Colts 'hopeful and optimistic' Shaquille Leonard will play in opener

[apballin]

Hard to say who is the “leader “ of the defense

I’d say maniac definitely is a spark/energy guy that gets everyone going

[Ironshaft]

Originally Posted by apballin

Hard to say who is the “leader“ of the defense is.

I am glad that we can actually have a conversation about who the "leader" of the defense is. We have a number of great players this season:

Buckner
Ngakoue
Leonard
Kenny Moore II
Gilmore

With, hopefully, a few younger guys who by the end of the season are seen as "up and comers"

Paye
Odeyingbo
Okereke
Blackmon
Cross ???

I love what Ballard has done with the defense this year. Adding both Ngakoue and Gilmore to an already solid unit will, hopefully, lead to it being a true strength this year.

[CanuckColt]

Originally Posted by apballin

Hard to say who is the “leader “ of the defense

I’d say maniac definitely is a spark/energy guy that gets everyone going

It appears that our leader on D is now Buckner.
Leonard is getting to that often-injured part of his career...I don't expect he will last more than a few years as a top level player.

[apballin]

Originally Posted by CanuckColt

It appears that our leader on D is now Buckner.
Leonard is getting to that often-injured part of his career...I don't expect he will last more than a few years as a top level player.

I don’t think they have or need a leader

I do think this defense is gonna be the best we’ve ever seen in Indianapolis

[Butter]

Originally Posted by apballin

I do think this defense is gonna be the best we’ve ever seen in Indianapolis

could well be, though that is not a particularly high bar.

[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by Butter

could well be, though that is not a particularly high bar.

I would say that the 2005 & 2007 defenses were pretty damn good, giving up 15.4 & 16.4 pts per game respectively.

I think today we would kill for a defense that gives up less than 21 pts per game.

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by apballin

I don’t think they have or need a leader

I do think this defense is gonna be the best we’ve ever seen in Indianapolis

Can’t stop the run for shit in preseason. These things have a way of lasting into the season.

I’m not as optimistic.

[CanuckColt]

Maybe if he changes his name back to "Darius" he might have better karma.

[Brylok]

Originally Posted by Racehorse

no, but he is the glue for this defense.

And he's a good bit of the fire in the belly. He's got dog in him.

[apballin]

Originally Posted by Ironshaft

I am glad that we can actually have a conversation about who the "leader" of the defense is. We have a number of great players this season:

Buckner
Ngakoue
Leonard
Kenny Moore II
Gilmore

With, hopefully, a few younger guys who by the end of the season are seen as "up and comers"

Paye
Odeyingbo
Okereke
Blackmon
Cross ???

I love what Ballard has done with the defense this year. Adding both Ngakoue and Gilmore to an already solid unit will, hopefully, lead to it being a true strength this year.

Don’t forget about Rodgers