Running NFL Preseason Thread

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

He needed more work on stumbling into the flat and dropping passes that hit him in the hands. He got it.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Question, anyone started a SportsJournalists.com NFL pick'em league yet? If so, can someone provide me a link?

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

I haven't gone all sunshine and unicorns snorting glitter on you, but my takeaway from that game was mostly positive. Cutler looked really good. He had the time, protection and wherewithal to step into his throws. He was on target. I can recall one bad pass (a throw over the middle that was nearly picked off by an LB). Most of his other incompletions were butcher jobs by his targets, whether drops (Williams on opening drive, Hester in end zone) or trips (Hester near the goalline).

Those things pissed me off, but maybe I was just so focused going in on line play and Cutler that I overlooked other shit.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Ya, outside of Williams, I was fairly impressed with the offense, especially the big plays. They must figure something out in the red zone, though. I was actually more concerned with the run defense, but I think that can right itself.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

I believe it was over 10 for a combined average.

Even though it doesn't count

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

man, the giants must've done something awful to make the football gods so angry -- as this to a horrific preseason: top cb terrell thomas (ACL knee) and NO. 2 PICK, dt marvin austin (torn pec) are out for season: http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/6888535/new-york-giants-lose-another-brian-witherspoon-says-acl-torn.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

while it sucks for them and for Giants fans, I cannot lie. I feel no pain over this.

Yeah, I'm a selfish ass

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

By signing Kerry Collins, the Colts finally admit what everyone else in the fucking world knew: that Manning is hurt, and that the backup quarterbacks suck major ass. Geez, it would have been nice to give Collins reps earlier, don't you think?

Also, the Colts were really weird about how they announced the deal. According to this piece, it was done very soon AFTER Jim Caldwell left the podium from a news conference, and with the source being one of Jim Irsay's tweets.

http://blogs.indystar.com/philb/2011/08/24/this-just-in-its-about-time-to-remind-we-dont-matter/

No matter how soon Manning gets healthy, I'd say don't put your money on the Colts playing in the hometown Super Bowl this year.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Do you think Manning plays in the opener?

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Even if Manning was healthy, I wouldn't put money on it. The Colts are a team in decline.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

Come on, Bob, how many reps does Kerry Collins need on top of the 13 trillion or so he's already had in his career? This was clearly a decision put off for as long as possible because of the extreme psychological trauma it causes the entire Colts' organization when it envisions playing without Manning.

 

Re: Running NFL Offseason Thread

It's been a while since the Colts drafted a player who became a star.

After this run from 1996-2003 -- Marvin Harrison, Tarik Glenn, Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, Rob Morris (OK, not a star, but serviceable), Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney and Dallas Clark -- the first-round picks from 2004-2010 have shown flashes of brilliance at best, and been all-out busts at worst -- Marlin Jackson, Joseph Addai, Anthony Gonzalez, Donald Brown and Jerry Hughes (no first-round picks in 2004 and 2008). While the Colts certainly drafted lower in that second stretch, in the first stretch Manning and James were the only top five players, while Freeney was 11th, Harrison and Glenn were 19th, and the rest were 22 or below.

Bill Polian hasn't exactly distinguished himself in the latter period in later rounds and free agency, either. As a result, the core players are getting old in a hurry, and this team will drop off a cliff in fairly short order unless some new, strong blood comes in fast.