The draft is over and the UDFA wave is underway. As we get info about the undrafted players, we will post it, but this is to recap what was done with the picks we made during the draft itself.

Indianapolis Colts -

Round 1(1) - Andrew Luck QB Stanford
Round 2(34) - Coby Fleener TE Stanford
Round 3(64) - Dwayne Allen TE Clemson
Round 3(92) - T Y Hilton WR Florida International
Round 5(136) - Josh Chapman DT Alabama
Round 5(170) - Vick Ballard RB Mississippi St.
Round 6(206) - LaVon Brazill WR Ohio
Round 7(208) - Justin Anderson T Georgia
Round 7(214) - Tim Fugger DE Vanderbilt
Round 7(253) - Chandler Harnish QB Northern Illinois

The first pick for the Colts today had many saying that we spent the first 2 days on offense and were now going to concentrate on D. Taking the big NT from Alabama in the 5th is finding a BPA that fit a need. The rest of the draft many Colts fan screaming in the open threads. All of the armchair GMs felt like we were passing on other defensive talent that fit what we saw as needs, to pick more offensive weapons.

My thoughts are that the Colts did stick to their BPA strategy. Their BPA just didn't mesh with the big boards of the Colts fans. Grigson had a clear idea of what he wanted to do in this draft. He decided to build the offense around Andrew Luck first. While you may questions that strategy, I don't think you can question the execution.

The RB in the 5th is a strong inside the tackles runner like the Colts have not seen before. The tackle in the 7th has the football IQ and size to switch to NT and be effective, and then move back to the offensive side when a teammate got injured. Flugger is a high motor guy that will boost special teams and could fight for a spot in the 3-4 OLB rotation. All good picks that will improve our team.

The rest of the AFC South after the jump.

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You chat-aholics! Time for the third open thread of the day.

What a 20 minute stretch. The Colts had 3 picks in a 14 pick span and take:

LaVon Brazil WR from Ohio

Justin Anderson OT from Georgia

Tim Fugger DE from Vanderbuilt

The offense-fest continues.

One pick left. Use this thread to continue the conversation.

Who will be Mr. Irrelevant? Who will be left at the end for the UDFA scramble?

Keep it going folk!

What a night! Going into these two rounds we thought we would learn about the new direction that the Colts are going and boy did we.

Here's a recap of what the AFC South teams have done so far, starting with the Colts.

Indianapolis Colts -

Round 1(1) - Andrew Luck QB Stanford

Round 2(34) - Coby Fleener TE Stanford

Round 3(64) - Dwayne Allen TE Clemson

Round 3(92) - T Y Hilton WR Florida International

Remaining Team Needs: Nose Tackle, Cornerback, Wide Receiver, Offensive Line

All the intrigue started with the Colts today. Would they trade down? Would they go protection, weapon or defense? Who did they really covet in this range? All questions got answered with a resounding cry of offense! The Colts put talent around Andrew Luck by taking his favorite target from Stanford at the top of the second. This pick will be debated because Fleener may have been available after a trade down, but I gotta trust the guys in the war room to know if the right move is there or not.

Then came the first head scratcher from our new front office man, Ryan Grigson. Taking a second TE just one round later got a collective "What?!??!" from most of Colts nation. There was good defensive value to be had. Every need that the football world saw for the Colts had something available. Why double up on TE? Grigson's answer came later in a mantra-like statement of "Best Player."

The Colts then gave up a 5th Round pick from next year to move up 5 spots to take a speed demon from Florida International. I'm sure most Colts fans again said "Who?" Again, could he have been had 5 spots later? Probably, but I am again not in the war room so I will have to trust what they are feeling and hearing. This kid is physically suited to be a slot receiver, but has some high-end KR/PR ability. He may be a weapon like we haven't had in years. I am leaving WR on the needs list because I think we still need someone outside.

More of my take on the Colts later. On to the rest of the division.

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Here's your new Open thread guys. Don't forget to "REC" it to keep it at the top of the page.

The Colts took with their Third Round pick Dwayne Allen, TE Clemson. Good? Bad? Talk about it here!

Our Draft so far:

Andrew Luck QB Stanford

Coby Fleener TE Stanford

Dwayne Allen TE Clemson

So a position that was thin going into the draft no has some depth for us. Two TEs that can get down the field and can catch the ball. I think it sounds a bit like the Pats with Gronk and Hernandez. I find it interesting that each of these guys is not known as a strong blocker. For a team that is saying run first, it looks like our TEs are pass first.

Biggest needs I see left: Cornerback, Nose Tackle, Wide Receiver, Offensive Line

Who will be left by the time tomorrow comes? Which guys are you watching?

Talk it over here!

Last night during the sprint that was the first round of the draft. Colts GM Ryan Grigson and New Head Coach Chuck Pagano both stepped up to the mic for the Indy media. Video is linked below.

Grigson

Things I took away from Grigson's comments:

1. Colts playbook will be delivered via iPad and telecommunication, but not until he graduates Stanford.
2. Luck is confident, but not arrogant.
3. Grigson wants to protect the QB and put things around him to be productive.
4. Grigson is interested in good players, regardless of position.
5. Luck doesn't remind Grigson of anyone. Once in a decade player.
6. Grigson is all about the tape. Seems to trust that over "measurables."
7. Luck will not have a say in the rest of the draft.
   

Pagano

Take away from Pagano's comments:

1. Pagano says Luck is the best football player in the draft.
2. Luck will be in Indy for the rookie mini-camp this weekend.
3. Scheme will be put in to protect and develop Luck.
4. Pagano still wants to run and stop the run. No 40 - 45 pass attempt games.
5. Priority #1 with the draft is to protect Andrew.
6. The team with not slow things down for Andrew. He will get all that he can handle.
7. The defensive schemes on third down will be the hardest thing for Luck to adjust to in the pros.

Also as a first this year, fans of some teams got to take part in a google hangout with their teams first draft choice. The video of the hangout with #12 is up on Colts.com as well.

Google Hangout

As a side note, we have heard so much from Irsay this off-season, I think it's nice to just hear from Grigson and Pagano here. Maybe Irsay is stepping back a bit now that we've gotten to the "football" part of the season.

Here is a recap of what the teams in our division did in the first round. We should see these faces twice a year for the next 4 years, at least.

Since this is a Colts blog, we'll start there.

Indianapolis Colts - Pick 1 Andrew Luck QB (Stanford)

Finally. I had it engraved in stone when we secured the first pick. This was a no doubter. The strange thing is, as we listen to all the talking heads on mainstream media, they will gloss over this pick because it was so universally unanimous. I'll admit, I was one that didn't want to let Peyton go. I think I'm finally ready. Maybe it was seeing him hold the number 12 jersey or how he had his Mom put on his Colts pin. I am ready for the Luck Era to begin.

Remaining Team Needs: Defensive Tackle, Cornerback, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Offensive Line, Linebacker

Jacksonville Jaguars - Pick 5 Justin Blackmon WR (Oklahoma St.)

There were 6 players I considered elite (Luck, Griffin, Kalil, Richardson, Blackmon, Claiborne) in this draft. At the beginning of the night, the Glitter Kittes were on the outside of that top 6 looking in. It didn't take long for them to fix that. They traded their number 7 overall and their 4th Round pick (101) to the Buccaneers to move up to 5 and grab the top WR in this draft. This move, along with the signing of Laurent Robinson, has given the Jags a formidable receiving corps. I still have zero faith in the person throwing them the ball (be it 2nd year player Blaine Gabbert or Miami castoff Chad Henne).

Remaining Team Needs: Defensive Line, Offensive Line

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I know the headline is stolen from Peter King, but it's just too easy. As I thought about the tonight's first round and the lack of intrigue for the Colts, I came up with some thoughts about things I will be watching tonight. Here we go:

1. Ryan Tannehill in the top 10 would be a mistake for any team.

The first round of the draft needs to be about starters. The top 10 needs to be about, to quote the currently smoke-blowing former Colts Assistant Leslie Frazier, "game-changers." I really don't care how you have a guy graded. If he is gonna need time to develop before you even feel comfortable putting him on the field, he is not a top 10 pick. Any team taking Tannehill in the top 10 is reaching and hoping. Not a good draft day strategy.

2. Dontari Poe will be the next Mike Mamula.
   

Player has an okay college career. Player shows flashes of potential. Player goes to combine and blows the competition away. Player flies up draft boards. Player enters the NFL with all kinds of hype. Player never lives up to that hype, but has a productive career. History repeats itself folks. From the games I've seen him play in, Poe should go in the second round. His combine performance was brilliant. When he gets taken in the first, his career production will be measured against other 1st rounders and be a disappointment. Productive, but not a star.

3. Matt Kalil at 6 would be a steal.

The draft is more about smoke screens than anything else. I really think that's what the Vikings were throwing out earlier. I still think they take Kalil at 3 and protect Christian Ponder. If that doesn't happen and Kalil slides down to 6, he would be the steal in the draft. I see him as the 2nd best player in this draft. I do like him better than RGIII. Not saying I still wouldn't take RGIII 2nd overall, but I think Kalil has All-Pro written all over him.

4. RGIII will win next year's Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Speaking of RGIII, with his talent and the talent around him in Washington, I can see RGIII having a year similar to what Cam Newton had last year. I don't think Griffin will run as much as Newton did, but I do see him being successful. I think it will be interesting to watch how the Redskins offense changes around Griffin. I actually see the Overly Tan One (Mike Shanahan) running a more vertical offense than ever before. Think Eagles.

5. Andrew Luck will have a better career than RGIII.

I don't want you to think I forgot about the Colts first pick in the draft. I do see Andrew Luck developing into a better QB than RGIII over the course of their careers. Both will have good careers but Luck will pass Griffin in the long run. The Colts will not run the same offense we have seen. We will get some bigger receivers who can use the touch and accuracy of Luck to our advantage. Once it all comes together with a solid running game and improved pass rush and secondary play, look out.

6-10 after the jump...

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I had this thought about a week ago and never had time to pop it up here for your response. With Andrew Luck visiting the Colts and Redskins yesterday, I figure now is as good of a time as any to see what you all think.

When the Colts last had the number one pick (1998, the end of my Junior Year in High School) it came down to two quarterbacks. Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf. We all know how that decision changed the face and direction of our beloved franchise.

Back in those days we did not have Twitter, Facebook, NFL Network, Colts fan blogs, PFT, etc that allowed the coverage of every trip and comment made during any meeting. We were not privy to the information that we are now. Now we know what each of these prospects had for lunch. Back then we were lucky to find out before the draft that Leaf was scheduled to meet with the Colts at the combine and stood up then coach Jim Mora and president Bill Polian.

That would have made up my mind for me. If I were deciding between to potential employees and I had them even on my "ability" scale and one of them decided not to show for a scheduled meeting, my decision would be an easy one. I don't care how much talent you have. If you can't show up for a meeting with your potential employer, I don't want you.

Let's fast forward to this year. JUMP!

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The Colts new regime keeps adding pieces through free agency, something we haven't seen in years. The one spot that is totally up in the air is the NT position in our new hybrid 3-4/4-3 defense. There is no one on the roster that can effectively handle the nose. While free agency is not over, it seems clear that at least one NT will become a Colt during draft weekend. Hebron "Loni" Fangupo is a potential candidate.

Fangupo was a transfer machine during his college days. He started at a JUCO (Mount San Antonio Community College), moved to USC, broke his leg during a game against Washington and then transfered to BYU. Described most often as a "raw talent," Loni has the build to be successful playing the nose. He does have experience in the 3-4 as that what Bronco Mendelhall and the BYU Cougars run.

Loni was a top performer at the combine putting up 36 bench reps, tying for 2nd among DTs behind Dontari Poe. This shows he has the strength to hold up at the point of attack and can be the space eater required for the 3-4 to thrive. He was never a top performer in any of his college locations mostly due to the fact that he wasn't there long enough to establish himself.

Fangupo is not a quick player, so this would certainly be a departure from what we are used to seeing in blue. While his straight line 40 time is not bad, his lateral quickness is below average. He needs help on footwork and pad level. Even though he is on a shorter frame than some, he tends to get a little upright and lose leverage. He also holds no value as a pass rusher as the quickness is just not there.

After the jump we'll look at what the draft sites say as well as his combine numbers and my thoughts. Don't forget to check out all the potential picks on our 2012 Draft Profiles Page.

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SB Nation does not have a picture of Joe so link HERE to see a photo.

Depth is critical in this league. Especially down in the trenches. We saw last year how much shuffling needs to go on when starters go out. We've seen some depth added so far this off-season with Winston Justice and Mike McGlynn joining Blue Nation. With a new QB and offensive scheme, protection could be even more important this season. One potential candidate to join the mix is Joe Looney from Wake Forest.

While at Wake Forest, Looney started for all of his senior year and 40 times during his career, most of any Wake Forest player last year. He was an offensive captain for most of his senior year and was named to the All-ACC 2nd team. How big he is was always a question. His Wake Forest weight fluctuated from 300 to 320 throughout the program book and game sheets. The comment I see most regularly is about the strong character that he carried with him throughout his Demon Deacon career.

Looney would be considered big by the standards set by the previous Colts regime, but he falls right in line with the rest of the league as far as size goes. He is known for his run blocking and has the quickness to pull and move along the line. His mirror ability is a plus for him, which is something you don't often see with interior linemen.

Where Joe falls short is in some his pass block sets. He can let his pads get a little high which allows him to get beat from time to time. He also has some hip flexibility and, therefore, balance issues that need to be corrected. He did suffer an ankle injury late in the year that kept him out of all combine work except the bench press. The fact that he showed improvement throughout his time at Wake Forest, especially in his senior season, gets me excited.

After the jump we'll look at what the draft sites say as well as his combine numbers and my thoughts. Don't forget to check out all the potential picks on our 2012 Draft Profiles Page.

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To switch from a 4-3 Cover 2 to any type or 3-4, there is one position that stands above the rest as a need. The nose tackle is something that very few 4-3 DTs have the power or size to handle. This was especially true of the Colts typical DTs. No doubt a huge (literally) upgrade is needed there.

The underwear olympics NFL Scouting Combine always has it's winners and losers. This year there was no "bigger" winner than Memphis NT Dontari Poe. A mountain of a man (6'3 1/2" 346 lbs), Poe showed speed and strength that was unexpected by many.

His performance in Indianapolis has led to what can only be described as a meteoric rise up draft boards. From a the possibility of going in the 2nd round to an almost guaranteed 1st round selection, Poe used a national stage to turn as many heads as I can remember from a combine performance.

A second team All-Conference USA honoree after last season, Poe registered 98 tackles, 21.5 TFL and 5 sacks in his three years at Memphis. His talent is above average, but it did lead to some questions for him. He has been able to get by in the Conference USA without much technique improvement over the last three years. Some question his work ethic and willingness to put in the grunt work without the "glamor" statistics.

An enigmatic prospect, Poe shows great burst on some plays and gets dominated on others. He has agility and explosion off the line but plays with a high-pad level that gets him routinely lost on film. Boom or bust is the name of the game. His body type fits with that of "Mount" Terrence Cody from the Ravens and he has played enough in multiple positions along the defensive front that he could be in a rotation early in his career. It all comes down to improving technique for this youngster.

After the jump we'll look at what the draft sites say as well as his combine numbers and my thoughts. Don't forget to check out all the potential picks on our 2012 Draft Profiles Page.

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With the release of Melvin Bullitt last week, the Colts are again in search of a running mate in the defensive backfield for Antoine Bethea. It seems like every year we are asking for help in this spot. Oft injured as they were, Bullitt and Bob Sanders were both useful. But, as I've heard someone say before, if you can't stay on the field, you lose all value.

One target in this year's draft could be Boise State SS George Iloka, pronounced (eye-LOKE-uh). Listed as a player that can play either SS or FS, has time at CB and stepped down to a OLB spot on the Boise blue turf, Iloka has the size and speed to compete at the NFL level. A consistent starter for the Broncos (40 consecutive starts), he also was named to the All-Mountain West 1st team and honorable mention All-American after his senior season.

His size and athleticism set him apart for me. Measured at 6'4" and 225 pounds at the combine, he is a tall player for a safety. His career in Boise included 231 tackles and 7 interceptions, which showcase his nose for the play and ability to make a play on the ball when available. He really started to garner attention with his performance at the Senior Bowl. He started the week a bit slow with some problems in man coverage, but was able to show progress during the week making a highlight reel diving interception during a practice.

He dwarfs Bethea by 5 inches and 20 pounds, looking more like Larry Fitzgerald than any safety we've seen in blue and white. One area where his size hinders him is in his agility and footwork in man coverage. He also tends to launch himself at ballcarriers, leaving his feet instead of wrapping and driving. This has given him some problems with consistency when breaking down and tackling in space.

After the jump we'll look at what the draft sites say as well as his combine numbers and my thoughts. Don't forget to check out all the potential picks on our 2012 Draft Profiles Page.

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To say the Colts are thin at outside WR is an understatement. One of the things that we must find is late round value. The key for these picks will be versatility. Keshawn Martin from Michigan State fits that bill.

Productive as a wideout, returner, rusher and quarterback, Martin had his best season for the Spartans as a senior and also stepped up in the two biggest games of the year. In a rout of in-state rival Michigan, Martin caught 2 TDs and then in the inaugural Big Ten Championship, he had 9 catches for 115 yards.

He return skills were most on display as a punt returner. Never taking one back to the house, but averaging 14.2 and 11.0 per punt return the last two years shows some potential there. On 19 running attempts, he averaged 5.9 yards and had 2 TDs. He played some "wildcat" QB and completed 7 of 8 passes with 2 TDs and 0 INTs throughout his career.

His size is below most of the receivers we've profiled so far, but he can still play both inside and outside. He is most dangerous in space with quick acceleration and "shifty" hips. He needs work with route running as he typically rounds off routes and can drift from time to time. His hands are reliable and he works well at getting separation. He is a project, but could be a good pro in the long run.

After the jump we'll look at what the draft sites say as well as his combine numbers and my thoughts. Don't forget to check out all the potential picks on our 2012 Draft Profiles Page.

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The Colts that were before, are no more. My father-in-law, a casual football fan, called me yesterday to ask if he would recognize anyone in blue and white next season. I responded by asking him if he knew what Andrew Luck looked like. That got a laugh at least. With the amount of departures we have had, there's almost no point in enumerating positional needs. We need it all and lots of it. This is what we call roster turnover.

On to the prospect. Brandon Boykin out of Georgia came into pre-draft season as a projected late 1st/early 2nd round pick. A 3 year starter at CB in the SEC, Boykin tallied 159 tackles, 20 for loss and nine interceptions. Boykin was having a great week at the Senior Bowl, including being named one of the top 10 players at the game and cementing his draft status.

During the game, Boykin ended up breaking his leg (craked fibula) while running down on punt coverage. Brandon had said that he would be back in 3 weeks after meeting with doctors. The combine was 3 and a half weeks after the Senior Bowl. Not only did Boykin not do anything at the combine (Feb. 22) but he also did not run at Georgia's Pro Day (Mar. 6). Brandon did put up 16 bench press reps and commented that he was "85 percent" and was hoping to run in April. Before this injury, he had never missed a game in college.

One thing I like about Boykin is that his coaches named him Most Improved Special Teamer after the 2009 season, Most Improved Defender after the 2010 season and Team Captain for the 2011. It shows he is willing to learn and grow as a football player. He will need to evolve a bit to be successful at corner in the NFL.

While smaller than most people would like at CB, Boykin shows tenacity at the line by getting in the face of bigger WRs instead of using his projected sub-4.4 speed to catch up. He is most dangerous as a kick returner and that's where his real value lies. He won the Paul Hornung Award as the Nation's most versatile player after spending time at corner, kick returner, tailback, "wild-dog" quarterback, receiver and gunner.

On special teams, Boykin enjoyed one of the Southeastern Conference’s most successful careers. He finished as the top kickoff return man in conference history, including 38 returns for 850 yards in 2011. He also had 14 punt returns for 180 yards and a touchdown in his senior campaign. On defense, Boykin was a lockdown cornerback. He had three interceptions and nine pass breakups in the secondary while compiling 55 tackles, including 11.0 for loss. He forced two fumbles and also recorded a safety in the postseason matchup with Michigan State on a solo tackle.

After the jump, profiles from draft sites and my thoughts for the Colts. Don't forget to check out the 2012 Drat Profile Page.

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If there is one spot on the Colts roster that, in previous years, has been a revolving door of players it's the offensive guard position. Due to injuries last year, we were signing guys off the couch to come in and play guard. I see a huge value in protecting the ability to step up with strong interior line play. Depth is critical along the O-Line because these big guys are always getting hurt. This next draft pick would be much more than depth.

Kevin Zeitler is the next in a long line of Wisconsin Badger linemen to move on to the NFL. Rarely have we seen multiple guards projected in the first round of the draft. This year may be the exception. David DeCastro, Cordy Glenn and Zeitler all have a shot to go in the first round. I think this points to the shift in defenses trying to pressure up the middle and offensive coordinators needing to adjust.

Zeitler's jump up some board after the combine is being attributed to a really good set of interviews. You have to love a kid that has the ability to play but also can impress during an interview. It points to a well-rounded individual that could be a great asset. Kevin is also a perfectionist who never stops working on the field and in the weight room. He is average size for an NFL guard, which is big compared to what we Colts fans are used to. His body type is most like that of Ben Ijalana but he works with more fluidity and bend than most guys his size.

His career at Wisconsin may have been overshadowed by bigger names on the outside like Gabe Carimi and John Moffitt, but Zeitler was a FBS Coaches All-American in and All Big Ten First Team during his senior season. One thing that does seem to give him an edge is the fact that he has remained on the field. He played in all 13 games in 2009 and 2010 and missed only preseason time in 2011with an ankle sprain.

Follow after the jump to see what some draft sites have to say, see his combine production and get my take.

Don't forget to check out all the prospects on our 2012 Draft Profile Page.

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Need a break from the most gut-wrenching day ever as a Colts fan? I know I do. Not sure if a draft profile will help, but here's one for you anyway.

With Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney now both staying in blue, one of the most interesting things this off-season will be to speculate about where they fit in the new Pagano hybrid defense. One thing is certain, more bodies will be needed to fill the new spots.

JR Sweezy could be one of those guys.

I will keep the pre-jump stuff short so to not take up front page space. Follow if you need a break from Mannin-geddon.

Check out all the profiles on the 2012 Colts Profile Page.

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Depth is critical for a team to survive from year to year. One spot where the Colts have dangerously thin the last few years is the safety position. Since the days of Bob Sanders, we have seen a rash of injuries cut down our last line of defense seemingly every year. From Melvin Bullitt to Jamie Silva, it seems like every safety has had some kind of injury that has limited playing time. In the late rounds of the draft, bolstering special teams and depth will be priorities.

One potential candidate for this is Sean Cattouse from Cal. Having seen time at both safety positions while at Cal, Sean was All Pac-10 honorable mention two years in a row. That is an impressive feat considering he started about half of his team's games both of those years. It shows that he knows how to make the most of the opportunities that he might get. He leads all active Golden Bears with 7 INTs for his career and has been touted as a smart player and emotional leader for the team.

Sean's biggest strength is in man coverage. He was a corner and converted to safety. While he doesn't have the speed or fluidity to man up on typical NFL slot receivers, his frame and ball skills will help him against the "new breed" of TEs in the league. While he likes to play in the box, he is not great in run support. He needs to work on play diagnosis and coming downhill at the correct angle to make the play.

After the jump, we'll look at some draft sites and combine results. Don't forget to check out the 2012 Draft Profiles Page.

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Another philosophical shift this season for the Colts on defense will be to move away from a Cover-2 defensive scheme to one that relies on blitzes for pressure. This shift will have over-arching effects on defensive personnel including a dramatic shift at CB. No longer can the Colts focus on small quick corners that excel only in zone coverage. Bigger corners with the ability to play press-man will become the new norm.

Enter Alfonzo Dennard. While not as big as other corners, he plays with a physical style that makes it hard for receivers to separate from him. He missed 3 games this past year with a leg injury and was still a first-team All-Big Ten selection and named the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. He was instrumental in helping hold opposing Big Ten quarterbacks to a conference-low 51 percent completion percentage. He posted 31 total tackles and six pass breakups on the year.

The 2010 season tells more of the story though. The corner opposite Dennard in '10 was Prince Amukamara. That year, when it appears that he was targeted often, he led the team with 4 INTs and 7 Pass Deflections. It appears someone else was the bigger target this past season. For his career, he notched 97 tackles, including four tackles for loss. He also recorded 21 pass breakups, four interceptions and four quarterback hurries.

At almost the same size as Antoine Bethea, Dennard has a little more bulk on his frame than most corners.This may account a bit for his lack of top end speed. If the press at the line does not give him the upper hand, most NFL receivers will have the ability to run past him.

After the jump we'll look at what the draft sites say and get to his combine work.

Don't forget to check out all the draft profiles HERE.

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For the first time in as long as I have been a Colts fan, we have to look at a new type of player in the draft. Since the 3-4 became all the rage in the NFL, we Colts fans have been able to dismiss most players that are labeled as the 3-4 "tweener" pass rushers. They didn't fit our system and it made it easy to ignore them. All that is changing this year, and the change begins here.

Shea McClellin is a versatile and explosive athlete who spent his college career in just about every possible pass rushing position. He was third in total tackles for the Boise State Broncos this year with 50. The big number is in tackles for loss. 12.5 of his tackles were for loss. That's huge. Not to mention 7 sacks, 2 INTs, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. All around production, albeit against inferior Mountain West competition.

At 6'3'' 260, he is a little bigger than Robert Mathis. His stats do tell a bit of a story as well. In 2010, he had 30 tackles, 9.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. The fact that he makes so many plays in the backfield points to explosive first step at the snap and a nose for the play. His experience playing out of multiple locations is an advantage for teams that are looking to vary their defensive looks (sound like the new Colts?). While he doesn't have the flash that some of the other big name pass rushers do, his intelligence and motor would be welcome additions.

Breakdown from draft sites and combine info after the jump.

Don't forget to follow all the scouting reports HERE.

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Contrast is the name of the game in these first two draft profiles. Matt’s break down of Marquis Maze from earlier today pointed to size as one of his limiting characteristics. That will not be the case for our next potential Colts WR, Nick Toon from Wisconsin.

At 6’2’’ 215, this four-year Badger (three-year starter) was one of the main targets for a revamped passing offense in Madison last year. With a body (not skill set) similar to Larry Fitzgerald, Nick has the ability to use his frame to win the positioning battle. Few NFL Corners will have the ability to work back through him to get to the ball.

The question here has been and will continue to be injuries. After leading all Badger receivers as a sophomore in 2009, he missed time in 2010 with turf toe and a thigh bruise and rebounded to play in 13 of 14 games during his senior season leading the team with 64 catches and 10 TDs. Flashes of strong play give us a glimpse of the receiver he could be, but he is far from consistent.

There is no doubting the blood-line (Al Toon, #10 pick of the NY Jets in 1985, is his father) and the word that always comes to mind with him is "competitor." His ability to create space in small underneath windows and to make clean breaks on the ever popular back shoulder throw are pluses. He does not possess the top end speed to run by NFL corners and his size does limit his agility and elusiveness a bit. I still see him becoming a viable #2 receiver.

Check out analysis from draft sites and combine numbers after the jump.

Be sure to keep an eye on the "Who the Hell Will They Draft" page hosted here on Stampede Blue for a running prospect list with profile links.

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I know I haven't written anything in awhile, and I just couldn't bring myself to write about a "noodle arm" or "nerve re-generation." I have been wanting to look at the cap implications of this mess since it started so I think I'll take this chance.

Much has been made about the cap consequences of the Colts having both Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck on the same roster. Many have called it cap suicide. I have heard a number of ideas about what the Colts should do with all the cap room that cutting Manning would afford them. It begs the question; How much cap room would that actually give us?

Let's take a look at the contract Manning signed before this season started. It was a 5 year deal worth a total of $90 million. It broke down this way:

$20M Signing Bonus (due at the time of signing)

$3M Roster Bonus for 2011 (due for being on the roster as of June 1, 2011)

$28M Team Option Bonus (due March 8, 2012 to engage last 4 years of contract)

$39M Salary over 5 years

I'll break down what that means after the jump.

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As we all know, this week's game in Jacksonville will determine which team is on the clock and has "won" the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. Colts lose and the first pick is ours, Colts win and it depends on the Rams. This is all old news.

The players will not roll over. We have seen that the last two weeks. This team has fight. These players have heart. The question is, what would you like the Colts to do. Should the front office force the loss? What will that look like on the field? Is that a way to start a new calendar year?

Attached you will find a poll. Vote and leave your comments. Personally, I want the Colts to win. If you jump with me, I'll tell you why. I'll go even farther; I will actually be happier if the Colts DON'T get the first overall pick.

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Man was I excited watching that game on Thursday night. It was exhilarating to see a team fight and claw and want to win so much. It was a great Christmas present to feel like these were the Colts of old. I'll address ramifications and draft strategy later, but something more pressing hit me during this game.

The Colts' (read Polian's) strategy has been to build nearly exclusively through the draft and Undrafted Free Agents since he arrived in Indy back in 1998. It has worked for him as the list Undrafted Free Agents that have played major roles on this team is impressive. The drafts in recent years continue to be debated, but I'd like to not focus on that.

Until this year, the Colts have been the class of the AFC South. No matter what our rivals tried, it never seemed to work. Ball control offenses, stud pass rushers from the draft and former Colts lured with more money. It all saw very little success. Houston was the first to try something a little different this year.

As I watched this game, I saw a blueprint for whoever is in the front office next year. Follow after the jump to see what I saw.

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In the Straight Up contest this week, TeBlows! (tell us how you really feel) led the way with 13 correct. It was a tough week overall with readers only getting 55% of the games correct. EVERYONE missed the Packers first loss of the season with 25% of readers getting the Colts win correct (congrats on keeping the faith!). Only one reader (Statistical Anomaly) got the Redskins win over Giants. Peytonsforehead has opened up a 3 game lead overall with 155 total correct.

Against the Spread saw readers get less than 50% correct for the week. This week we had two winners as Jayhawks and GString got 11 correct each. 96% of readers gots the Saints cover correct making it the easiest to get correct this week. More folk had faith in the Colts with the number than them winning. 50% of readers took the cover with the points. Overall leaderboard shows 15 readers picking at 500 or better on the season with Spread Eagles leading the way with 121 correct. Spread Eagles and The Lawn Wrangler have made it somewhat of a 2 team race by opening up a 4 game lead over 3rd place.

Fantasy news after the jump. Remember you can check out each of the fantasy leagues at http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/league/stampedeblueleagueX where X is a number between 1 and 13.

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