The Colts entered the NFL Draft in need of improving their offensive line and they didn’t waste any time selecting left tackle Anthony Castonzo in the first round and tackle/guard Ben Ijalana in the second round. Castonzo started the final 40 games in his career at left tackle. Ijalana started 53 games at left tackle in his career. Ijalana has left tackle skills and extremely long arms. He is also talented enough to move over on the right side or move inside to guard. Castonzo was the first offensive lineman taken in the first round by the Colts since Bill Polian took over in 1998. Anthony Castonzo started 54 straight games and was the first true freshman to start for Boston College in 10 years. Physical and mentally tough, he has the ability to quick set and redirect with natural body control in his pass pro. We projected Castonzo to start out on the right side then move to the left tackle after a few years of experience. In the Colts’ offense with Peyton Manning’s sudden release, the angular tackle may get by just fine. He is a smart and quick learner which is a definite requirement to start early in his NFL career. Ben Ijalana is a four-year starter that we projected to go inside because of his fringe height. However, in the Colts’ offense he may go inside until Ryan Diem’s contract is up at right tackle, then move back outside. He flashes an explosive punch in the run game and was a dominant player at the FCS level. Athletic in his play, he has quick feet to mirror and slide. He plays with a good base and knee bend and can dominate and control a defender with his hands. Still learning how to play the game, Ijalana needs work on all his basic techniques and pass protection fundamentals. He has good lateral quickness. Due to a double sports hernia surgery, he did not work out until late spring. Drake Nevis had a strong senior year that included 56 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception. He is a disruptive impact player with lateral quickness. Nevis is a perfect one-gap player drafted to play in the Colts’ one gap system. He has explosive first step quickness to force inside pressure and then sprints to the ball. A competitor, he is physically and mentally tough. He is a self-motivated defender who plays with great emotion and intensity. Delone Carter is a two-year starter who was productive over his career with back to back 1000-yard rushing seasons. He concluded his career third on the all-time Orangemen rushing list. He has a thick build with quick feet. An athletic and compact back, he has a strong lower body and is always going forward. Carter is also accomplished at pass protection and is not afraid to step up and take on blitzing linebackers. That is important when protecting Peyton Manning. He ended his career with 242 straight rushing attempts without fumbling. Chris Rucker was a four-year letterman and started 34 games at cornerback for the Spartans. He intercepted 6 passes, broke up 19 passes, and recorded 191 tackles in his career. He has good size and athletic ability for the corner position. The Colts are rolling the dice on his ability and talent to overcome his numerous off the field red flags. GRADE: ABOVE AVERAGE.
Categories
- 2007 NFL Draft
- 2008 NFL Draft
- 2009 NFL Draft
- 2010 NFL Draft
- 2011 All-Rookie Team
- 2011 NFL Draft
- 2011 NFL Draft Team Reviews
- 2011 NFL Free Agents
- 2011 NFL Season
- 2011 NFL Supplemental Draft
- 2011 NFL Undrafted Free Agents
- 2012 7- Round Mock Drafts
- 2012 All-Rookie Team
- 2012 College Game All-Star Notes
- 2012 Draft Position Recap
- 2012 Free Agents
- 2012 NFL Draft
- 2012 NFL Draft Team Reviews
- 2012 NFL Supplemental Draft
- 2012 Underclassmen Draft Selections
- 2012 Underclassmen for Draft
- 2012 Undrafted Free Agents
- 2013 7-Round Mock Drafts
- 2013 All-Rookie Team
- 2013 All-Star Games
- 2013 NFL Combine
- 2013 NFL Draft
- 2013 NFL Draft Team Reviews
- 2013 Underclassmen Draft
- 2014 7-Round Mock Drafts
- 2014 East West Shrine Game
- 2014 NFL Combine
- 2014 NFL Draft
- 2014 Senior Bowl
- 2014 Underclassmen Draft
- 2015 East West Shrine Game
- 2015 NFL Draft
- 2015 Senior Bowl
- 2015 Underclassmen Draft
- 2016 NFL Combine
- 2016 NFL Draft
- 2017 NFL Combine
- 2017 NFL Draft
- 2018 NFL Draft
- Adam Fournier Blog Posts
- AFC East
- AFC North
- AFC South
- AFC West
- All-NFL Team
- Arizona Cardinals
- Atlanta Falcons
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Carolina Panthers
- Chicago Bears
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Dallas Cowboys
- Dave Syvertsen Blog Posts
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- DRAFT REWIND
- East-West Shrine Game
- Evaluation Key
- Green Bay Packers
- Guest Blogs
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Los Angeles Rams
- M.G. Ross Blog Posts
- Matt Waldman Blog
- Miami Dolphins
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- New Orleans Saints
- New York Giants
- New York Jets
- NFC East
- NFC North
- NFC South
- NFC West
- NFL Combine Quarterback Velocity
- NFL Scouting Combine 2012
- NFL Super Regional Combine
- Nolan Kuzmick Blog Posts
- Oakland Raiders
- Ourlads' Scouts Hall of Fame
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Preseason Football
- San Diego Chargers
- San Francisco 49ers
- Seattle Seahawks
- Senior Bowl
- St. Louis Rams
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Tennessee Titans
- Uncategorized
- Underclassmen 1989-2012
- Underclassmen Drafted
- Washington Redskins