[sportscurmudgeon]

The article in question is not well written and the "research" in it seems more than a bit superficial.

However, let's not get too carried away with emotions here.

LaVar Arrington was hurt last year for the entire season AND he had injuries that hampered him the year before - but did not keep him out of games.

Michael Barrow might in fact be finished as an NFL player; training camp will decide that for us and for him. So "injury prome" might be the BEST thing you can say about him.

Phillip Daniels has been hurt for the majority of two of the last three seasons.

Those are facts; now if someone wants to say those defensive players are "injury prome", that's his prerogative. But it makes no sense to get angry at him and deny the existence of those injuries and that injury history.

Personally, I think the defense played over its head last year and I am fully expecting a decline in the defense this year. At the same time, the offense played way under its capability last year and I am fully expecting an improvement in the offense this year.

And it would not surprise me a bit if injuries were not a major factor in the Skins' record for 2005. There are a few places where the roster has precious little depth so an injury or two in those areas could be disastrous. On the other hand, a relatively injury free season ought ot put the Skins right in the middle of the playoffs in January.

Here's something about which I am absolutely certain. If for whatever reasons, the Skins record is 6-10 once again, no one here will dig out this thread and say that the author here "nailed it" and that the Skins' fans had their heads up their butts back in July.