PatsBoy12
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2009
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Except Spikes hasn't been really injury prone. He had injuries last year, but he was fine his rookie season.
Yeah, there were the unsubstantiated rumors that he suffered a major injury playing basketball last offseason, but the rumors were never confirmed and he was in camp last year.
This should make the LB battles all the more interesting to watch. In order of interest, here are the TC battles that everyone should be watching (IMO, of course)...
1. WR
2. C
3. CB
4. LB
5. LG (with Mankins' injury)
Mine list looks more like this:
1. WR
2. LB
3. CB
4. DE
5. The whole offensive line
Yeah, Rob, but remember he didn't finish camp. He started strong but was held out quite a bit during the the second half of it due to some undisclosed injury (and that, IIRC, was confirmed). We'll see what's up this season, but don't be surprised if he misses time.
The thing is being held out in camp and the preseason isn't neccessarily as bad enough of an injury to hold a player out in the regular season though.
But that does not mean a player can't be labeled "injury prone." Just because you play through the injury doesn't mean you didn't sustain the injury. Spikes was hurt often at UF, but he played through it mostly. As much as we love that in a player, we also have to admit that having an injured player on the field likely means we're not getting the best that player has to offer. Think Jerod Mayo in 2009 and 2011 (IIRC).
UF's defense often took a dip when Spikes was off the field as well.
Yup. He was the heart and soul of the D. He made many of the impact and timely plays and, unlike a lot of college greats seemingly, he never disappeared on the big stage. That's why it didn't surprise me that he was one of the best players throughout the playoffs and especially in the SB.