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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 25, 2007
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SB07, I don't think Chad Simpson is going to make the squad. He sounds like a head case. He's not a team guy and in 06' was charged with assault.
I didn't know this Bleedblu so you may be right.. But remember, Ed Johnson had some SERIOUS legal issues as well and the Colts took a flier on him when nobody else would. So far, so good on Johnson ...Hopefully Simpson will turn out the same way because he shows alot of promise. But I do agree with you when you talk about digesting the offensive playbook. That is alot more complicated than digesting the defensize playbook.
I hope he makes the squad because his numbers are off the chart. Hopefully he will turn out to be the next Dom, but I guess we have to wait and see??
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 25, 2007
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I didn't know this Bleedblu so you may be right.. But remember, Ed Johnson had some SERIOUS legal issues as well and the Colts took a flier on him when nobody else would. So far, so good on Johnson ...Hopefully Simpson will turn out the same way because he shows alot of promise. But I do agree with you when you talk about digesting the offensive playbook. That is alot more complicated than digesting the defensize playbook.
I hope he makes the squad because his numbers are off the chart. Hopefully he will turn out to be the next Dom, but I guess we have to wait and see??
From what I remember Ed's issues were from a house party where one of his teammates go into it with some schmo and Ed was sticking up for his teammate. He was just defending his teammate and was associated to the matters that his teammate was involved in and went down with him.
Simpson on the other hand is more of a loner and isn't a buddy-buddy type of teammate. There is nothing wrong with that however the Colts players aren't that way. They are pretty unified and thats why I don't see Chad fitting in. Also I think his assault charge stemmed from a domestic dispute, don't quote me on that though.
About Chad as a football player, he looks like an animal. Great speed and looks VERY strong. If he can adapt himself to the Colts way he can probably get a roster spot off talent alone, but from a character standpoint he has a lot of changing to do. If he makes the squad Dungy will have his a$$ in church on Sunday's while kicking it with the guys during the week. If wants to play in the NFL and play for a winning organization he will come in straighter than an arrow and be ready and willing to give 110% in learning and being a "team" guy. There is a jersey with his name and number on it if he wants it bad enough. I guess we will find out as you said SB07.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 23, 2007
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If the Colts can get past the character issues, I think they might keep Simpson too. I am hoping the Colts looked into his personal issues before signing him to a free agent contract. To keep Rushing as just a returner and that is what he would be as I don't see him playing defensive back just doesn't make sense. The defensive backs are 5 deep without him and they seemed to have less injury trouble there than at other positions. Hughes had some trouble with injuries and I think Jennings had some too but that is nothing compared to linebacker or receiver or defensive end.
Simpson could play an important role as a backup running back and returner and I think would be more productive as a running back then Rushing would as a defensive back or a returner for that matter. The move would also save the Colts money. Here is what Polian had to say about Simpson on the Colts page on NFL.com -
“Speed and production,” Polian said when asked what caught his eye about Morgan. “He has great speed – 4.44 (seconds) in the 40-yard dash. He had numerous long runs and long returns in his career. He is a candidate as a running back and as a return guy, particularly kickoff returns.”
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 23, 2007
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Also, the Colts drafted Garcon who can can return kicks or punts and they picked up four collegiate free agents who have operated as returners in Simpson, Charles Dillon, Randy Burgess, and Sam Giguiere. I think the Colts might be looking to replace Rushing as a returner and if he isn't returning he likely doesn't have a job as a Colt.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 22, 2006
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The Colts 2008 roster is NOT nearly complete! The Colts carried 8 LB's last year and every year. Brandon Archer, Rocky Boiman Gary Brackett, Ramon Guzman, Tyjuan Hagler, Freddie Keiaho, Clint Session, Vic Worsley (was Rob Morris) were on the 2007 roster. They will carry 8 LB's again! They released Archer and Morris, and have Hagler, Brackett and Keiaho as returning starters. Session and Guzman are still there, and so is Worsley (who could and should be headed back to the practice squad. With Philip Wheeler added via the draft, Indy has 6 spots taken. With two undrafted free agents in J.J. Milan and Kyle Shotwell as the only other two LB's on the roster, the Colts will be looking. Brackett and Keiaho are solid, and Session appears to be a stud in waiting. Hagler makes a fine back-up and Wheeler is another good prospect. Guzman is a special team ace and provides average depth. The Colts need 6 solid LB's and they have 5 if Wheeler and Session step up. There will be additions to this team at LB. They will have 8 on the final roster.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 24, 2006
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I agree that Rushing's no lock this year, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him around until someone else proves themselves as a returner - we could keep Rushing and another returner for a while.
Traditionally we've been keeping 22 or 23 offensive players and 27 or 28 defenders, but this year I would expect to see that shift tdue to all the offensive draft picks this year. Here's my opinion about how many we traditionally keep (they vary throughout each year) and how many we may keep this year at each position group:
QB: Traditionally-2, This Year-2
RB: Traditionally-3, This Year-3
WR: Traditionally-5, This Year-5
OL: Traditionally-8 or 9, This Year-9 or 10
TE: Traditionally-3 or 4, This Year-4
DL: Traditionally-10, This year-10
LB:Traditionally-7 or 8, This year: 6 or 7
DB:Traditionally-10 or 11, This year:10 or 11
ST:Traditionally-3, This year:3
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 22, 2006
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Ceeray, love your stuff, but I did a little research and this is what the Colts rosters looked like since 2002:
QB: 2 2002-2007
RB/FB: 5 2002-2003; 4 2005,2007; 3 2006
WR: 5 2002-2005, 2007; 6 2006 (Wilkins was the PR/KR)
TE: 3 2002-2007
OT: 4 2002-2007
OG: 4 2002-2007
C: 1 2002-2007
Offense: 24 2002-2004; 23 2005-2007
DE: 5 2002-2007
DT: 4 2002-2006, 5 2007
LB: 8 2002-2007
DB: 9 2002-2003, 2007; 8 2004; 10 2005-2006 (depends on KR/PR) (2004 we had 2 place kickers)
Defense: 26 2002-2003; 25 2004; 27 2005-2007
ST: 3 2002-2003, 2005-2007; 4 2004
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 7, 2006
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Excellent conversation so far. Sorry I haven't been in the mix, but issues have kept me away from the computer.
Good job on the roster counts ceeray and OTM. I was confused about them saying they were looking for the best 8 O-linemen. I had always thought they carried 10 O-line and 9 D-line, but according to OTM it's 9 and 9. I've been thinking about the Colts drafting 3 O-linemen, and the only justification I can come up with is they weren't too impressed with the way the backups stepped up last year. Why would Howard Mudd need 15 guys if he was satisfied with the guys he had last year? Something to ponder, and it bodes well for the rookies.
Interesting picks on the final 53, but it's too early to tell. This year they can only take 80 guys to camp, so any URFA's that get invited are going to have an excellent chance of making the team. I suspect there will be a few veterans that won't be invited, so right now, they have to cut 10 off the roster. Since I agree with OTM about LB's, I haven't given up on Morris either. I really like the way he fits on the team, and he's exactly what the Colts need. Some of the guys from last year that I think are walking on eggshells: Kenton Keith, Clifton Dawson, Luke Lawton, Aaron Moorehead, Bryan Fletcher, Daniel Federkiel, Michael Toudouze, Darrell Reid, Josh Thomas, Jeff Charleston, TJ Rushing, Melvin Bullett. Of those guys that make it to camp, they're going to have to prove to Tony that they deserve a roster spot more than a rookie. Some of them aren't going to make it.
I never though I'd see the day when there's a chance Marvin could be suspended. We'll have to wait and see how that shakes out.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 7, 2006
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I've been thinking about the Colts drafting 3 O-linemen, and the only justification I can come up with is they weren't too impressed with the way the backups stepped up last year.
I suspect there will be a few veterans that won't be invited, so right now, they have to cut 10 off the roster.
Some of them aren't going to make it.
Dylan Gandy and Bryan Fletcher are the first casualties. Don't be surprised if they're not the last.
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Reputation:87
Level:All-Star
Since:Apr 26, 2008
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Just to bring up schedule,
INDY has a game in Cleveland on November 30. Do you think that they will be playing in the snow? Snow at the least would be on the horizon that weekend.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 24, 2006
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Yeah, it's kind of funny, because I was a little careful to note that it was my "opinion" of how many they traditionally kept. You can't really say how many they've usually kept of any position - composition of the team is constantly changing throughout the year, every year. Remember when we had O-line problems last year - I remember Toudouze and Hilliard being signed, and Federkeil going to the IR. Bam!: one more OL on the roster to the detriment of some other position (LB?...I can't remember). You can't go by season-opening roster either - injury concerns at a given position seem to result in more of a position being kept for a temporary time. Plus you have weird things going on - they only kept two RBs last year at the beginning of the season. And our plan was probably to keep Dawson on the PS in case of injury...but Cincy stole him in retaliation for Dorsey the previous year. (That one got weirder - Dorsey apparently passed a physical, so Cincy signed him back, released Dawson, and we immediately signed Dawson to the Active Roster.) At any rate, I remember a day when we kept four TEs, including Hartsock who was never active. I think I can remember eight OL days, but my memory could be playing tricks on me...
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 22, 2006
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Actually the numbers were those that they broke camp with each season. There is no doubt you hit it on the head when injuries beset the team. My biggest concern is the lack of depth at LB. We have only Clint Session and Ramon Guzman (special teams player only) as back-ups from last year, and the three starters in Tyjuan Hagler (who appears better suited as back-up himself), Gary Brackett and Freddie Keiaho. With the exception of Brackett and Guzman, the rest missed quite a few games. Vic Worsley was signed off the practice squad to take the place of Rob Morris when he went down for the year. He only played in 3 games and had just 2 tackles on ST I believe. They signed Kyle Shotwell as an undrafted free agent in the off season, but he has no NFL experience either. Philip Wheeler looks like the real deal and Marcus Howard is projected to rotate at the defensive end position. I just don't have a real secure feeling at the LB position with just the options of Shotwell, Guzman, Worsley, rookie Wheeler, and undrafted free agent LB Jordan Senn out of Portland State behind the starters and Session. The Colts take some severe hits at this position every year. I'm hoping that Rosevelt Colvin is signed (or at least another legitimate veteran). Given that Hagler is a free agent at year's end, and Keiaho and Brackett at the end of 2009, I think it would behoove us to get a veteran presence in here to stabalize the youth at the position. Normally the Colts will not overpay to keep their linebackers (see the AFC and NFC pro-bowl rosters). If they sign a veteran like Colvin, the LB corp would be a stength this year if we had Keiaho on the weakside, Brackett in the middle and Colvin on the strong side. With Session and Hagler as primary back-ups, we can ease Wheeler into the rotation like we did with Session this past season. Add Guzman, and Worsley or Shotwell (if we don't resign a HEALTHY Rob Morris) and we have our eight LB's to break camp with this year. And if the Colts stay true to form, the future is still bright because the 2010 LB unit will consist of starters Clint Session, Philip Wheeler and Rosevelt Colvin (unless they break tradition and sign either Keiaho or Brackett).
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 24, 2006
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I guess I'm not really very worried about the LBs. I think Session and Guzman are perfectly viable back-ups. And a third round LB like Wheeler should be pretty good emergency depth. (Keiaho played lights out his rookie year at NE, and Session played incredibly well last year against SD - why wouldn't Wheeler follow suit?) It's a few years in the past, but I know there have been times when we kept only six LBs. And if Shotwell, Worsley, or Rookie FA Jordan Senn step up - there's your 7th. Not really a problem IMHO.
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