I think we can reasonably expect many of these guys to show some improvement in 2019. The question will be whether they can consistently show it or whether it will be demonstrated in flashes.

Mack
Hines
Wilkins
Cain
Nelson
Smith
Lewis
Turay
Walker
Wilson
Moore
Hooker

I also think we'll see a better Andrew Luck...

Are you related to Dam? Obviously the post was about getting better from free agency. I guess I thought it was obvious that everyone hopes that the young players we have improve. We haven't upgraded the talent though.

I agree 100%

The thing is, with ALL the guys you listed there, I can’t argue that I think they’re hopeless. None of them.

This is not the Grigson/Pagano era any longer where you saw guys like Antonio Morrison, D’Juon Smith, TJ Green and so many others and immediately knew they were trash and knew they would never get any better (and were correct).

Love the signing. Not sure that any of the other remaining free agents were a definitive upgrade. Bringing him back continues changing the culture. Ballard said he wants to sign his own guys and he is doing it. Players must see that Ballard tells the truth to them and that he definitely values players on his own roster higher than free agents. The fact is that if you are a good citizen and produce you will find a home here in Indy. It is a great sign for the future that players want to and do re sign with this regime. I continue to love how Ballard/Reich are going about building a team here (having Luck sure does help move things along). Not every move will pan out but damn the direction sure seems right.

2nd cousin on his mothers side? :cool:

Factor in all those guys coming back healthy and staying healthy will be big for us as well.

Anyone related to Dam is also related to Pagano, I believe.

I'm pretty excited about watching Smith and the pass rushers. Smith because he will have an entire off season and training camp to develop technique for a position he wasn't even supposed to play. The pass rushers because pass rushers always seem to take a year or two to develop and injuries stole a lot of development from them. I expect Hooker to be back to pre injury also.

Yep, Smith and Hooker (health-permitting) could see big jumps.

I also didn't list Leonard because it will be hard to replicate his stats from last year, but I do think he can be a better in certain aspects of his game next year (e.g. short yardage, reading playaction, etc.).