The Colts got four key performers who they will be counting on in the Super Bowl this Sunday in last April’s Draft.  RB Donald Brown was the 27th overall pick in the first round out of the draft out of Connecticut.  He played in 11 games for the Colts this year and he carried the ball 78 times for 281 yards (3.6 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  Brown also caught 11 passes for 169 yards (15.4 avg) and he returned 1 kickoff for 21 yards.  He will likely put pressure on Joseph Addai next season.  DT Fili Moala out of USC was the Colts’ 2nd round pick (#56 overall).  He played in 10 games and he made 7 whole tackles last season.  CB Jerraud Powers (3rd round, #92 overall) out of Auburn will be a key player in the Super Bowl this Sunday.  He played in 12 games for the Colts this season and he has made 66 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, forced 1 fumble, defensed 10 passes and he has 1 interception.  WR Austin Collie was a steal in the 4th round (#127 overall) out of BYU.  He played in all 16 games for the Colts this year and he caught 60 passes for 676 yards (11.3 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 2 times for 1 yard (0.5 ypc) and he returned 1 kickoff for 8 yards.  QB Curtis Painter was selected in the 6th round (#201 overall) out of Purdue.  He played in 2 games for the Colts this season and he completed 8 of 28 passes (28.6%) for 83 yards with 0 TD passes and 2 INTs (9.8 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 3 times for 4 yards (1.3 ypc) this year.  The Colts better pray to the big man above that nothing happens to Peyton Manning on Sunday.  Punter Pat McAfee was selected in the 7th round (#222 overall) out of West Virginia.  He played in all 16 games for the Colts last season and he punted the ball 64 times for 2,837 yards (44.3 avg).  He also had 6 touchbacks (9.4%) and he placed the opposing team inside their own 20-yard line 21 times this year (32.8%).  NT Terrance Taylor (4th round, #136 overall) out of Michigan and OG Jaimie Thomas (7th round, #236 overall) out of Maryland just weren’t good enough to play for the Colts as they didn’t make the team.

GRADE FOR 2009:  B+

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  A

The Colts found no less than four players who now have key roles for them in last April’s NFL Draft.  RB Donald Brown (1st round, #27 overall) is pushing Joseph Addai for carries.  He has carried the ball 46 times for 212 yards (4.6 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He has also caught 7 passes for 138 yards (19.7 avg) and he has returned 1 kickoff for 21 yards.  Brown will be the featured back for the Colts some time in the very near future.  CB Jerraud Powers (3rd round, #92 overall) will have a much bigger role with the Colts going forward as he has 29 tackles, 1 forced fumble and he has defensed 4 passes this season.  The Colts have had a lot of injuries in the seconday so they will need Powers to step up.  WR Austin Collie (4th round, #127 overall) has been a godsend for the Colts.  He has been starting at WR most of the year due to Anthony Gonzalez’ injuries this season.  Collie has caught 30 passes for 330 yards (11.0 avg) with 4 TD grabs this season.  K/P Pat McAfee (7th round, #236 overall) has been the punter for the Colts this season despite having a background as a placekicker.  McAfee has punted the ball 26 times for 1,170 yards (45.0 avg) so far this season.  He has 3 touchbacks (11.5%) and he has pinned the opposing team inside the 20-yard line 8 times (30.8%) so far this year.  DT Fili Moala (2nd round, #56 overall) has been a bust so fat this season with only 1 tackle.  QB Curtis Painter (6th round, #201 overall) is the #3 QB for the Colts behind Peyton Manning and Jim Sorgi so don’t expect to see him get on the field this season.  NT Terrance Taylor (4th round, #136 overall) and OG Jaimie Thomas (7th round, #236 overall) have not got into any games yet this season.  The Colts have to be ecstatic with the play they have gotten from their rookies so far this season and they hope they will be able to keep up the good work.

Rookie Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon have really stepped up while Anthony Gonzalez has been out of action.  Austin Collie has caught 20 passes for 228 yards (11.4 avg) with 3 TD grabs this season as he is on fire lately.  Garcon is more of a deep threat as he has caught 11 passes for 216 yards (19.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  The Colts have to feel real good right now as Collie and Garcon will slide right into the #3 and #4 WR roles for them when Gonzalez comes back.

Rookie RB Donald Brown is pushing Joseph Addai for his starting job.  He has carried the ball 15 times for 59 yards (3.9 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He has also caught 3 passes for 40 yards (13.3 avg) so far this year.  Brown’s TD run against the Dolphins was amazing as he refused to go down until he was in the end zone.  Addai better pick his game up or he will be watching Brown run from the sidelines.

The Colts needed help on the interior of the defensive line and they got it in the second round by drafting DT Fili Moala.  Moala is 6′4″, 303 pounds and he has trouble when he doesn’t keep low.  But, he’s fast and can get down the line to make plays when motivated.  Moala played 4 seasons for USC and he appeared in 52 games (38 starts) in which he made 90 tackles, 23.5 tackles for a loss, had 9.5 sacks, batted down 5 balls and he recovered 2 fumbles.  This is a boom or bust pick for the Colts.