Source: Jack Gorman / Getty
**INDIANAPOLIS** **–** The resume is not what you typically see on Day 3 of a draft.
D.J. Giddens has size: 6-0, 212 pounds
He has legit production in a major conference: Consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in the Big 12.
He has legit speed: 4.43 in the 40-yard dash
And he showed 3-down ability in college: 50 catches in his final 2 years and a career average of 11.7 yards per catch.
When you examine all of that, many are eager to see if the Colts can turn 5th round pick D.J. Giddens into more than just an afterthought some 150 picks into a draft.
“The production that he’s had the last couple years there has been impressive to watch,” Shane Steichen says of Giddens. “The vision, the contact balance, the way he runs, he’s a 4.43 guy that can catch the ball out of the backfield, is big for our team as well. So, it’s a good get.”
The pass catching element at running back was a needed focus entering the draft.
And it is something that Giddens showed in college, but still something the staff knows needs to improve, mainly the pass protection.
“There’s no question that’s something he’s got to work on, but he’ll be good at it,” Chris Ballard says of Giddens protecting at the next level. “I have a lot of faith in our staff and this kid will work at it and be good at it.”
Giddens acknowledges the same as Ballard, but also points out a hand/wrist injury he suffered early last fall, that he elected to play through, before needing off-season surgery.
“My blocking ability, I’m confident in my blocking, 100 percent,” Gidden says. “Ain’t no excuses, I was just battling things throughout the year. It hindered my confidence. I had surgery. I know who to block. I can learn protections easily. No, it’s just better technique and I know that’s going to come for sure.”
This attribute is often a negative in projecting college running backs to the next level.
Even if Giddens shows some growing pains there, he brings ample college evidence to the NFL of someone who could really excel on first and second down.
“We think he’s pretty talented,” Ballard says of Giddens. “Remember, we took Marlon Mack, who was excellent, Aaron Jones that year. It’s a very similar kind of draft where some guys kind of fell.
“I’m a big DJ (Giddens) fan. I think he is a really talented young man and I think he’s going to – he’s got a chance to help us in a lot of different ways.”
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