Rookies Show Their Mettle Early With Colts, Reiterate Polian's Drafting Prowess

You don't build an NFL team via free agency or trades. Unlike a few other sports, you really can't. There are too many players and salary cap implications. This is why you'll never see a team reload like the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, and Cubs can in baseball, for example. The best football franchises are the ones that understand this -- like the Pats, Chargers, etc. -- and do it well.

This just in: Colts Prez Bill Polian knows what he's doing. Whether it was choosing Peyton Manning over Ryan Leaf, Edgerrin James over Ricky Williams, letting Edge walk and replacing him with Joseph Addai instead of LenDale White ... most of what he touches turns to gold. There are a ton of low-profile draftees as well. This whole team was built via the draft.

That is why it was hardly surprising to see a crop of unheralded rookies exceed expectations Sunday night in Canton.

"There were a lot of really good performances from our young guys that have us excited," Dungy said Monday afternoon.

I'll say.

Look, I understand the game was completely meaningless and many high-profile stars didn't even suit up. In fact, by the time most of these guys shined there were a bunch of dudes playing that won't even make the Redskins final roster.

Still, these kids are fighting to get noticed and all came through. You have to give them that, which in turn makes Polian look like he delivered on yet another draft.

Take Pierre Garcon, a wideout from a freaking D3 school. He had a 51 yard KOR to mix in with his four catches for 33 yards. What does Coach Dungy think?

"Pierre we thought might be a little ways away because of his competition level, but he's done everything in camp you could ask and he continued that (Sunday). Pierre looked like he fit right in with that group."

What about on the defensive line, where there may be worries that Dwight Freeney never returns to form after a lisfranc injury last season? Well, fifth round pick Marcus Howard garnered two sacks.

The offensive line? Running backs only averaged 5.6 yards per carry in this one, thanks to the line that protected the various quarterbacks well enough to only allow three sacks ... which is impressive when Jared Lorenzen plays enough to attempt 21 passes. Mike Hart wanted to sing their praises:

"If you notice, every run I had, the line did a great job," Hart told Colts.com. "There was always a hole for me to get through."

Nice to see the humility from the most impressive rook of the night, former Michigan star Hart. He only carried the ball four times, but made those carries into 53 yards. Add in his three catches, and he gained 81 yards on just seven touches. He ran hard, and even broke several tackles in addition to the ones he eluded -- including the one where he was helmet-less and still didn't shy away from contact. And he's gracious when praised.

Looks like another home run for Bill Polian.

Shocker.