Originally Posted by VeveJones007 (Post 114031)

I'm not "assuming" anything. "Assuming" implies that I'm shooting from the hip and that there's some flaw in my logic. I'm making a rational, thoughtful projection based on:

1) What Funchess does well,
2) What the Colts didn't do well in 2018,
3) How he fits into elements of what Reich wants to do,
4) Trust that Reich will tactically deploy Funchess based on his strengths

In over a week, I haven't seen one person on here make a compelling case that I'm incorrect on any of those four factors.

Originally Posted by Maniac (Post 114038)

You completely left out the most important part....."Funchess actually making the play", which is the part that's not a given based on his previous production. You can assume he fits the role and that they'll scheme to help maximize what he should be able to do to help the team, but he has to make the play, and nothing in his history shows he should get that assumption as a given.

There are plenty of WR's who SHOULD produce but don't, who have the physical skillset to thrive in certain situations, but don't.

For me, he has to prove that before I believe it. I'm not going to blindly believe it just because he signed and will play with Luck and Reich.

Originally Posted by VeveJones007 (Post 114047)

Let's just get to the nuts and bolts of it. You don't trust his hands and that negates everything for you. Is that fair to say?

Originally Posted by Dam8610 (Post 114087)

Because this debate started, I decided to watch some tape of Funchess. What I saw was a player who will catch a well thrown ball almost every time, and can use his size and athleticism to get open and high point the ball in 50/50 scenarios. Luck is a better QB than Funchess has ever had, and will likely deliver him well thrown balls with regularity. Given that, I think Funchess has a good chance to be very effective in this offense.

Originally Posted by Dam8610 (Post 114087)

Because this debate started, I decided to watch some tape of Funchess. What I saw was a player who will catch a well thrown ball almost every time, and can use his size and athleticism to get open and high point the ball in 50/50 scenarios. Luck is a better QB than Funchess has ever had, and will likely deliver him well thrown balls with regularity. Given that, I think Funchess has a good chance to be very effective in this offense.

Originally Posted by TheMugwump (Post 114021)

I hear you, and you have a valid point.

Catch % the last two years before signing with Colts:

Funchess:

56.8%
55.7%

Ebron:

71.8%
61.6%
(60.0% last year with Indy)

There's a significant difference there, and it shocks me that Ebron's went down to his lowest since his rookie year. In fact, Ebron's totals last year were pretty much in line with his career stats, aside from the number of targets and his TD's.

Detroit fans will tell you though that Ebron couldn't catch anything, and the Carolina fans I've spoken to here in NC are howling that we stole Funchess, so perception can differ from reality.

I'm hoping for the best, and as mentioned multiple times, the folks who know the most about football, and this team in particular, signed him to a contract. Anything north of the 63 receptions and 8 TD he had two years ago, with a healthier Cam, will be a win for the team, IMO.