SB Nation - Terrance Taylor

2009 Michigan Football, Position by Position: Defensive Tackle and Defensive Tackle Recruiting

Maize n Brew Dave — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:12:37 -0000

Going into the 2009 season there are three positions on the Michigan Defense that are causing a great amount of concern among the Michigan faithful. Cornerback. Safety. Defensive Tackle. All three of these positions have highly touted players starting for the Wolverines. All three of these positions are also an injury away from becoming an aneurysm inducing mess. In an effort to assuage those fears (or stoke them like coals in a furnace) we'll be taking a look at Michigan Football's positions of need, the quality in place, the replacements on the way, and recruits that hopefully will carry the load for Michigan going forward.

Defensive Tackle

If you're looking for an iconic photograph that basically encapsulates how Michigan fan feels about Michigan Football, you really need to look no further than the aftermath of Alan Branch planting Anthony Morreli in 2006.

The end of Times, via www.thewolverineblog.com

It's all there. Strength. Power. Devastation. Arrogance. This photo sums up both the expectations and historical results of Michigan Football. So, as emblematic as the Corner position has become for Michigan over the past couple of decades, Defensive Tackle may be a more apt symbol. Will Carr, Rob Renes, Alan Branch, Gabe Watson, Terrance Taylor, and the lot. Just like Michigan's football seasons, they've run the gambit from overachievers, to underachievers, to just what you'd expect, good or bad. If you're looking for a positional representation of Michigan's Football fortunes, look no further than Defensive Tackle.

Along those lines, the last two years have been down ones at Defensive Tackle. The talent was certainly there in the forms of Terrance Taylor, Will Johnson and Mike Martin. Unfortunately the results (save Martin) haven't been. Taylor was projected to be a second round pick in 2007, came back to a revamped (totally screwy) defense and wound up dropping into the fourth round after a disappointing senior season. Will Johnson, despite being one of the strongest guys on the team, never lived up to his billing. As a result, teams ran all over Michigan. Now you can't pin the failure of the run defense on these two guys. But the reality is they were serviceable at best for most of the year, with the occasional flash of brilliance. Regarding Martin, it appears he's got star written all over him. But that's easy to say when you're coming off the bench fresh mid game rather than starting.

While game play at the Defensive Tackle position has been adequate, it's impossible to classify Michigan's recruiting at this position as anything better. When you think about the spectacular flame out of Marques Slocum; the underdevelopment Renaldo Sagesse and Jason Kates (transfer); and the fact that we've moved Vince Helmuth from fullback to DT, well, you start to wonder what the hell is going on.

Defensive Tackle has been such a frustrating recruiting slot that John Ferrara, a DT recruit, is now on the opposite side of the ball as an Offensive Guard! I mean how screwy do things have to be when you move a player to a position of need, and his former position becomes the most dire on the team? However you want to read it, with the graduations of Taylor and Johnson Michigan was down to one starter worthy player, a handful of guys whom we really have no idea whether they'll provide any serviceable time, a converted fullback, and an all-star freshman in the mold of Terrence Taylor. In a word: Yikes.

The DT position wasn't supposed to be this dire heading into 2009. Michigan had all but inked a pair of highly rated DTs to the 2009 class in Pearlie Graves and DeQuinta Jones to go along with uber-recruit Will Campbell. Unfortunately, as the weeks leading up to national signing day unfolded, Michigan lost both Jones and Graves to last minute defections. This left only Campbell to fill what was suddenly a cavernous DT void. This isn't to suggest either Jones or Graves would be contesting for starting time, but a couple of extra bodies in the middle would come in real handy this year, ready or not.

So where does that leave Michigan heading into 2009? Surprisingly adequate, but an injury away from a serious, serious problem. Greg Robinson's transition to the 3-4 Deathbacker defense takes some of the pressure off the middle of the line in terms of numbers. Michigan won't need to prance out both of its best DTs on any one play unless Robinson switches to a more traditional 4-3 just to mess with the other team. Based on Robinson's track record, I don't see that happening... too often. The Deathbacker means that Mike Martin will start the season as Michigan's 1st team DT. Martin had a solid year as a freshman in 2008 and on several occasions outplayed his senior teammates. You might recall Martin doing this against Wisconsin:

Skip to 8:00. Courtesy of Wolverine Historian, of course.

Yeah. The kid can play.

Backing him up, though not confirmed, will likely be freshman Will Campbell. Campbell was an all-world recruit in the 2009 class who enrolled at Michigan early, despite rumors and a head fake toward LSU. The book on the kid is he is a monster in that Alan Branch mold... when he wants to be. The fear is Campbell is a lot like Terrance Taylor in that he was known to have lapses mid game, and take a play or two at 50%. Even so, he's a dominant style DT that absolutely throttled anyone who challenged him at the recruit camps or on the high school field. The key to Campbell, at least from what I've read, is when he's challenged he's a beast. When he's bored, meh. Still, a bored Campbell would start for all but the top 5% of college football teams, so it's hard to nit pick too much. But if Michigan can motivate this kid, Michigan will arguably have the two best DT's in the conference by the season's end.

The next player on the depth chart depends on who you talk to, when you talk to them. It could either be large, Biggie-lookin' Canadian Renaldo Sagesse or new to the position Vince Helmuth. My money's on seeing a bit of Sagesse this season. He's a monster, size-wise, at 6'5" 300+. Unfortunately, three years in, the kid hasn't cracked the starting rotation. He's been good enough to see the field, but not good enough to log appreciable minutes. It's hard to blame the kid for not taking the leap forward we'd like when you consider he's had a new position coach every year he's been at Michigan. But players step up, and Michigan needs Sagesse to do just that because after him things are more than dicey. Vince Helmuth, while more than talented, isn't a DT. He's a fullback playing DT, strike that, learning to play DT. Maybe in a year or so Helmuth can contribute, but I'm not holding my breath that he's going to be a difference maker anytime soon.

DT Recruiting for the 2010 class is at best, questionable. Michigan continues to pursue this year's all world DT prospect Sharrif Floyd of Philly. Floyd's been fairly tight lipped about where he'll end up, but Michigan hasn't really garnered a lot of press in his recruitment. Without the instate pull that Michigan had on Campbell, I'm not high on Floyd's prospects of ending up a Wolverine. Though it'd certainly help. After him are a plethora of prospects who don't seem to be decided one way or another.

Richard Ash 4* Pahokee, FL

Ricky Heimuli 4* Salt Lake City, UT

Mike Thornton 3* Stone Mountain, GA

Johnathon Hankins NR Detroit, MI (no offer/claims OSU offer) (3* Scout)

Michigan's best bet a DT appears to be with Ricky Heimuli. Heimuli stands 6'4", 280, and appears to be one of the risers in the recruiting process. Michigan offered him in early May, but that offer simply piled on top of an impressive sheet that lists 20 other offers (including USC, LSU and Oklahoma). While Heimuli is from Salt Lake and the cold might not be as big a turn off as it is for other recruits, he recently camped at USC and his mom liked USC. On the plus side, a recent Scout article said Michigan's history with LDS athletes help it stand out. So we've got a shot. TIFWIW.

After Heimuli, things aren't so rosy. Despite Michigan's connections at Pahokee, Ash appears to be looking at the Florida instate schools. If he goes out of state I'd be shocked. The only other DT in this class that's still available and actually holds a Michigan offer is Georgia DT Mike Thornton who received his offer this week. Thornton seems to have rocketed up the recruiting charts over the last few months and holds a number of offers from top tier BCS programs, including Georgia and Alabama. It's a little early on in Michigan's recruitment to get a picture as to whether Thornton's a legit candidate to accept, but you have to expect that other schools who've been on his trail for a while are in a better position than Michigan at this time. Finally, there's the curious case of Johnathon Hankins, a Detroit kid with an unrequited love of Michigan who can't seem to buy an offer from the Wolverine. Hankins camped, but didn't receive an offer apparently due to conditioning issues. Unless Michigan changes its mind, Hankins will probably end up at OSU or MSU. I'd list the remaining DT prospects, but none of them are holding Michigan offers, so it's the above guys or nothing.

So that's where Michigan stands. A position that really needs at least two 2010 commits, but realistically will only see one guy accept an offer. With Martin a sophomore, Campbell a freshman, and Sagesse still with two full years to live up to his potential, Michigan's in a not-bad, but not-good position. Going forward, unless Michigan pulls in another DT or two, it could get ugly. If Michigan lands a commit for 2010, start breathing again but don't relax. Two commits, breath easier. None? Panic Cloverfield style.

But for this year, Michigan's playing with two kids and one underachieving upperclassman. Only one player at DT has logged significant playing time. Even though Michigan's got talent at DT, an injury to either of the top two and it could be a rough year up the middle for Michigan.

Big T (aka Terrance Taylor) talks about Colts Rookie Mini-Camp

BigBlueShoe — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:17:33 -0000

The most interesting player taken by the Colts in the 2009 NFL Draft was not RB Donald Brown, DT Fili Moala, or WR Austin Collie. The guy who really grabbed the attention of many fans here was Michigan nose tackle Terrance Taylor. Like Fili, Taylor breaks the mold the Colts usually set for DTs. At 6'0, 315 pounds, Big T (as I am now going to refer to him as) is one big friggin dude. When you consider that last year's starting nose tackle was a good 35 pounds lighter than Big T, Indy drafting the Michigan product really hits home the notion that the Colts are tired of using free agency to solidify the nose tackle spot long term.

Big T recently talked with Colts.com's Jeffery Gorman, and like most interviews on Colts.com it was "nice" but really didn't tell us too much about him (aside from the fact he really likes John Teerlick).

What makes Big T so interesting is he simply does not fit the kind of player the Colts typically draft for the nose tackle spot. Check out these bits from his scouting report:

Good bulk...Super strong...Plays with great leverage...Excellent run stuffer...Is able to occupy multiple blockers...Stout at the point of attack..Can collapse the pocket...Nice instincts and awareness...Tough and nasty...Durable...Has a lot of experience against top competition.
...

A prototypical two-down specialist...Potential 3-4 nose tackle prospect.

I mean, does that sound like a Tampa-2 tackle?

Now, before the folks championing a 3-4 jump in and say "SEE, SEE, WE'RE MOVING TO A 3-4!" I will remind you what Jim Caldwell, Larry Coyer, and Bill Polian have said again, and again, and again: The Colts are not changing their defense. We are not shifting to a 3-4. Though the new fad now is 3-4 defenses, I'll remind you that only two years ago the two teams playing in the Super Bowl ran Tampa-2. The 3-4 is not "better" than the Tampa-2. Like all schemes, it comes down to personnel.

For the Colts, Big T seems to be the "Corey Simon-type" player they have lacked. Simon was a very big boy, often playing at about 315-320 pounds. What Indy's defesne needs is a tackle who can control two interior players, allowing the three tech tackle and the DEs to shoot the gap and attack the offense's backfield.

We will follow Big T's development during camp, pre-season, and into the regular season. Right now, it seems he and Mookie Johnson will battle it out for the starting NT job.

2009 Colts Rookie Mini-Camp: Can you "Fili" the love for the DTs?

BigBlueShoe — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:58:54 -0000

More photos » by Tom Strattman - AP

Indianapolis Colts first-round draft pick Connecticut running back Donald Brown. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

Browse more photos »

Today is the last day of Colts Rookie Mini-Camp, and if you have followed coverage of the camp (what little you can get) you see that the focus of much of the coverage is not necessarily first round pick Donald Brown (pictured right). Brown is not getting ignored or anything, but the guy who really keeps popping up in all the mini-camp coverage is second round pick Fili Moala, DT out of USC.

Ed Thompson of ColtPower.com conducted an excellent interview with Fili as camp ended yesterday. The interview provided us with some quotes that are helping warm Colts fans to the USC rookie:

Thompson: It's got to be exciting for you, knowing that no matter which defensive tackle spot you end up playing, you'll either have Dwight Freeney or Robert Mathis next to you.
Moala: Yeah, those guys can rush the passer. The Colts were one team that we watched a lot of film on at USC. Those guys get up the field, they have multiple pass-rush moves, and they're savvy veterans. I'm sure that I'll have nothing but good times there and will learn a lot of the tricks of the trade.

Fili also showed appreciation for his old college fans, and expressed interest in entertaining his new fanbase:

Thompson: As you depart USC, is there anything you want to say to the fans there? And is there anything you want to say to the Colts fans?
Moala: I want the USC fans to know how appreciative I am of all the years they cheered me and my teammates on. And to the Colts fans, here's to the future. I'm only going to get better, and I'm determined to be the best and to show everyone that I'm one of the elite tackles in this draft. I know it's going to take years, but I'm going to come in and be as productive as I can be, knowing that I'm going to continue to rise. And let's go win some Super Bowls!

I know this kid hasn't played a lick of pro ball, and I know he will struggle when he goes up against tough, interior offensive linemen, but regardless... I like him already. It's hard not to when you see quotes like that or when you watch Jeffery Gorman's interview with him on Colts.com. It's funny to see his reaction when he talks about line coach John Teerlick. I'm willing to bet Teerlick did a "happy man" dance when he saw Indy drafted Moala. And, if anyone recorded this theoretical happy dance, YouTube it already!

Indeed, the interior of the Colts defensive line is a big focus this offseason, especially the rookies. The Colts also drafted 4th round pick Terrance Taylor from Michigan, and while Fili might be getting all the love from fans and press, Taylor is just as important (if not more important) to the success of this team.

Since Ed Johnson was kicked off the team, the Colts have desperately searched for a quality nose tackle for their Tampa 2 scheme. They tried to trade for Buffalo's John McCargo last season, but McCargo's nagging back injury snuffed the deal. They then signed Antonio "Mookie" Johnson off Tennessee's practice squad, and while Mookie played very well overall in 2008, the kid was only on the team two weeks before getting thrown into the starting line-up. That's not a lot of time to learn a new defense, get comfortable with teammates, and start producing. This off-season, players like Mookie Johnson (who was signed for two years) will have time to learn the defense, get conditioned, and get comfortable playing for the Colts. In addition to that, rookies like Terrance Taylor are now in the fold, and Taylor knows the kind of role Indy is asking him to play:

At 319 pounds, Taylor definitely fills one of the team's needs. He's currently the biggest defender on the roster.
"It makes me feel good," Taylor said. "It's always good to go to a place where they need you. You're not just there because they had another pick. They've got a lot of great veterans and leaders I can learn from."

Like Fili, Terrance was a bit surprised that a team like the Colts would draft him:

Like Moala, he didn't expect to be drafted by the Colts.

"It was a surprise to me," Taylor said. "They had called me information-wise, but other than that, it was a surprise that I was coming here. They needed some guys to stop the run, and I'm the guy to do that."

Also thrown into the mix are rookie free agents Pat Kuntz (DT, Notre Dame) and Adrian Grady (DT, Louisville). I have no idea how Kuntz and his 285 pound frame will factor into the Colts d-line rotation, but I almost don't care. The dude is friggin' hilarious. He can belch the alphabet, and did so on Indy's 1070 The Fan a few days ago. Listen to it. It's pretty friggin' funny.

This man will burp the alphabet on cue. So yep, he's a keeper!

Belching aside, Kuntz could play three technique at the DT spot, or the Colts could use him as a replacement for DE Josh Thomas. Thomas, a hard-working, sturdy run defender at the DE spot, has not been re-signed. At 6'5, 271 pounds, Thomas added a great deal of size to Indy's edge. When team's went power run against the Colts, Thomas was one of the few line defenders who could snuff out the run. Kuntz is 6'3, 285 pounds and might be able to fill the roll Thomas once held. If not, the Colts should still keep Kuntz on the payroll so he can burp the alphabet over the loud-speakers at "The Lube" on gameday.

Adrian Grady is the mystery player to me. Like Eric Foster last year, I don't know much about Grady (watched zero Louisville games in 2008). However, like Foster, Grady might have been a bit of a steal:

Grady, meanwhile, has been called a "diamond in the rough" by NFL scouts after posting good numbers for the Cardinals (41 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks) as a senior last fall.

At 6'2, 305 pounds, Grady fits the bill as a Tampa-2 tackle. But, which kind of tackle? Is he a three tech or a NT? Or both? Staying healthy was Grady's biggest problem at Louisville. He did stay healthy his senior season and really broke out. Scouting reports say he is quick and can push the pile. He's also active and never quits on plays. His negatives are he is not great at the point of attack, and has limited pass rushing moves. But, he shows a lot of potential, and unlike Foster (who played admirably at NT last year only weighing 270 pounds), Grady has the size and frame to play NT.

Adrian Grady wants to hear you scream his name!

Photo: cache.daylife.com

So, as the rookie mini-camp winds down, and the June team mini-camp waits on the horizon, the Colts are looking at having Fili Moala, Mookie Johnson, Terrance Taylor, Eric Foster, Keyunta Dawson, Adrian Grady, Daniel Muir, and Pat Kuntz as their defensive tackles. I think it is safe to say the Colts took their DT depth issues VERY seriously this off-season, and brought in some high quality, high character guys who will shore up the interior of this defense. Start getting excited...

2009 Colts Rookie Mini-Camp: Indianapolis established media really does suck

BigBlueShoe — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:34:19 -0000

More photos » by Tom Strattman - AP

7 months ago: Indianapolis Colts second-round draft pick USC defensive tackle Fili Moala talks to the media after football minicamp at the Colts headquarters in Indianapolis, Friday, May 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

Browse more photos »

New Colts coach Jim Caldwell called his first day of rookie mini-camp "productive," calling his 2009 crop of rookies "attentive" and "pretty efficient." And while the coaches claim they are not evaluating players at this time, just helping them better transition to the Colts from college, Caldwell did not shy away from praising his first round pick in 2009, RB Donald Brown.

"We were not disappointed," Caldwell said, adding, "It's very, very difficult to evaluate anyone on one day for a two-hour period. A lot more goes into it than that, but [Brown] certainly did well today."

The other player many people have their eye on is DT Fili Moala. Before we get into Fili, I have an important side note to make: Indianapolis' established media really does suck.

I know that seems to come out of nowhere here, but believe me when I say it relates to Fili Moala and the Colts rookie mini-camp. Within minutes of the rookie camp ending, AP published an article on Moala and his first day as a Colt. It's a pretty cool little story with Fili talking about the Colts franchise, playing on a Tampa-2 team, and how fun it will be. The article also talks about NT Terrance Taylor.

Later, Colts.com posted their video press conference video featuring Jim Caldwell. They also posted a quick John Oehser article discussing the first day.

Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Star, the only established newspaper in Indianapolis (owned by mega-corporate-octopus Gannett) posted nothing, NADA, zip, zero, zilch until this morning. Just to hit that point home, both Associated Press AND the Colts themselves posted better more timely content about a subject hundreds of thousands of people are interested in waaaaaaaaaay before the ONLY newspaper in Indianapolis posting anything.

Yes folks, the Indy Star does suck THAT much.

When news happens now it should be posted NOW. Posting mini-camp news the day after the camp is an old, broken news model that does not work anymore. It's the reason why this country is littered with the bodies of closed and discontinued newspapers. People no longer want their news next day. They want it NOW! On the web. On Twitter. On Facebook. On blogs. On mobile phones. Now! NOW! NOW!

As many of my generation say (right or wrong), If the news is important, it will find me. And the best way to find readers is to get your friggin content out there ASAP.

Another frustration I have is with the Colts themselves. While it was great that the Colts posted video of Caldwell the first day, they also issued press releases for Colts-related news that happened NINE DAYS AGO. Yesterday, they issued a press release announcing the signing of offensive tackle Brandon Barnes and offensive lineman Kyle DeVan. We knew these signing took place prior to the friggin draft, almost nine days ago. The Colts also issued a press statement that their rookie free agents were signed. Again, we knew (and posted) these signings the day of and day after the Draft.

I mean, no offense Colts media guys and gals, but why not issue a statement that Egypt built some pyramids a few years ago? The news is about as relevant now.

You'll have to forgive me, but when I see old, broken media models like this continue to chug along, I get annoyed. Posting press releases like the Colts did or posting content on the Indy Star's site the day after is a dated, tired method of getting news out. For the Colts, there really is no excuse. When the players like DeVan and Barnes are signed, a press statement should be made immediately on the website. If not, then why bother having a website, or press statements for that matter? Doing it nine days after the news happened screams of We don't give a sh*t, but we're doing it anyway just because. Again, the only reason to have a team website is to reach out to fans. It's not for press and media. They rarely use the site as they often contact the team directly to get information. The site is there for fans, and when you update your site with news that is nine days old, it tends to send a message that you just don't give a crap about your fans.

And at a time when forces are trying to paint the Colts as assh*les in this whole stupid CIB thing, now is not the time to be insulting your fanbase's intelligence by posting news that's nine days old and considering it relevant.

To this day, I have no idea why the Colts post their media files on their horrible media page. Why not post them on YouTube, embed them on their site, and then let fan blogs (like this one) embed the videos into our site posts? The same with the Star. Post, embed, and BANG! Content is out minutes after the interview is recorded. Unreal why they don't do this.

And please Indy Star, don't give me the crappy excuse that you aren't ESPN, and thus can't be as timely with news on your website. I'm not ESPN, and I have routinely beaten you to the punch on many Colts stories. I'm one guy who maintains this site. One. Friggin. Guy. I have four other co-writers who work for free, posting content left and right because they love it. Your writers and web staff make a helluva lot more than we do, and with features like YouTube, Twitter, and other applications, there is simply no excuse for getting your content out a day after. If the excuse you have is you wanted to wait for the newspapers to hit the driveways, then the Indy Star will be gone within a year. No one reads newspapers anymore. The newspaper is a dead media medium, and good riddance at that.

So please Indy Star and Colts.com, remove your heads from your colons and start working in the 21st friggin century. I don't say these things because I hate you guys and think you are all a bunch of incompetent dipsh*ts. The only incompetent dipsh*t in this whole media umbrella is Bob Kravitz, and he stopped being relevant a looooooooooong time ago. I say these things to you because I know your staff reads this blog, and I know that sometimes established media needs some tough love. You can ignore my suggests at your own peril, but consider this:

Last weekend, I had nearly 100,000 people hit my site on Draft Day. My network (SB Nation) generated 1.1 million page views over Draft weekend. I'm willing to bet that more eyes viewed my site (and my site's advertising) in one day than they did Colts.com's or IndyStar.com's combined for the entire weekend. When you Google the words "2009 Colts Draft," Stampede Blue is #1. Not Colts.com. Not IndyStar.com. Stampede friggin' Blue.

Do you want to know why my site is #1? Because I don't wait nine days, or even one day, to post important Colts content. I post it NOW! I Twitter it NOW! I Yahoo! it NOW! I Facebook it NOW!

Think on that, and get your heads into the 21st century already. Because if you don't, blogs like mine will replace you as community gathering places on the web to reach out to Colts fans.

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 Indianapolis Colts NFL Draft Grades: Say hello to the new Defensive Tackles!

BigBlueShoe — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:14:39 -0000

We continue with our draft grades (and again, the "grades" aren't necessarily A, B, C, etc. but more High Marks and Low Marks), focusing now on the defensive tackles selected in the 2009 NFL Draft. DT was a major position of need going into the draft. Gone was Ed Johnson (un-drafted starter, 2007) and Quinn Pitcock (3rd rounder, 2007) from last year's team. Replacing them were 275 pound rookie Eric Foster and 265 pound second year player Keyunta Dawson. As quick and tough as Foster and Dawson played in 2008, a team cannot maintain a consistent defensive front with two tackles that are under 280 pounds.

Thus, the Colts targeted some big, explosive players at the DT position in this year's draft.

Fili Moala, DT, USC
Round 2, Pick #56

Terrance Taylor, DT, Michigan
Round 4, Pick #136

DT Fili Moala

Photo: walterfootball.com

The Colts have had Moala on their radar for a while now. The 6'4, 305 pound DT breaks the mold a bit for DTs normally drafted or signed by the Colts. From Big Bill himself:

"[Moala's] the kind of long, tough, rough-house defensive tackle that we feel like can help us both in the run game and the pass. He’s a guy obviously that we thought very highly of. The pickings were getting a little slim on the boards. Everybody we had in the round had gone off at this point. Our board has been scarily correct and accurate. There weren’t many left (tackles) at this point, so we decided to go make the trade and make sure we got him. We’re anxious to have him. He’s a player who played mostly right defensive end in the 3-4 this year because they had to get (Clay) Matthews on the field, along with the other three linebackers. We saw him in a situation that is a little different than what he’ll play here. There were times when he was down in a true four front. We like his length. We like his toughness. We like his effort. The speed is good. He’s very different than what we’re used to having. That’s fine. We felt like it was a departure in the right direction."

They can play Moala at both the over and under tackle spots, maximizing his power to stop the run or his speed and long arms to pressure the QB. It's interesting the Moala was drafted by a team which plays Tampa-2 mainly because Moala played much of his college career in a hybrid 3-4. So, there will likely be some transition hiccups along the way as Moala shifts from 3-4 DE to Tampa-2 DT.

It's important to point out that while Moala is a bit of a departure, he is not some giant, fat, slow, Jabba-The-Hutt-type DT that the Colts are throwing out there. This is a 3-5 pound, 6'4 guy who runs a pretty fast 40. Indeed, while he could play the nose tackle spot in the DT rotation, Polian does not think he truly fits there:

"This guy isn’t necessary the ‘Big Guy’ in the middle. He’s a bigger guy than we’ve had. We still need length. We still need athleticism. We still need change of direction. The under tackle is still a guy that has to be able to get through the gap and disrupt. It’s hard to win consistently with 275-pound guys in there. It helps if they are 290 to 300. The nose tackle is another story. He could even be bigger if you could find one."

Moala provides that speed, that change of direction, that ability to penetrate and disrupt plays in the opponent's backfield.

"What you see is penetration, length in penetration, the ability to change direction and go chase the play. That’s critical. He’s a long-armed, long-limbed guy. That aids him in pass rush. He really has a chance to get up the field and get on the outside of a guard and do some damage in the pass rush. Our most successful inside pass rusher has been Raheem Brock, who is the same height and naturally quite a bit less heavy. This is a guy that has a lot of the attributes we’re looking for, plus the 305 pounds, quality and what he can do."

But, as quick and powerful as Moala is, many of us here have argued that a penetrating DT is not what the Colts need. Players like Brock, Foster, and Dawson have filled that role quite well in year's past. The Colts won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Brock starting every game at DT. What is desperately needed since Ed Johnson was booted off the team for smoking weed is a nose tackle, a guy who can eat up two offensive linemen, allowing the other DT to shoot the gaps and get into the backfield.

Enter Terrance Taylor, DT from Michigan.

Taylor is 6'0 and almost 320 pounds of mean. He started 36 games for Michigan and had 17.5 tackles for losses and six sacks at the nose tackle spot. That's damned impressive! From Polian [emphasis mine]:

"He's a wide-body and a guy with explosion," Polian said. "He's a true nose tackle. That's something we felt like we needed to add in terms of how we structure the defense. He's a prototypical nose tackle."

Taylor is short but powerful. Like Casey Hampton in Pittsburgh, Taylor could be the wrecking ball the Colts have been missing, and at 320 pounds, can can take up a bit more space. thus, players like Moala, Dawson, Foster, and Brock can play three technique and attack the backfield. Pairing Taylor with Antonio Johnson and Daniel Muir gives the Colts some much needed depth at the nose tackle spot. Indy has also signed rookie free agents Pat Kuntz from Notre Dame and Adrian Grady from Louisville, adding even more depth at DT.

At the end of the draft, if you were like me and thought that Indy absolutely had to grab quality depth (and possibly a starter or two) at DT, then this draft did not disappoint you. Moala and Taylor provide great anchors that should shore up the team's run defesne and allow Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Raheem Brock, and Marcus Howard to attack the QB.

DRAFT GRADE: Very High Marks

Scouting The Draft: Day Two Nose Tackles

Matty I — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:15:08 -0000

Editor's note: Don't forget to cast your vote in our "Pulse of Dolphins Nation" poll about who you want drafted with the 25th overall pick.

It's widely expected that one of the things Miami's font office is spending time on leading up to the draft is the potential selection of a nose tackle. According to many, myself included, the nose tackle position is the most important position in a 3-4 defense. Simply put, you cannot run a 3-4 scheme without a reliable nose tackle. With Jason Ferguson turning 35 years old in November, it's becoming increasingly important for the Dolphins to find Jason's "heir apparent."

B.J. Raji, the draft's top defensive tackle, can certainly play the nose - but will be long gone by the time Miami picks. His college teammate, Ron Brace, is a likely second round prospect - and could be on Miami's radar. But I wanted to focus more on potential second day nose tackle prospects.

One guy who won't be on this list is Temple's Terrance Knighton - who I like a lot as a potential nose. The reason? I already included him on a "day two prospects" list a few weeks back - and you can view that by clicking here.

Terrance Taylor, Michigan
6'0 1/8", 306

You'd like your nose tackle to be a little taller, but Taylor is still a solid nose candidate because how stout he plays at the point of attack. A lot of scouts rave about how Terrance is able to keep his pad level low - which is very important in keeping his leverage. He has the ability to occupy multiple blockers and he has a terrific initial push. The biggest knock on him, though, is that he might not be in the best shape and has poor stamina. But with the patented "Bill Parcells offseason conditioning program," I wouldn't be too worried about Taylor's stamina. Give him a year in Miami under this regime and he'll be ready to play as a full-time starter in 2010.

Sammie Lee Hill, Stillman
6'3 7/8", 329

Here's a guy whose stock has risen very quickly to the point of possibly sneaking into round three. He was immensely productive in college, tallying 12 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss in his last two seasons. But that was playing against division II talent - not exactly good competition. But there's a lot to like about him. He's got terrific size. He benched 225 pounds 27 times, showing off his strength. He has very long arms (34"). And he's very agile for his size - something a nose tackle has to be, though people often times forget that. The biggest knock, according to scouts (other than his experience against subpar competition) is that he doesn't always play with great leverage and that he must improve his pad level. That's something you can coach up - and guys of his physical stature and talent simply don't come along too often.

You can read more on Sammie Lee Hill in GatorPhan's terrific scouting report.

Chris Baker, Hampton
6'2, 326

Baker is a typical "boom or bust" player. He has all the physical talent in the world. He's strong, explodes off the snap, and will stand up his man at the line of scrimmage. His long arms (34") also allow him to to really get great leverage against his blocker. So why was he at Hampton? Baker transferred to Hampton for his 2008 season after being dismissed from the Penn State team for 2 felony charges that stemmed from 2 separate fights. He began his college career as a backup at Penn State in 2006 before starting 12 games in 2007 as a redshirt sophomore - when he totaled 37 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 8 tackles for loss. In his one season at Hampton, Baker had 8.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. It'll be interesting to see where he falls on draft day. How much of a concern is Baker's character? Some believe it's a major red flag while others feel he was just a kid at the wrong place at the wrong time. If the Dolphins' front office is leaning more towards the "wrong place, wrong time" theory, then you have to imagine Chris is on their radar.

Dorell Scott, Clemson
6'3 1/4", 312

If you're talking strictly about measurables, then Dorell Scott is the player in this draft who most closely resembles Jason Ferguson. They have similar builds - and truth be told - they have similar styles of play. He's very strong (benched 225 pounds 29 times) but is nimble and quick off the snap. He's also a smart player who will get in the passing lanes and put his arms up to make it tougher on the quarterback. He's willing to take on blocks and can hold up at the point of attack. The biggest knock on him, though, is reportedly his leverage. He doesn't keep his pads low on a regular basis, which allows blockers to get under him and shove him backwards. But, again, that's a technique issue that can be worked out. And one of the things I've read about Scott from various scouting reports is that he has the frame to be able to put on another 10 pounds or so without it really restricting his play.

Marlon Favorite, LSU
6'0 7/8", 314

Right off the bat, the obvious knock on Favorite is his lack of ideal size. But he knows how to play despite his ideal height - keeping his pads low andp laying with leverage against his blocker. He holds up well at the point of attack, even against double teams. And he's not afraid to mix it up with opposing linemen. He doesn't possess the kind of initial explosion off the line that you'd like, though. But he has a high motor to make up for that. He's also a locker room favorite and a guy whose teammates tend to look to as a leader - which is similar to the locker room traits that Jason Ferguson possesses.

Denver Broncos--Monitoring Team Needs--Free Agency to the 2009 Draft

Jeremy Bolander — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:09:17 -0000

Keeping track of a team's dynamic roster gain/loss throughout the offseason is one of the keys to understanding their draft day moves and choices. Enter Monitoring Team Needs, an at-a-glance way of checking up on your team's latest roster flux, as we count down through Free Agency, and into the days before the 2009 Draft.

Below is a table that breaks down this roster flux, showing who has come and gone, as well as updating the neediest areas of the team and some of the top names that have a good chance of being available when they pick in the Draft. Draft prospects are linked to their Mocking the Draft Profiles and any names or positions highlighted in bold should be considered either to be positions of particular need and emphasis, or players of particular relevance and interest to the team's situation. Below the chart we will discuss some of the names and situations described, and as always, you can join in on the discussion in the comments.

See you below the fold!


DENVER BRONCOS 2008 Record and Rank: 8-8 2nd place	Team Needs	Likely Draft Targets (rd)
	NT, 3-4 DE, FS, ILB, RB, OLB, C/G	ILB, Rey Maualuga, USC(1st) 3-4 DE, Evander Hood, Missouri (2nd-3rd)
Free Agents Acquired	Current Free Agents	Free Agents Lost/PlayersLost
WR, Jayson Foster (res/fut) WR Matt Willis(res/fut) OL Mitch Erickson(res/fut) OT Clint Oldenburg (res/fut) DL Matthias Askew(res/fut) DL Ryan McBean(res/fut) CB Rashod Moulton (res/fut) TE Adam Bergen (res/fut) G Matt McChesney (undisclosed)	QB, Patrick Ramsey UFA RB Andre Hall ERFA RB Michael Pittman UFA WR Darrell Jackson UFA DL Kenny Peterson UFA LB Nate Webster UFA WR Edell Shepherd UFA RB Tatum Bell UFA OL Erik Pears RFA DL Ebeneezer Ekuban UFA CB Karl Paymah UFA FS Marlon McCree UFA	RB Anthony Alridge (cut) RB PJ Pope (cut) RB Alex Haynes (cut) TE Chad Mustard (cut) TE Nate Jackson (cut) C Tom Nalen (retired) DL John Engleberger (cut) DT Dewayne Robertson (cut) DT Josh Shaw (cut) LB Niko Koutivides (cut) WR Cliff Russell (cut) LB Jamie Winborn (cut) CB Dre Bly (cut) SS Marquand Manuel (cut)

Of particular interest for the Broncos is the 'purge' of defensive players across the board. Starters and backups alike have been let go, including last year's draft day trade, DT Dewayne Robertson, and CB Dre Bly. All told, the moves are expected to net the team an additional $20-30 Million in cap space.
Like many teams throughout the league, Denver signed a number of unheralded players to Reserve/Future contracts, which basically means that the player is signed to be in training camp. Typically these contracts are one year deals, and are often used to sign practice squad players. Denver in particular targeted WR, defensive line, and offensive line depth, all positions that are expected to take hits in free agency and retirements this year, with all of Denver's WR depth being UFAs.
Reports indicate that outside of DT Kenny Peterson, none of the currently scheduled UFAs for Denver are going to be resigned, resulting in up to 11 more players, mostly on defense following the earlier 11 player purge. A sure sign that Denver is rebuilding, since over half of those 22 players were starters in 2008. Peterson, who has worked with new head coach Josh Mcdaniels before, has been approached about a new contract, with nothing currently projected. Many of the rest were given permission already to look for new contracts elsewhere, and all have been notified that they will not be resigned before the start of Free Agency.
The money saved by the earlier cuts should push the Denver salary cap space into the $50million range, putting them in positon to do as they please in free agency this year. However, word is that they will be signing up to 8 new players, mostly on defense, and that should take a serious bite out of that space. With that in mind, the expectation is that they won't be pursuing any of the 'hot' commodities. The names surfacing right now are CB Ron Bartell, perhaps the most consistent defender on the Rams, and CB Bryant McFadden, form the Steelers. Bartell will seem like the safer bet of the two, and early rumblings say that McFadden is looking for a big payday, almost guaranteeing that he won't be resigned by Pittsburgh, who sees hima sa replacable commodity.
Defensive Line Needs: At the Combine McDaniels gave a firm indication that Denver would be running a 3-4 base defense, which immediately catapulted NT and 3-4 DE to the top of Denver's need list. Dallas' Chris Canty, and NE's Mike Wright could be good additions at DE, where Denver currently has Marcus Thomas and Tim Crowder, but they would be only the beginning. The draft looks weak for mid round and later DEs, but there are some halfway suitable projects towards the end of the draft. One name to watch will be Mitch King, Iowa. 6'2 282, and he has the ability to sit down and anchor, has the team mentality needed at the position and the football intelligence prized by McDaniels' former regime in NE. At DT Denver would love for BJ Raji to slip to them, but a more logical scenario would be for a guy like Ron Brace, Boston College, int he 2nd or 3rd, or a project like Terrance Taylor, Michigan, in the 5th or later.
Defensive Player first: Every indication is that Denver will be looking defense with the first pick, and standout ILB Rey Maualuga should be in their sights at #12. It is a high enough position of need right now not to be a luxury, and he is a great player with rare explosiveness.
C/G need is being reduced quickly for Denver, with the signing of OG Matt McChesney(Dolphins), and with talk of reworking Pro Bowl C Casey Wiegmann's contract to ensure he stays at least two more years. However, with impending retirements looming within the next two to three years for Wiegmann and G Ben Hamilton, it remains a concern to get additional starting quality depth lined up behind them.

DT, Terrance Taylor, Michigan

Jeremy Bolander — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:19:00 -0000

DT, Terrance Taylor, Michigan

At A Glance
Position 1: Defensive Tackle	Height: 6-1
Position 2: Nose Tackle	Weight: 314
Class: Senior	Age: 22
Projected Round: 5th	40time: 5.18

Combine/Proday Results
Bench reps: 37	Vertical: 30
20yd Split: 3.00	Broad Jump: 8'8"
10yd Split: 1.78	20yd Shuttle: 5.06
3 Cone Drill: 7.78

Pros:Prototypical nosetackle build, is consistent and can collapse a pocket. Technically sound, and can hold his own versus double teams.

Cons: Consistent, but not special. Would be a steal after the fifth round. Poor conditioning, more soft than strong. This is the likely explanation of his lack of explosion off the snap, and inability to keep his feet or maintain the intensity during the play.

Styg's Broncos "fit": Denver would be very lucky to pick up this 4-star value in the fifth. He should be the last "pure" NT prospect to come off the board, and thus represents Denver's last realistic chance to cull a starter who could start for many teams. Taylor has significant conditioning issues, and if he addresses them before the combine, expect his stock to start to soar. A fit and conditioned Taylor could be a good find even in the third.

Around MHR:

I’d like to see some leg strength. I think Terrance Taylor bombed in this senior year but I’m still very interested in him because of that leg strength.

by Colinski

My son attends U of Mich and goes to all of the games. He thinks Terrance is underated because the team flopped so badly this year. But Denver would probably have to reach a bit and take him in the 2nd.

by PigskinProphet

SBNation Says:

Terrance Taylor. With so few “pure” NTs, I think he could be a much more attractive option if he were to come into the combine in better shape. I get the impression watching him that if he could firm up some, and gain some more stamina that it would translate directly to the field for him. He might get quicker and sustain longer, and I can’t help but think he would be up an available to tackle the ball carrier instead of down on the turf routinely.

I love how he can clog up the works, and I really think if he could just get a little bit more “hang in there” that he could be a very respectable pick…

by styg50 on Mocking the Draft

From "Some Alternatives to Raji" at Arrowhead Pride:

Taylor will provide whichever NFL team that drafts him with some versatility.
He would be perfect in a 4-3 system with a smaller pass rushing tackle at his side, and is very comfortable playing nose tackle in the 3-4 alignment.
Taylor also has the size/speed combination that could cause offenses nightmares if he lined up as a huge 3-4 defensive end at times. If he works out well and can run a 4.8 second 40 at the combine (his unofficial best time), his stock would sky rocket. Taylor could go anywhere in the second to fourth round, depending on the demand for defensive tackles at the top of the draft.

Highlights

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

Taylor will provide whichever NFL team that drafts him with some versatility. He would be perfect in a 4-3 system with a smaller pass rushing tackle at his side, and is very comfortable playing nose tackle in the 3-4 alignment. Taylor also has the size/speed combination that could cause offenses nightmares if he lined up as a huge 3-4 defensive end at times...[see more]
Very athletic for such a big man. Was a state champion in wrestling as a senior and also was a state champion in power lifting as a sophomore, junior and as a senior....[see more]
DT Terrance Taylor (6-0, 311) ran a 5.08 40, an impressive time for someone his size. [see more...]
A stocky, thickly built lineman with great lower body strength and power at the point of attack. Does a great job being stout inside and can eat up the double-team. Is difficult to move at the line of scrimmage and can push the pocket on passing downs. Has a decent first step for his size and plays with aggressiveness. Displays an angry punch on contact. [see more...]

Myths and Legends

Beauford — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:31:41 -0000

I wrote a text message to SCM after the miraculous (even more miraculous now, in hindsight) comeback against Wisconsin earlier this year. In it, I lied, saying that seeing this team celebrate on the walls of the Big House had made them mine. I was no longer cheering for laundry, but cheering for the young men wearing the laundry. Then they proceeded to lose the next billion games (it wasn't that many?) and I reverted back to being a fan grasping in the dark for something, anything, to hold onto. I think a lot of fans have felt that this season; a disconnect from the teams of the past; a searching of something that felt familiar.

Then, in the third quarter of a meaningless game played for a meaningless jug, it happened. A Minnesota defender, a full 3 seconds after the whistle blew and continued to blow, dove at Martevious Odom's knees in an attempt to recover a "fumble" that had, as stated before, been blown dead. I was livid. I jumped out of my chair, yelling something eloquent like "not fair!" It wasn't that I wanted the flag. Michigan didn't need the flag or the 15 yards. There was no tactical reason that I was upset; I was merely upset that a player on an opposing team had done something dirty, and one of my players could have been hurt.

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A filmmaker is a teller of stories. Sometimes, these stories are fictional and, when they are told really well, they make us learn something about reality. They don't have to be overblown and "artsy" to do so. "The Sandlot" continues to resonate with me, and I don't think that makes me a shallow person. It's simply that some people get messages out of stories that others will never ever get, or that the author never intended. That's the beauty of art, in all its forms. Once it is created, once it leaves the artist's mind and becomes a thing, it is up to us to experience on our own. The artist's original intent is lost as the grubbing masses of ordinary people interpret and misinterpret the creation.

And that's life.

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This weekend, Michigan plays Ohio State. They do so for the 105th time ever. The two teams, when met on the playing field, will add a chapter to the story of those clashes. This is not a fictional series, this is not a film. It's a story told over generations who each have their own myths and legends. John Boorman, notable director of Deliverance, has said that he would define myths as stories that have survived. The myth of Michigan vs. Ohio State has survived 10 decades, been told and retold millions of times, and has its own set of legends and heroes. It is a story, a myth, that continues to be told, with a new chapter being added each November on a frozen field that was once grass in Ann Arbor and Columbus.

There has been, and will continue to be speculation as to what this chapter contains, but the truth is that nobody knows what will happen because, you know, that's impossible. It is up to the authors of this chapter, the players and the coaches on the field to make up a piece of art and release it to the public knowing that what they did, the legends they've created, are no longer their own. Rather, they are a part of the larger story, the myth, of Michigan vs. Ohio State.

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This Saturday, a young man who was never designed to play quarterback at this level will line up behind an undersized center and, god willing, receive the ball in a timely fashion and do his best to ensure its safe delivery to the endzone.

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This Saturday, a large man who has an even larger smile will attempt to pick up Beanie Wells, thrust him into the air, and slam him to the turf. This will be attempted in the last game he ever plays under the winged helmet.

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This Saturday, a young man having doubts about this entire program will lace up his shoes, put on his helmet, and, if he plays, will undoubtedly play for a relative who was buried earlier this week, in Texas.

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This Saturday, a coach who has been beset on all sides by accusations of inadequacy from those wouldn't, couldn't possible know what it takes to be in his shoes will fight for a redemption that he knows isn't necessary.

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Barring an unforeseen injury, or a piece of breaking news, this is the last that you will hear from me until after the game tomorrow. What else is there to say? I have my team. I have my players. They are the ones I will take into battle; I will not want for more. These are the players who will write the next chapter of the myth that is Michigan vs. Ohio State. These are the players who will become the legends.

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There is no statistical breakdown that leads to a Wolverine win except for one: You are Ohio State, and We're going to beat your ass.