RB Delone Carter (Syracuse)
119 overall selection by Indianapolis
Last Season Stats: 1233 yds on 231 carries, 9 touchdowns
Notes: led team in rushing freshman yr, sat out ’07 season due to injury (redshirted), MVP at 2010 East-West Shrine All-Star game
Colts running backs Joseph Addai and Mike Hart are free agents and it is assumed the team will not resign both of them. This makes Delone Carter a nice selection to fill up any possible void in the depth chart. The past two seasons, the Colts have gone to the running back committee due to injury and lack of major production from any of their backs. The problem is that the committee doesn’t suit them well as they don’t feature a run game and never let any one back get hot very often. With Peyton Manning at the helm, the Colts will always continue to pass the ball more so than run. Still, that does not eliminate the need to have a productive run game and take pressure off the quarterback. Also, it is detrimental to their redzone offense when they lack a back opposing teams fear. Can Carter change this for the Colts? What I like about this pick is Carter’s downhill physical style of running. This can help the Colts be more productive on those short-yardage situations. And Carter is a strong pass-blocker, which is always of importance in the Colts offensive scheme. What worries me is that this is yet another pick used on a running back in the draft, and the last few have yet to make a huge impact. Donald Brown and Mike Hart have struggled to make their presence felt on the team but have been heavily counted on due to Addai’s injuries. Will Carter be the one to stand out?
Carter sat out his second year with the team due to a dislocated hip but was fortunate to still have three years of eligibility after that season. When he returned for the 2008 season, Carter struggled to find his form and wasn’t able to contribute to the team the way he had his freshman year. He came out in 2009 swinging and didn’t have to look back. The Colts target backs that are strong and productive without worrying about the offensive scheme they played in at college. Addai, Brown, and Carter are all from power running games with the use of a fullback prominent. The Colts don’t even have a fullback on their roster but that won’t stop these backs from fitting in nicely. Delone Carter is a strong back who shows good balance and the ability to break weak, one-arm tackles. He doesn’t have home run speed but possesses an impressive quickness that gets him into the second level of a defense quite often. If for some reason the Colts weren’t able to resign Addai, Carter would be the best bet at becoming number one on the depth chart due to his size and style of play. The Colts value good hands out of the backfield and that is one piece Carter has yet to show but something that could easily be improved upon. He doesn’t always show patience or make the correct reads when running but can slam through any hole. Overall, I question the decision by the Colts but do have faith it could pan out. If Addai returns, Carter could become the finishing punch in a one-two tag team that puts the Colts running game back on the map. He may be the missing piece to getting the Colts offense back to the top of its form.
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