PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on third round draft pick CB-Kevin Thomas) [
"With our pick in the third round we took Kevin Thomas, cornerback from USC. He's a really good cover corner. He plays a lot like (DB-Jacob) Lacey, similar in style, although he's taller and has good, long arms. He's a really good pass defender. He's a good man-to-man cover guy. Obviously, in that conference he has to cover a lot of good wide receivers. He's done a good job. He was the nickel back as a junior and then a starter this year at left corner. Again, another need we felt that we had to fill, in terms of depth on the defensive side of the ball and felt good about doing it."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on CB-Kevin Thomas) Friday, April 23, 2010
"He's a guy, when you look from a schematic standpoint, that he certainly does have a very good pass defense skill set, where he can play man-to-man, which is something we've played a little bit more of than we have in the past. He's a guy who can walk-up and pressure you a little bit and play some bump-and-run. He's got good hips, good hands, and I think he is going to be able to help us. His range is excellent, and he'll be able to help us in a number of different situations."
PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on if he wanted to take defensive players with the team's first three picks of the draft) Friday, April 23, 2010
"We always have a bias towards defensive players high in the draft because athleticism is so important to us, and in the early rounds what you find is athleticism. That's where those guys go. We were just talking walking over here, if you like a defensive player and you think he can help your team, you better get him up in the early rounds because they are not going to last. In that sense, there is a bit of a bias. But I wouldn't say (we went into the draft planning on taking defensive players with the first three selections), we would have taken plenty of offensive players that went off before we picked had they been available to us, but they just weren't. Despite all the movement that you saw by certain teams, we had no real opportunities to move up. We tried on a couple of occasions, but couldn't get any traction. Obviously, these were players that we are happy to have and wanted on our football team, no question about that. I wouldn't say we started out specifically saying, 'We want defense.' As I say, it tends to fall that way. If you're at the back part of the early rounds the odds are pretty good that defensive players are what is going to be there."
PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on needing to have three or four cornerbacks ready to play every Sunday in the NFL) Friday, April 23, 2010
"Absolutely, yes. I think you have to have five that can play. One of them is usually developmental, but in this case we feel like we have four that can play. So, we're in pretty good shape."
HEAD COACH JIM CALDWELL (on the three selections being guys that have skill sets that can be acclimated to the Colts' system quickly) Friday, April 23, 2010
"I think that's a good observation. Obviously, they were chosen for a reason, simply because of the fact that they do fit what we are doing. They do give us some flexibility because they are all versatile guys. We feel they'll be able to help us right away."
PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on if he's noticed any changes so far with the new draft format) Friday, April 23, 2010
"No. The picks came slower because of the television show, that's all. That's the only change I can see."
PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on what the team will look for tomorrow) Friday, April 23, 2010
"Well, we'll see, let the board talk to us. We'll see what is available. I think there are still some good players there and there will be good players throughout. It's a little tough waiting for everything to happen, but you'd like to be picking in this place every year. That's the goal. We'll just keep after it and see what tomorrow brings. We always find players in these rounds and in collegiate free agency, too. We'll keep after it."
PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on if he's hoping to find a return guy) Friday, April 23, 2010
"I'm not so sure that there is one left that would be anymore dynamic than what we have on the squad right now. I'm not sure, off the top of my head, I don't think there is a dual return guy left. Obviously, that is an important skill set. There are some return guys down there, just none that I can turn to Coach (Caldwell) and say, 'This guy's got the job.'"
PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on if DE-Jerry Hughes will be used as a substitute for DE-Dwight Freeney and DE-Robert Mathis or if he will play with them) Friday, April 23, 2010
"Both."
PRESIDENT BILL POLIAN (on who the return guys would be if the team played next week) Friday, April 23, 2010
"It would probably be (WR-Sam) Giguere and (DB-Jerraud) Powers, if we had to play next week. I don't think (WR-Austin Collie is a possibility). Again, we're not focused on the return game. When you go to the Super Bowl, you're not hurting in that area. If you can get a dual return guy who can do both, one guy who can do both, it's helpful because it takes the stress off other positions, but if you can't, you can't. The world is not going to end because we don't have that."
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DB-KEVIN THOMAS (On being drafted by the Colts) Friday
"I was hoping to get picked soon and when I saw it was the Colts, I was immediately happy as ever because I know the type of team and quality of players that they have. For me to be on the same field as them, I feel all my hard work so far is appreciated. Now I'm ready to ball."
DB-KEVIN THOMAS (On what he brings to the team) Friday
"I'm a cover corner. Dwight Freeney will get his rush on, linebackers will make their plays and I'm going to hold down the outside. If it's a bad pass, I'm picking it. Let's go. Let's get to the Super Bowl and win it. That's what we are about."
DB-KEVIN THOMAS (On if he can supply run support) Friday
"I can run support. If you need me to run support, I got it. I'm ready to contribute to the team."
DB-KEVIN THOMAS (On if he can return punts) Friday
"If they need me to. I'm sure they have guys better suited for the punt return."
DB-KEVIN THOMAS (On if he spoke to the Colts before today) Friday
"I spoke with the Colts at the combine but I haven't seen any of the coaching staff yet. I'm looking forward to it."
DB-KEVIN THOMAS (On what today was like) Friday
"It was nerve-racking. I was just sitting there thinking guys (teams) were passing on me. Then all of a sudden I got the call from the Colts. Now I'm happy as can be."
DB-KEVIN THOMAS (On if he will be motivated when he comes in) Friday
"I'm already motivated. They (Colts) just threw wood in the fire. I'm ready to go."
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