A lot to look forward to this season!

by oldecoltsfan on Aug 24, 2008 1:39 PM EDT Comment 3 comments

Yeah, the Colts do pretty well at drafting. They believe, rightfully so, that's how you build a team for the long haul.

Of course, it helps to have a Peyton Manning at QB so you're not constantly spending draft choices searching for competency at QB. Instead, you have the latitude to fit in the pieces around him and on defense.

I've followed this team from Unitas' days, and Bill Polian gets my vote as master of the draft board. And he's extra smart in how well he and all of the personnel dept. listen to Tony and his staff in order to fit the right talent to the system. No one is better at uncovering talent with low draft picks or undrafted collegiate free agents.

This year's rookie crop is as good or better than I have ever seen. Depth on this year's team will be extraordinary. Speed, athleticism and play-making ability top the descriptive terms one might use for this year's Colts team. Guys like Howard, Foster, Curtis Johnson, Mike Hart, Wheeler, Tamme, Garcon . . . . . . .whew! That's not all of them, I know. But what tremendous additions to an already talented squad!

Now, with the opening of Lucas Oil Stadium, a truly classy and talented team has a home field to match their level of excellence. We fans have one heckuva lot to look forward to this season . . .it should be a great ride!

OldeColtsFan

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

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Welcome

Give this “old timer” a rec for his first post. Say, oldecoltsfan, how does this year’s compare to teams of the past?

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by BigBlueShoe on Aug 24, 2008 3:06 PM EDT reply actions

Greetings and felicitations to BigBlueShoe and FRIENDS!

So many years, so many changes. Bob Vogel(#72-OT from Ohio St.) was Unitas’ protector at left tackle. He was 6’5"- 250 lbs. and a very big guy. Both defensive tackles (Billy Ray Smith and Fred Miller) weighed about 245 lbs. Bubba Smith was the “monster” at 295.
The rosters were limited to 37 guys, then gradually increased to 40, then 43 and so on . . .
Injuries like the ones we see today in camp were virtually non-existant. Don’t know exactly why, but bigger and faster doesn’t necessarily mean more durable.
As I recall, in ‘67 the Colts only carried six DB’s, instead of the 9 or 10 we see today. Maybe seven offensive linemen, instead of the 8 or 9 today. Guys played a lot of football, with far less specialization.
One major difference between this year’s team and years gone by . . .The year Unitas tore his achilles tendon, Earl Morrall was on brought in and led the Colts to a Super Bowl (v. Jets ‘69). Don’t know if anybody on the current roster could handle that. The present cast of backup QB’s looks like a stable of Pretenders that couldn’t quaterback their way out of a paper bag. That is the lone position I can see that has a shortage of quality depth. Oh, well . . . . . .can’t have everything! Maybe we swing a deal for Chris Simms and bring him along nicely.
Overall, and with the benefit of more seasons than I care to admit to for comparison, this year’s squad looks to be the most talented, deepest, and highly motivated I have seen in decades. Great scouting, superb coaching and leadership, topped off by an attitude spurred on by last season lend me to believe that the first season performing in “The Lube” will be exciting and a lot of fun for Colts fans young and Olde.

OldeColtsFan

by oldecoltsfan on Aug 24, 2008 3:39 PM EDT reply actions

Good stuff

Thanks OldeColtsFan. And I would argue that not only does “bigger and faster” not mean more durable, but it is exactly that which is leading to more injuries.

by ctnyc on Aug 24, 2008 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions