Thanks to some super spying by my esteemed colleague CT, we know some of the players the Colts spoke with at the combine and the Senior Bowl. Although there's no guarantee the Colts will draft any of these guys, it could be quite enlightening to examine the qualities they bring.

Defensive tackles Combine numbers Stats Why I like him Why I don't How he fits

Where he'll be drafted

 Comments

Tim Anderson, Ohio State senior

 6'3 1/4, 307, DNR (e4.98), DNL 2003: 45 TK, 3.5 SK, 11 TFL, 2 PBU, 2 FR Career: 125 TK, 11.5 SK, 25 TFL What's the best thing a one-gap lineman can have? Bam! The initial burst to beat his man. You get there first and you have a good chance of being the guy who makes the play. Anderson has that burst. Oh, he's no Dwight Freeney, he's just a guy who wins a lot of battles in the trenches by being the first guy to the hole. Anderson depends so much on his initial burst that he can be sealed off from running plays and totally misdirected on pass plays. Notice I say that he "can" be. In college, there were few offensive linemen quick or offensive coordinators smart enough to handle him — in the NFL, there will be lots. Anderson doesn't offer enough of a consistent pass-rush threat and is far enough down of his learning curve that he'd probably have to work his way into the defensive tackle rotation slowly. I've heard everywhere from second to fifth round for Anderson, but I think his solid postseason makes him a third rounder at worst. Anderson is more smart than instinctive, but makes quick decisions and should have a productive NFL career. Still, I don't think he'll ever be a star.

Darnell Dockett, Florida State senior

 6'3 3/8, 297, 4.98, 26 reps 2003 stats: 55 TK, 1.5 SK, 17 TFL, 2 FF Career stats: 237 TK, 11 SK, 64 TFL People love simple answers, even if they're not right. A great example of this is the desire for the biggest, fattest guy up the middle to stop the run. Sometimes that works, but usually it doesn't. Dockett is probably the best run-defending defensive tackle in the draft, although he's one of the smallest. Here's how it works: He's so quick off the snap, he can leave the man in front of him grasping air. He's so explosive and has so much lateral movement that if he doesn't make a tackle in the backfield, he can chase it down. Lets see a fat guy do that.

A lot has been made about Dockett's character, but he seems alright to me and his sometimes over-the-top performances (look what he did at the combine) make me think that Tony Dungy, Ron Meeks et al will be able to keep him motivated. My problems with him at this point are that he's a bit of a bird-dog and that he can be handled on pass plays if his first move doesn't work. Coaching can fix all that.

Starts from Day One and gives offensive coordinators fits. Middle of the first. He's like a bigger, more athletic John Randle. If he lasts to No. 20, I say trade up.

Chad Lavalais, Louisiana State senior

6'1 1/2, 303, DNR (e5.08), DNL 2003: 61 TK, 7 SK, 16 TFL, 1-5-0 INT, 5 PBU, 1 BKFG Career: 195 TK, 11 SK, 37 TFL I like Lavalais because the Colts can't stop the inside run and he can. A tough competitor who does everything he can to control his gap, Lavalias shoots right through the gap when he beats his man, and he does frequently. Even in a stalemate, he's still very tough to handle and does his best to be disruptive. Although he does get into backfields, Lavalais has a hard time doing much once he gets there. It's not that he's not a sure tackler, it's just that he doesn't have the closing speed to get to an aware quarterback or shifty runner before they make a move. Joins the tackle rotation immediately and lends run-stopping ability to first and second downs. Has a great chance to develop into a solid lineman. It's looking like end of the first, top of the second. Lavalais makes a lot of sense for the Colts, but the pick flies in the face of the team's recent history of dramatic picks.

Marcus Tubbs, Texas senior

6'4, 321, DNR (e5.12), 29 reps 2003: 77 TK, 5.5 SK, 12 TFL, 2 PBU, 2 FF, 2 BKFG Career: 204 TK, 18 SK, 41 TFL Tubbs is something special — a big man with mobility, intelligence and character — that's a rare combination. Much more of a one-gap penetrator than the nose tackle-type many believe him to be, Tubbs' excellent first step is accentuated by his remarkable pass/rush recognition ability. Unfortunately, Tubbs size betrays the fact that he's not quite as strong as he should be and could use better conditioning. He can also get frustrated by double teams and offensive linemen who know how to hold without getting caught. I've seen him totally give up when he's been beaten off the snap. Bad. Perhaps worst of all is the fact that he is so physically gifted, he tends to bull-rush high and without technique. He won't get away with that very often in the NFL If he responds to coaching, Tubbs could be a star. At worst, he'll be a valuable part of someone's line. Depending on workouts, he could go mid first to late second. Lots of people look at Tubbs and think he's a nose man. He's not, he's a Cover-2 tackle who just happens to weigh 321 pounds.

Mondre Dickerson, Tennessee senior

6'4 1/8, 316, c5.04, DNL 2003: 34 TK, 3 SK, 5 TFL, 2 PBU, 1 BKFG Career: 43 TK, 5 SK, 8 TFL Few humans are as physically gifted as Dickerson. Not only is he a huge and hugely strong man, but he has quick reflexes, excellent instincts and a natural aggressiveness. When he played at Tennessee, he showed an ability to harass passes and lock up runners. To be kind, let's say Dickerson's brain doesn't match his body. As a juco transfer, he hasn't refined his game and could be tricked and handled in the NFL. As talented as he is, it hasn't yet been converted to production. The boom-or-bust player of the draft. He could be an absolute force or just another guy depending on what coaches can get out of him. Many observers didn't even have him on their radar before the combine, but so many teams have interviewed him, that I think he'll probably go in the third or fourth round and maybe even the second. He's kind of the opposite of Dwight Freeney — no questions about his tools, just his production and character. He could turn out to be a megastar, but I wouldn't bet a high draft pick and contract on it.
Defensive end Combine numbers Stats Why I like him Why I don't How he fits

Where he'll be drafted

 Comments

Antwan Odom, Alabama junior

6'5 3/4, 274, c4.74, DNL 2003: 40 TK, 8 SK, 9.5 TFL, 4 PBU, 2 FF Career: 95 TK, 20 SK, 17 TFL The best quality a Tony Dungy lineman can have is explosion off the snap and Odom has that more than perhaps any other player in the draft. But that's not all, Odom has good balance, uses leverage and is surprisingly strong. With all that and his smooth dip move, he could be an NFL pass-rushing terror right away. Realistically, there are two complaints with Odom. His conditioning could be better — he tends to wear down late in games — and and he could play the run tougher instead of always concentrating on knocking down the quarterback. He must refine his technique to succeed in the pros, but that's true of almost all college defensive linemen. People have talked about a previous shoulder problem, but it looks like it's in the past to me. Until he gets in better shape, he'd be a third-down player — but a good one. He has the potential to be a complete end if he works at it and is coached properly. Right now he looks like an early second rounder, but pass-rushers, especially those with size, always rise on draft day. I always believed that being overwhelming ina few areas was more important that being balanced in all areas. If Odom is as good in the pros as he seemed in college, he and Freeney could destroy opposing passing attacks.
Cornerbacks Combine numbers Stats Why I like him Why I don't How he fits

Where he'll be drafted

 Comments

Dunta Robinson, South Carolina senior

 

 5'10, 185, 4.34 2003: 50 TK, 4 TFL, 1-29-1 INT, 12 PBU 3-44-0 PR Career: 112 TK, 6 TFL, 5 INT, 21 PBU Fast, fast, fast, man this kid can fly. And, although he's not big, he can really lay the wood at the line of scrimmage or when making a tackle. Has great hands and can terrify when he brings back an interception or kick returns. A high character and intelligence guy, he's still learning and improving. Maybe it's because he's still learning the position, but Robinson may not have the fluidity and change of direction you'd like to see in a cornerback. I've seen him over-run receivers on deep routes and struggle to change direction after the catch has been made. Robinson's ability to chuck and his understanding of zones could help him in the Cover-2 scheme. And his liabilities on deep coverage could be masked by help from safeties. Could be a special-teams terror. His blazing 40 time at the combine may have moved him into the first round, but he still looks like a second-rounder to me. Sometimes I watch Robinson think he'd be perfect for the Colts and other times I have horrifying flashbacks to Paul Miranda. Am I the only one who remembers him?

Will Poole, USC senior

 

 5'10 1/2, 182, DNR (e4.45) 2003: 80 TK, 3 SK, 9 TFL, 7-70-1 INT, 19 PBU, 4 FF, 2-0-0 FR, 5-26-0 PR Career: 187 TK, 15 INT, 36 PBU The best defensive back in the draft bar none if you ask me. Poole whacks receivers at the line, stays with them on their routes. He moves up in run support, fears nothing and is an effective blitzer. He gets his hands on the ball, makes interceptions and runs them back well. He's fast, fluid and aware. And he loves to make the big play and it shows. Some have called him stiff, but I don't see it. My big problem with Poole is that he's not a textbook tackler and is sometimes too interested in the ball instead of the man. And he was suspended from Boston College as a freshman and never really came clean about it. That kinda stuff makes me leery. Poole is tailor-made for the Colts' defense, but I always worry about rookie corners and this one has just two years of major-college experience after spending two seasons in juco. Still, Poole has the stuff to be a legit NFL starter by the middle of the 2004 season. Definitely a first rounder, probably before the Colts pick. In the right system, Poole could well develop into a major star. the Colts would appear to have that system.
Safety Combine numbers Stats Why I like him Why I don't How he fits

Where he'll be drafted

 Comments

Stu Schweigert, Purdue senior

6'3, 217, e4.50 2003: 88 TK, 2.5 SK, 8 TFL, 4-62-0 INT, 4 PBU Career: 349 TK, 18 TFL, 17 INT, 13 PBU, 5 FF Very few college safeties in recent memory have had Schweigert's pass-coverage and ballhawking abilities — and that's exactly what the Cover-2 needs. Not only that, but Schweigert plays the run well and can also blitz with aplomb. I've seen him abused by some bigger tight ends, he's not a great tackler, he sometimes launches himself flat-footed and he's had a few ouchies. That, and he has been known to enjoy a snifter of sherry to celebrate the holidays. A premium cover safety, Schweigert will be an NFL starter before long. If he's lucky enough to find land on an aggressive team with creativity, he could get some snaps at corner as well. Second or third. It's hard to believe the Colts would draft another safety high after grabbing one in the second round each of the past two years. But if Schweigert should fall ...
Tight end Combine numbers Stats Why I like him Why I don't How he fits

Where he'll be drafted

 Comments

Keith Willis, Virginia Tech senior

 

 6'5 5/8, 260, 5.00, 21 reps 2003: 7-109-2 REC 16-315-4 Career: 15-310-2 REC Willis never drops the ball. That's important for a tight end in Indianapolis. He's also a fluid player who can find the seams in zones and he is adept at picking up yards after the catch. He's also a willing blocker who doesn't mind throwing his weight around. A superduper athlete who played defensive end in the Hula Bowl. If he's so good a receiver, why'd he only catch 15 passes in four years? And he's not the kind of strongman who will dominate as a blocker. Right behind Marcus Pollard and Dallas Clark. Although Willis isn't the kind of game-breaker they are, he could be a very valuable red-zone receiver and mismatch all over. Who knows with a guy like this? The speculators say he'll be lucky to be drafted. I say fifth round. I find it odd that a guy who timed at 4.58 in college ran a 5.00 at the combine. Maybe that's a good thing.