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Colts shock draft, take RB James
Posted: Sunday April 18, 1999 09:15 PM
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indianapolis Colts passed on Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams to select Miami's Edgerrin James in the opening round of the NFL draft on Saturday, then prioritized defense on Sunday. In the second round, club president Bill Polian addressed the team's need to improve a defense that ranked 29th among the league's 30 teams by selecting linebacker Mike Peterson. James was taken as the fourth overall pick after the Colts rejected a trade offer from the New Orleans Saints, who then traded up to select Williams with the fifth pick. Polian said James has a "unique ability to catch the football," making him a better choice for the Colts than Williams. "His ability to catch the football made us feel that he was the best fit with Peyton Manning," Polian said. "He has exceptional hands. He catches the ball very easily, he adjusts to the ball very easily. He runs nice routes." The 6-foot-1, 220-pound James gained 2,960 yards in three years with the Hurricanes, scoring 32 rushing touchdowns on 497 carries in 28 games. He averaged six yards per carry for Miami and also had 42 receptions for 595 yards and three touchdowns. The Colts had a need for a running back after trading three-time Pro Bowler Marshall Faulk to St. Louis on Thursday. "He's had exposure to the passing game, although they did not throw to him a lot," Polian said. "When you see him catch the ball on film, you just know he's a guy with exceptional hands. That was the thing that tilted the balance." James' blocking ability also impressed the Colts, who need their backs to help protect Manning. "He is a strong inside runner. He has enough speed to get to the outside, he has some wiggle and he has very good running vision," Polian side. "He is a solid, every-down back, a wonderful blocker. ... He's not afraid to put his head in there and take somebody out." James decided to join the NFL after his junior year but had been expected to be selected after Williams. "I am happy that somebody finally pulled the trigger and had enough guts and faith to pick me," James said. The 6-11/2 Peterson gives the Colts speed that was sorely needed at linebacker. "He's a great run and hit guy. He's got great instincts," Polian said. "He can cover and he can run. That's a commodity that we surely lacked. ... He'll contribute right away." Peterson started all 11 games for Florida last season, accumulating 127 tackles with 73 solo efforts. He had five sacks for 33 yards lost. The Colts picked up Arkansas offensive guard Brandon Burlsworth with their only pick in the third round. Burlsworth is expected to bolster the Colts run defense. Seeking to improve a defense that ranked 29th among the league's 30 teams, Polian traded to move up to the top pick which resumed with the fourth round. Indianapolis gave its fourth and sixth round picks to San Francisco and used the 96th overall selection to draft defensive back Paul Miranda from Central Florida. In the fifth round, Indianapolis selected defensive end Brad Scioli of Penn State as the 138th overall pick. The Colts had two picks in the seventh round. They used the first to take Notre Dame punter Hunter Smith as the 210th overall pick and they took defensive end Corey Terry of Tennessee as No. 250 in the 253-man draft. "We addressed some needs. I have high hopes we'll get some help from this group," coach Jim Mora said. "We got an outstanding running back. We addressed some needs on defense. ... These guys are all good athletes, active guys." Miranda, 5-foot-10 and 179 pounds, played 31 games and had 11 starts in three years at Central Florida. He played cornerback last year and also returned kickoffs, averaging 25.8 yards for 25 returns. All of his starts came last season when Miranda had 46 solo tackles and assisted on 10 others. It was the second consecutive year the Colts traded up in the fourth round. Last year they took offensive lineman Steve McKinney with the pick and he won a starting job in training camp. 'We were a little concerned about a couple of teams in front of us, wanting or needing a corner,' Mora said. 'If he works out as good as Steve McKinney did, then we made a good decision.' Scioli, 6-2 1/2, 269 pounds, played in 47 games with 28 starts in four seasons with the Nittany Lions. A consummate team player, Scioli moved from the defensive line to tight end as a junior when he had nine receptions for 171 yards. An aggressive pass rusher with outside quickness, Scioli started every game at defensive end last year when he was an All-Big Ten first team pick, recording 42 tackles, including 10 sacks for minus 89 yards and 18 stops for losses for 108 yards. Smith compiled the second-highest figure in school history for a Notre Dame punter, averaging 41.2 yards for 174 punts in four seasons. His best season was as a sophomore when he averaged 43.3 yards for 44 kicks. Smith also had 56 punts inside the 20 during his career. The Colts lost punter Chris Gardocki through free agency this year. Mora said the Colts would take a look at Terry as a linebacker. "He's basically very athletic," Mora said. "He runs well, an aggressive pass rusher and we'll start him out as a stand-up linebacker."
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