Josh Chapman to Colts: Video Highlights, Scouting Report and Analysis

The Alabama Crimson Tide had one of the most dominant collegiate defenses in recent memory, and many agree that the cornerstone of their success was Josh Chapman in the middle of their defensive line.

The individual stats of an interior defensive lineman are usually less important than how effectively their defense was able to limit the opposition's run game. Based on that metric, Chapman and the Tide defense were exceptional, only allowing 74.3 yards rushing per game. The contributions of Chapman are made all the more impressive when it is taken into account that Chapman played the entire season with a torn ACL.

The sturdy lineman chose to have the injury surgically repaired in mid-January, which has cooled the hype surrounding his draft status. Still, even playing injured he was incredibly effective in the physical SEC, and in the one game that he missed Alabama was torched on the ground by Georgia Southern for over 300 yards rushing.

The scouts at CBS Sports view Chapman's rush defense this way:

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Clearly his best trait. Has a short, stumpy build so he typically wins the leverage battle. When he does so, Chapman can be tough to move, even showing the ability to handle double-teams. Excellent weight room strength translates well onto the field. Good stack and shed defender. Alert defender who recognizes the trap block and possesses enough quickness to beat his opponent to the spot. Lacks the sustained speed to chase down ball-carriers, but puts good effort into his lateral pursuit.

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Despite the lower draft position and worry over his health, Chapman could easily crack the starting lineup or become a regular rotational player. His experience in the SEC should prove that he can handle stuffing many NFL rushing attacks, but he will need work on helping to pressure the passer against pass-heavy offenses.

Pick Analysis:

Nice value for the Colts getting Chapman with the first pick of the 5th round. Chapman anchored one of the best defenses in the country last year and should be a rotational player for Chuck Pagano in his rookie season.