Ras-I Dowling

[patsinthesnow]

You guys can tar and feather me in week 8 if the dimeback that got beat numerous times becomes an All-Pro #1 CB.

 

[Jackson 2]

You guys can tar and feather me in week 8 if the dimeback that got beat numerous times becomes an All-Pro #1 CB.

I wouldn't bother...

 

[Coach42]

So much irony....[/QUOTE



Deus is trolling again. Surprise surprise.

 

[Deus Irae]

Deus is trolling again. Surprise surprise.

Trolling? I was pointing out the irony of two of the board's most hostile homers acting put upon. If either of us was trolling, it was you.

 

[YearbookCurfew]

Ras-I Dowling? More like Glass-I-Dowling! Am I right?

 

[Ring 6]

Dowling wasn't fully healthy at any point last year.

He played in 6 of the first 7 games. He was healthy enough to play and didn't beat out Arrington.
Hopefully he will this year but assuming he already has is very, very premature.

 

[Marqui]

He was healthy enough to play

Sure, but he wasn't healthy enough to play at his full potential. The guy couldn't move his legs smoothly at all compared to his rookie year before he got hurt. Hard to cover when you can't run well.

The good news is there have been a lot of OTA reports that he's been running smoothly this year.

 

[Jackson 2]

Trolling? I was pointing out the irony of two of the board's most hostile homers acting put upon. If either of us was trolling, it was you.

"Hostile homers"...God, I'd almost forgotten how much I love alliteration...

 

[Ring 6]

Sure, but he wasn't healthy enough to play at his full potential. The guy couldn't move his legs smoothly at all compared to his rookie year before he got hurt. Hard to cover when you can't run well.

The good news is there have been a lot of OTA reports that he's been running smoothly this year.

Perhaps so, but the fact is that he could not beat out Arrington, and people are saying Arrington is only a nickel corner. If Dennard is out, Arrington and Dowling are part of the group vying for his job, and right now it is Arringtons to lose.

 

[primetime]

What I don't understand is the perverse nature of some fans who seem to take some strange pleasure in his past injury history, as if its more important to their fandom that they are proven correct about his injury reputation; than the team that they are supposedly rooting for, gets the use of a rare tall CB who has a set of skills that would be helpful to the team effort.

Nah, it would be MUCH better if "they" are proven right, and, of course, anyone who dares to question their views, or even express the hope that Dowling might remain healthy, are to be immediately branded unrequited "homers".

I'm sure every poster would be happy if Dowling turned into a superstar, but typing the words isn't going to make it true. There's nothing wrong with being a little more realistic with our expectations.

 

[patsfanincleveland]

Trolling? I was pointing out the irony of two of the board's most hostile homers acting put upon. If either of us was trolling, it was you.

You don't always have to play the role of thread idiot to such painstaking perfection.

 

[patsfanincleveland]

I have no idea where the idea that he 'could be special' is coming from other than wishful thinking. He's played in 8 games in 2 seasons and has done nothing of note in any of them.

The fact you have no idea is quite telling.

 

[Coach42]

You don't always have to play the role of thread idiot to such painstaking perfection.

Speaking of trolling.......when do the games start this has been the longest offseason ever.

 

[primetime]

If we post optimistically enough about Ras-I Dowling, maybe our words will fuse themselves to his ligaments and prevent them from tearing for the thirteenth time.

 

[supafly]

There's nothing wrong with being a little more realistic with our expectations.

No. No, there isn't.

I am personally just responding to some reasons why I feel that he definitely has the potential that many speak about.

As you point out--the injury concerns have been there. Whether or not he has gotten himself healthy will be the biggest obvious challenge, but if he has recovered he has a pretty damn good shot at making the team in my opinion.

The old phrase "cautiously optmistic" rings true in this case...Let's all hope that he can live up to some of this potential in 2013.

 

[primetime]

That's fair, I think. He's a talented player with an extensive injury history who has the potential to be good if his draft position and very limited NFL playing time are any indication. But we've also seen 'talented' defensive backs drafted in similar positions like Butler, Chung, and Wheatley completely flame out. Anything beyond that is just wishful thinking, though you're right that if healthy he's a near lock... the Patriots secondary may not be as bad as it was two years ago, but it's still not exactly a strength by any means.

 

[neuronet]

Dare we hope that Dowling continues to wow everyone that has seen him play this year?

No. Over under--he lasts 3 games.

 

[tonyto3690]

He played in 6 of the first 7 games. He was healthy enough to play and didn't beat out Arrington.
Hopefully he will this year but assuming he already has is very, very premature.

He got benched in favor of Sterling Moore at one point IIRC. Guy has all the tools. Just hasn't been able to put it together at this point. Expecting him to be a great starter is unrealistic, but I think it's fair to say he could.