Smonroe

Yes, I do think they're a solid team. I guess that depends on your definition of 'solid'. I'm not seeing a lot of holes. RG and the inexperience of the CBs are the weakest areas, IMHO. Obviously, the play of the most important position in professional sports is still TBD. But even with Minshew I think they can win at least 6 games. They won 4 last year with some of the worst QB play in the league. BTW, Brinson has the Colts with 4 wins. Less than the Texans and Titans. I'd say we're better than both of those teams. On paper, at least. But, as they say, opinions don't matter in the NFL. Thank goodness.

Eh, just something to talk about while we're waiting for OTAs. But I do love it when the media expects little to nothing from the Colts.

We would end up with the second pick in the 2024 draft. If AR5 shows continued improvement through the season, and our games were close… I would not be upset with MHJ as a draft pick. Our weaknesses, besides AR learning on the job, are RG and a very inexperienced CB room. But it’s a solid, if not great team. I still think we’ll be better than that, even vying for the division. But, at the very least, it’s good locker room fodder! https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-playoff-predictions-for-2023-season-eagles-fall-falcons-rise-plus-full-division-and-wild-card-picks/

IMHO, Defense is trolling to see how many people he can get fired up. But if that's what some people think is fun (both trolling and responding to them), it's okay with me. Logically though - last season we had probably the worst QB play in the league. Our O line was in disarray and Shaq really didn't play. Yet they won 4 games (and should have won at least 2 more). AR5 would have to turn the ball over more times than Ryan. Rainman would have to regress worse than Pryor, JT would have to stop playing in October, and none of the receivers would progress more than last season. It would take that and more to get the #1 pick. Possible? Sure. But I still think he's trolling. And I just fell for it by giving him a real answer, lol!

Pat was already working for Disney, doing Game Day. It’s a natural progression as he matures as a broadcaster. Sure, they’ll have to cut out the profanity, but I expect his show will be basically the same.

Bowen, Chappel, and whoever Shepard does his with. Those guys are the most informed and entertaining.

Hope you’re having fun!

Maybe because you're complaining about it being boring. Like I said, no one is forcing you to watch it.

I get what you're saying. But the rule changes are necessary. With all the CTE issues, the game was in danger of being eliminated. If it wasn't the most popular game in the country (maybe the world), it probably would have been eliminated due to health concerns. I agree that they protect the QB too much with the rules, but when you're paying a guy over $40M and he's the face of the franchise, you want him protected. It's not fair and it changed the game. But it is what it is. College and NFL football is so huge, I can't see the game ever getting ugly. There will always be new innovations. I always thought it would be interesting for a team to come out in the power I or even the wishbone. Most D's are built to defend speed. LBs are a lot smaller than they used to be. A power running team could wear them down.

I can echo your feeling about baseball. I was a huge Tiger's fan growing up (in Ohio where all my friends were Indians fans). I used to listen to them on the radio at night. I think I can still name the starting lineup of the WS team in 68, the year McClain won 30 games. But, probably in the early 2000s I grew apart from the game. For the same reasons you mentioned. It's fun going to the park, but it's impossible to watch it on TV IMHO. I really feel it's an old mans game now. How many people under 30 do you know who can sit through an entire game on TV? Still a Tiger's fan, but now I only read about how they're doing.

I had to look up who was already there. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_Colts_Ring_of_Honor I didn't see Chad Kelly in that list.

Again, no one is forcing you to watch football either. I must just be a happy dumb guy because I love the way the game has evolved.

I was being facetious. It only seems like the matches take four hours. (I love to joke like that with my soccer loving buddies about how boring the matches are compared to REAL football. So far no one has been shot.)

He was the epitome of toughness, but so were most of the guys from that era. Unitas was something like 145 lbs when he tried out a Notre Dame. They said he was too skinny and would get killed out there. At Louisville he played both was and returned kicks and punts. I’m pretty sure he could have run any offense in the pros. Colleges went to the spread because it’s harder to defend than a pro set. It’s not the coaches jobs to prepare a QB for the NFL, it’s their job to win. So when you hit on a kid who can run and pass with accuracy, they’re set. That translates to the pros very well.

No one is forcing you to watch. There’s always those exciting four hour long soccer matches that end up 0-0.

Of course, in 2012 we had arguably the best rookie QB to ever play in the NFL. You probably heard the story of how Arians, who was the OC, came out dressed all in black after the second mini camp practice. The second practice! The Defensive players asked why he was dressed in black, he said he was going to a funeral. They asked for who? He said yours - because Andrew killed you yesterday. The kid was special. I'm glad we had him for his short time in the league. AR5 can be special too. But it may take a bit longer. I think our support system for him is light years beyond what they did for AL.

True. It’s going to be a competition (I hope). If Freeland shows he’s a better RT than Smith, he should get the job. I doubt it, at least not this year. I don’t think anyone can argue that Smith would be the best RG we have on the team right now. But that’s not saying much.

That, and new coaching. The two rookie T's look promising but I wouldn't count on either of them playing much this year.

Freeland was drafted to be the swing tackle this season. But competition is a good thing. He may end up being our LT in the future, who knows. I just want to know who are all those sayers of nay that you refer to? (Are they Knights?)

Hopefully he’s learned from last seasons fiasco at RG (and LT), and they bring in some veteran competition. At least he addressed T depth in the draft. Right now it’s Fries, Pinter (h*ll no) and Ekiyor. But there’s so much money invested in 3 players, I can’t see Ballard bringing in a guy like Risner.

The roster is definitely better than 2012. Except for the most important position.

Just read that on Stampede Blue. It’s so refreshing to read about a star athlete (or any young person) who doesn’t come off as entitled.

I don't think it's reasonable at all for Week 1. But I like your optimism!

Maybe I wasn't clear in my post. Why do people care where some website ranks us? It's an opinion. You can argue that it's an informed opinion, but it still has absolutely no bearing on how the team performs. I care about the team. Not someone's opinion about the team.

All those 'what ifs' could happen. Probably won't but we thought 2012 was a building year too. I'll go on record that I was super optimistic last season. I bought into Ryan being an adequate QB. I believed our GM and coaches when they put Pryor and Pinter in those spots without much competition. I thought Leonard put his pain behind him. And I told everyone I know to draft Hines on their fantasy team. But I really don't think we were as bad as our record last season. If we end up with 9 wins, I won't be surprised. But if we have a losing record and AR5 shows progress every week, I'll still be happy. Get out the sunglasses, the future is bright.