USC DT Fili Moala

saskwatch with the pick...

Indianapolis has more needs to fill in the 2009 draft than one would expect for a playoff team. The Colts also have needs at linebacker and running back and they require upgrades along the defensive and offensive lines.  The departure of Harrison has left a need at WR.
 
The linebacker position was addressed in the first round with the selection James Laurinaitis. The Colts would have jumped all over Brian Robiskie had he fallen a few more spots. There is nobody left on the OL or at RB that gets me excited at this spot.

The Colts use their second round pick to address one of the biggest needs, DT. For the past several years they have struggled to stop the run and they are not excited about starting the season with Raheem Brock, Daniel Muir, Eric Foster, Keyunata Dawson, and Antonio Johnson as their tackles.
 
They need a big athletic body in the middle to keep the oppositions offensive linemen off their fast but undersized linebackers. There are two DT’s with close to the same grade, Fili Moala and Sen'Derrick Marks. Marks’ poor performance on the bench (16 reps) creates a concern that he lacks the strength to clog up the middle. Moala is a big body (6’4”, 300 lb) that is stout against the run. He was overshadowed at USC by all of the linebackers on defense, but his ability to clog up the middle and keep linemen off those players allowed them to run all over the field and make plays.

The addition of Moala and Laurinaitis in the first two rounds should really help improve the run defense of the Colts, putting teams in more 3rd and longs and allowing their great pass rushers to put the heat on opposing QB’s.

Round 1 is here.

Previous pick: OT Herman Johnson

Read more: Scouting Report (Mocking the Draft)

On the clock:  Tennessee Titans (Lvl.99), Arizona Cardinals (THE_TRUTH) and Pittsburgh Steelers (McWhirt33).

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