The Indianapolis Colts’ defense will look different in 2015: veterans Cory Redding and Ricky Jean-Francois are gone. Even though the front office brought in former Rams’ defensive end Kendall Langford the Colts must add some talent in the trenches.
Would Jordan Phillips be a good pick for Indy with their first-round selection?
A few days ago I analyzed how Florida State nose tackle Eddie Goldman would fit the bill at the end of the first round but Phillips is another good candidate for the Colts, especially if Goldman doesn’t fall into the Colts’ lap.
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Jordan Phillips (6’5″, 329) did not play a ton of games in college (he started just 17 games since 2011) but what he showed on the field in 2014 was impressive to say the least. After a redshirt year in 2011 Phillips played occasionally in 2012 (with 12 total tackles) and became a starter in 2013, before a season-ending injury cut his season short after four games. In 2014 he started all 13 games and posted 39 total tackles (20 solo), 7 tackles for loss, two sacks, one fumble recovery and one pass break-up. Production isn’t stellar compared to the other interior defensive line prospects like Danny Shelton or Malcom Brown but looking at the numbers never tells the whole story. Phillips stands out as a very good player on tape despite a lack of effort at times.
The 22-years old is a disruptive force in the middle of the trenches, able to overpower blockers and penetrate into the backfield to make tackles right at the line of scrimmage or behind it when the opponents run the ball. He is a huge man but can bend well more often than not, managing to beat smaller linemen trying to cut him off.
He sheds blocks easily and is extremely valuable against the run but he has to develop more pass-rushing moves other than his bull-rushing technique – which worked well for him until now but won’t be enough in the NFL.
Phillips needs to get better as a pure athlete because durability is a concern with him: both in-game and during the course of an entire NFL season he has to show more reliability on a play-to-play basis to be a starting-caliber player. Teams will have to evaluate closely his back problems as he missed almost a year (2013) of football because of that but if they feel like that won’t affect his future they will fall in love with Phillips’ build and potential.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein sees Phillips as a potential Pro Bowler:
Nose tackle with desired height, weight and speed. Flashes talent necessary to project a ceiling as a dominant run stuffer best suited for a 3-4 defense. Phillips’ ability to eat up blocks should help him earn a high grade, but it’s his potential as a big athlete with above-average range for the position that could turn him into a Pro Bowl nose.
Looking back at Ryan Grigson’s past drafts it’s clear that he’s not a defense-first guy (he’s a former offensive lineman, after all) but after landing two players like Andre Johnson and Frank Gore in free agency I think he’ll realize that it’s time to add some playmakers on defense early. Phillips has the potential to become a real stud: he reminds me of Terrance Knighton and hopefully he can bring the same value to NFL teams. Choosing him with the 29th overall pick would be a wise move for the Colts.
Next: First Round Mock Draft - Colts select OL
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