In the NFL, late round picks are utilized by teams to find players that can fit their systems and become solid contributors. As a result, the draft board at this point will vary significantly from team to team.

There is a reason these players are late round picks. Either there are questions surrounding them off the field or they have weaknesses physically or in their ability to play football.

Once the draft approaches the later rounds, only the team itself knows which players it is targeting for its system.

In the 5th round, the Colts have drafted Josh Chapman, NT from Alabama, and Vick Ballard, RB from Mississipi State.

Josh Chapman- Scouting Report- At the start of the 5th round, Chapman was one of the best players available and was also a good fit for the Colts new hybrid scheme. Like most 5th round picks, Chapman is an imperfect football player. His downside lies in the fact that he had a torn ACL last season, yet he was still able to anchor the best defense in college football.

Vick Ballard- Scouting Report- Very, very solid pick IMO. A very productive RB in the SEC as a 2 year starter projected to be a 3rd round pick. Ballard lasted so long because of his lack of breakaway speed, but that's not who he is as a player anyway. Just like Chapman, Ballard was a player that fit the system and was one of the best players available.

Clearly, the Colts felt that these players as late round picks specifically fit their system and have the potential to become solid contributors down the line. So far, in a weak CB class and weak DB class overall, the Colts have felt that these other guys were better players and fit their system better.

(More to come after 6th and 7th rounds)

With the cuts today of Addai, Clark, and Brackett and the release of Peyton, I felt like it was time to say thanks to these great players that were a pivotal part of my life for the last 10 years. These players might move on, but the memories they created will never be forgotten. Whether these memories are heart-breaking losses or thrilling comeback wins, they will always be etched in the minds of Colts fans everywhere. A new era of exciting Colts football is about to begin, but this era will never be forgotten.

When people look back at the 2000-2010 Indianapolis Colts, they will recall a collection of talented players that were committed to winning, but more importantly, to being great men.

Thank You

Hey guys, this is my first post on this blog. I am a colts fan that lives here in Baltimore and I have experienced countless playoff heartbreaks JUST like this. This game and the way it ended reminded me of 2005, when the 14-2 colts played the steelers and lost because of a missed field goal by Mike Vanderjagt.

Just as I saw Peyton utter "he missed it" as mike made the kick, I saw John Harbaugh say the same thing in dismay. Cundiff pulled it wide left, and vanderjagt pulled it wide right.

While a lot of blame should go to cundiff , the truth is the difference between winning and losing close games in the NFL, especially in the playoffs, is contributed by the entire TEAM.

After Vanderjagt missed that field goal, I sat there and thought "What a waste of great potential and hard work". But I realized that some things have to bounce your way and the best you can do is come back and go for it again next season.

Because of that game, the players became hardened mentally, determined not to let such an opportunity pass them up again as they went on to win the super bowl the next season.

Having seen these Baltimore players for so long, I know they are capable of doing the same. Ray lewis still has at least a year left and Ed Reed in my opinion has at least 2. The main growth will be in Flacco, as he works with these receivers through a full off season and develops a good rapport.

The Ravens will be back, and they will be better for it.

(Side Note: Billy Cundiff be warned because the murder rate in Baltimore is about to go up by 1)

What people fail to consider is that even if the Colts end up having the #1 overall pick and choose Andrew Luck, why would he want to play for them? At best, he would have to wait 3 years to get on the field for a meaningful game. A player of his caliber clearly would want to play right away, just like Peyton did 13 years ago. This is why I think the Colts will trade Luck if they end up picking him.

Discuss

Chris Mortenson reports that there is no new procedure planned as of now for Peyton Manning. However, it does seem that Peyton is progressing more slowly than anticipated.

Even so, I have a gut feeling that Peyton will play week 1 unless he is less than 40%. 208 consecutive games is no joke people.

If Peyton cannot make it week 1, it gives the Colts a chance to show people what they can do without Peyton. This team is almost never considered an underdog, so it would be interesting to see what they can accomplish in that position. Hopefully, we wont have to find out.

It looks like Joseph Addai has been resigned, as per Pro Football Focus

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2011/07/29/free-agency-2011-%E2%80%93-pff-reaction-blog-%E2%80%93-72911-part-2/

This is a huge relief, as Addai will be the calming presence in the Colts' young backfield, as well as one of the best blocking running backs in the NFL. It looks like he will be the opening day starter, with Donald Brown and Delone Carter battling it out for the second spot. 

Whatever the case, I feel a lot better now with Addai than I would have without him.

After being cut by the Texans Dan Orlovsky is coming to the Colts

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/30/orlovsky-headed-to-indianapolis/related/

Looks like it will be a 3 way battle between Nate Davis, Curtis Painter, and Orlovsky for the second QB spot. I personally don't think we will be carrying 3 quarterbacks and I don't think Painter will be sticking around. So that leaves Davis and Orlovsky. I think orlovsky wins out because of his experience as a starter for the Lions. Other than this play, he wasn't that bad for the Lions (he did have Megatron).

Since Ryan Diem started out his career at guard, I was wondering why he couldn't end his career there also. Clearly he doesn't have the same quickness as before needed to play tackle but I think he is probably still strong enough to play at guard.

Starting line up with diem at guard would be like this IMO:

      LT                  LG               C             RG            RT

Castonzo        Ijalana     Saturday     Diem    Johnson

I'm surprised this idea hasn't floated around that much.

Thoughts?

Jason a La "douche" Canfora clearly has no idea what he hell he's talking about.

Mr. a la douche completely excludes Peyton Manning from his Top 10 list and then makes a complete tool of himself by arguing how Manning has had the fourth most picks in the league the last two years, in addition to also stating how Peyton has dropped to 10th in passer rating, behind "star" passers such as Josh Freeman and Joe Flacco.

Im gonna let you think that over for a sec. Joe freaking Flacco???? Is this tool really gonna compare Peyton stats to these two guys when Peyton probably threw more passes last year than both of them combined?

Oh yeah, Mr.a la douche forgot to mention how Peyton's best lineman was 36 years old. No biggie

And also, lets just ignore the fact that Manning threw 33 touchdowns and pay attention to the 17 interceptions because you know he played with a whole arsenal of pro bowl recievers all year.

Personally, I think its kind of sad that I, a 17 year old, could probably kill Mr. a la douche(who calls himself an NFL expert) in an argument involving his own profession. Nub

The Colts have hired  Dennis Polian, another son of Bill Polian, to be the director of football administration.

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Apparently Javarris James has been arrested for possession of marijuana.

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It seems as if the Bears will release WR Devin Aromashodu if/when a new CBA is reached.

As PFT suggests, Aromashodu had a dissapointing 2010 seaon when expectations were high on him to perform. However, considering that he has aready been on the Colts and knows the system, it wouldn't be a real hard transition for him.

After Devin left the Colts following the 2007 season, he did not see game action until the 2009 season. However, he showed several flashes during this time, most notably in the classic Chicago-Minnesota Monday nighter in which Aromashodu caught the walk-off touchdown pass in overtime beating Pro Bowler Antoine Winfield.

Aromashodu has shown that he has the talent to play with anyone, he just has yet to put it all together. After leaving the Colts he definitely seemed as if he improved by leaps and bounds. If the Colts can sign him, it would be a good pick up that  in the worst case would add depth to the WR core and in the best case would add a great playmaker to an already loaded offense.

Thoughts?

Looks like Bob has found a new home in San  Diego.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6179488

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As I have said before, I believe Leonard Hankerson would be a great fit for the Colts as an experienced, senior reciever from the same university that produced Reggie Wayne (The U).

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       Surprisingly it seems as if Pat McAfee has been invited to an MLS tryout. I for one did not think McAfee was that athletic. Then again he did make most of the tackles on our sh*&^y special teams. Good for McAfee for actually pursuing a sport off the field other than midnight drunk swimming in a canal. Do you guys think the Colts should care about potential injuries to McAfee, if he somehow makes it onto a team?

            I know a lot of colts fans would like to see an OT drafted in the first, a DT in the second, and some secondary help later on. However, though I agree that the colts should take a OT with the first pick, the second round may be where we can find Leonard Hankerson (The U), who has the talents to be a franchise wide reciever.

             Many of you will say that we already have enough wide recievers, or that Pierre Garcon can be 'that' guy. Garcon has been good, but elite? No. Yeah we got Reggie Wayne and he is going to be solid the next couple of years, considering he was named an all-pro selection despite playing with guys from "The Replacements" the whole season. However, we really need a playmaker with speed, hands, consistency, and route-running opposite Wayne. Garcon only has one of those traits. Hankerson is an underrated guy that has all of them.

             At 6'3 215 pounds Hankerson is not the typical small colts reciever. Not only can he stretch the field, but he has strong hands and the route running skills needed to create separation at the next level. Oh yeah, and he can make plays like this. Most importantly, he has shown the willingness to work. His first two years, Hankerson displayed inconsistency in key moments. However, he decided to work hard and get better, whether it be working out with former NFL wide reciever Mark Duper or our current star Reggie Wayne(Works out at the U in offseason).

              All these things aside, we know what the colts value most: production. If you take a look at Hankerson's career stats, you'll see a kid that has dramatically improved every year, culiminating in a senior year in which he caught 72 passes for 1,156 yards and a single season Miami record 13 TD's in a pro-style system, the same one Reggie Wayne came from. All in all, this kid has worked his way into being one of the greatest recievers in the history of The University of Miami. Why would a kid like this fall to the second round? Because bigger names like AJ Green, Julio Jones, and Jonathan Baldwin have also entered this draft, and Hankerson hasn't had the same amount of hype or team success (in Jones's case) that those other guys have had. If he falls to the number 44 selection in the second round, the Colts would be well served to take this kid. (Trading up in the second is not out of the question either)

               What do you guys think?

I know this was a painful loss, but for some reason I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would. That's because Peyton Manning is the quarterback, and I wouldn't trust anyone else, despite whatever people might have to say about his playoff record. This loss could prove to be great motivation for another super bowl run. Watch out, rest of the NFL!

http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story?id=09000d5d8164d08b&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true