, the Colts then have waaaaaaay too many players at the OG positions.

So, assuming Lilja is not healthy, this was a strong pick to close out the draft.

DRAFT GRADE: Solid Marks

Being Billy Devaney - G

Tackle Box — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:10:51 -0000

First let me say, sorry for getting the BBD up so late. This has been a rough week and I've had absolutely zero time to myself. It's going to be border-line hectic for the next couple of weeks so I'm just going to have to ask you to hang in there with me. Deal? I hope so...

Now, at this time, I've come to the conclusion that we need to take the BBD series in a slightly different direction. As far as positions that are an immediate need for someone who can step in and provide an impact (or at least step in and be a starter), we've covered them. MLB, OT, WR, SS, CB, and DT are all major areas of need for the Rams and while it might not be realistic to think we can solve all of those positions in one off-season, I'd like to think the team is determined to either solve or patch those areas with a focus on the remainders next year. But that doesn't mean the job is done. There's still areas of depth and future that need a little tending to so that's what we're going to look at today when we dissect the Offensive Guard position.

So, now the change. Before, I was breaking down the roster, then a look at what was available in free agency, and finally what the top picks in the draft would look like in regards to that position. Now, since we're not necessarily looking for a star at these positions, it's probably safe to say they won't be looking to free agency to fill these needs, so I'm going to forego looking at free agency. Now there might be someone cut loose during training camp that would come in at a bargain price, but right now most of that is simply speculation. Plus, we are at the point where spending money on a free agent to fill one of these backup positions would have to wait on getting draft picks signed.

Also, I'd like to point out, I'll no longer be looking at what is available in the first 4 rounds of the draft. I think it's safe to say, the Rams won't be drafting a Guard in the 2nd round. The top 4 draft picks are probably spoken for and will shake down among the positions listed above, so it's pointless to even consider any of the top guys in the draft.

So, with that being said, let's take a look at the Offensive Guards.

So, as far as the Guard position is concerned, the Rams are fairly healthy. The guys on the roster may not exactly be the future, but they're definitely good enough to count on for a season or two. So, let's look at the roster.

Richie Incognito - 6'3" 330 - Signed through 2009 - Well, I guess he's not officially signed, but the team did make a tender to the restricted free agent and it would cost any team signing him a third round draft pick so it's safe to say he'll be with the Rams this season. Anyway, Richie is everyone's favorite football player around here, right? Umm... Well, he's got amazing talent, is ornery as all get out, but also often displays the maturity of a 4-year old. He has some versatility in that he can play either Guard position as well as Center. Hopefully the new coaching staff can harness this creature and he becomes a mainstay on the Line (he is only 25 years old and has a lot of service time ahead of him). If not, it's probably Siyanora before the 2010 season rolls around.
Jacob Bell - 6'4" 295 - Signed through 2013 - When the Rams made this signing last off-season, many of us loved it. Then Bell had a bit of a disappointing 2009 campaign which resulted in some talk of him being a bust. Put me in the camp of those who are still optimistic about Bell. He's only 28 and with the addition of Jason Brown as Center, I think we'll all see a much improved version of Jacob Bell next season......that is unless he's playing Right Tackle.
John Greco - 6'5" 318 - Signed through 2010 - Talk about a man of mystery. As a thrid round pick last year he rarely played last season, when he did it was near the end of the season when no one was watching, and Rotoworld.com doesn't even have a picture of him. Add this to his almost cult like following here (well, sortof) and I'm starting to think Mr. Greco is the Rams version of Brain Barton. All signs point to a guy who's young and who has talent. If Bell actually does play RT, then Greco's probably the man to start at Guard, but even if Bell doesn't make the switch, it's probably safe to say Greco might still be in the running to start if he impresses in the pre-season.
Adam Goldberg - 6'7" 318 - Signed through 2010 - Sure, Goldie's probably more of a Tackle, but he's kind of a utility man for the Rams line in that he can play (and pretty much has) every position on the line. He's not a Pro-Bowler by any stretch of the imagination, but he's an important piece to the depth and stability of the Offensive Line. He can start in a pinch and not be a disaster. Actually, that's probably a little harsh. Adam is more than competent at every position he's asked to play and it seems as if he's accepted his role in the NFL, which makes him even more valuable.
Roy Schuening - 6'4" 308 - Signed through 2010 - Schuening is a depth guy. He's probably not going to start, but he's young, got attitude, and does a decent job at Guard.
Mark Setterstrom - 6'4" 314 - Signed through 2009 - Setterstrom is a guy that lends depth and flexibility to the offensive line. He's cheap and young but he's had plenty of issues with injuries. Strictly a depth guy at this point.

So, there you have it. There's top talent and there's plenty of depth and versatility. Not too shabby especially after looking at positions like Cornerback and Wide Receiver the past couple of weeks.

As far as the draft, it wouldn't be the worst thing for the Rams to look to add someone in the later rounds who might have some upside. Is there anyone who fits that bill? Who really knows when you're looking toward the last few rounds of the draft and you don't know who's going to slip through the cracks and whatnot. But let's see what's projected to be there after the 4th round.

(Here's MockingDan's Offensive Guard rankings)

Louis Vasquez - Texas Tech - 6'6" 335 - Vasquez might not quite be there in the 5th, but there's always a possibility. If he is, the Rams would be hard pressed not to draft him (if they've satisfied their more pressing needs and really want a backup Guard with potential). He's big and really impressed in the combine putting up 39 reps (more than any other Offensive Lineman. Vasquez excelled as a pass protector but can also get after it when run blocking as well. Can be a bit of a mauler.
Anthony Parker - Tennessee - 6'3" 300 - Parker played 39 games for Tennessee. He might project out more as a Center due to his size,which is a position he's played in the past, but he's probably a better Guard. He's faster than the average lineman (5.08 40-yard). Was 2nd Team All-SEC in 2009.
Ray Feinga - BYU - 6'5" 331 - Is actually pretty quick on his feet with great lateral movement and has great size. He was named to the All-Mountain West First Team and was part of a very successful BYU offense where he was used primarily in 1 on 1 situations. Has shown the ability to succeed in both pass and run blocking.
Andy Kemp - Wisconsin - 6'6" 315 - Was named a All- Big Ten Honorable Mention and at one point started 20 consecutive games for the Badgers (broken hand). Some scouts prefer Kemp to teammate Kraig Urbik (projected as high as the 3rd round) since he is a "typical Wisconsin power football player. He won't start but he'll be a good backup."
Travis Bright - BYU - 6'5" 329 - Named to the All-Mountain West Second Team. Another part of the powerful BYU offense. Is older than the typical draftee (26) since he served on a Church Mission and while his potential is somewhat limited, he should be able to step in and play right away as a backup. Might be able to sign Bright as an un-drafted free agent.
Rich Ohrnberger - Penn State - 6'2" 291 - Was named as an All-Big Ten First Teamer and AP All-America Third Teamer. Had a good senior campaign at Penn State. Doesn't have great size but makes up for it with improved technique and great physical play. Extremely talented and considered to be a great teammate.
C.J. Davis - Pittsburgh - 6'3" 310 - All-Big East First Teamer. Started at Left Guard his entire career at Pittsburgh until a late injury caused a vacancy at Center where Davis finished out the season. Made 42 consecutive starts and is considered an accomplished run blocker.
Cedric Dockery - Texas - 6'4" 320 - All Big XII Honorable Mention two years after tearing his ACL. Played well after coming back from the injury.

And the list goes on and on. After Dockery, you start to see a common theme. Guys who can excel in at least one aspect of the position, great size, and usually played in systems where there was great success either running or throwing the ball. Some other names to consider are Jaimie Thomas (Maryland), George Bussey (Louisville), Roland Martin (Michigan State), Paul Fanaika (Arizona State), Greg Isdaner (West Virginia), Roger Allen (Missouri Western), and Seth Olsen (Iowa). All of these men would provide depth, but I'm not sold on their potential.

For the Rams to get potential along with one of these picks they're really going to have to do their homework, pick someone who matches up perfectly with their coaching staff, and simply get lucky to some extent. If I were trying to do this a safely as possible, I'd probably target Travis Bright of BYU. He's not going to be a starter for you 4 or 5 years down the road (probably), but he is mature and extremely reliable and could step in and spot start in a second.

However, if I were determined to add someone with real potential, I'd have to target Vasquez, Parker, and Feinga. All three of those guys would be good late picks and you could probably get Parker or Feinga a round or two later than you'd find Vasquez.

So, there's your late round look at the Guard position. Honestly, the Rams probably have enough depth at this position, but as we've seen before, you really can't have enough quality depth on your offensive line. There is great value in knowing your backups can step in and not miss a beat if and when they're called upon.

Not having quality depth at the Center position caused a lot of problems for this team last season (and probably in the season before) and I don't see this regime allowing that to happen again at Center or any of the other Offensive Line positions.

It's just too costly and can absolutely wreck your season.

Terps Headed to All-Star Bowls

Ben Broman — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:50:51 -0000

Five Terps are getting recognized for outstanding play this year by being invited to various college All-Star Bowls, and though they're not the five I would've chosen if I had to pick just five, I wish congratulations to all of them.

Edwin Williams, the most deserving of the bunch, is headed to the East-West Shrine Game, and he'll be joined by Jaimie Thomas on the offensive line. Moise Fokou and Jeremy Navarre will attend the Texas vs. The Nation game, in what will hopefully be an effort that will show Texas that no, they can't outplay 49 other states combined, and perhaps end this excuse for Texas to pat their ego. Meanwhile, Kevin Barnes will attend the Senior Bowl, but won't play due to the injury he suffered earlier in the year. The Barnes injury really is a shame; I think he would've been able to get a mid-round selection in the draft had he been healthy. Now, he'll have to make it in tryouts with some team. Very, very unlucky.

Anyway, congrats to all the Terps!