Tony Dungy and Bill Polian

As I look back at Bill Poilan's draft record I can't help but be amazed, how can one man be so good at such an in exact science? Let's look at the Indianapolis Colts draft picks in the last 10 years

1996- Marvin Harrison (Bill Tobin)

1997 Tarik Glenn (Bill Tobin)

1998- Peyton Manning

1999- Edgerrin James

1999- Mike Peterson

1999- Hunter Smith

2000- Rob Morris

2000- Marcus Washington

2001- Reggie Wayne

2001- Ryan Diem

2002- Dwight Freeney

2002- David Thorton

2003- Dallas Clark

2003- Cato June

2003- Mike Doss

2004- Bob Sanders

2004- Jason David

2004- Jake Scott

2004- Jim Sorgi

2005- Marlin Jackson

2005- Kelvin Hayden

2005- Dylan Gandy

2005- Matt Giordano

2005- Tyjaun Hagler

2006- Joseph Addai

2006- Freddie Keiaho

2006- Antoine Bethea

2006- Charlie Johnson

2007- Tony Ugoh

2007- Anthony Gonzalez

Is this an unbelievable draft record, I would say so. The question I would like to ask is this, is it an unbelievable draft record or is it unbelievable teaching? I am going to say it is a combination of both, but I would argue for better teaching. Outside of Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James all these guys were drafted in the second half of the first round or later. Most of these guys were drafted in round 2 or lower.

I think the Colts go into the draft looking for one thing about all others, Character. All these guys are willing to be coached and want to improve. You hear the Colts say it on all the Super Bowl videos that personnel is looking for players that are willing to learn and get better. Making it to the NFL isn't their goal. Their goal is to improve once they get into the NFL.

This is a very hard concept for some professional athletes. See even the 7^th round picks were the best in high school. When they were kids just learning the game it was easy. They just picked up the ball and could run faster and jump higher than everyone else. Then they went into high school where the same was true. They were the best athletes so they played running back and linebacker in high school. Then the player moves onto college where they had to pick one or the other. They were still one of the top 3 or 4 players on the team. After their senior year a scout walks up to them and tells they should go in the second to third round of the NFL draft, but there is a minor problem, you see in the middle of March in Joe Athletes jr. year of college he gets in a fight with his girlfriend. The police get called and now you have a huge black mark on your record. You fall out of the draft.

The athlete that you want on your team isn't the guy who can run faster and jump higher. At the pro level they can all run fast and jump high. You want the player who is willing to work hard to be the best.

It takes all kinds to make a champion level team. You have to have the Peyton Manning, and Marvin Harrison's of the world. But you also have to have the Ben Utech and Antoine Bethea. Guys that are willing to contribute. Ben Utech might have been the most underrated player in that Baltimore game. He played outstanding. In fact he knocked Ray Lewis back to 2000 on a Dominic Rhoads first down play.

I always enjoy rooting for guys like Ben Utech and Matt Giordano. Those guys are what make the Colts into a contender. That's what separates the Colts from a team like Jacksonville.