The Fuggernaught

[Brayton Thompson]

Is he back in camp yet? or is he still injured?

[Boiler_Colt]

He's injured, just had sports hernia surgery. I think it usually takes around a month or so to recover from that.

[21isSuperman]

I love that nickname! Except he must earn it

[shakedownstreet]

yes he is on the pup. last two weeks of preseason are the likely earliest return for him

[Rifford]

I lol'd just reading the title. Great nickname!

[TKnight24]

I forgot we Drafted him. Man, our Draft was BETTER than what people gave us Credit for!

[buccolts]

I forgot we Drafted him. Man, our Draft was BETTER than what people gave us Credit for!

Here's to hoping we all still feel this way a few months from now.

[TKnight24]

Here's to hoping we all still feel this way a few months from now.

How many did we Draft Total? Cause like 5 will have an Immediate Impact. Ex: Luck, Fleener, Allen, Hilton, Brazil, & maybe Ballard. So I think we're off to a Good Start

[dgambill]

How many did we Draft Total? Cause like 5 will have an Immediate Impact. Ex: Luck, Fleener, Allen, Hilton, Brazil, & maybe Ballard. So I think we're off to a Good Start

I'm not sure Brazill will play much. I do think he will make the roster and over time become a contributor and I think Hilton will also get worked in slowly (unless injuries say otherwise). I actually think if Chapman gets healthy he will see more time than those two. I agree on paper the draft wasn't too bad. I'm not completely sold on Fleener althought I love Allen. I would have been happy with drafting Upshaw or OL help like Glenn or another one of those early 2nd rounders.

[buccolts]

How many did we Draft Total? Cause like 5 will have an Immediate Impact. Ex: Luck, Fleener, Allen, Hilton, Brazil, & maybe Ballard. So I think we're off to a Good Start

Hey, I'm as optimistic as the next guy, but all I'm sayin' is that 'think' is the most important word in your response.

One or more of them may fail.

In the first couple days of camp we lost 2 guys for the season. Nothing say's none of these guys could suffer the same fate, and some view injury = prone = bust.

Like I said, I's as optimistic as the next guy, but it's early, stuff happens, and everyone's a winner at this point of the process.

[Superman]

I forgot we Drafted him. Man, our Draft was BETTER than what people gave us Credit for!

We got a lot of credit for our draft at the time. Some thought it was too unbalanced (it was certainly slanted toward offense), but most praised the obvious discipline by Grigson of sticking to his draft board, and think the benefit could appear early by surrounding Luck with offensive weapons that he can grow with. I don't think we got sold short on credit for this draft. I want to say that general perception was that we had a top five or ten draft. General consensus was probably a solid A-/B+.

A- http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/2012/nfl-draft-grades.cfm

A- http://nfl.si.com/2012/04/29/2012-nfl-draft-grades/

A- http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CF0QFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsn.foxsports.com%2Fnfl%2Fstory%2FCzar-NFL-Draft-grades-per-team-042812&ei=EssZUPjUO4qqrQGBloBo&usg=AFQjCNHZ5C4A-VMxhBXf4rMhzmRcwHMs0g&sig2=XhIX0ccSOpEv1vUo4-KNOA

A http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-04-28/nfl-draft-2012-grades-bengals-cowboys-patriots-packers-steelers

B http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d828d74db/article/afc-south-draft-grades-texans-get-richer-colts-lay-foundation

B http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/40436/174/nfl-draft-grades

Loved it http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/story/2012-04-29/ratings-2012-NFL-draft/54629536/1

[TKnight24]

We got a lot of credit for our draft at the time. Some thought it was too unbalanced (it was certainly slanted toward offense), but most praised the obvious discipline by Grigson of sticking to his draft board, and think the benefit could appear early by surrounding Luck with offensive weapons that he can grow with. I don't think we got sold short on credit for this draft. I want to say that general perception was that we had a top five or ten draft. General consensus was probably a solid A-/B+.

A- http://www.fftoolbox...raft-grades.cfm

A- http://nfl.si.com/20...l-draft-grades/

A- http://www.google.co...SOpEv1vUo4-KNOA

A http://aol.sportingn...ackers-steelers

B http://www.nfl.com/n...-lay-foundation

B http://www.rotoworld...fl-draft-grades

Loved it http://www.usatoday....raft/54629536/1

When I said that, I meant the Guys on NFL Total Access were the BIGGEST Critics. They just always seem to talk Negative about us. To the point, where I've stopped watching the Show. The Luck comparisons to RG3, The talk about us going 2-14 again this year, etc. just irritates me. I watched it the other day though for the TC Live Coverage, but that's it. Some people just keep saying the ONLY Weapon Luck has is Wayne. And sometimes they say Wayne isn't even that Good smh

[TKnight24]

I'm not sure Brazill will play much. I do think he will make the roster and over time become a contributor and I think Hilton will also get worked in slowly (unless injuries say otherwise). I actually think if Chapman gets healthy he will see more time than those two. I agree on paper the draft wasn't too bad. I'm not completely sold on Fleener althought I love Allen. I would have been happy with drafting Upshaw or OL help like Glenn or another one of those early 2nd rounders.

You're not the only one. I thought for sure Upshaw was coming off the Board to us. But we got Fleener. Not saying it was a Bad Pick because with Fleener, that just makes Andrew more Comfortable by having a Familiar Face. Which is why I believe we brought in Whalen too. But I doubt Whalen makes the Team. Might be Cut or be on the Practice Squad

[Superman]

When I said that, I meant the Guys on NFL Total Access were the BIGGEST Critics. They just always seem to talk Negative about us. To the point, where I've stopped watching the Show. The Luck comparisons to RG3, The talk about us going 2-14 again this year, etc. just irritates me. I watched it the other day though for the TC Live Coverage, but that's it. Some people just keep saying the ONLY Weapon Luck has is Wayne. And sometimes they say Wayne isn't even that Good smh

Oh yeah, those guys are buffoons, for the most part. They might get something right every now and then, but even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes. I don't even really blame them; they're paid to spout out their opinion, no matter how ill-informed it might be. And it's easier to say that the teams that were bad are still bad, and the teams that were good are still good, and then, if you're wrong, it's okay because unforeseen occurrences influenced the outcome. They'll continue to bag on the Colts until such time as they actually look like a decent football team, and then it will be about singing the praises of the front office and coaching staff, and that will continue until the team falls off again. Wash, rinse, repeat.

I'm talking about actual inquisitive and analytical draft reviewers, who have looked at the players selected in comparison with the needs of the team, and determined what they think of the way the team drafted. That's what I linked to above.

And even then, they don't know anything. None of this matters until we see who actually works out and who doesn't. I'd like to see draft grades from three or four years ago, updated to reflect the results.

[ruksak]

When I said that, I meant the Guys on NFL Total Access were the BIGGEST Critics. They just always seem to talk Negative about us. To the point, where I've stopped watching the Show.

The NFLN, I used to consider it the greatest thing since the advent of white bread. However, they are now more sensationalism and very much a typical hype machine.

They have a segment they do on their new NFL AM show called 'Daily Tebow'....if that tells ya anything.

[TKnight24]

The NFLN, I used to consider it the greatest thing since the advent of white bread. However, they are now more sensationalism and very much a typical hype machine.

They have a segment they do on their new NFL AM show called 'Daily Tebow'....if that tells ya anything.

Says a lot. I've just learned to stop listening to the Critics. Let the On-Field Success do the Talking for us. I use to Argue with Redskin Fans that said RG3 is BETTER than Luck. Now, I just shake my head & keep walking. Just not worth it anymore

[funktacious2]

I like the nickname. I hope he can get healthy and live up to it.

[dgambill]

You're not the only one. I thought for sure Upshaw was coming off the Board to us. But we got Fleener. Not saying it was a Bad Pick because with Fleener, that just makes Andrew more Comfortable by having a Familiar Face. Which is why I believe we brought in Whalen too. But I doubt Whalen makes the Team. Might be Cut or be on the Practice Squad

I really thought so too. I thought he would make a great OLB. Of course at that time I thought there was a chance we might move Freeney and it would have made more sense. That said I still would have liked to had him and let him learn behind Freeney in the even that he walks next year for a big contract. TBH I have liked Allen a more all-around TE far more than Fleener. I thought both were late 2nd/3rd round prospects.

After the draft it was clear we were committed to Freeney this year, Arians was going to emphasize TEs in his offense, and that we couldn't forsee the problems with our OL. I'm still holding out hope for those guys but I'm sorry. I get the feeling Andrew might have to use his feet more than we would like. I know he is more mobile than Bradford but I have fears that our OL might look a lot like the Rams last year and Andrew might not have as easy a transition as we would hope. Trial by fire is not always beneficial...plenty of great prospects have had the confidence beatin out of them.

[Warhorse]

That is a dorn good nick.

[Vinny BoomBatz]

Lol....great nick name! Let's hope he can mirror it!

[lollygagger8]

I wonder if his mom's name is Martha?

I think this draft will have more studs than our last 3 drafts total!

[TKnight24]

I really thought so too. I thought he would make a great OLB. Of course at that time I thought there was a chance we might move Freeney and it would have made more sense. That said I still would have liked to had him and let him learn behind Freeney in the even that he walks next year for a big contract. TBH I have liked Allen a more all-around TE far more than Fleener. I thought both were late 2nd/3rd round prospects.

After the draft it was clear we were committed to Freeney this year, Arians was going to emphasize TEs in his offense, and that we couldn't forsee the problems with our OL. I'm still holding out hope for those guys but I'm sorry. I get the feeling Andrew might have to use his feet more than we would like. I know he is more mobile than Bradford but I have fears that our OL might look a lot like the Rams last year and Andrew might not have as easy a transition as we would hope. Trial by fire is not always beneficial...plenty of great prospects have had the confidence beatin out of them.

But the problem with that is, they made it Clear that they believe in our O-Line. Idk what Arians has planned, but I think we'll be running a lot of Quick pass plays. Like Screens, Slants, etc.

No question that Upshaw would've learned great behind Freeney, but now at least he gets to Start in BAL due to Suggs trying to be the next Kobe Bryant smh. But I'm happy with who we drafted. And according to Manusky, Fugger is the one behind Freeney. So, he can learn & make an Impact hopefully

[il vecchio]

I like the nickname. I hope he can get healthy and live up to it.

I think I'd go with Fuggernaut, like astronaut. Naught, with the gh, means worthless.

[Superman]

But the problem with that is, they made it Clear that they believe in our O-Line. Idk what Arians has planned, but I think we'll be running a lot of Quick pass plays. Like Screens, Slants, etc.

No question that Upshaw would've learned great behind Freeney, but now at least he gets to Start in BAL due to Suggs trying to be the next Kobe Bryant smh. But I'm happy with who we drafted. And according to Manusky, Fugger is the one behind Freeney. So, he can learn & make an Impact hopefully

I don't think they made it clear that they believe in our line. I think they ran out of bullets. They prioritized getting weapons for Luck, knowing that there's more than one way to keep the quarterback from getting killed (you mentioned quick pass plays, plus protection with backs and tight ends, and running the ball to stay out of 3rd and long). But we'll have plenty of resources next offseason, with tons of cap space and very likely a high draft position. This season gives the linemen we have a chance to show whether they can cut it or not, and will very clearly identify the positions that need to be upgraded.