The Big Cat

But without citing his (good but not great) statistical achievements, what makes Stevie such an airtight lock? I remember when people said the same thing about Evans...

Come on. You're better than that. It's one of the less wild theories floating around this place, and you know it!

The nifty move for a TD: AWESOME. Being barked at by a fellow UDRFA because he didn't where the !@#$ he was supposed to line up: NOT SO AWESOME.

I've been scared to share my theory here that Stevie's success to-date is due in large part to Chan & Fitz, and that his free-wheeling style may not be the right fit for most other coaches/qb's/schemes...including our new one(s).

I think our WR 'problem' demonstrates what people here have believed to be true for a long time: the difference in talent level from player to player is so slim that coaching makes all the difference. And since there are probably more WR's in the NFL than any other position, I think this is doubly true. I also think that this philosophy--when taken to the logical extreme--justifies any expendability for SJ. Let's face it, guys with the skills and body of Megatron are so few and far between that the VAST majority of WR's are virtual clones of one another if they've reached the NFL level. Remind me again what makes Stevie stand out from the crowd... Also, for the woes of pug and play receivers see: Patriots*, The

To be fair, Edwards v Pittsburgh, Canada, Preseason '08, en route to the fast start that...well...we all know how that story ended.

That said, their defense was lousy when Peyton was there, even worse when he was gone, and truly "lucked" out last season. Yesterday's performance wasn't one that should sit well with fans, either.

They had no business beating the Bills last year. Two questionable fumble calls and Gilmore's pick-6 called back were the difference in that game. They got all the bounces and breaks that day. After yesterday, though, it looks like they got themselves a long-term bounce in TY Hilton. If it wasn't for him, I'd call them a 4-7 win team this year. But, he looks to be a gamer, and the Luck/Hilton combo will be one for the ages.

It should be noted that the Colts, following a 2-14 season, truly limped their way on the back of a feel-good cancer rally through an easy division to an 11-5 record last year. I fully expect them to be in the 7-9 win range this year.

I expect them to drop to 30. EJ checked down FAR too often to be taken seriously.

Or Sal M. That ought to brighten the situation. Since we're fans, since this is all for fun and enjoyment, and since the vast majority of us (presumably) had no money riding on the first preseason game--rendering the result completely meaningless to our day-to-day lives--there's really only question worth asking: Did you enjoy watching yesterday's game? If the answer to that question is 'no,' then you're due for some very serious one-on-one time with a mirror...

Got up that refresh rate, bro.

Honestly, the situation looks to be playing out a lot like the RGIII v Cousins situation a year ago. I think Tuel will have to move mountains to show he's the better quarterback than EJ. Even if he executes everything as well, even if he executes slightly better, you gotta believe the coaches go with the guy they know has more upside: Manuel. Of course, this is all conjecture and I'm speaking directly from my ass, but, ya know, it's a message board. Want something better? Tweet Tim Graham.

Granted, we don't have a superstar there, granted we barely have a stud there, but between McKelvin, Brooks, Butler, this Sampson fella and Rodgers, I'm confident that somebody will be--at the very least--serviceable, and that--in spite of what the realists will have you believe--one play does not a secondary make.

LOL at the "realists": Offense does well: It's preseason, who the !@#$ cares? TY Hilton goes horizontal to pull in a long touch down grab, the only touchdown their offense scores all day: OMFG!!!!!!1 OUR SECONDARY IS !@#$ING TERRIBE! WHERE'S BIRD!? CUT RBOOK1!1Ss! WERE DUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED

Correction: he has lapped everyone in the field but one: Jeff Tuel. But but but but but draft grades. Spell his name right and may be I'll take you seriously. But that's a big 'may be.'

Yeah, heaven forbid the offense complete on 3 scoring drives in the first half.

Look, I posted this in the game day thread but it bears repeating: The drive to end the first half was HANDS DOWN the best clock management we've seen in 10 years. That's not hyperbole and it speaks volumes to how prepared the coaches had our players. I was dumbstruck by that drive. That drive was everything we needed to know from preseason, game one. I don't care if our CB2 got burned, I don't care if EJ didn't take any shots deep, I don't care that MD didn't dominate. I wanted to see a team that was prepared. I wanted a team that was fierce and intelligent, and that's precisely the brand of football we got to enjoy yesterday.

Yes, ha. There was virtually no confusion for opposing offenses last year...none. So, to see any would be an improvement.

Last year it looked like opposing offenses were running plays against pylons. Yesterday they actually looked somewhat off-kilter about half the time. That's really all I needed to see.

Supposing Marrone didn't challenge the QB scramble because it essentially would have bailed-out Hopkins after he booted it out of bounds. I get the impression he wanted to leave that responsibility to the defense, and not his little red flag.

About 21 more than we averaged per game last year.

Marrone had some words for Snow....oooweeeeee

Easley making a case...again.