Colts Draft: Chris Ballard on why he made each pick

INDIANAPOLIS – In Chris Ballard's ambitious quest to lift the Indianapolis Colts from three seasons of playoff-less football, he spent the meat of his picks Friday night on a cause dear to his heart.

He went all in on his fronts.

Consider where the Colts sit, five picks into the 2018 NFL Draft: They’ve gone guard, linebacker, guard, then a pair of defensive ends.

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“It’s hard to sustain winning when you’re o-line and d-line aren’t good,” was how the second-year GM put it late Friday night.

A closer look at the Colts’ second- and third-round picks, through Ballard’s eyes:

>> Darius Leonard, linebacker, South Carolina State: He’s here, in short, because of the speed. New coordinator Matt Eberflus’ 4-3 scheme will rely on linebackers who can run and hit, and cover sideline-to-sideline. They believe Leonard can grow into that player.

He eschewed a preferred walk-on spot at Clemson to instead play at South Carolina State, where he starred. Ballard had no reservations about grabbing a small school talent – he often points to his successes in Chicago doing the same thing.

“His Senior Bowl was impressive,” Ballard said of the 6-2, 234-pound Leonard, who runs the 40 in 4.7 seconds. “I thought he stood out. His speed, his athleticism, his ability to cover ... we thought he was the fifth-best ‘backer in the draft and we thought he has big upside.”

“That’s what we want at linebacker. Guys who can play in space, close (on) the football, and you have to do that with speed. The way we play, speed is at a premium. He has good speed. He is a great kid, he’s passionate about football ... he was one of the guys who we think has real grit.”

>> Braden Smith, guard, Auburn: Get this -- Smith wasn’t in Dallas for the draft night, wasn’t hosting friends and family, wasn’t even by a TV. He was at a softball game in College Station, Texas. Why? That’s where his fiancée, who catches for the Auburn team, was playing. That’s where he got the call from Ballard that he was about to become an Indianapolis Colt.

“I mean, my fiancée wanted to be here with me when it happened,” Smith said later. “I mean, happy wife, happy life.”

Smart man.

So, a day after taking Quenton Nelson sixth overall – a lock for the left guard spot come Week 1 – Ballard went guard again in Round 2, grabbing Smith 37th overall. He’s doubling down on the interior of his offensive line, resolute to keep Andrew Luck upright for the foreseeable future.

“We wanted to make sure we upped the competition level on the offensive line, and I think we did that, no question,” Ballard said. “We think (Smith) will be a heck of a player for us long term. Pairing him with Nelson will provide depth of pocket and really help our run game.”

Suddenly, the list of guards on the Colts’ roster is crowded. And that’s how they want it. Smith figures to compete with Jack Mewhort and new signee Matt Slauson for the starting right guard spot.

“It’s about competition,” coach Frank Reich said Friday night. “My experience is you’re not looking for five starters, you’re looking for 8-9 starters. You’re looking for depth. You’re looking for competition.”

They’ll get that. Smith figures to be in the fold for some time.

>> Kemoko Turay, defensive end, Rutgers: Perhaps the riskiest pick of the night, Ballard rolls the dice on a raw prospect with tons of upside. This could pay off in a big way for the Colts. Or it could backfire. Turay is no sure thing.

Seven and a half sacks his freshman year, then just seven his final three.

He believed so strongly he’d end up in blue Turay woke up Friday and put on a Colts shirt. By night’s end he was back in the same shirt, the 52nd pick overall, headed to Indianapolis to learn from Robert Mathis. Asked about Turay’s potential, Ballard shot back.

“He didn’t look like a project at the Senior Bowl,” the GM said, “he looked like the best freaking pass rusher at the game. Look, he needs work, there’s no doubt. But I’m telling you, Turay ... has some pretty unique traits. He’s long. He’s got a great first step. I’m excited to watch him get in a 3-point (stance). There’s not a lot of guys who can get off the ball like he can get off the ball out of a two-point stance. (Broncos All-Pro) Von Miller can. I’m not saying he’s Von Miller, but he’s got a unique trait.”

Speaking of Miller, that’s who Turay models his game after. He went so far Friday night as to labeling himself “the next generation’s Von Miller.” Slow down, rookie. You’ve got a ways to go.

But in Turay the Colts find another pass rusher with size and speed who they figure can add to their attack.

“You win when you rush, you win with speed,” Ballard said. “We’re going to play with waves, with seven, defensive linemen. The defensive line is always going to get the priority with us.”

>> Tyquan Lewis, defensive end, Ohio State: Speaking of waves, the Colts added a third defensive player in four picks Friday night with the former Buckeye, whom will add to a suddenly-stocked cupboard of defensive lineman. He’s coming off a seven-sack season for the Big Ten champs.

The Colts’ defensive line room at the moment: Jabaal Sheard, John Simon, Al Woods, Hassan Ridgeway, Henry Anderson, Tarell Basham, Denico Autry, Margus Hunt, Grover Stewart, Joey Mbu, Caraun Reid, Anthony Johnson, Johnathan Calvin, Kemoko Turay, Tyquan Lewis. That’s 15 players. Likely only eight or nine will make the 53-man roster after the preseason concludes, but when Ballard said he’s serious about adding depth and competition along the fronts, he wasn’t kidding.

What’s left: The Colts have failed to address a glaring need at wide receiver, and they’re likely far from finished at linebacker, even after adding Leonard on Friday night.

“We think there’s still some depth in the draft,” Ballard said of wide receivers. The Colts have remaining picks at No. 104, 140, 169 and No. 221. “We’ll see if we find a guy we like that we can target. But look, we have some guys on our roster that we like. We like Chester (Rogers), we like (Ryan) Grant. They’re good players.

“Look, just because the draft ends, player acquisition (doesn’t). I just thought, ad the end of the day, we needed to get our foundation right.”

Call Star reporter Zak Keefer at (317) 444-6134 and follow him on Twitter: @zkeefer.

Recapping the Colts' Draft

No. 6: The story of new Colt Quenton Nelson

No. 36: What you should know about Colts' second round pick Darius Leonard

No. 37: Colts take more offensive line help with Auburn's Braden Smith

No. 52: Get to know Colts second-round pick Kemoko Turay, an edge rusher

No. 64: What you need to know about Colts third-round pick Tyquan Lewis, a defensive end