Inside Football with Rick Venturi returns with a post-draft breakdown as Rick joins Matt Taylor to recap the Colts’ eight-man 2025 draft class. Rick shares his overall impressions of the group, highlights potential rookie difference-makers, discusses which areas of the roster still need attention, and examines how this draft shapes the team's outlook heading into the fall.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Football is about the Jimmy's and Joe's, and x's and o's.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Guys.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Write numbers three, Jet Spielberg, I'm one all right, nast,
big Fly, Turbo, Zelda fourteen Diapolo, whim out a bunch, right,
Robert de Niro.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
It's time to get out the chotboard and diagram some plays.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Hey, sure you get enough dep like twelve yard, fourteen yards,
break on everything. This is Inside Football with former Colts
and NFL coach Rick Venturie. Inside Football is back with
the great Rick vent Turrey. I'm Matt Taylor. NFL Draft
weekend has come and gone, and eight picks later, over
the course of seven rounds, the Colts got better heading
(00:42):
into the twenty twenty five season. This is the post
draft edition of Inside Football with Rick vent Tury. Matt
Taylor here again inside the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio studio,
and today we are recapping the Colts draft haul and
discussing how the draft impacts the team's outlook for the
upcoming fall and joining me now, of course, Rick vin Turrey,
(01:03):
in his nearly thirty years of NFL coaching background thirty
plus years almost forty, I think it's over forty years
of covering the NFL Draft, is it not.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Rick forty three? Forty three? I don't even like to
let that out.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
I know, I'm sorry. I let the cat out of
the bag there.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
This was forty three. Yeah, for sure. No, I'm proud
of it. It's good.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Absolutely, So we got a lot to talk about. I'm
sure you're rested up after tracking all the picks for
three straight days, but let's talk about everything in totality.
With eight picks, bringing in four players from the Big Ten,
you had two from the Big twelve, one from the
sec Riley Leonard coming from Notre Dame. Colts picked off
needs on both sides of the ball with Penn State
(01:46):
Tyler Warren to fill one of the biggest needs on
the team at tight end, and you finish up with
Wisconsin's Hunter Wooler as a versatile defensive weapon, if you will.
What kinds of feelings did you have on Sunday morning
when you saw that four list in front of you
and you saw those eight picks the Colts were able
to come away with.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Well, you know, just like I felt last week, I
felt really good about the offseason with the Colts. I
felt really good about this draft, and I felt good
for different reasons. This is a little bit different draft.
This wasn't the prototypical way that we've drafted in the park.
Don't get me wrong. There are some qualities. You know,
(02:25):
most of these guys have good RADS scores. But you
know what I like, Here's what I like the most,
Matt number one. I think, first of all, we drafted ballers.
We drafted guys that play the game rather than Olympians
who have really good times. I thought. I also thought
that the Colts stayed really true to their convictions. You know,
(02:48):
it was controversially on round three, you know, but they
believe in Wally. I endorsed that they believe in Wally.
And what's the difference if you get the guy you
want who's going to care two weeks from now, you
know when he was drafted. You know, they drafted guys
this year with really high volume snaps. I mean, guys
that have played. I mean there's a million reps on
(03:11):
these guys, every single guy up and down the list.
And I like that. And it's not just high reps,
it's it's really good tape. You know, a lot of
production by these guys. And yet there's really good metrics.
I mean, with the exception of you could argue a
couple of guys, it's really really good good metrics, no
(03:32):
question about it. And and I think basically these guys
bring a lot of really good traits and a lot
of good strengths. And I think in some ways the
Colts did a pretty good job. And we'll see. I mean,
you know, Sunday's will validate how good a drafted is.
That's why it's very you know, when people go out
of their way to evaluate it. Now that's a little
(03:53):
crazy and given grades because it will play out. But
I think they did a pretty good job of trying
to play some losses and fill some needs. I think
the thing I like the most about watching all these guys,
and I've seen them all on tape, is in most
you know that all these guys, the more I watch them,
the more I like them. And that's not that's not
(04:13):
always true, that's for sure. The more more I watched them,
the more I like them. I think that's really good.
They certainly like big Pen and they certainly like number
forty four. So no, it was it was I think
a really good three days. I really do. I think
the complete off season now and we'll we'll get into everything,
but the complete off season now has been pretty dog
(04:36):
going good.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Yeah, so many guys wearing number forty four, I mean,
exire Franklin's like, what day? Stop coming at me? Like,
you know, I'm still a damn good football player here.
I'm gonna keep my number, all right, So we'll see
how those other guys adjust in terms of the Jersey numbers.
All right, So let's start at the top. Speaking of
number forty four in college, that was Tyler Warren and
Penn State the fourteenth overall pick, and undoubtedly Rick you
(05:00):
know this, he was the player that was most attached
to the Colts and all of the Mott drafts the
last couple of months. But the way it went down
was pretty organic, right. The Bears take yep, Colston Loveland
with the tenth pick, and perhaps some other players the
Colts had high on their board went before the fourteenth selection.
So in the end, the Colts ended up drafting a
player that fills a huge area of need and they
(05:23):
didn't have to trade up to get them. They stayed patient.
The pro scouts did a really good job of knowing
who was probably going to go in front of the
Colts after Loveland went at ten. So how happy were
you with the way Thursday night kind of played out
for the Colts and getting Tyler Warren.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Well, I was really happy. I mean, we got one
hell of a football player now, and I did think
we would have to move up. To be honest with you,
I'm a little I'm pleasantly surprised that we didn't. You know,
the Bears took Loveland, and you know, you had two
elite tight ends in this draft, regardless of what people say,
and I think the way it played out, it played
out perfectly for us because I think Lovelin is the
(06:01):
perfect tight end for the Bears. They've got their you know,
their stationary tight end in Comet, so they can bring
Lovelan in and get a big time receiver matchup guy
as their age. But I think, you know, basically, Warren
is the best fit for us because he's the best
three down guy. You know, when I say he's the
(06:21):
hell of a player, I mean he is a good
three down guy in all aspects. He never has to
come up the field. He can block the edge. You know,
if you wanted to Billy Brooks and I talked about this.
If you want to put him in the backfield and block, uh,
he can do that. He can really find the creases
(06:42):
in zone defense from an attached position. If you want
to detach him, you know, he's got enough ability to
find creases and catch the football. Uh. He's an interesting guy.
He's an alpha personality. You can see it out on
the field. He plays like a champion. Again, he does
all those things. He's even run the ball. You know,
(07:05):
he's a terrific red zone threat. And the reason he's
a terrific red zone threat is one, he could carry
the ball on short yardage, which he has. But number two,
what you're looking for in the red zone is that
big body receiver. Speeding quickness gets you know, it gets
minimized because of space, and he gives you that big
body and he can bully linebackers. He can bully safeties
(07:30):
in those intermediate areas to get open. And the way
I see him get open is more with size and
catching range. You know, he's not the fastest guy in
the world, but he makes up for it with real intelligence.
He goes to the ball. He's competitive, he can make
circus catches, We've seen it. You're going to be able
(07:52):
to throw fifty to fifty balls to him in the
red zone. And he's amazing, yak guy. I mean, you know,
I've seen him hurtle people. I've seen him lower his
shoulders and knocked the hell out of people. So you know,
I think you have you get And this is so important.
You and I talked about this last week in the
end on that first and particularly in the first on
the upper half of that first round. You got to
(08:14):
get a guy that impacts the game, that becomes an
elite player. And I think, and you know, no one's perfect,
but I think he has that kind of tools.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Well, last year one hundred and four catches. That was
the highest tight end total in Penn State history. In fact,
it also set a Penn State record for catches in
a season regardless of position. The highest number of catches
last year by a Colts tight end was fourteen. That
was Kylon Grantson. So there's no question he was the
(08:44):
focal point Warren that is of Penn State's offense. And
he'll be a big part of this offense next year
for the Colts. But he's not going to put up
the numbers like he did at Penn State. What is
rick what should be a reasonable expectation for Tyler Warren
as a rookie.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Well, you know, whatever he can get, he will get.
I mean, you know, the tight end position in many respects,
as far as production, is tied to three things. It's
tied to can your outside receivers win on the outside
part of the field because that stretches the defense. With wise, Okay,
we got better at that. You know, I think we're
(09:21):
better at that. Pierce certainly has given us that that
top off guy number two, Can you run the football effectively?
And I think that's going to be dependent how the
center right guard position plays. We got the runners, there's
no doubt about that. And so I mean, I think
those two things because that tightens the defense and in
(09:41):
both cases, what does the do. It opens up the
middle of the field because you're either playing hard to
the run with heavy boxes or you're widening out to
cover those wideouts. And so he's going to have a
lot of opportunities if those two things, you know, continue
to go. I think in the end for him in
terms of reduction. That's why I can't put a number
on it really going to depend on our quarterbacking. For instance,
(10:05):
if Jones was the quarterback, you know, he probably would
have a pretty high number because you know, Jones is
a possession guy, get the ball out quick, a lot
of passes over the middle on that, you know, between
the numbers. If Anthony is the quarterback, Anthony has struggled
with throwing the ball between the numbers, and so the
(10:27):
issue there is and I think it's his issue period.
Is he going to be able to make that next
step and find that mid range game because he's going
to have a guy that's going to be there, and
he's going to have to get that part of his
game that he hasn't had, which is anticipating in the
middle of the field and getting it to the tight end.
(10:48):
I think, you know, I didn't mean to avoid the question.
I just think those are the key factors in terms
of how productive he'll be. In terms of his ability,
he'll be as productive as you can get him the ball.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Question about that versatility lining up in different areas within
the offense. Okay, let's go to the second round. Now,
defensive side of the ball with JT. Tuamolowow, a defensive
end from Ohio State. Last year, and really, if you
just look at his entire resume, just stacked. But he
ranked third in college football twenty one and a half
(11:21):
tackles for loss. Last year, ted for fifth with twelve
and a half sacks, won a national championship, finished his
career eighth in program history and tackles for loss sixth
and sacks. He was also first team All Big Ten
in each of the past three seasons. I'm saying this
is a megasteal for the Colts in the second round.
He's got first round grade written all over him. Rick,
(11:42):
So what stands out the most about his playing style? And,
like you said, a ton of experience coming from a
powerhouse football program and lived up to the billing.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Well, you know when I made that statement before, I
think this guy defines it. I think JT. I think
he really really defines I think JT defines. What I
said is the more I watch him, the more I
like him. I mean, he is a power player. He
is exactly the opposite which is good of Latuo. Lat
(12:14):
two is a finesse, quickness hands guy. This guy will
run flat over you. He is a power rusher. Uh,
you know, the twelve and a half sacks that's production.
You know, what was it six and a half in
the playoff games? So he rose to the occasion in
the biggest moments. He's a very very good athlete. He'll
(12:38):
surprise you. He's got really good inline quickness. You know,
he had a four three five short shuttle, which tells
you something about inline quickness. That's very good for his size,
you know. And he vertical thirty five and a half,
so you know he's got explosiveness. Now you know what
(12:58):
he did. What he needs to do is refine the
pass rush right now. He and I love this. He's
a speed the power guy on the edge. I mean
he can you if you if you sets off, you're
coming right back to the quarterback and he can cut
the edge. Uh. He's got a decent spin move. He
doesn't use it a lot. He probably has to use
(13:18):
it a little bit more when he gets up to
the bigs, and I think he has to, you know,
develop an array, but really he has that. His motor
is in sixth gear all the time. There's no question
about that, you know. And the other thing is is
I think he's versatile. I think he's the replacement to Dale.
I think you can play him on first down, you know,
(13:41):
as a big end on the running game and set
the edge. And then I think on passing downs you
can move him inside certainly to a five or even
down to a three. So I think he kind of
gives us that replacement for you know, for Dale slash archery.
I think he has that kind of tool. But again
again I think that I think you made the good point.
(14:04):
I mean, he could easily have been a first round
draft pick in my opinion.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
How needed was that pick forecasting maybe by Chris bellor
there considering the only defensive end under contract beyond this
upcoming season twenty twenty five layout to lot too, how
much did they maybe take that into consideration or is
that is that something you don't worry about when you draft?
Speaker 2 (14:26):
You know what you would have to ask Chris that
I just got a feeling that they fell in love
with him, and the more they because I know, I
know how I feel. You know, at first, you watch
him and you say, boy, it's a tough guy and
he does all this but right, you know, And then
the more you watch him, the more he just grows
on you. And I like the idea that you have
just the opposite type of rusher to lat to. That's
(14:49):
that's what I like. I like versatility, you know, I
like a guy. See. You know, Dale is a big
loss because he was a guy that even without big numbers,
he played good on the edge and then he could
go in and play that three. And I think we're
I think we'll we'll get that out of JT.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
All right, let's go third round, stay on defense with
the draft pick of Justin Wally at of Minnesota, second
team All Big Ten last year, and again, like you said,
experience forty nine games for the Golden Golfers, play through
some injuries, had the broken wrist that lingered throughout the
draft process for him, although that didn't keep him from
(15:28):
testing it into combine in front of the scouts and
team personnel members that were there here in Indianapolis, which
the Colts really liked and appreciated. But he doesn't fit
the cornerback criteria. The Colts usually like those guys to
be longer and taller six foot one six foot two,
while he's only five foot ten, and he was a
little bit of a wild card and most of the evaluation,
(15:51):
some had him going well into Day three, but the
Colts took him in the third round on Day number two.
So how surprised were you with this pick considering the
Colts brought in two corners in free agency, but yet
they continue to reinforce that here in the draft.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Yeah, just one thing I forgot to mention on JTNL.
I'll get to Wally JT. I'll tell you for a
comparison who he reminds me of. And it's a real
positive comparison. He reminds me of Carlo Offics. Okay, Carl
Offas was the thirtieth pick in the draft to the
Chiefs from Purdue. Very much the same kind of guy.
(16:25):
And you've seen Carl Office really come into his own
here with the Chiefs, and I think you got the
same kind of guy. Wally is a guy that I endorsed.
I looked at Wally. It might be a little rich
to go third, but you weren't going to go past four.
So what's the difference. I mean, you know, I think
I give Chris credit on this. He is really convicted.
(16:47):
He didn't care what anybody else thought, with the pundon's
thought or anybody else thought. He thought he wants this guy,
and Maruno wanted this guy, And so they went on
that third round and they said, we're taking him now.
To me, length is one thing, but to me the
most important. That's why this guy. I like this guy
(17:08):
because what is Rick Van Turrey like best in the corner?
What can I not speed? Speed? Man speed? And this
kid runs a four to four. I mean he can
flat go. He is tougher than all get out. He's
got catch up speed. He really drives to the football.
I mean he can plant. You throw a hitch or
(17:30):
an out in front of him, he is going to
plant and drive. He plays feisty, his tape is good.
He can get his hands on balls. He's an interceptor.
You know, if you look at him over the years
as a real low completion rate against him, a real
low you know, completion rate. So I like him. You know,
(17:54):
you can see the difference now in an ARUMO because
you know immediately what you're looking at is are multiple
corners on the field. That's why I said there last week,
you can never have enough corners because you know, when
you start playing the nickel and dime, you want cover
guys up there, and so you can never have enough
of them. And then you let everybody compete and the
(18:16):
best guy wins. Plus I do think because of stature,
I mean, the only the only thing I worry now,
I only worry about two things. One coachable. One I'm
not sure is. You know, when he gets in a
big battle in a fifty to fifty ball with a
you know, one of those big six to five guys
like Sutton from Denver or somebody like that, you know,
(18:36):
he has a little bit of a disadvantage. And then
the other thing, But I think this is coachable. He
drives so hard on those underneath balls you're gonna have
to really teach him to not bite on the double move.
But you know, again that's coachable. But speed, toughness, feistiness
that he had, you know. And then I think also
with that size, you're looking at a guy that down
(18:58):
the road can all so be that nickel you know,
like our guy, you know, very much like Kenny or
like Hilton that Ana Rumbo has had it since the
you know, he can also be that inside guy down
a road. And if you're playing dime, you need two
of those guys. You need one Nickel and one dime
that are the same guys. So yeah, I like Wally
A lot. If it was a little rich who cares
(19:21):
no question.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
If he pans out, no one's gonna ask what round
he was drafting in right, No one gives a blank
as long.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
As you come in and produce sny that's right.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
On Day three, the Colts ended up drafting five players
thanks to a fourth round trade trade back, I should say,
with the La Rams. So in round four the Colts
pick up offensive tackle Jalen Travis from Iowa State. This
guy is a walking eclipse, all right, a mountain of
a man, six foot seven. Some have them at six
(19:49):
foot eight three and forty pounds. Again, there's those games.
Played thirty four games between three years at Princeton and
then transferred his final year in the Big Twelve at
Iowa State. Honorable mention All Big Twelve this past season,
two times second team All IVY honoree, and last year
allowed just one sack in four hundred and seventy five
(20:10):
pass attempts, allowed only four pressures the entire season. My
question to you is is Travis is he the future
swing tackle as many peg him to be coming into
the draft in the On Day three of this draft, well, I.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Think that's a fair you know, that's kind of a
fair projection because I would I think if we play
a game today that you know, Gonzale is going to
be the right guard. I mean, I'll be shocked if
he's not. And I think he has a chance to
be a really good one. I thought he overachieved or
(20:44):
not overachieved, or probably overachieved in my eyes, which is
probably my fault. But I thought he did very well
in his substitute role. And I think, particularly Gonzalez, if
you take him off the edge and you make him
another road guard, we're gonna have a couple of real
road graders at guard, that's for sure. And so now
that being said, you know, now what you need is
(21:07):
you do need to swing tackle Freeland. For some reason,
it's gone backwards. So you know, I think that's that
is his role. He's an interesting guy. You know, he's
you know that, like you said, he blocks out the sun.
I mean, he's a he's a built in sunblock, you know.
But you know, there's a couple of things that are interesting. One,
you know, he was a basketball player up in Minnesota.
(21:28):
He played with the kid with Oka, see the big center.
That's good. I can't I can't think of his name.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Yeah, aau ball you keep talking, I'll look it up
for you.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Yeah, they played aau ball together. So he's a basketball player.
He's a senator from Minnesota's injured Amy clover sh Ah
in the summertime. I mean, this is a hell of
a combinator. We don't find this very much. And the
thing that I like about him in terms of metrics,
because when you when you get a big guy, what
you don't want is a big lead foot pond to
(22:00):
his guy because he's not gonna make it. He's gonna
be a step slow. But he ran a five to
one five at that size. And this is what's impressive.
He had a thirty five inch vertical jump. So what
that's telling you, that's telling me after forty three years,
is he has some straight line explosiveness.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Yeah, he's got a dire vertical jump than I think
justin Wally.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Oh yeah, yeah, no question right by three inches. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
By the way, the guys you were thinking of Chet
Holmgren and also Jalen Juggs who plays for Orlando.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Yeah, I was thinking of Home Grind. I mean, this
played AAU ball at this guy, so you know there's
there's some athleticism there. I think the biggest thing you're
going to have to do always with a guy like this,
he's a little bit of a wastepender. You know, you're
going to have to really work on him getting his
knee bend, getting that bend in that lower body, and
you know, just working on that foot fire, that quickness.
(22:54):
There's straight line explosiveness, no doubt about that. But you know,
really you want also you when he get that good
body control and foot fire with a real tall guy,
so that he can pick up stunts and pick up
that real quickness on the edge because once you get
out on that island, now you know you're playing the
best of the best here in the NFL. But again,
(23:15):
I mean a guy with you know, and again a
ton of snaps, you know, the Princeton background, and then
he really has good protection numbers. Like I talked about
Wally being a low percentage guy to throw on. You know,
this kid didn't give up many sacks at all, even
at Iowa State, and then he went down to the
senior ball and did a really good job down there.
(23:35):
So you know, let's let's hope we can max him
out all.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Right, Moving right down the line. Here. Round number five,
the Colts pick up running back DJ Giddons from Kansas State,
and a lot of people thought the Colts might go
running back in Day three, which is indeed what they do.
Thirty nine games, rush for over three thousand career yards.
He's over twelve hundred yards in each of the past
two seasons. Great Beginnings, or I should say humble Beginnings,
(24:02):
started his career as a preferred walk on, then turns
himself into a complete three down back at fifty eight
catches out of the backfield, and he's just a rare
Day three running back that has a resume as stacked
as his. I don't know how you feel, Rick, but
I think this is a legitimate option if you will,
to back up Jonathan Taylor next season. Despite the Colts
(24:23):
bringing in Khalil Herbert in free agency.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
I don't think there's any doubt about it. If to me,
he's a bit of a steal, but it's not a
total surprise because if you remember what we talked about
last Wednesday, I said the two best positions on the
draft were offensive line, of which eight guys, you know,
one quarter of the first round were offensive linemen. Yeah,
(24:45):
and then I said one to a was running back,
and I knew you were going to be able to
get a guy in those middle rounds and you know,
getting him in the fifth round. He is really a
good football player. I mean he has he's a he
can pound it, he will pound it. He's a great kid.
He's you know, it's everything with him is an upward trajectory.
(25:08):
As you said, coming in as a walk on. All
he's done is got better and better and better. I
mean thirteen hundred plus you know last year, two years
over a thousand. I've seen him make cuts. I've seen
him with good vision and you know, and then I think,
what's a little misleading. I don't know if you always
(25:29):
see it, but it's there. You know, he's a four
to four to three guy, thirty nine and a half vertical,
four to three to three short shuttle, which tells he's
really quick in line. But with that four four three speed,
he can take it to the house. So you know,
I think we got a guy along with Herbert Now
that really have improved that running back room. I think
(25:53):
this is a kid that's just going to grow and grow.
He obviously is going to have to you know, like
all those young kids going to have to learn how
to pass protech better, you know, but that will come.
I think with his willingness and the toughness that he has,
I think that's something that's acquireable. So I really like him.
I think he can slash and take it to the house.
(26:15):
So again, to get that guy in the fifth round,
really kudos.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
To us, no doubt. I think that's the steal of
the draft as it relates to the Colts for the
positional value and the production that they're getting based on
where they picked him up. So yeah, keep an eye
out for him. So all right, agree on that, no question.
Sixth round we go. The Colts take a chance on
Riley Leonard. The QB at a Notre Dame for the
Irish started thirty seven games between Duke and Notre Dame,
(26:42):
and Guy to Notre Dame to the National Championship Game.
A dual threat, Guy ran for over nine hundred yards
last year, set the Irish single season record for rushing
touchdowns by a quarterback with a wopping seventeen of them.
But he's not known for arm strength, didn't have to
carry the team in the passing game last year, averaged
(27:02):
only one hundred and seventy eight passing yards per game
in twenty twenty four. But he did show up in
big moments in big games, like he did against Ohio
State and that national title game. He threw for two
fifty five in that game. But we felt rick confident
that the Colts would draft a quarterback. But what do
you make of Leonard being the guy their selection with
someone that has a lot of experience, a lot of character, leadership,
(27:26):
and just high in tangibles.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Yeah, And as I said to you, you know after ward,
you know, literally after war, the quarterback situation was gonna
be you know, who do you like the best? What
color of Chevy do you really like? And that I
knew they liked Leonard from the beginning. I think his
workout tapped it off. You know, there's no doubt about that.
(27:49):
And here here's the thing, here's what you see in Leonard. Okay,
you know, if if you had to define, if you
had to google, competitiveness, right next to it should be Leonard.
I mean, if you watch him, you watched the first
drive against Ohio State in that National championship when Notre
Dame is really overmatched, totally overmatched, really in the game,
(28:12):
which the game proved. You just watch him play in
that first drive. Yea diving for first down athlete, just
you know, you know, charismatic guy. You know, you know
Coach k wanted him to play basketball at Duke. You know,
he really did. He wanted him to play basketball. He's
(28:32):
that kind of athlete, you know out of Alabama there,
he's a terrific athlete. You know, nine hundred what was
a nine and eighty two yards rushing and seventeen touchdown
runs I mean for Notre Dames. So you're getting that
dual thread guy. You know, it's kind of interesting on
the passing game. And this is just me, but I
(28:54):
felt like that he was a better passer and technician
coming out of Duke. To tell you the truth, I
thought two years ago, you know, if you look at
him throwing the ball, it was a much much higher
draft pick. You know, at Notre Dame, he played with
great competitiveness, but I didn't think he played, you know,
with the technique and the consistency throwing the football. What
(29:18):
happened then, you know, and I you know, that's hard
to that's hard to say because it was it wasn't
like it was too big for him because he competed
his tail off. I mean, his run numbers are unbelievable
and he got them all the way to the you
know finals, So it's not that I you know, maybe
the coaching was a little different, maybe the emphasize the
offensive structure. I don't know, but that that's just me
(29:40):
and that maybe that's just an illusion. But I felt
like when it came to the passing game, he was
better coming out of you know, more just more technique,
refined and accurate coming out of Duke. When they asked me,
I said, you know, I think you could go one
of two ways on this guy. And it's going to
sound like I probably I said, on one case, you
have Ellnger or you have Montana. I mean it's because
(30:03):
you know, they said all the same things about Joe
arm wasn't good enough. No, certainly, I know, I know
I'm being that's hyperbolic, and I don't in no way
do I want to say we just drafted Joe Montana.
But you know, with the quarterback position, it's a funny physician.
You know, you don't know until you really really play,
(30:23):
So you know, right now, I think that's a perfect
number three, four.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
All right, Then to close it out, let's go round
six and seven. The Colts draft defensive tackle Tim Smith
from Alabama yep, and also safety Hunter Wohler from Wisconsin,
who the Colts plan to move to linebacker here in
the NFL. But Smith was a five year player in
the SEC, sixty four games thirty two starts, and then
Woller twenty five games for the Badgers, led the team
(30:51):
in tackles in each of the last two seasons. Really
physical player, great tackler, certainly. So what kind of impact
do you see out of the last two defense of
draft picks as rookies.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Well, I think they replace guys and they may feel needs.
I mean, Smith, you know, you start thirty two games
for Alabama. I mean you've got to have something. And
I've I've watched the tape and I talked to Nick yesterday,
you know down there about him. You know what he
is is a tough run stopper. Okay, he is an
(31:22):
anchor in there. And the reason I think he has
a chance with us, that's the one thing that we
haven't really gotten and that is a huge, huge need,
is that when Buckner and Stu go out of the game,
you know, I said it last week. We can't stop
a those bleed on the running game. It's not about
the pass. We've got plenty of guys that can rush
(31:42):
the passer. We can move inside in the passing downs,
but where we're terrible is inside when those two guys
are out and you end up second in five all day.
You know, And from what my eyes tell me and
what Nick told me, is this kid can play the run. Now,
he's not a pass rusher. They think he can grow,
(32:03):
but you know, he again, he's been in a ton
of big games down there. And if he can just
come in and give us that swing run stopper on
first down, that would mean a lot.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
No question about that. All right. So to wrap up here, Rick,
now that the draft is over, let's talk about what
you make of position battles. What do you think is
the plan at right guard? And what do you think
is the plan at linebacker? The rest of spring and
training campus, the Colts they kind of address that, you know,
drafting a safety then moving him to linebacker, but not
(32:36):
until the seventh round, so not a huge swing at
addressing that position here in the draft. So what do
you make a right guard in linebacker on defense.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Yeah, and just just to regress one spot, Wohler to
me is the replacement for Stewart. Sure, he's a guy,
you know, and he's he's got a little bit of
Carlyles in him. You know, he's a guy that really
is a safety that would be that foot speed would
be a problem. But again, when you want a guy
to improve by a position change, you either move him
in or you move him up. And this is a tough,
(33:09):
instinctive guy. Like I said, I see him as the
replacement for Stewart. In terms of those physicians you're talking about,
you know, I expect, you know, the right guard to
be Gonzalves and uh, you know, if you know, if
something were to happen to Braiden, then he would have
to kick out and it'd be Tucker back in there.
(33:31):
But I expect, if you play a game tomorrow, you
got Braiden at right tackle and you got Gonzalves that
right guard. And I actually feel pretty good about that.
You know, Really the linebacker situation, you know, this is
this is a bet for Carlisles. I mean, really, what
you're saying is Carliles has got it and is going
(33:52):
to be ready, you know, and we'll have to see
on that. I mean, well, we'll have to see. I
was you know, I was hoping we'd be able to
fix that, but this was not This was not a
great year at linebackers. So you know, I certainly understand it.
Again the areas to me, I think we've you know,
we've packed the corner position with a ton of athletes
(34:16):
to compete. I still think safety depth is a little
questionable in you know, defensive line, you know, interior depth wise, somebody,
somebody's got to step off, whether it's Smith or not, because,
like you said, we didn't you know, we didn't take
hard swings at those Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
Yeah, the Colts still have Shagua, Loubi, Cameron mcgroen comes back, Jayalen, Carlies,
like you mentioned, all candidates to to be in the mix.
But you know it's going to be different this year
with a new scheme in lou An Arumo probably not
playing with three linebackers on the field all that often,
but you have to play with two some and the
Cults are still looking for that replacement for EJ. Speed.
(34:59):
Also in the rearview me or now with the draft.
Just one of those things Rick. For the last couple
of weeks, we've been talking about the draft at nauseum.
That's what we do. But now that that's over, you know,
everything kind of comes back front and center that were
front and center before the draft, like the Colts competition,
what's gonna happen with Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson. But
(35:21):
now that the draft is over and sort of the
main big periods of player acquisition, now that those are
over with free agency, the bulk of free agency that's
still ongoing, certainly, but the draft is done as well
undrafted free agents. What do you make of the Colts?
How do you view this roster and the chances for
a good season in twenty twenty five now that most
(35:42):
underlying the word, most of the player acquisition period is over.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
Yeah, you know, the way I look at it is
right now, I think this is a good roster. I
don't think it is necessarily a great roster, but I
think it's good. And I think it's a roster that
doesn't have extreme te liabilities anywhere. I mean, I think
we've patched it up. I think we can put starters
out there, you know, in every position that you know
(36:09):
that are our representative. Uh, that can really go. Uh,
I'm not sure. The only the only reason I don't
rate it great. I still don't know if we have
enough game changers on both sides of the ball. You know,
that remains to be seen. Sometimes that can change. But
I think roster wise, this is a good enough team
to be a playoff team. I think where this team
(36:32):
goes though, and we talked about this last week is
really going to be driven by who and how well
the quarterback plays, Matt. I really think it'll come down
to that, uh. And we're not going to know that
till September, you know, till we start really playing the games.
You know, does the does the pressure on Richardson does
(36:53):
it you know, does it create a higher ceiling that
we're expecting from him? Or you know, Daniel Jones is
Sam Darnold of twenty five? You know, either outcome would
be very very good. But I think when it's all
said and done, this team is good enough to be
a playoff team. But it's gonna be It's gonna be
and will and always will be quarterback driven. I think
(37:16):
I think there's four things that I'm going to be
looking at. Okay, There's four things that I'm going to
be looking at as I evaluate this team day by day.
Number one, the obvious quarterback play. Number two and I'm
excited about this, The Ana Rumo effect on the defense totally.
I think Number three that we haven't talked about we
(37:38):
did last week is consistent place kicking. You know, I'm
a little bit uncomfortable with that right now. And then
how far has Shane Steike can come now, not as
an offensive coordinator but as a head coach. Those are
the four things that I'm going to be looking at
other than the you know, the micro view day after
day after day. But though to me, those are the
(37:59):
four big things things that are going to be important
to where we end up.
Speaker 1 (38:02):
Make total sense to me. Outstanding job as always. That's
Rick Venturrey on our post draft conversation on the Indianapolis Colts.
Eight draft picks here in twenty twenty five and the
eight draft picks plus the undrafted free agents. The Colts
roster is in and around ninety players here in the springtime. Rick,
I want to make sure you enjoy the rest of
(38:24):
the spring. I know we'll see you out here a
handful of times for Ota practices in late May. I
know you can't get away, you love it, but try
to enjoy this nice weather. I think we've kind of
turned the corner here in central Indiana. Be safe on
that motorcycle and your cruises around the cornfields of the
Hoosier State. And can't wait to see you again and
(38:44):
can't wait to talk ball soon.
Speaker 2 (38:45):
Yeah. Absolutely love you guys, love being around you. I
will get some motorcycling, in no doubt, I've already because
I mean we had a what was it eighty yesterday?
Oh crank, So I didn't set any land speed workers
because of the wind, but we were working on it.
But no, no, I really do look forward to OTAs
(39:08):
and of course Mini camp coming up, and hell, before
you know it, you know we'll be calling them.
Speaker 1 (39:13):
We will be calling them. The schedule comes out in
May fourteenth, so stay up late for that one, and
we'll see about the who, the what and the whin
the where for the Colts in twenty twenty five. Rick
Van Turry, Right there, I'm Matt Taylor, and that's gonna
do it for this post draft edition of Inside Football.
Thanks for listening, everybody, and we'll talk to you soon
and stick it right here for the latest on the
(39:34):
Colts are in the right spot. The Colts Audio network
so long
Football is about the Jimmy's and Joe's, and x's and o's.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Guys.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Write numbers three, Jet Spielberg, I'm one all right, nast,
big Fly, Turbo, Zelda fourteen Diapolo, whim out a bunch, right,
Robert de Niro.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
It's time to get out the chotboard and diagram some plays.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Hey, sure you get enough dep like twelve yard, fourteen yards,
break on everything. This is Inside Football with former Colts
and NFL coach Rick Venturie. Inside Football is back with
the great Rick vent Turrey. I'm Matt Taylor. NFL Draft
weekend has come and gone, and eight picks later, over
the course of seven rounds, the Colts got better heading
(00:42):
into the twenty twenty five season. This is the post
draft edition of Inside Football with Rick vent Tury. Matt
Taylor here again inside the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio studio,
and today we are recapping the Colts draft haul and
discussing how the draft impacts the team's outlook for the
upcoming fall and joining me now, of course, Rick vin Turrey,
(01:03):
in his nearly thirty years of NFL coaching background thirty
plus years almost forty, I think it's over forty years
of covering the NFL Draft, is it not.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Rick forty three? Forty three? I don't even like to
let that out.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
I know, I'm sorry. I let the cat out of
the bag there.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
This was forty three. Yeah, for sure. No, I'm proud
of it. It's good.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Absolutely, So we got a lot to talk about. I'm
sure you're rested up after tracking all the picks for
three straight days, but let's talk about everything in totality.
With eight picks, bringing in four players from the Big Ten,
you had two from the Big twelve, one from the
sec Riley Leonard coming from Notre Dame. Colts picked off
needs on both sides of the ball with Penn State
(01:46):
Tyler Warren to fill one of the biggest needs on
the team at tight end, and you finish up with
Wisconsin's Hunter Wooler as a versatile defensive weapon, if you will.
What kinds of feelings did you have on Sunday morning
when you saw that four list in front of you
and you saw those eight picks the Colts were able
to come away with.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Well, you know, just like I felt last week, I
felt really good about the offseason with the Colts. I
felt really good about this draft, and I felt good
for different reasons. This is a little bit different draft.
This wasn't the prototypical way that we've drafted in the park.
Don't get me wrong. There are some qualities. You know,
(02:25):
most of these guys have good RADS scores. But you
know what I like, Here's what I like the most,
Matt number one. I think, first of all, we drafted ballers.
We drafted guys that play the game rather than Olympians
who have really good times. I thought. I also thought
that the Colts stayed really true to their convictions. You know,
(02:48):
it was controversially on round three, you know, but they
believe in Wally. I endorsed that they believe in Wally.
And what's the difference if you get the guy you
want who's going to care two weeks from now, you
know when he was drafted. You know, they drafted guys
this year with really high volume snaps. I mean, guys
that have played. I mean there's a million reps on
(03:11):
these guys, every single guy up and down the list.
And I like that. And it's not just high reps,
it's it's really good tape. You know, a lot of
production by these guys. And yet there's really good metrics.
I mean, with the exception of you could argue a
couple of guys, it's really really good good metrics, no
(03:32):
question about it. And and I think basically these guys
bring a lot of really good traits and a lot
of good strengths. And I think in some ways the
Colts did a pretty good job. And we'll see. I mean,
you know, Sunday's will validate how good a drafted is.
That's why it's very you know, when people go out
of their way to evaluate it. Now that's a little
(03:53):
crazy and given grades because it will play out. But
I think they did a pretty good job of trying
to play some losses and fill some needs. I think
the thing I like the most about watching all these guys,
and I've seen them all on tape, is in most
you know that all these guys, the more I watch them,
the more I like them. And that's not that's not
(04:13):
always true, that's for sure. The more more I watched them,
the more I like them. I think that's really good.
They certainly like big Pen and they certainly like number
forty four. So no, it was it was I think
a really good three days. I really do. I think
the complete off season now and we'll we'll get into everything,
but the complete off season now has been pretty dog
(04:36):
going good.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
Yeah, so many guys wearing number forty four, I mean,
exire Franklin's like, what day? Stop coming at me? Like,
you know, I'm still a damn good football player here.
I'm gonna keep my number, all right, So we'll see
how those other guys adjust in terms of the Jersey numbers.
All right, So let's start at the top. Speaking of
number forty four in college, that was Tyler Warren and
Penn State the fourteenth overall pick, and undoubtedly Rick you
(05:00):
know this, he was the player that was most attached
to the Colts and all of the Mott drafts the
last couple of months. But the way it went down
was pretty organic, right. The Bears take yep, Colston Loveland
with the tenth pick, and perhaps some other players the
Colts had high on their board went before the fourteenth selection.
So in the end, the Colts ended up drafting a
player that fills a huge area of need and they
(05:23):
didn't have to trade up to get them. They stayed patient.
The pro scouts did a really good job of knowing
who was probably going to go in front of the
Colts after Loveland went at ten. So how happy were
you with the way Thursday night kind of played out
for the Colts and getting Tyler Warren.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Well, I was really happy. I mean, we got one
hell of a football player now, and I did think
we would have to move up. To be honest with you,
I'm a little I'm pleasantly surprised that we didn't. You know,
the Bears took Loveland, and you know, you had two
elite tight ends in this draft, regardless of what people say,
and I think the way it played out, it played
out perfectly for us because I think Lovelin is the
(06:01):
perfect tight end for the Bears. They've got their you know,
their stationary tight end in Comet, so they can bring
Lovelan in and get a big time receiver matchup guy
as their age. But I think, you know, basically, Warren
is the best fit for us because he's the best
three down guy. You know, when I say he's the
(06:21):
hell of a player, I mean he is a good
three down guy in all aspects. He never has to
come up the field. He can block the edge. You know,
if you wanted to Billy Brooks and I talked about this.
If you want to put him in the backfield and block, uh,
he can do that. He can really find the creases
(06:42):
in zone defense from an attached position. If you want
to detach him, you know, he's got enough ability to
find creases and catch the football. Uh. He's an interesting guy.
He's an alpha personality. You can see it out on
the field. He plays like a champion. Again, he does
all those things. He's even run the ball. You know,
(07:05):
he's a terrific red zone threat. And the reason he's
a terrific red zone threat is one, he could carry
the ball on short yardage, which he has. But number two,
what you're looking for in the red zone is that
big body receiver. Speeding quickness gets you know, it gets
minimized because of space, and he gives you that big
body and he can bully linebackers. He can bully safeties
(07:30):
in those intermediate areas to get open. And the way
I see him get open is more with size and
catching range. You know, he's not the fastest guy in
the world, but he makes up for it with real intelligence.
He goes to the ball. He's competitive, he can make
circus catches, We've seen it. You're going to be able
(07:52):
to throw fifty to fifty balls to him in the
red zone. And he's amazing, yak guy. I mean, you know,
I've seen him hurtle people. I've seen him lower his
shoulders and knocked the hell out of people. So you know,
I think you have you get And this is so important.
You and I talked about this last week in the
end on that first and particularly in the first on
the upper half of that first round. You got to
(08:14):
get a guy that impacts the game, that becomes an
elite player. And I think, and you know, no one's perfect,
but I think he has that kind of tools.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Well, last year one hundred and four catches. That was
the highest tight end total in Penn State history. In fact,
it also set a Penn State record for catches in
a season regardless of position. The highest number of catches
last year by a Colts tight end was fourteen. That
was Kylon Grantson. So there's no question he was the
(08:44):
focal point Warren that is of Penn State's offense. And
he'll be a big part of this offense next year
for the Colts. But he's not going to put up
the numbers like he did at Penn State. What is
rick what should be a reasonable expectation for Tyler Warren
as a rookie.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Well, you know, whatever he can get, he will get.
I mean, you know, the tight end position in many respects,
as far as production, is tied to three things. It's
tied to can your outside receivers win on the outside
part of the field because that stretches the defense. With wise, Okay,
we got better at that. You know, I think we're
(09:21):
better at that. Pierce certainly has given us that that
top off guy number two, Can you run the football effectively?
And I think that's going to be dependent how the
center right guard position plays. We got the runners, there's
no doubt about that. And so I mean, I think
those two things because that tightens the defense and in
(09:41):
both cases, what does the do. It opens up the
middle of the field because you're either playing hard to
the run with heavy boxes or you're widening out to
cover those wideouts. And so he's going to have a
lot of opportunities if those two things, you know, continue
to go. I think in the end for him in
terms of reduction. That's why I can't put a number
on it really going to depend on our quarterbacking. For instance,
(10:05):
if Jones was the quarterback, you know, he probably would
have a pretty high number because you know, Jones is
a possession guy, get the ball out quick, a lot
of passes over the middle on that, you know, between
the numbers. If Anthony is the quarterback, Anthony has struggled
with throwing the ball between the numbers, and so the
(10:27):
issue there is and I think it's his issue period.
Is he going to be able to make that next
step and find that mid range game because he's going
to have a guy that's going to be there, and
he's going to have to get that part of his
game that he hasn't had, which is anticipating in the
middle of the field and getting it to the tight end.
(10:48):
I think, you know, I didn't mean to avoid the question.
I just think those are the key factors in terms
of how productive he'll be. In terms of his ability,
he'll be as productive as you can get him the ball.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Question about that versatility lining up in different areas within
the offense. Okay, let's go to the second round. Now,
defensive side of the ball with JT. Tuamolowow, a defensive
end from Ohio State. Last year, and really, if you
just look at his entire resume, just stacked. But he
ranked third in college football twenty one and a half
(11:21):
tackles for loss. Last year, ted for fifth with twelve
and a half sacks, won a national championship, finished his
career eighth in program history and tackles for loss sixth
and sacks. He was also first team All Big Ten
in each of the past three seasons. I'm saying this
is a megasteal for the Colts in the second round.
He's got first round grade written all over him. Rick,
(11:42):
So what stands out the most about his playing style? And,
like you said, a ton of experience coming from a
powerhouse football program and lived up to the billing.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Well, you know when I made that statement before, I
think this guy defines it. I think JT. I think
he really really defines I think JT defines. What I
said is the more I watch him, the more I
like him. I mean, he is a power player. He
is exactly the opposite which is good of Latuo. Lat
(12:14):
two is a finesse, quickness hands guy. This guy will
run flat over you. He is a power rusher. Uh,
you know, the twelve and a half sacks that's production.
You know, what was it six and a half in
the playoff games? So he rose to the occasion in
the biggest moments. He's a very very good athlete. He'll
(12:38):
surprise you. He's got really good inline quickness. You know,
he had a four three five short shuttle, which tells
you something about inline quickness. That's very good for his size,
you know. And he vertical thirty five and a half,
so you know he's got explosiveness. Now you know what
(12:58):
he did. What he needs to do is refine the
pass rush right now. He and I love this. He's
a speed the power guy on the edge. I mean
he can you if you if you sets off, you're
coming right back to the quarterback and he can cut
the edge. Uh. He's got a decent spin move. He
doesn't use it a lot. He probably has to use
(13:18):
it a little bit more when he gets up to
the bigs, and I think he has to, you know,
develop an array, but really he has that. His motor
is in sixth gear all the time. There's no question
about that, you know. And the other thing is is
I think he's versatile. I think he's the replacement to Dale.
I think you can play him on first down, you know,
(13:41):
as a big end on the running game and set
the edge. And then I think on passing downs you
can move him inside certainly to a five or even
down to a three. So I think he kind of
gives us that replacement for you know, for Dale slash archery.
I think he has that kind of tool. But again
again I think that I think you made the good point.
(14:04):
I mean, he could easily have been a first round
draft pick in my opinion.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
How needed was that pick forecasting maybe by Chris bellor
there considering the only defensive end under contract beyond this
upcoming season twenty twenty five layout to lot too, how
much did they maybe take that into consideration or is
that is that something you don't worry about when you draft?
Speaker 2 (14:26):
You know what you would have to ask Chris that
I just got a feeling that they fell in love
with him, and the more they because I know, I
know how I feel. You know, at first, you watch
him and you say, boy, it's a tough guy and
he does all this but right, you know, And then
the more you watch him, the more he just grows
on you. And I like the idea that you have
just the opposite type of rusher to lat to. That's
(14:49):
that's what I like. I like versatility, you know, I
like a guy. See. You know, Dale is a big
loss because he was a guy that even without big numbers,
he played good on the edge and then he could
go in and play that three. And I think we're
I think we'll we'll get that out of JT.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
All right, let's go third round, stay on defense with
the draft pick of Justin Wally at of Minnesota, second
team All Big Ten last year, and again, like you said,
experience forty nine games for the Golden Golfers, play through
some injuries, had the broken wrist that lingered throughout the
draft process for him, although that didn't keep him from
(15:28):
testing it into combine in front of the scouts and
team personnel members that were there here in Indianapolis, which
the Colts really liked and appreciated. But he doesn't fit
the cornerback criteria. The Colts usually like those guys to
be longer and taller six foot one six foot two,
while he's only five foot ten, and he was a
little bit of a wild card and most of the evaluation,
(15:51):
some had him going well into Day three, but the
Colts took him in the third round on Day number two.
So how surprised were you with this pick considering the
Colts brought in two corners in free agency, but yet
they continue to reinforce that here in the draft.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Yeah, just one thing I forgot to mention on JTNL.
I'll get to Wally JT. I'll tell you for a
comparison who he reminds me of. And it's a real
positive comparison. He reminds me of Carlo Offics. Okay, Carl
Offas was the thirtieth pick in the draft to the
Chiefs from Purdue. Very much the same kind of guy.
(16:25):
And you've seen Carl Office really come into his own
here with the Chiefs, and I think you got the
same kind of guy. Wally is a guy that I endorsed.
I looked at Wally. It might be a little rich
to go third, but you weren't going to go past four.
So what's the difference. I mean, you know, I think
I give Chris credit on this. He is really convicted.
(16:47):
He didn't care what anybody else thought, with the pundon's
thought or anybody else thought. He thought he wants this guy,
and Maruno wanted this guy, And so they went on
that third round and they said, we're taking him now.
To me, length is one thing, but to me the
most important. That's why this guy. I like this guy
(17:08):
because what is Rick Van Turrey like best in the corner?
What can I not speed? Speed? Man speed? And this
kid runs a four to four. I mean he can
flat go. He is tougher than all get out. He's
got catch up speed. He really drives to the football.
I mean he can plant. You throw a hitch or
(17:30):
an out in front of him, he is going to
plant and drive. He plays feisty, his tape is good.
He can get his hands on balls. He's an interceptor.
You know, if you look at him over the years
as a real low completion rate against him, a real
low you know, completion rate. So I like him. You know,
(17:54):
you can see the difference now in an ARUMO because
you know immediately what you're looking at is are multiple
corners on the field. That's why I said there last week,
you can never have enough corners because you know, when
you start playing the nickel and dime, you want cover
guys up there, and so you can never have enough
of them. And then you let everybody compete and the
(18:16):
best guy wins. Plus I do think because of stature,
I mean, the only the only thing I worry now,
I only worry about two things. One coachable. One I'm
not sure is. You know, when he gets in a
big battle in a fifty to fifty ball with a
you know, one of those big six to five guys
like Sutton from Denver or somebody like that, you know,
(18:36):
he has a little bit of a disadvantage. And then
the other thing, But I think this is coachable. He
drives so hard on those underneath balls you're gonna have
to really teach him to not bite on the double move.
But you know, again that's coachable. But speed, toughness, feistiness
that he had, you know. And then I think also
with that size, you're looking at a guy that down
(18:58):
the road can all so be that nickel you know,
like our guy, you know, very much like Kenny or
like Hilton that Ana Rumbo has had it since the
you know, he can also be that inside guy down
a road. And if you're playing dime, you need two
of those guys. You need one Nickel and one dime
that are the same guys. So yeah, I like Wally
A lot. If it was a little rich who cares
(19:21):
no question.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
If he pans out, no one's gonna ask what round
he was drafting in right, No one gives a blank
as long.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
As you come in and produce sny that's right.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
On Day three, the Colts ended up drafting five players
thanks to a fourth round trade trade back, I should say,
with the La Rams. So in round four the Colts
pick up offensive tackle Jalen Travis from Iowa State. This
guy is a walking eclipse, all right, a mountain of
a man, six foot seven. Some have them at six
(19:49):
foot eight three and forty pounds. Again, there's those games.
Played thirty four games between three years at Princeton and
then transferred his final year in the Big Twelve at
Iowa State. Honorable mention All Big Twelve this past season,
two times second team All IVY honoree, and last year
allowed just one sack in four hundred and seventy five
(20:10):
pass attempts, allowed only four pressures the entire season. My
question to you is is Travis is he the future
swing tackle as many peg him to be coming into
the draft in the On Day three of this draft, well, I.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Think that's a fair you know, that's kind of a
fair projection because I would I think if we play
a game today that you know, Gonzale is going to
be the right guard. I mean, I'll be shocked if
he's not. And I think he has a chance to
be a really good one. I thought he overachieved or
(20:44):
not overachieved, or probably overachieved in my eyes, which is
probably my fault. But I thought he did very well
in his substitute role. And I think, particularly Gonzalez, if
you take him off the edge and you make him
another road guard, we're gonna have a couple of real
road graders at guard, that's for sure. And so now
that being said, you know, now what you need is
(21:07):
you do need to swing tackle Freeland. For some reason,
it's gone backwards. So you know, I think that's that
is his role. He's an interesting guy. You know, he's
you know that, like you said, he blocks out the sun.
I mean, he's a he's a built in sunblock, you know.
But you know, there's a couple of things that are interesting. One,
you know, he was a basketball player up in Minnesota.
(21:28):
He played with the kid with Oka, see the big center.
That's good. I can't I can't think of his name.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
Yeah, aau ball you keep talking, I'll look it up
for you.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Yeah, they played aau ball together. So he's a basketball player.
He's a senator from Minnesota's injured Amy clover sh Ah
in the summertime. I mean, this is a hell of
a combinator. We don't find this very much. And the
thing that I like about him in terms of metrics,
because when you when you get a big guy, what
you don't want is a big lead foot pond to
(22:00):
his guy because he's not gonna make it. He's gonna
be a step slow. But he ran a five to
one five at that size. And this is what's impressive.
He had a thirty five inch vertical jump. So what
that's telling you, that's telling me after forty three years,
is he has some straight line explosiveness.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Yeah, he's got a dire vertical jump than I think
justin Wally.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Oh yeah, yeah, no question right by three inches. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
By the way, the guys you were thinking of Chet
Holmgren and also Jalen Juggs who plays for Orlando.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Yeah, I was thinking of Home Grind. I mean, this
played AAU ball at this guy, so you know there's
there's some athleticism there. I think the biggest thing you're
going to have to do always with a guy like this,
he's a little bit of a wastepender. You know, you're
going to have to really work on him getting his
knee bend, getting that bend in that lower body, and
you know, just working on that foot fire, that quickness.
(22:54):
There's straight line explosiveness, no doubt about that. But you know,
really you want also you when he get that good
body control and foot fire with a real tall guy,
so that he can pick up stunts and pick up
that real quickness on the edge because once you get
out on that island, now you know you're playing the
best of the best here in the NFL. But again,
(23:15):
I mean a guy with you know, and again a
ton of snaps, you know, the Princeton background, and then
he really has good protection numbers. Like I talked about
Wally being a low percentage guy to throw on. You know,
this kid didn't give up many sacks at all, even
at Iowa State, and then he went down to the
senior ball and did a really good job down there.
(23:35):
So you know, let's let's hope we can max him
out all.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Right, Moving right down the line. Here. Round number five,
the Colts pick up running back DJ Giddons from Kansas State,
and a lot of people thought the Colts might go
running back in Day three, which is indeed what they do.
Thirty nine games, rush for over three thousand career yards.
He's over twelve hundred yards in each of the past
two seasons. Great Beginnings, or I should say humble Beginnings,
(24:02):
started his career as a preferred walk on, then turns
himself into a complete three down back at fifty eight
catches out of the backfield, and he's just a rare
Day three running back that has a resume as stacked
as his. I don't know how you feel, Rick, but
I think this is a legitimate option if you will,
to back up Jonathan Taylor next season. Despite the Colts
(24:23):
bringing in Khalil Herbert in free agency.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
I don't think there's any doubt about it. If to me,
he's a bit of a steal, but it's not a
total surprise because if you remember what we talked about
last Wednesday, I said the two best positions on the
draft were offensive line, of which eight guys, you know,
one quarter of the first round were offensive linemen. Yeah,
(24:45):
and then I said one to a was running back,
and I knew you were going to be able to
get a guy in those middle rounds and you know,
getting him in the fifth round. He is really a
good football player. I mean he has he's a he
can pound it, he will pound it. He's a great kid.
He's you know, it's everything with him is an upward trajectory.
(25:08):
As you said, coming in as a walk on. All
he's done is got better and better and better. I
mean thirteen hundred plus you know last year, two years
over a thousand. I've seen him make cuts. I've seen
him with good vision and you know, and then I think,
what's a little misleading. I don't know if you always
(25:29):
see it, but it's there. You know, he's a four
to four to three guy, thirty nine and a half vertical,
four to three to three short shuttle, which tells he's
really quick in line. But with that four four three speed,
he can take it to the house. So you know,
I think we got a guy along with Herbert Now
that really have improved that running back room. I think
(25:53):
this is a kid that's just going to grow and grow.
He obviously is going to have to you know, like
all those young kids going to have to learn how
to pass protech better, you know, but that will come.
I think with his willingness and the toughness that he has,
I think that's something that's acquireable. So I really like him.
I think he can slash and take it to the house.
(26:15):
So again, to get that guy in the fifth round,
really kudos.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
To us, no doubt. I think that's the steal of
the draft as it relates to the Colts for the
positional value and the production that they're getting based on
where they picked him up. So yeah, keep an eye
out for him. So all right, agree on that, no question.
Sixth round we go. The Colts take a chance on
Riley Leonard. The QB at a Notre Dame for the
Irish started thirty seven games between Duke and Notre Dame,
(26:42):
and Guy to Notre Dame to the National Championship Game.
A dual threat, Guy ran for over nine hundred yards
last year, set the Irish single season record for rushing
touchdowns by a quarterback with a wopping seventeen of them.
But he's not known for arm strength, didn't have to
carry the team in the passing game last year, averaged
(27:02):
only one hundred and seventy eight passing yards per game
in twenty twenty four. But he did show up in
big moments in big games, like he did against Ohio
State and that national title game. He threw for two
fifty five in that game. But we felt rick confident
that the Colts would draft a quarterback. But what do
you make of Leonard being the guy their selection with
someone that has a lot of experience, a lot of character, leadership,
(27:26):
and just high in tangibles.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Yeah, And as I said to you, you know after ward,
you know, literally after war, the quarterback situation was gonna
be you know, who do you like the best? What
color of Chevy do you really like? And that I
knew they liked Leonard from the beginning. I think his
workout tapped it off. You know, there's no doubt about that.
(27:49):
And here here's the thing, here's what you see in Leonard. Okay,
you know, if if you had to define, if you
had to google, competitiveness, right next to it should be Leonard.
I mean, if you watch him, you watched the first
drive against Ohio State in that National championship when Notre
Dame is really overmatched, totally overmatched, really in the game,
(28:12):
which the game proved. You just watch him play in
that first drive. Yea diving for first down athlete, just
you know, you know, charismatic guy. You know, you know
Coach k wanted him to play basketball at Duke. You know,
he really did. He wanted him to play basketball. He's
(28:32):
that kind of athlete, you know out of Alabama there,
he's a terrific athlete. You know, nine hundred what was
a nine and eighty two yards rushing and seventeen touchdown
runs I mean for Notre Dames. So you're getting that
dual thread guy. You know, it's kind of interesting on
the passing game. And this is just me, but I
(28:54):
felt like that he was a better passer and technician
coming out of Duke. To tell you the truth, I
thought two years ago, you know, if you look at
him throwing the ball, it was a much much higher
draft pick. You know, at Notre Dame, he played with
great competitiveness, but I didn't think he played, you know,
with the technique and the consistency throwing the football. What
(29:18):
happened then, you know, and I you know, that's hard
to that's hard to say because it was it wasn't
like it was too big for him because he competed
his tail off. I mean, his run numbers are unbelievable
and he got them all the way to the you
know finals, So it's not that I you know, maybe
the coaching was a little different, maybe the emphasize the
offensive structure. I don't know, but that that's just me
(29:40):
and that maybe that's just an illusion. But I felt
like when it came to the passing game, he was
better coming out of you know, more just more technique,
refined and accurate coming out of Duke. When they asked me,
I said, you know, I think you could go one
of two ways on this guy. And it's going to
sound like I probably I said, on one case, you
have Ellnger or you have Montana. I mean it's because
(30:03):
you know, they said all the same things about Joe
arm wasn't good enough. No, certainly, I know, I know
I'm being that's hyperbolic, and I don't in no way
do I want to say we just drafted Joe Montana.
But you know, with the quarterback position, it's a funny physician.
You know, you don't know until you really really play,
(30:23):
So you know, right now, I think that's a perfect
number three, four.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
All right, Then to close it out, let's go round
six and seven. The Colts draft defensive tackle Tim Smith
from Alabama yep, and also safety Hunter Wohler from Wisconsin,
who the Colts plan to move to linebacker here in
the NFL. But Smith was a five year player in
the SEC, sixty four games thirty two starts, and then
Woller twenty five games for the Badgers, led the team
(30:51):
in tackles in each of the last two seasons. Really
physical player, great tackler, certainly. So what kind of impact
do you see out of the last two defense of
draft picks as rookies.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Well, I think they replace guys and they may feel needs.
I mean, Smith, you know, you start thirty two games
for Alabama. I mean you've got to have something. And
I've I've watched the tape and I talked to Nick yesterday,
you know down there about him. You know what he
is is a tough run stopper. Okay, he is an
(31:22):
anchor in there. And the reason I think he has
a chance with us, that's the one thing that we
haven't really gotten and that is a huge, huge need,
is that when Buckner and Stu go out of the game,
you know, I said it last week. We can't stop
a those bleed on the running game. It's not about
the pass. We've got plenty of guys that can rush
(31:42):
the passer. We can move inside in the passing downs,
but where we're terrible is inside when those two guys
are out and you end up second in five all day.
You know, And from what my eyes tell me and
what Nick told me, is this kid can play the run. Now,
he's not a pass rusher. They think he can grow,
(32:03):
but you know, he again, he's been in a ton
of big games down there. And if he can just
come in and give us that swing run stopper on
first down, that would mean a lot.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
No question about that. All right. So to wrap up here, Rick,
now that the draft is over, let's talk about what
you make of position battles. What do you think is
the plan at right guard? And what do you think
is the plan at linebacker? The rest of spring and
training campus, the Colts they kind of address that, you know,
drafting a safety then moving him to linebacker, but not
(32:36):
until the seventh round, so not a huge swing at
addressing that position here in the draft. So what do
you make a right guard in linebacker on defense.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Yeah, and just just to regress one spot, Wohler to
me is the replacement for Stewart. Sure, he's a guy,
you know, and he's he's got a little bit of
Carlyles in him. You know, he's a guy that really
is a safety that would be that foot speed would
be a problem. But again, when you want a guy
to improve by a position change, you either move him
in or you move him up. And this is a tough,
(33:09):
instinctive guy. Like I said, I see him as the
replacement for Stewart. In terms of those physicians you're talking about,
you know, I expect, you know, the right guard to
be Gonzalves and uh, you know, if you know, if
something were to happen to Braiden, then he would have
to kick out and it'd be Tucker back in there.
(33:31):
But I expect, if you play a game tomorrow, you
got Braiden at right tackle and you got Gonzalves that
right guard. And I actually feel pretty good about that.
You know, Really the linebacker situation, you know, this is
this is a bet for Carlisles. I mean, really, what
you're saying is Carliles has got it and is going
(33:52):
to be ready, you know, and we'll have to see
on that. I mean, well, we'll have to see. I
was you know, I was hoping we'd be able to
fix that, but this was not This was not a
great year at linebackers. So you know, I certainly understand it.
Again the areas to me, I think we've you know,
we've packed the corner position with a ton of athletes
(34:16):
to compete. I still think safety depth is a little
questionable in you know, defensive line, you know, interior depth wise, somebody,
somebody's got to step off, whether it's Smith or not, because,
like you said, we didn't you know, we didn't take
hard swings at those Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
Yeah, the Colts still have Shagua, Loubi, Cameron mcgroen comes back, Jayalen, Carlies,
like you mentioned, all candidates to to be in the mix.
But you know it's going to be different this year
with a new scheme in lou An Arumo probably not
playing with three linebackers on the field all that often,
but you have to play with two some and the
Cults are still looking for that replacement for EJ. Speed.
(34:59):
Also in the rearview me or now with the draft.
Just one of those things Rick. For the last couple
of weeks, we've been talking about the draft at nauseum.
That's what we do. But now that that's over, you know,
everything kind of comes back front and center that were
front and center before the draft, like the Colts competition,
what's gonna happen with Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson. But
(35:21):
now that the draft is over and sort of the
main big periods of player acquisition, now that those are
over with free agency, the bulk of free agency that's
still ongoing, certainly, but the draft is done as well
undrafted free agents. What do you make of the Colts?
How do you view this roster and the chances for
a good season in twenty twenty five now that most
(35:42):
underlying the word, most of the player acquisition period is over.
Speaker 2 (35:47):
Yeah, you know, the way I look at it is
right now, I think this is a good roster. I
don't think it is necessarily a great roster, but I
think it's good. And I think it's a roster that
doesn't have extreme te liabilities anywhere. I mean, I think
we've patched it up. I think we can put starters
out there, you know, in every position that you know
(36:09):
that are our representative. Uh, that can really go. Uh,
I'm not sure. The only the only reason I don't
rate it great. I still don't know if we have
enough game changers on both sides of the ball. You know,
that remains to be seen. Sometimes that can change. But
I think roster wise, this is a good enough team
to be a playoff team. I think where this team
(36:32):
goes though, and we talked about this last week is
really going to be driven by who and how well
the quarterback plays, Matt. I really think it'll come down
to that, uh. And we're not going to know that
till September, you know, till we start really playing the games.
You know, does the does the pressure on Richardson does
(36:53):
it you know, does it create a higher ceiling that
we're expecting from him? Or you know, Daniel Jones is
Sam Darnold of twenty five? You know, either outcome would
be very very good. But I think when it's all
said and done, this team is good enough to be
a playoff team. But it's gonna be It's gonna be
and will and always will be quarterback driven. I think
(37:16):
I think there's four things that I'm going to be
looking at. Okay, There's four things that I'm going to
be looking at as I evaluate this team day by day.
Number one, the obvious quarterback play. Number two and I'm
excited about this, The Ana Rumo effect on the defense totally.
I think Number three that we haven't talked about we
(37:38):
did last week is consistent place kicking. You know, I'm
a little bit uncomfortable with that right now. And then
how far has Shane Steike can come now, not as
an offensive coordinator but as a head coach. Those are
the four things that I'm going to be looking at
other than the you know, the micro view day after
day after day. But though to me, those are the
(37:59):
four big things things that are going to be important
to where we end up.
Speaker 1 (38:02):
Make total sense to me. Outstanding job as always. That's
Rick Venturrey on our post draft conversation on the Indianapolis Colts.
Eight draft picks here in twenty twenty five and the
eight draft picks plus the undrafted free agents. The Colts
roster is in and around ninety players here in the springtime. Rick,
I want to make sure you enjoy the rest of
(38:24):
the spring. I know we'll see you out here a
handful of times for Ota practices in late May. I
know you can't get away, you love it, but try
to enjoy this nice weather. I think we've kind of
turned the corner here in central Indiana. Be safe on
that motorcycle and your cruises around the cornfields of the
Hoosier State. And can't wait to see you again and
(38:44):
can't wait to talk ball soon.
Speaker 2 (38:45):
Yeah. Absolutely love you guys, love being around you. I
will get some motorcycling, in no doubt, I've already because
I mean we had a what was it eighty yesterday?
Oh crank, So I didn't set any land speed workers
because of the wind, but we were working on it.
But no, no, I really do look forward to OTAs
(39:08):
and of course Mini camp coming up, and hell, before
you know it, you know we'll be calling them.
Speaker 1 (39:13):
We will be calling them. The schedule comes out in
May fourteenth, so stay up late for that one, and
we'll see about the who, the what and the whin
the where for the Colts in twenty twenty five. Rick
Van Turry, Right there, I'm Matt Taylor, and that's gonna
do it for this post draft edition of Inside Football.
Thanks for listening, everybody, and we'll talk to you soon
and stick it right here for the latest on the
(39:34):
Colts are in the right spot. The Colts Audio network
so long
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