Thursday, September 25, 2008

Injury Bug Getting Around

by: Michael Steffes

The theory on injuries goes something like this....

In any given year, over the course of the year, the injuries come close to evening out. Thus, injuries are not an excuse in the NFL (unless you're the 2007 Rams). Everybody suffers them, it is how you battle through that defines your team.

Well, the Hawks already lead the league in players on IR. However, their depth has helped them tremendously. The O-Line depth has been KEY. Now with Lock back, and Chop and Willis playing well, this unit looks strong. The D-line has a highly touted rookie sitting. While the DBs have been banged up we still haven't seen much of Kevin Hobbs, who seems to be a player on the rise. And here is the kicker: with the surprise showing of Billy McMullen, along with our GM's refusal to sit on his hands during a crisis, this team now has more WRs than it needs. Good stuff!

As for the rest of the NFC West, well they are starting to take hits:

  • San Francisco announced this week that starting corner Shawnte Spencer will miss the rest of the season with an ACL tear.
  • This morning the Cards announced that Bertrand Berry has a torn groin (god that even hurts to type it). Berry, who has a long injury history but is quite a load when healthy, is out indefinitely.
If things start to even out, at the end of the year we may be able to look back and say some of the things we started the season saying. Such as...."this team is Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep." This depth is clearly one advantage the Hawks have over other teams in this division. It is a long season, and right now that is a good thing. ~END~