i've been getting the index for over a decade now (20th anniversary edition in 2006)... i'm generally a fan, & it is easily my second favorite after FBG (OK, i'm a homer 
)...
sure they make some bonehead calls like tatum bell... but i appreciate that they lay their rationale out to agree or disagree with, & that can sharpen the debate. they have a good command of comp players, historical precedents, current trends, etc...
i haven't read it cover to cover yet (bob henry is in experts poll, & john norton did some defensive write-ups in the past), & am through WR section... that seemed like a good place to take stock of what i have read so far... as usual, there were some interesting factoids i found potentially useful... & some i found questionable... i'll try & note both kinds below, by skill position...
for those that don't have, i'll try & give context, & for those that do, feel free to add your own positives & negatives under this thread...
QB -
manning - #1... not a very controversial stance. they are predicting a big uptick of TDs, to around 40, which could be about 12 more than just about everybody else. it may not be a stretch to think without edge they could emphasize pass more. teams dared IND to run last year (coming off 49 passing TDs in partial season)... & they did, repeatedly, with success. defenses still dared them to run... maybe better than alternative. edge was probably a better runner than two-headed monster of rhodes/addai (latter should at least be in RBBC as probable RB of the future & possibly present), & maybe helped sustain some drives last season that might not be this year. i think kirwan did a study that colts scored a HUGE percentage of their passing TDs to the backside two years ago (coincided with trend where harrison wasn't scoring as high a percentage of receiving TDs, wayne was maturing & stokely put up historic WR3 TD numbers... first team in NFL history with three WRs over 10 TDs)... he as much predicted defenses would adjust to this. my question is, if defenses dare IND to run & play in a dime defense entire game (sometimes it seems like with 8 DBs in coverage), will it be harder to get 40 passing TDs? they do bring up good point (they do good work with potentially meaningful splits, imo) that he threw for 17 TDs in last 7 games (before clinching playoffs & homefield & being rested, i think)... another good point from the pessimistic side was that PIT may have given blue print to other defenses with their harrassing blitzes that kept manning constantly guessing & off his game, out of rhythm (than again, not every NFL team has defenders the caliber of troy polamalu & farrior to make it work)... a plus is two intra-divisional foes (TEN & HOU) have sketchy secondaries...
to be cont...
)...sure they make some bonehead calls like tatum bell... but i appreciate that they lay their rationale out to agree or disagree with, & that can sharpen the debate. they have a good command of comp players, historical precedents, current trends, etc...
i haven't read it cover to cover yet (bob henry is in experts poll, & john norton did some defensive write-ups in the past), & am through WR section... that seemed like a good place to take stock of what i have read so far... as usual, there were some interesting factoids i found potentially useful... & some i found questionable... i'll try & note both kinds below, by skill position...
for those that don't have, i'll try & give context, & for those that do, feel free to add your own positives & negatives under this thread...
QB -
manning - #1... not a very controversial stance. they are predicting a big uptick of TDs, to around 40, which could be about 12 more than just about everybody else. it may not be a stretch to think without edge they could emphasize pass more. teams dared IND to run last year (coming off 49 passing TDs in partial season)... & they did, repeatedly, with success. defenses still dared them to run... maybe better than alternative. edge was probably a better runner than two-headed monster of rhodes/addai (latter should at least be in RBBC as probable RB of the future & possibly present), & maybe helped sustain some drives last season that might not be this year. i think kirwan did a study that colts scored a HUGE percentage of their passing TDs to the backside two years ago (coincided with trend where harrison wasn't scoring as high a percentage of receiving TDs, wayne was maturing & stokely put up historic WR3 TD numbers... first team in NFL history with three WRs over 10 TDs)... he as much predicted defenses would adjust to this. my question is, if defenses dare IND to run & play in a dime defense entire game (sometimes it seems like with 8 DBs in coverage), will it be harder to get 40 passing TDs? they do bring up good point (they do good work with potentially meaningful splits, imo) that he threw for 17 TDs in last 7 games (before clinching playoffs & homefield & being rested, i think)... another good point from the pessimistic side was that PIT may have given blue print to other defenses with their harrassing blitzes that kept manning constantly guessing & off his game, out of rhythm (than again, not every NFL team has defenders the caliber of troy polamalu & farrior to make it work)... a plus is two intra-divisional foes (TEN & HOU) have sketchy secondaries...
to be cont...
