Waywatcher

I get what you're saying here, but Marlon also seems to have at least one very visible drop every game. It's gotten to the point where I'd almost prefer the streak of hair in the distance than the inevitable alligator-armed whiff and loss of down.

Both Walker and Waller were hurt on special teams. Waller played in the first half and was primarily responsible for the Sam Koch punt downed on the 1-yard line.

Assuming Waller can stay on the field. He was hurt again in the second half tonight.

Given the heart I saw the team playing with tonight in a hostile environment with the entire world betting against them, it would be asinine to sacrifice Harbaugh on the altar of this season. Too many other elements combining into the "perfect storm of suck," bad luck notwithstanding! It's become a truism at this point, but we've still lost (and won) all our games by a single score. That's pretty insane.

In Dumervil's defense, it was Brynden Trawick who got straight trucked by CJ2K on that counter run. Dumervil missed an arm tackle, but Trawick bounced off of Chris Johnson like he was made out of rubber. It's getting to the point that I get legitimately nervous every time we seem to have an RB cornered for a loss and he changes direction. The lack of overall team speed in the front seven (starters and backups) and our constant over-pursuit on the edge really make me long for the good ol' days (when JJ or Suggs would stay at home, wrap up, and wait for Ngata, Ray and ER to gang-tackle the runner). Ahh, nostalgia...

Not necessarily. I can easily envision a scenario where (provided we're picking high enough) we draft Stanley to play LG for a year or two before dumping Monroe's contract and kicking him (Stanley) out to LT. I can't really see us picking up Osemele's contract, even if he's fast becoming quite affordable. I think, between his back and shoulder injuries, he's just not the same player we drafted.

The problem with Brown's size is that he never uses it. He should go in the Guinness Book of World Records as the shortest 6'5" human being alive. Also, heart plays more into effective run blocking than size - just ask Agent_89.

Man, I wish I could call out sick from my job for three straight months.

I just can't trust Monroe anymore, and I'm not lining up under center putting my blindside in his hands. Count me in on the "Stink for Stanley" bandwagon.

I don't disagree with the argument that you need to build chemistry with a core group of guys. However, there's a fine line between working out the kinks and "the definition of insanity" with a few of the same receivers we keep running out there. Aiken has shown some bright spots here and there (though he had a pretty lackluster game tonight). Marlon Brown, on the other hand, has gradually convinced me that he has next to no redeemable characteristics. Again, I think it's a balancing act. You want to build chemistry. But you also don't want to try and jam square pegs into round holes. At this point, I don't even think Marlon Brown belongs in the NFL. I'd rather mix in Givens, Ross, or even Butler while there are still a handful of games to play and next to nothing on the line.

Tony Lombardi over at RSR also had a good article a while back about Flacco's cadence. That's another thing the "elite" (again, truly sorry) QBs seem to do very well; after getting lined up early in the snap count, they have the flexibility - especially at home - to audible out of a bad look, snap the ball quickly to try and catch the D napping, or attempt to draw the D offsides. It'd be nice to see Joe vary his cadence a bit. Granted, at this point, something as subtle as that is akin to slapping a band-aid on an arterial bleed, but just something I read and happened to agree with.

Two of those three guys have had the liberty of a single OC for more than a year at a time, though. You can rest assured that each package of plays has been tailored to Brady's and Rodgers' (many) strengths and are flexible to handle a number of different situations. Plus, the comfort level is there to allow for both Brady and Rodgers to line up quickly, read and adjust before the snap. Flacco, by all accounts, is having a hard time even getting his receivers and TEs lined up. I'm not saying Joe has the football IQ of two of the best QBs of all-time (three, including Peyton). But his discomfort in this new offense is a big contributor to our inability to get prepared earlier in the play clock.

I happen to know of a potential center on the roster who's a former Rhodes scholar and current math genius.

I've definitely seen some QBs in the "elite" (apologies...easiest adjective to come up with) echelon that had the liberty to call for "max protect" audibles, bringing TEs, RBs, or even WRs split out wide in-line to help block an overload to one side. There's also the "hot read" that's generally packed into a decent red zone play call to which a QB can audible. Both options require the liberty of a package of plays with flexible audible options, though. I have no way to know if Trestman's playbook contains them.

The 2011 season was Indy's "Suck for Luck" campaign. Maybe it's time for our very own "Stink for Stanley"? All kidding aside, Monroe really isn't living up to his contract. And KO's becoming more and more affordable every day - the real question is if we still want him.