How to draft a Super Bowl team
IndyStar reporter Mike Chappell takes a year-by-year look at how the current Colts roster was pieced together, beginning with the arrival of president Bill Polian in December 1997.
Some notable draft decisions by Polian: He used the first pick in the 1998 draft on Peyton Manning rather than Ryan Leaf. At the time most experts were split on who would be the better pro QB. In 1999, Polian took Edgerrin James ahead of Ricky Williams. In 2001, he selected Reggie Wayne with the 30th pick in the first round, after receivers Koren Robinson, Rod Gardner, and Freddie Mitchell.
Some notable draft decisions by Polian: He used the first pick in the 1998 draft on Peyton Manning rather than Ryan Leaf. At the time most experts were split on who would be the better pro QB. In 1999, Polian took Edgerrin James ahead of Ricky Williams. In 2001, he selected Reggie Wayne with the 30th pick in the first round, after receivers Koren Robinson, Rod Gardner, and Freddie Mitchell.
5 Comments:
Why are the Colts used as an example? Sure they dodged a few bullets in past drafts, but they are in no way the blueprint in how to draft a superbowl team. It took them long enough to make it! Better win this one because they won't make it again probably for another 30+ years!
The examples they used made no sense. We know they drafted them, and they did good. But there are all kinds of busts and steals in the nfl. It's not like Leaf was thought of as a much better qb than Peyton, but the Colts took a chance. They were equally rated. The Colts got lucky. Any one of those picks could have been busts.
The Colts finally got to a Super Bowl and now they're the example? I think when looking to build a team soley from the draft, you have to look at what Pittsburgh does as the example of how to draft a Super Bowl team. The Rooney's never over pay for anyone from Rod Woodson, Carnell Lake,
Greg Lloyd to Bill Cowher, however the team has remained competitive. Likewise, they also have WON the Super Bowl.
How about the Pats? Like Pittsburgh, they usually don't overpay for free agents, but they have been one of the most prominent teams in recent years. Brady, Seymour, Samuel, Maroney; they make solid picks that match their system and the identity of the team.
Polian didn't just fall off the turnip truck. He has been the NFL Exec of the Year FIVE TIMES!
The Indianapolis Colts (to differentiate from the Baltimoron Colts) are the winningest NFL team over the past seven year. Not luck, chump.
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