Yes, easy to say when your team's not even going to sniff the playoffs.
Was that really necessarry? I made it clear this isn't a "rival" fan speaking. I as a fan try and be objective with any team, even the Titans, our biggest "rival".
Of all these things, running the ball is the biggest concern; hopefully getting Addai healthy rectifies that. And our run defense isn't nearly as bad as it was during the '06 season. Far from it. Doesn't help that our defensive captain, Gary Brackett, along with Bob Sanders, have both been injured as of late.
Last year I heard alot of talk about how the Colts suffered from an immense amount of injuries, yet were so good that they went 13-3, won their division, and had a first round bye. You have injuries now and it is what it is. The Jags were decimated by injuries this year, but I won't complain. Good teams pull together to overcome them. If the Colts can overcome them on defense now, how will they do it in the playoffs? Can they pull a "2006" again?
As for running the ball, you're right; it's all on Addai, i.e. whether he can stay healthy or not for the playoffs.
Believe it or not, your defense has regressed somewhat in terms of yardage thesep ast couple of games. They allowed more than 300 yards to Detroit, and 400 yards to the Jaguars. As I said, any balanced offense with a competent QB are licking their lips right now at the Colts defense. Peyton can't overcome deficits every week. He couldn't do it in 2003 when he only needed to score more than 24 points, in 2004 when he only needed to score more than 20 points, in 2005...well I won't bring up 2005, because that was a certain kicker's fault.
Always an argument I love to hear. Especially since, you know, it isn't 2003 anymore.
Actually it is. 2004, 2007. Both years where Peyton and the offense had an immense amount of talent yet couldn't get it done. And in 2007, Peyton had one of the best defenses he'd ever had lining up to assist him and the
team still couldn't get it done.
If a "fluke" is a team that's always competitive and makes the playoffs year-in and year-out, I'll take it. You savagely underrate just how hard it is to win the Super Bowl. If there's a fluke, it is the Patriots, who dilluded everyone into thinking that dynasties are a common occurence. Look at all the great players that come through the NFL, and couple that with the fact that we're lucky to see one dynasty per decade.
It's hard to be consistently good in the regular season, let alone the postseason; a Jags fan should know that better than, well... anyone.
I meant "fluke" in that 2006 has been the only time to date when one of the most legendary offenses to take the field and its HOF coach actually lived up to what is fairly expected of them and went all the way.
I'm not underrating how hard it is to win a Super Bowl. But 2006 is the exception to the rule for the Colts. The "rule" is that they make the postseason year after year but do not get the Lombardi. The exception was and remains 2006. Like I said, the Colts can prove me wrong, and I'll applaud them if they do.
Apologies if I came across as a little annoyed.
I simply have a low opinion of Jags fans,
SamusAranX -- though you, however, having provided some intelligent commentary, seem to be an exception to most Jags fans. Anyway, I feel like the Jags would've experienced more success these last few years if they had spent more time trying to
be the Colts... as compared to simply being
jealous of the Colts, which is the mentality I've always sensed from both the team and the fans.
This is why petty remarks about Manning's perceived inadequacies in the clutch, especially those remarks that are made by Jags fans, have always rubbed me the wrong way.
Like it or not, Manning answered those questions for good during the 2006 playoffs. He
came through in the clutch. Questions concerned with whether he can or can not were rendered irrelevant. The proof is right in front of you. And it's not even a question if he can do it consistently; his track record late in games speaks for itself: 31 4th quarter comebacks, the latest coming against your team. (If there's been one failing in the playoffs for the Colts, it's the defense... which is why we won the Super Bowl in 2006, when the defense finally stepped up.) But to unearth old arguments like the aforementioned at this late date is a pointless exercise. And when those arguments are unearthed by a Jags fan, such as yourself, it seems only to confirm all those things I tend to associate with your fanbase -- the veiled jealousy, among other things.
Hey, perhaps this wasn't your goal. Perhaps it wasn't the classic Jag fan "veiled jealousy" speaking, but a genuine and un-biased concern about Manning in the clutch. In either case, it's a moot point. Manning's track record in the latter half of his career, along with the Super Bowl XLI Lombardi Trophy and game MVP, speak for themselves. Can't help it if some people choose not to listen.
At any rate, feel free to concern yourself with whether 2006 was a "fluke" or if the Colts will ever get it done again. As a Colts fan, we don't worry about those things; not anymore. We got over the hill. We reached the promised land. We are at peace. We still care, even if it's not quite as "life or death" as it used to be. And, believe me, that's a good thing.
Look, I can never wish the Jags luck... but I at least wish you well. Having the peace of a team that got it done is something you can't even begin to imagine until you have it. Hey, maybe the Jags will get there some day; I don't believe they will, at least not at present, but who knows.
Anyway, like I said, feel free to concern yourself with questions about the Colts' legacy. Though it's always slightly irksome to hear the fans of other teams presume to do so, Colts fans are, by and large, at peace with the team; every NFL fan should be so lucky to be at peace with their own.
Anyway, hopefully you can understand where I'm coming from,
SamusAranX. Have a good one.
