I am Loving the Speed

[*SHRacerX*]

(06-13-2017, 08:28 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I'm going to watch all the games and cheer for the team regardless if they are good or not. I was still a fan regardless of Akili Smith or Ryan Fizpatrick being the starter, so my "true fan" status has been well paid off.

I just know two years ago the Colts tried this exact same approach. Stock up on offensive talent at the skill positions... Luck, Gore, Hilton, A Johnson, Fleener, Allen, use a first round pick on an undersized WR who was the fastest in their draft in Dorsett... and think that the skill positions will make up for having a putrid OL.

Luck ended up with a hurt right shoulder, a hurt ankle, lacerated kidney, and torn abdominal muscle. He had never missed a game prior, but played only 7 games that year. His hasn't really been truly healthy since then, and he had to get surgery on his throwing shoulder, traced back to the injury in the 2015 season. Luck still hasn't resumed throwing yet.

They call it a copycat league, but it is generally implied you are supposed to copy the good things, not the stupid things.

That is a great analogy.  Rep to you.

We are in the same boat...I remember the darkness of the 90s.  I remember the brief glimmer of hope that was Blake to Pickens.   Those teams were miles behind where we are today.

The Colts analogy is excellent.  Only I would argue this team has more in terms of the RB (Gore was solid, but old), TE, and WR (Green trumps all, plus depth).  However, this Bengals team has the potential to be a top 5 defense.  The Manning-led Colts were good at getting a lead, and then releasing the hounds on pass rush.  But the current Colt teams have middling defenses at best.  Luck got killed because he was always playing from behind, and he still tends to hold on the ball a long time (sidenote:  I remember when he was coming out, they called him rothlisburger with brains, which I thought was hilarious, but he does need to be smarter and protect himself better).

Dalton doesn't hold on to the ball too long and expose himself to a lot of hits.  The biggest advantages this team has going for them over that Colts team is the defense, and the fact that Dalton doesn't hold the ball too long.