Colts 'hopeful and optimistic' Shaquille Leonard will play in opener

[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by apballin

Don’t come back until your 100% maniac I don’t care if it’s week 8

Yep, If we can't win without him, it just shows that we didn't have a very good defense to begin with.

[JAFF]

Originally Posted by YDFL Commish

Yep, If we can't win without him, it just shows that we didn't have a very good defense to begin with.

He is the Qb of the D. When the Colts lost Manning, he was not easily replaced. He wasn't be best athlete, he might have been the smartest.

Its not just his physical ability, its his football intellect. He “knows” where to be on every play. That is very hard to replicate. Manning was not a great athlete, but opposing team seldom fooled him. Every great D has someone who held it together.

[Oldcolt]

Leonard isn't nearly as important to the defense as Manning was to the offense. I don't even think he is our best defensive player (Buckner). It would hurt to lose him but wouldn't be devastating.

[Racehorse]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

Leonard isn't nearly as important to the defense as Manning was to the offense. I don't even think he is our best defensive player (Buckner). It would hurt to lose him but wouldn't be devastating.

no, but he is the glue for this defense.

[Brylok]

Originally Posted by Racehorse

no, but he is the glue for this defense.

And he's a good bit of the fire in the belly. He's got dog in him.

[JAFF]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

Leonard isn't nearly as important to the defense as Manning was to the offense. I don't even think he is our best defensive player (Buckner). It would hurt to lose him but wouldn't be devastating.

I have no evidence of this, but he is the guy on D who is followed. He is the rally point.

[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by JAFF

He is the Qb of the D. When the Colts lost Manning, he was not easily replaced. He wasn't be best athlete, he might have been the smartest.

Its not just his physical ability, its his football intellect. He “knows” where to be on every play. That is very hard to replicate. Manning was not a great athlete, but opposing team seldom fooled him. Every great D has someone who held it together.

So you're saying that we will have a losing record if Leonard somehow misses how many games?

[apballin]

Hard to say who is the “leader “ of the defense

I’d say maniac definitely is a spark/energy guy that gets everyone going

[Ironshaft]

Originally Posted by apballin

Hard to say who is the “leader“ of the defense is.

I am glad that we can actually have a conversation about who the "leader" of the defense is. We have a number of great players this season:

Buckner
Ngakoue
Leonard
Kenny Moore II
Gilmore

With, hopefully, a few younger guys who by the end of the season are seen as "up and comers"

Paye
Odeyingbo
Okereke
Blackmon
Cross ???

I love what Ballard has done with the defense this year. Adding both Ngakoue and Gilmore to an already solid unit will, hopefully, lead to it being a true strength this year.

[apballin]

Originally Posted by Ironshaft

I am glad that we can actually have a conversation about who the "leader" of the defense is. We have a number of great players this season:

Buckner
Ngakoue
Leonard
Kenny Moore II
Gilmore

With, hopefully, a few younger guys who by the end of the season are seen as "up and comers"

Paye
Odeyingbo
Okereke
Blackmon
Cross ???

I love what Ballard has done with the defense this year. Adding both Ngakoue and Gilmore to an already solid unit will, hopefully, lead to it being a true strength this year.

Don’t forget about Rodgers