By
picking two former Ohio State standouts on day one of the NFL Draft, the
Indianapolis Colts show the respect they’ve got for the Buckeyes program and the
Big Ten. With a long history of
taking Big Ten players, the Colts picked up wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez’s
with the 32-nd selection and last but not least defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock
in the third round (98-th overall).
What
will the duo give the Colts? Let’s
take a look at both of them.
Anthony Gonzalez : Wide Receiver
Some
questioned Gonzalez leaving early, but the sure handed Gonzalez showed the
confidence he displayed during his OSU career and never looked back. As a Buckeye, Gonzalez stood in the
shadow of teammate Ted Ginn Jr. But
each week Gonzalez showed his great route running ability and solid hands during
big games to help the Buckeyes win games when it counted most. A starter this past fall, Gonzalez now will have the chance to catch passes
from one of the best passers in NFL history in Peyton Manning. While getting the chance to catch balls
from a future Hall of Famer is great, Gonzales will also be joining the current
Super Bowl Champions as they work toward returning to the biggest game of the
season.
What
the Buckeyes Lose
Solid
sure handed receiver who always made the big play when needed. While everyone talked about Ginn’s
speed, it was Gonzalez who continued to get open and make the big catch when
needed most. The Buckeyes lose a
player who would have projected into having a great senior season, but with the
loss of senior quarterback Troy Smith and the uncertainty of who would be the
Buckeyes next quarterback in the back of his mind, Gonzalez felt the time was
right to leave and was rewarded when the Colts took him in the first round. What Buckeye fan will ever forget the
catch against Michigan?
Quinn
Pitcock: Defensive Tackle
Just
when it looked as if the Buckeyes would have to wait another day before another
Buckeye was taken, the Colts took the Piqua native with the 98-th overall
selection. Earning All-American
honors as a senior Pitcock uses great athletic ability and technique with great
lower body control to win battles in the trenches. The Colts get a battle tested player who
will take the field as a rookie in their defensive rotation.
What
the Buckeyes Lose
Consistent play along the defensive line set Pitcock apart from others at
OSU. Battle tested; the Buckeyes
will have to find a way to fill a huge void with the loss of Pitcock this fall
in what looks like the weakest area on a defense ready to battle for another
National Championship run.
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