Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc (Post 353443)

Where’s KRAY with the optimism? We need some up in here.

This team is worse than I thought. Jones is Jones. He just sucks.

Originally Posted by Chromeburn (Post 353438)

I’m not really interested in defending Ballard, eventually all GMs tenure comes to an end. But I thought I would throw in my thoughts on the matter.

QB health is not a unique problem to the Colts, a huge majority of the league has issues. The league keeps extending the season and they wonder why they have a QB health problem. Kind of how they change the practice times and put caps on them and wonder why they aren’t developing players as much as they did 20 years ago. But I do want a GM that emphasizes oline quality if I have a choice especially now.

I understand why they went with uncle Phil, I doubt AR could even see well. I will say uncle Phil damn almost beat the superbowl champs and played better than a lot of the other QBs I saw in the playoffs against them.

By the way, that was a beautiful block on Hamilton.

Originally Posted by Mr. Session (Post 353445)

Last year was the exception to the rule. Historically for the last decade +, this is how this organization starts the season.

I think it's kind of fucked up on a pretty meaningful level that the people that buy tickets are subjected to this shit. I feel like an ass for buying Sunday Ticket every year so I can watch these games but I'm thankful I'm not paying for tickets too.

Originally Posted by rm1369 (Post 353435)

And there it is, Ballard is a good GM. Just unlucky. Exactly why the team has been mediocre for a decade.

QB play is FAR from the only limiting factor in Ballard’s tenure. Doesn’t believe in the value of veteran leadership, his coaches will set the tone. Leaving gaping fucking holes in the roster to be filled later. Inability to draft, sign or develop players for a pass rush. Constantly putting measurables over playing ability. Gifting players positions they haven’t earned instead of creating true competition. Yes he’s loved by old school football guys because he still believes he’s GM of a team in the 70s or 80s. Grigson sucked at talent evaluation and he was an asshole but his philosophy was much better than Ballard’s. Ballard is a much better scout but he’s a bad GM.

And that doesn’t even get into the QB search has been conducted in Ballards method and philosophy. And then when Irsay forced the high pick by tanking with Saturday, Ballards veteran philosophy was on full display with AR. Rawest QB ever drafted that high and he was started with no true veteran mentor on the roster.

Originally Posted by rm1369 (Post 353448)

There are three opening day starters this year that were on their current roster when Luck retired. That is the issue with the QB argument for Ballard - pretending needing to find a QB is unique to Ballard. It’s not. He chose the build the team and rotate thru cast off method the team has used. Even if you Believe it was Irsay that forced them to start AR, Ballard chose the roster that didn’t provide him a mentor. Again matching his stated philosophy that his coaches are the mentors not veteran players. I wonder why the team always seems to have a culture issue?

Originally Posted by Chromeburn (Post 353450)

Yeah don’t put words in my mouth, I never said anything about luck.:confused:

The veteran leadership comment is dumb, sounds made up in your head. There is literally a leadership group on the team made up of veterans.

Every team has gaping holes in their team, the cap forces you to prioritize position groups. Teams fill groups with rookies and udfa all the time. You expect the colts to be done exceptionally well to the rule.

Every team places athletic measurables as a high priority. Everyone loves the Rudy story, reality is athletes dominate the league. Despite that Latu was not the most athletic choice but he was the most skilled.

The fact you dismiss the opinion of guys like Bill Polian tells me all I need to know. You should sit down and listen, you might learn something. The fact you dismiss their collective opinions because you don’t agree says a lot.

Ballards drafting has been fine and last I looked was above league average and has a high amount of guys retained in the league.

No Grigson’s, philosophy was not better. He thought he could build a oline on the cheap. You can’t do that today. He was so bad at it he had to spend a 1st on a center, the safest position to draft. Ballard just filled it with what? A third? And now he’s one of the better centers in the league.

AR started because Jim wanted him to start because ARs biggest weakness is game experience and starting right away worked for Manning and he is an advocate of it. The front office said he was raw almost every chance they got. And im not convinced sitting him would have developed him either. Guy was always a gamble, QBs have a low success rate, it’s not surprising he has developed, especially with his injuries.