A regular look at 30 people who will affect the 2007 NFL season.During the 2006 regular season, Bob Sanders was hurt and the Colts' defense was terrible. During the postseason, Sanders was hurt and the defense was good.
It's not quite that simple, of course, but the fact remains: The Colts have the highest-paid defensive player in the league in Dwight Freeney, but Freeney's presence seems to make less of an impact than that of Sanders, a fourth-year player who only makes a little more than the league minimum.
Sanders is starting training camp on the physically unable to perform list because of off-season shoulder surgery, but that's not necessarily bad news for the Colts. In fact, seeing Sanders on the sideline for most of the year might be a good sight for Colts fans because it would make him more likely to be healthy when the playoffs start. Sanders is an incredible talent with an incredible penchant for getting hurt. It's not realistic for the Colts to expect him to play 16 games and the playoffs, but it is realistic to expect him to make a huge impact when he is on the field.
Bottom line: The Colts' offense is good enough to get them to the playoffs. As long as Sanders is healthy in January, he doesn't need to contribute much in the regular season.
30 to Watch: See them all
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-30-2007 @ 11:37PM
George B Vieto said...
Could you imagine if Bob Sanders were healthy for the whole season? The Steel Curtain would be soft by comparison to the Colts defense.
Reply
7-31-2007 @ 2:43AM
free nfl picks said...
With how good the Colts and Patriots have become, the NFL regular season could turn into like the NBA regular season. Do enough in the regular season to get a spot in the postseason and than let it all hang out in the playoffs. Sanders should take it easy and save himself for when it really counts.
Reply
7-31-2007 @ 6:47AM
Gary said...
LOL George....I think it's a groin-tearing stretch to ever compare any Colt defense to the Steel Curtain....with or without Sanders.
I have to say that if Sanders is not a stable fixture at safety, the Colts 2006 defense is going to look good by comparison to this year's unit.
Colt fans will tell you the offseason losses don't affect them...the players lost were part of a horrible defense so how could they be worse...the backups will fill those spots admirably.
They cannot answer how this will come to fruition. You don't add by subtraction. If these backups are better than the starters they are replacing, then why weren't they starters to begin with?
Who is going to back-up the backups now? The retirement of Tarik Glenn is going to be hell on Manning. Teams are going to press his receivers at the line knowing they will be able to pressure Manning more easily.
Things don't bode well for Indy in 2007.....I think the Jags are primed to take the division.
Reply
7-31-2007 @ 12:48PM
Bob said...
I expect to see Bob the Nailer fit, ready, and blowing up plays by the first Sunday in October. He's living proof that dynamite comes in small packages.
A big shout out to all my Hawkeyes in the NFL!
Reply