With training camp a little more than a week away, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser will spend the final days of the off-season examining 21 questions about the Indianapolis Colts entering 2010 . . .
No. 15: Will Jerraud Powers be a Pro Bowl corner?
We move today to the 15th part of this series examining 21 questions around the 2010 Indianapolis Colts, this one addressing what could become a pertinent question within the next season or two:
Will Jerraud Powers be a Pro Bowl corner?
Perhaps not this season, but it may not be much longer before he is.
Powers, a second-year cornerback for the Colts from Auburn University, was selected in third round of the 2009 NFL Draft, emerging last season as one of the most-productive members of one of the NFL's most-productive rookie classes.
He said he expects his production could improve this season, and experience is the biggest reason.
“Coming into my second year, there are a lot of things I don't have to worry about,” Powers said recently following a session of the Colts' 2010 organized team activities. “Now, I can just come here and relax.”
Powers (5-feet-10, 192 pounds), who quickly impressed coaches and personnel officials last off-season, just as quickly moved into the Colts' starting lineup as a rookie, taking over the position in the preseason. He started 12 games, including 11 of the first 12, and finished the season with 71 tackles, an interception, nine passes defensed, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.
“There's no rookie corner who has played better than Jerraud Powers,” Colts President Bill Polian said late in the season, adding that Powers played well enough to be considered for Rookie of the Year honors. “He has played as well as any corner that we have had play here.”
Powers was less bold in his assessment – “I had a decent first year,” he said, “It definitely could have been better” – and said “I definitely can see myself improving.”
“Last year, coming in as a rookie, you sort of just follow the leaders and not try to do anything out of the ordinary.” he said. “You go in, sort of get the job done, and try to earn a little respect in the locker room and around the players and coaches.
“I can just come here and relax, whereas as a rookie I used to come here not knowing what to expect and not knowing what we were going to do today. Now, just knowing the ins and outs of it, I can just sort of relax and focus on doing my job as a football player and becoming a better football player.
“I think it's going to help out when I get on the field.”
Sometimes, you watch a rookie and wonder if he belongs in the NFL. Other times, rookies play with a comfort level that even the untrained eye – i.e.. the of media members – can see potential. That was Powers last season. His statistics weren't huge, but he played with a professionalism and confidence that makes it clear that he is likely to be a fixture for the Colts at corner for many years.
One of the most oft-heard truisms around the Colts is that players improve drastically from their rookie seasons to their second seasons, and there's little reason to think that won't be true of Powers. He impressed coaches and teammates with his work ethic and maturity. That approach should translate into improvement, and if it does, there's not only little reason to think Powers won't be a fixture in the Indianapolis lineup, but that he won't be appearing in a Pro Bowl or two at some point relatively soon, too.
Comments