Originally Posted by ChoppedWood (Post 72352)

Something else to consider and sort of lost in the toilet bowl of last year. I can't recall all the stats but I do recall articles talking about how the Colts of last year set a record for leads lost in the second half, and even more pronounced, 4th quarter leads, that were lost in just insane decisions and a lack of horses to finish the deal.

To me that says that despite Pags being a terrible coach, despite playing with a guy thrown to the wolves at QB, despite a completely ridiculous O-line shuffle, despite an absurdly pathetic pass rush and a non-existent LB corps, this team actually did show some fight last year.

We have Luck back, we unquestionably have a better Oline, and presumably we have a game breaker at RB this year that we have not had. Put a real coach on top of that; not saying playoffs but also not saying dumpster fire either. I think we are probably looking at a 50/50 year, maybe 9-7 and if Luck is flirting with who he was pre-injury late in the year I could see a push to 10-6.

Originally Posted by JesusChrist (Post 72477)

We have a game breaker at RB? I think RB is a complete unknown at this point. There is some talent there, but we don't know how that will pan out at the NFL level.

We also lost some good d-linemen. Hopefully we don't regress there.

I hope we are all surprised at how good this team ends up being, but it's just a ton of unknowns at this point.

Originally Posted by JesusChrist (Post 72477)

We have a game breaker at RB? I think RB is a complete unknown at this point. There is some talent there, but we don't know how that will pan out at the NFL level.

We also lost some good d-linemen. Hopefully we don't regress there.

I hope we are all surprised at how good this team ends up being, but it's just a ton of unknowns at this point.

Originally Posted by JAFF (Post 72493)

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Does that make me a troll?

Originally Posted by JesusChrist (Post 72477)

We have a game breaker at RB? I think RB is a complete unknown at this point. There is some talent there, but we don't know how that will pan out at the NFL level.

We also lost some good d-linemen. Hopefully we don't regress there.

I hope we are all surprised at how good this team ends up being, but it's just a ton of unknowns at this point.

Originally Posted by ChoppedWood (Post 72520)

Sure there is a lot of unknown at the RB spot but one thing we also know is we have one of the fastest players in the NFL at that spot now in Hines which is not something we have been able to say, shit I don't know if we've been able to say that ever and unbelievably we might actually have a line capable of getting him and Mack space to operate. Love Frank Gore, dude was a great player and a cornerstone in a period of dread, but he didn't pose a threat that had to be adjusted for.

Yeah Dline especially interior is a concern and I don't see a giant LB upgrade to cover for it either...

Originally Posted by JesusChrist (Post 72542)

We had one of the fastest players in Phillip Dorsett previously as well.

The line upgrade should be huge for these young RB's. I hope the o-line can get healthy and stay healthy. They need the time together. I can't wait to see Nelson leaving a path of destruction in his wake.

Originally Posted by Racehorse (Post 72766)

Big difference between a fast RB and a fast WR. A fast WR who can't catch or get separation is useless, except for trading for a backup QB. All a fast RB needs to be able to do is hold onto the ball and have good vision.

Originally Posted by JesusChrist (Post 72779)

If that's all a fast RB needed, then so many of them wouldn't fail. There are a lot of fast RB's that don't make it. Awareness, blitz pickups, learning the playbook, balance, power, all of that is needed with that speed. The young RB's on this team may have what it takes, but we don't know that yet, so we can't assume it until they perform on game day.