rodderick said:
His body hasn't betrayed him, though, that's the point. Aside from the back injury in college, every single one of his injuries was the result of an ill-timed tackle or an awkward fall. He doesn't have chronic injuries.
He doesn't have chronic injuries, but he is chronically injured. Whether through running style or body type or whatever, this comes close to being a distinction without a difference. Some guys just get injured...one of the mantras I read now is that this is a skill, but I think that it's more of a inborn talent -- for whatever reason some bodies have bones that don't break as easily, etc etc.
Super Nomario said:
The offense struggled more last year than it did in years past, certainly ... but they still finished 3rd in the NFL in points (and 4th in offensive DVOA). I don't think they'll be less healthy than they were last year, and I don't think the rookies will be worse, and I don't think the interior offensive line will be worse. It would have been nice to add more weapons, but this is still one of the best offenses in the league - they just won't be dominant offensively like in '07 or '10-'12.
In answer to this thread's question, I'm un-fucking-believably srsly excited about this season. Never have I paid attn this closely this early and I fully share the optimism. I think concerns about the OL are overblown -- I love Cannon and think there is every reason to assume the OL will be better than their already good performance last season with Vollmer's return, Cannon therefore able to take the RG spot, and heavy investment in youth via the draft. The WRs will certainly be better (2nd year improvements, Amendola healthy). The RBs should be better (White has me excited, Vereen healthy). TE should be much better (Gronk is healthy). All these things are pretty much indisputable and are not about just looking at the sunny side of things. As is the same on the defense: DBs much better (Revis and Browner, along with the very solid DMC, Dennard, Ryan...have a bit of concern about Harmon, but still); LBs much better (Collins breaking out, Hightower better than Spikes and now playing a role better suited to his skills, and Mayo healthy -- with Anderson a LB much better suited to today's game as a LBer in coverage); DL better (Kelly and Wilfork back, I'm insanely high on Easley, depth allowing for fewer reps for Jones and Nink keepign them fresher, Siliga emerging late last season out of nowhere).
I think all of that -- essentially improvements everywhere except QB, which is not a problem -- is totally realistic. The only problem and the raincloud that is waiting to dampen sunny spirits is inevitable injury. The squad is much improved over what was on the field most of last year, but much of the improvement is about the return of injured players. But, of course, some of them won't return in the same form and/or they and others will get injured. It's the nature of the sport. And that returns us to Gronk. He's the key guy beyond Brady that converts the Pats offense from really good to top-notch (what was the stat I saw the other day -- Brady had a 98.6 QBR when Gronk and Vereen were on the field last year, I think?). Of all the injuries waiting to happen, Gronk is the guy who we'll all be least surprised about if his back goes out, his arm goes bad, his knees get injured again, etc etc.
In short, srsly excited (throw in some teen girl emoticons here, too), but also waiting for the other shoe to drop and hoping it's not too bad when it does.
