take it easy on your D

[omahacolt]

it may not be the class of the league(neither is the colts) but it does some things very well and you have some promising young guys on that side of the ball.

the way i look at it is the colts and bengals can put up points on anyone. put them together and they are going to get into a shootout and put up lots of points.

[bengalboomer7]

I don't know if this has been said yet, but the few Colts fans that travelled over here have been nothing but pure class. That was one hell of a game, look forward to it again in January

[Stripes]

I'm sure Baltimore fans were whining about their defense after week 1 too.... The Colts will do that to fans. We'll be fine.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Unfortunately the defense may keep us out of the playoffs, this year.

They have a few very promising players, but it's weeding out all of the vets that now becomes a huge challenge.

Brian Simmons, Justin Smith, John Thorton, Tory James, Duane Clemons, Carl Powell, Kevin Kaeshvahorn - all can be upgraded and replaced in two years hopefully.

They have all been here 3+ years and outside of Tory, are just not effective as a unit/group.

And there are just better CB's out there than James in the draft/FA. He has too many bad games and gives up too many big plays for my taste, but not unhappy with him as a FA all-around, just need an upgrade. (his INT's are his only strength but I don't value those as much as some people - as a sole criteria almost for going to a Pro Bowl any ways)

And of course we're missing Madeiu Williams - I look at the Colts and I see two very good safeties.

Both of the Bengals' safeties ultimately suck and are career back-ups finding starting roles here.

Bryan Robinson is junk for now also as a FA...and of course you guys get Simon instead.

The Colts are simply a better team and the Bengals remind me of the Colts two years ago. Same blueprint almost.

[walshfan]

good post shula ..right on

[Whur CHad At?]

Great POST shula...agree w/ you 100%

[Spain]

Actually thats along project you have planned there Shula, Id much rather see what they can do With a SS and a new DT, not to mention M Williams back and water Boy might contirbute next year.

also Tory,Smith , and simmons are above average playas, but they cant play SS. Till Ohalete catches on to this D we are screwed. While I would be much more worried about the other safetys that KK and Ohhitme that they are playing in front of. Herring is made of glass. Thorton and Robinson are very averge DT. When you have a project like this you dont change the parts that are working because the rest of the D is disfunctional. I prefer to blame water boys greed for wiping out his rookie season for a couple of hundred grand. If he would of had an impact this year pass rushing then this D might look very different. Hell Im wondering if he will ever catch on at this rate. we are deep in the season and we still havent had any help from this guy. There have also been reports that the fan fav here Odell played out of position in the pitt game. While a rookie mistake. You cant blame a young Ds struggles on the best vets we have.

[derekshank]

I personally think Shula is being a bit too pessimistic. We had the 3rd best scoring defense in the league until we played the Colts... and after giving up 45, we're still in the top 10.

Are we a top 10... or even 15 defense? Maybe not... but we are good at what we do... and that is ball-hawking. We only need a few key additions to stop the run a little more effectively, (and maybe get a better pass rush) and we will be a top 10 defense. Combine that with our top 2 offense... and that makes for a superbowl team.

Tory James is getting old, yes... but we already have his replacement in Ratliff. You don't like Simmons... but we have his replacement in Landon Johnson.

Also... Pollack... I haven't given up on him as a good LB yet... but after seeing how small Robert Mathis is (6'1" 235 lbs), with his league leading 10 sacks... it makes me wonder why Pollack is considered to small too be an effective DE (6'2" 255 lbs, and that is after losing weight to play LB).

We need DT's... 2 of them. We also need a SS (althought KK does okay when Madieu is playing FS), and we need either a DE, or if Pollack can play there, another LB.

If we get all of those things we're the best D in the league. If we get half of them (which is more than possible through FA and the draft) we will be good enough for superbowl sunday.

Our secondary wasn't good enough to stop the Indy WR's in the base D. Neither is anyone else's. What we need is the ability to stop the run effectively... and then we won't have to dare Peyton Manning to beat us deep. Our D is only one year away... don't get so depressed.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Take it EASY? No way. They suck, and I can prove they suck!

Score from Sundays game with the Colts as Exhibit A:

Score from the Colt's and Browns game as Exhibit B:

And as if my case needed any more proof...

Score from the Colt's and 49er's game as Exhibit C:

Now as far as Indianapolis's defense, THEY WERE NOT IMPRESSIVE EITHER! These were SUPPOSED to be two of the top defenses in the league for not allowing points. My ass they are! These rankings are skewered due to the poor offensive quality of the opponents both of these teams have played together in common. They are:

#1: Browns

#2: Titans

#3: Ravens

#4: Jaguars

#5: Houston

Scary powerful offenses there eh, so figure it out, and quit living in denial like a bunch of 'Tards. Suckage is as suckage does. The Bengals Defense STILL SUCKS! They are getting better, but c'mon...good defenses don't give up 45 points to ANYONE EVER!

Hell, they don't even give up 35 for that matter omahacolt! You guy's better do something about your still vunerable defense as well, because if we fix ours first, your team is DONE !