Colts – Page 66 – Syndication Server

Colts can steal a safety prospect on Day 2 of NFL draft

Colts can find safety value on Day 2.

After a few shocks in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts find themselves in a very interesting position as the second round opens up on Friday.

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As the owners of the Nos. 34 and 44 picks, the Colts have unique positioning to draft two players who can have immediate impacts. One of those picks could come at the safety position.

After no safeties were taken off the board in Round 1, there are plenty of value picks in the early portion of the second round. Here are a few options for Chris Ballard and Co. to take with their first two picks of this draft:

Grant Delpit, LSU

Some saw it as a surprise that Delpit did not get picked on Thursday night, but many teams will be thankful that he didn’t. As a three-year starter for LSU, Delpit has won two Consensus All-American awards and was a two-time first-team All-SEC selection.

Delpit would bring an interesting combination of elite coverage skills mixed with run-stopping ability. He would fit in the Colts secondary and could help on stopping the run while blitzing as well. He is a very versatile prospect.

Xavier McKinney, Alabama

McKinney falling out of the first round was also a shock to many around the league. The junior safety out of Alabama was an All-SEC selection in 2019 and decided to leave the Crimson Tide a year early after having a breakout year.

McKinney is great in downfield pass coverage, but where he shines is in blitz packages when he is able to rush the quarterback. He is very fast and has great vision for reading a QB for an interception.

Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota

This pick would most likely be at No. 44, but Winfield is no consolation prize. He decided to forego his final two years of eligibility for the Golden Gophers after his breakout year in 2019 where he earned the honors of Unanimous first-team All-American, first-team All-Big Ten and was named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year.

As a talented safety, Winfield has great coverage skills and excels in zone coverage when he can come across the field for a pick. His ability to read the quarterback and undercut routes is very rare at his age and level of play.

He is also a talented punt returner, which highlights his ability to read the field and use his speed to his advantage. As a very versatile athlete, he is looking to follow in his father’s footsteps.

After a multitude of reports came out about the Colts possibly trading Malik Hooker this week to move up in the draft, many thought the Colts would need to draft a safety coming up in the second round. What nobody thought, however, was the quality of safeties that would still be on the board.

Hooker’s inability to stay healthy is still a concern as he heads into the fourth year of his rookie contract and has yet to receive an extension or a fifth-year option.

Could this be the spot where the Colts make a decision on their future at the safety position? Could other safeties like Jeremy Chinn and Ashtyn Davis be options too?

Either way, the Colts have many options on what to do with their two second-round picks. The way this draft has gone so far, I would not be surprised to see a couple more shocking moves on Day 2 and beyond.

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Colts’ Chris Ballard emphasizing best player available mentality

Chris Ballard emphasizes taking the best player available.

A philosophy that many general managers in the NFL have adopted is the idea of taking the best player available. While team needs and positional depth are definitely factors, most teams will draft players based on the most overall talented guys at that spot.

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Many teams will reach in the draft and grab a guy to fill an immediate need, even though the player may not be worth the pick. Whatever decisions were made in the past, Chris Ballard has nailed most of his draft picks whatever round they may be in.

Ballard said in his press conference on Friday that the urge to draft the best player available does not scare him. When asked about how he learned not to reach in the draft Ballard said, “I’ll tell you one. Everybody won’t say it now but taking Quenton Nelson. I mean everybody said you can’t take a guard at six. I mean, I even heard it – I mean I heard it in a lot of different spots. But you take the best player man.”

Ballard went on to praise Nelson and how much he has changed the culture in Indianapolis.

“Quenton Nelson was the best freaking player at that point in the draft. I’m not sure if he wasn’t the best player in the entire draft. That to me, solidified it and said ‘I don’t care what position he’s at. Take the best player.’ I think we know the impact that kid has had.”

Whether it was grabbing Nelson at No. 6, Leonard in the second round or trading draft picks out of the first round, Ballard has always wanted high value for draft picks. This year will be interesting as the Colts hold the Nos. 34 and 44 picks in the second round. Both picks are highly anticipated to fill some big holes in a young roster.

But Ballard is also open to trading back given his desire to add more picks.

There may be some surprises coming as the 2020 NFL Draft opens up on Thursday. One thing is for sure though, Chris Ballard and the rest of the front office will not be reaching on any player, no matter the pick.

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6 WRs the Colts could target in Round 2 of NFL draft

6 WRs the Colts could target in Round 2 of NFL draft

Over/Under: Projecting Indianpolis Colts QB Philip Rivers’ stats

Projecting Philip Rivers’ 2020 passing statistics and how they match up with the over/under betting odds.

Looking forward to the 2020 NFL season, it’s time to start breaking down how individual players will do statistically. Today we focus on Indianapolis Colts QB Philip Rivers’ projected passing numbers and how they match up against future odds at BetMGM sportsbook.

Philip Rivers’ stats history

Rivers is one of the most consistently productive passers in the NFL. He hasn’t missed a start since he took the reins in 2006. He has had at least 4,200 passing yards in all but one season since 2009 and has had fewer than 4,300 only three times in those 11 seasons. He now will play his first season with the Colts after 16 with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers.

Many will say his play has diminished, as threw 20 interceptions in 2019 and for only 23 touchdown passes, his lowest total since 2007.

That said, playing for coaches he knows – as some on the Indy staff used to coach for the Chargers – there is no reason to believe he will significantly decline in his production, especially considering his durability.

Place your legal sports wagers online at BetMGM, or play in their online casino. Bet now!

Philip Rivers’ projected stats and odds

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday, April 18 at 12:25 a.m. E.T.

Passing Yards: 4,199.5 / OVER: -110 / UNDER: -110

At the time of this publishing, there is no line for Rivers’ total touchdown passes, so this is a very easy bet to make. Take the OVER and run with it without looking back. Colts QB Andrew Luck, who retired in the offseason, threw for more than 4,500 passing yards in 2018 with Frank Reich as head coach. Rivers is significantly better than Jacoby Brissett, who started 15 games in 2019. Rivers passing for at least 4,200 yards is all but a lock in 2020.

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Colts go WR, EDGE in latest CBS Sports mock draft

Here’s what the Colts did in CBS Sport’s latest mock draft.

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports released a two-round mock draft on Wednesday that should make Indianapolis Colts fans very happy.

As more and more mock drafts are being released, many experts are trying to predict what Chris Ballard will decide to do after trading the No. 13 pick for Deforest Bucker.

Trapasso does not have the Colts trading back into the first round like many predict, but instead sticking with both pick 34 and 44.

At No. 34, the Colts select Arizona State wideout Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk is an explosive talent and he would fit in nicely with the already very fast Colts receiving corps.

As a player that could be taken in the late first round, Aiyuk falling to No. 34 would be a steal for the Colts as many predict they will take a receiver in the second round. It is hard to dispute the quality of this pick for the Colts.

At No. 44, the Colts select edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos from Penn State. At 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, Gross-Matos is a huge, dynamic pass rusher off the edge and has been seen as a late first, early second round prospect.

While cornerback might be a bigger need for Chris Ballard and company at this pick, Gross-Matos would be a quality pick for depth on the edge. He would only boost the defensive line that the Colts have reformed this offseason.

While there are many needs for the Colts, all of them will not be filled in this draft. Ballard is known for developing young players and moving draft picks so we will have to see just what the Colts do next week in preparations for the upcoming season.

Can Joe Douglas buck Jets’ second-round curse?

The Jets have drafted two future Pro Bowlers out of 37 second-round picks since 1979. Joe Douglas can’t repeat history in his first draft.

The second round hasn’t been kind to the Jets in the past 40 years.

Only two of the team’s 37 second-round picks in the past 41 years have made a Pro Bowl. Defensive end Mark Gastineau, who was drafted in 1979, did it, as did return specialist Justin Miller, who was drafted in 2005.

Joe Douglas already has the 11th overall pick to work with, but he’ll make or break his first draft as the Jets’ general manager in the later rounds.

The second-round bar is low for Douglas after a plethora of failures since the Jets drafted Gastineau. A brief glance at the recent second-rounders includes 18 players who started fewer than 20 games for the Jets, nine of which started fewer than five games. Meanwhile, only seven started more than 60 games in their career.

Not a great group.

The Jets’ success stories from the second round are few and far between.

Linebacker David Harris is probably the Jets’ best second-round pick after Gastineau. He played 10 seasons with the Jets and wracked up over 1,000 tackles in New York.

The jury is still out on safety Marcus Maye, who’s started all 38 games he’s played in since the Jets took him 39th overall in 2017. He’s been a complement to Jamal Adams in the deep secondary but is also injury prone.

The busts, meanwhile, are plentiful.

Quarterbacks Geno Smith and Christian Hackenberg, as well as receivers Devin Smith and Stephen Hill, are the most recent notable mistakes. Hackenberg never even saw the field in the regular season despite his high selection, while Smith and Hill combined for 60 receptions, 842 yards and six touchdowns in 43 games.

The Jets have drafted mostly wide receivers, offensive lineman and defensive backs in the second round. Ironically, all are still positions of need. Douglas will have his pick of a deep receiver and lineman class and many mocks predict the Jets will take one of those two positions with the 48th overall pick. The other position will be the first-round pick. Players like tackle Isaiah Wilson and receivers Laviska Shenault and Michael Pittman Jr. should be among the Jets’ second-round targets.

Douglas himself has had mixed results in identifying and drafting talented players in the second round.

Tight end Dallas Goedert and running back Miles Sanders were great pick-ups for the Eagles during Douglas’ time as vice president of player personnel with the Eagles, but defensive back Sidney Jones and receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside haven’t panned out yet. As a scout with the Ravens for 14 years, he helped Ozzie Newsome grab players like Torrey Smith and Ray Rice in the second round. The Bears also drafted defensive tackle Eddie Goldman – who only has 12.5 sacks in five years – when Douglas was the director of college scouting for Chicago in 2015.

The best use of a Jets’ second-round pick in the past five years was actually the trade that landed New York the No. 3 overall pick in 2018 that resulted in Sam Darnold. The Jets moved up from No. 6 to No. 3 by giving the Colts their second-round pick in 2018 and their two second-rounders in 2019. Darnold still has a ways to go before becoming the franchise quarterback the Jets hope he can be, but he’s still better than what the Jets probably would have used with those three second-round picks.

With so many holes on the roster, the second round will be crucial for Douglas and the Jets. They can’t whiff again if they want to see Darnold progress. Douglas’ background in scouting and experience with successful franchises gives him a leg up on the Jets’ past general managers, but it’s impossible to predict how the draft board will fall and how the players will fit on Adam Gase’s team.

3 free agent RBs the Colts could consider signing

Here are three free agent RBs the Colts could consider signing .
Devonta Freeman | Age: 28.
Lamar Miller | Age: 28.
Jonathan Williams | Age: 26

3 free agent RBs the Colts could consider signing

Here are three free agent RBs the Colts could consider signing .
Devonta Freeman | Age: 28.
Lamar Miller | Age: 28.
Jonathan Williams | Age: 26

My first 49ers game was a completely insane roller coaster ride

A 21-0 deficit, six Hall of Famers, and the game that made me love football.

The first 49ers game I ever attended almost made me hate football. It wound up doing the opposite, and in hindsight there probably wasn’t a better game to be at to help solidify my love for a game that would become a foundational aspect of my life.

It was Week 7 of the 1998 season and the 4-1 49ers were hosting rookie quarterback Peyton Manning and the 1-5 Indianapolis Colts. This should’ve been a walk-over win for San Francisco, an 18-point favorite, which is probably why my mom, a long-time 49ers season ticket holder, took me and my best friend to the game.

Since I was only eight-years old, details of the game are fuzzy, but the Colts jumping out to a huge lead early on is something that’s stuck in the memory bank because it was as miserable as I’d ever been watching sports. The 49ers coming back to win is an obvious detail that’s always stuck around, but that game affirmed my enjoyment of football.

It wasn’t just that San Francisco won though. At the time it certainly was, but the specific events of the game looking back on it nearly 22 years later are completely bonkers. Buckle up.

The 49ers started the game with a missed field goal after a 17-play drive. On that drive, Jerry Rice hauled in a 10-yard pass from Steve Young to tie Art Monk for the all-time record for consecutive games with a reception at 183. Colts running back Marshall Faulk went for a 65-yard touchdown on Indianapolis’ first offensive play. 7-0, Colts.

San Francisco’s ensuing drive ended in a Reggie Roby punt, that bounced off of Colts defensive back Rico Clark’s head, and into the waiting arms of Colts defensive back Jason Belser, who’s 58-yard return set up the Colts at the 49ers’ 7-yard-line. Manning hit wide receiver Marvin Harrison for a four-yard score two plays later. 14-0, Colts.

Another 49ers punt was followed by a 12-play, 84-yard touchdown drive for the Colts. Harrison caught his second touchdown of the game from six yards out. 21-0, Colts.

San Francisco eventually put points on the board when Wade Richey drilled a 43-yard field goal after the 49ers stalled out on the Colts’ 25-yard-line. 21-3, Colts.

The 49ers forced a Colts punt on the ensuing possession, and responded with a touchdown. Only it couldn’t be just a regular old touchdown. First, Young threw an interception to defensive back Jeff Burris on a third-and-goal from the 5. It was called back for a very questionable holding on Burris. Two plays later, Young found JJ Stokes in the back corner of the end zone. Stokes was pushed out of bounds and only got one foot down, so the pass was ruled incomplete. HOWEVER, this was when the NFL had a rule where defensive backs, for some reason, couldn’t push receivers out of bounds to force incompletions, and the officials congregated and decided that Stokes would’ve gotten both feet in had the defensive back not … played defense. Got all that? Touchdown 49ers. 21-10, Colts.

Indianapolis punted back to the 49ers with 1:41 left in the first half, and Young went to work. He completed his first four passes on the series and scrambled for 10 yards to put the 49ers at the Colts’ 15. Then the future Hall of Famer tossed another interception in the end zone. ALAS, another flag for defensive holding on what can only be described as a bad call, and the 49ers were bailed out again. Young found Terrell Owens for a 10-yard score two plays later with seven seconds left in the first half. 21-17, Colts.

The teams exchanged punts to open the second half, but the Colts widened their lead on their second possession of the third quarter, and again they only needed one play to find pay dirt. Harrison took a short throw 61 yards for his third touchdown of the day. 28-17, Colts.

The 49ers’ ensuing possession ended with a Garrison Hearst fumble that the Colts recovered. An unnecessary roughness flag on San Francisco put the Colts on the 49ers’ 42-yard-line. They capitalized with a field goal to make it a two-touchdown game again midway through the third quarter. 31-17, Colts.

Another 49ers fumble, this one by Owens in Colts territory, gave the Colts the ball back again. They punted on their extra possession, then Young took over. He went 6-for-9 for 83 yards and scored on a one-yard run after Stokes drew a pass interference penalty in the end zone. The 49ers botched the extra point. 31-23, Colts.

San Francisco’s defense got another Colts punt after the touchdown. Young was again sensational. He completed three of his four throws for 40 yards, then scored his second rushing touchdown of the day, this time spinning and bouncing off would-be tacklers for a 23-yard touchdown run. He hit Jerry Rice on the two-point conversion. Tied, 31-31.

Because this game couldn’t have ended in any normal way, the 49ers were offsides on the ensuing kickoff, meaning they had to kick it off twice. The Colts set up for a 53-yard field goal with 1:14 left, but Mike Vanderjagt’s kick fell just short, setting San Francisco up at their own 44 with 1:08 left. Young tried a deep shot to Stokes, but the receiver was badly interfered with, putting the 49ers at the Colts’ 17-yard line. They worked their way down to the 7, and Richey drilled the game-winning field goal with only seconds left to give San Francisco their first lead of the day. 34-31, 49ers win.

Young finished with 331 passing yards to give him six-consecutive games over 300 – an NFL record. Stokes had a huge day with 110 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions, which likely explains my irrational love of Stokes as a youngster.

It’s clear going back through that game with 22 years of hindsight that it was a seminal moment in my football fandom. That game was as wild as they come, but it also featured a dizzying array of talent.

Here is the list of players from that contest who’re now in (or will be in) the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison, Peyton Manning and Marshall Faulk.

It would be great to go back and watch that game for the first time with a little more cognizance to truly appreciate how special it was. I’m glad I got to be at Candlestick Park and see it when I did though, because my relationship with football would be much different without it.

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