Let’s cut the crap about this being Ballard’s fault
 

The Colts lost, and all the hand wringers and bed wetters are out in force. I get that, when gloom descends, there’s an impulse to look for a scapegoat, a lamb to sacrifice on the altar of the football gods.

But, Ballard’s not that guy.

It isn’t his fault that Richardson wrecked his shoulder.
It isn’t his fault that Gardner Minshew got banged up and turned into a statue.
It isn’t his fault that Braden Smith went down.
It isn’t his fault that Grover Stewart got caught using a PED.
It isn’t his fault that Shaq Leonard is still trying to rediscover his lost super powers
It isn’t his fault that Zaire Franklin got hurt
It isn’t his fault that Isaiah Rogers liked to gamble.
It isn’t his fault that Dallis Flowers ruptured an achilles
It isn’t his fault that Juju Brents banged up his quad.

Not a single one of us complained when he traded away Stephon Gilmore. This was going to be a transition year, not a whole lot was expected, and it didn’t make any sense to hold onto an unhappy 32 year old player who wanted out, especially if you could get something in return.

Are there holes in the roster? Absolutely. We could really use a dynamic deep threat at WR, and Micah Parsons would surely be a welcome addition. But, elite pass rushers don’t exactly grow on trees, and it’s not as iif Ballard passed on drafting one of them in favor of taking a long snapper or a Tight End.

A big part of the problem is that Gardner Minshew has a disturbing knack of making game changing plays…for the other guys. But, again, he’s a backup, and backups are backups because they’re afflicted with fundamental flaws in their skill sets. The number of backup QB’s who lead their teams to the promised land are fewer than few. I can’t blame Ballard because he didn’t find a Tom Brady in the fifth round, andI don’t remember any moaning or gnashing of teeth when he passed over Brock Purdy.

So, let’s all quiet down, ride out the storm, and try to keep our wits about us while others are losing theirs.

Well said. This team was not expected to be a playoff team even with all the players hurt/suspended/traded being on the team. I find it funny how the same people (usually not posters here) acknowledge this is our rebuilding year with a rookie HC and QB, and yet they want Ballard fired for executing the rebuild with a lot of added talent at lower rounds in the draft. Just off the top of my head, we have Freeland looking serviceable as a rookie, Brents looking very good, Flowers being decent, Ogletree looking like a player, Raimann looking like a franchise LT, Paye looking like a solid piece against the run, and sometimes against the pass, Jones looking like a player who can contribute, mallory looking okay, and Fries serviceable. That is a lot of first and second year players who look like real NFL guys. That list did not include AR, who looked dynamic when on the field.

Yes, the future looks bright, and Ballard's team scouted these players. Anyone who watches this team and watched the team last year has to have some level of excitement for the future, unless they are a hater, or just a negative person, in general.

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You forgot one thing ...... it isn't Ballard's fault that the Colts' record is not 4-4 instead of 3-5 right now ...... that's the referees' fault.

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And as most of you know, I am the first to say that good teams overcome bad calls by the referee's ...... I have said that many times in game threads, when the Colts get hosed on a call and/or a non-call ...... but what happened in the Browns game was an out-and-out robbery.

It wasn't the 2nd quarter, the 3rd quarter, or even early in the 4th quarter, when a team has time to overcome bad calls. It was the very end of the game, when there was no wriggle room to speculate about cause-and-effect.

Also, if anything, the first call against Darrell Baker should have been OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE because the Browns receiver initiated the contact, extended his arms, and pushed Baker to the ground.

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Not sure who's blaming Ballard. I know I didn't. I was just pointing out that it's interesting that someone who covers the Chiefs sees the same shortcomings that a lot of us on here do.

I’m simply questioning is next year the year we can expect Ballard to try to win instead of rebuild. Not sure why that would get peoples panties in a twist.

Probably Chopped, since he says he hates the guy.

Below 500 record zero division titles 5 qb's & counting doesn't address glaring needs scared shitless of FA. His time is up.

Dude, he has signed some quality guys in free agency. People just hate that he doesn't make the splash play on Day 1

I am actually not in that camp, generally speaking that's fools gold every year. What pisses me off about him is his seeming obsession with physical prowess, measurables, physique in drafting vs just getting dudes that can play the damn game. The secondary thing is his almost joy in having a big bank account- for fucking what reason? It's not his fucking money, and really, it's not even Jim's, it's the NFL's when you really step back and think about it. For some reason he seems to think his job is to make sure the + side of the +/- of the GL is stocked with cash.... but every fucking off season we're always on here saying "this is the year, this is the year he's gonna get a major DE or a bigtime WR, and he never does.
Finally, he seems to be arrogant and such an image aware dude. Man aint no fans giving two fucks about your tight ass shirts and slick part. You're an old man, an old football man, get some pizza sauce on a gnarly Colts shirt and fucking watch film (and maybe more than the like 30 minutes of film you watched on Ryan to convince yourself he still had it...).

I get concerns because the production simply hasn't been there. That's objectively true.

I'm apprehensive to see moves made in replacing Ballard because we've already put our chips into Richardson and this new regime, unless we're completely open to letting Steichen run his own show.

What I do not want to see is another GM come in here, lament that the HC and QB are not his guys, and we start this shit over again.

I def am not in the camp to think Ballard has built a bad team. I think it was clear already this year that simply upgrading the QB and coach was enough to get this team back into being playoff-caliber.

The problem though, was that we then lose said QB, plus have to deal with a bunch of losses to defensive personnel.

I never really bought much into that "next man up" stuff. I mean of course the next guy has to step up, but 2nd and 3rd string players are 2nd and 3rd string for a reason. You're nearly *always* going to have a drop off in play quality when you're digging down in your depth chart.

I do agree though that Ballard's emphasis on "measureables" in his receivers is a problem. His big athletic guys just aren't panning out. Pittman is the best in that bunch and in the end Pittman is at best a #2 receiver, but is really a possession receiver across the middle, and that's it.

If it wasn't for Reggie identifying Downs and vouching for him, we would still be struggling for impact at the WR position - but Reggie picked a non-Ballard type player because he could recognize that Downs knows how to play the position.

My bitch about Ballard was that he found great players in positions that don’t win games (OLB, guard RB) but that seems to be changing as of late. The little time that I’ve seen AR has convinced me he is the man. He does shit that only NFL QBs do and I don’t mean his off the charts physical talent, I mean his work effort and mental approach. LT seems secure also, even have a decent backup. We are one guy away at WR Still not there at rushing the passer but getting better. It seems like he also nailed it with Streichen. Ballard seems to be improving, learning as the years go on. It needs to come together next year for us. I’m sick of this shit.

My question to Ballard would be, " when are you going to stop rebuilding"?This franchise has been in rebuild mode for seven years now, its about time they take a few chances, Jesus, Chase Young for a third round draft pick, was everyone asleep when those phone calls were being made? Its time for Ballard to shit or get off the pot !

Young is going to be an unrestricted free agent in March.

So why give up a 3rd round pick for a rental this year when it is apparent the Colts are not contenders.

I never understood acquiring old vet QBs (win now moves) then treating the rest of the roster like a rebuild. Should have been one or the other. Regardless IMO that ambiguity has ended. QB is in place. Time to win. This should be the last year of gifting positions to rookies and prioritizing development over winning.

Shortsightedness.

the results over ballards tenure have not been great. i understand what a lot of the issues have been but the results are what they are. at some point you have to have something to show for the work you put in.


not saying i want him fired but there are clearly issues.

Without an agreement on an extension it would make no sense for Colts. Perfect sense for 49ers though. I believe if he walks they are very likely to get a comp 3rd for him anyway. Surprised more competitive teams wouldn’t have rolled the dice there.

That's a guy to pursue in Free Agency, the 49ers can't possibly afford to extend him.

I agree. SF is in their window. We just lost the rookie QB that we're hoping is our franchise guy for the season.

I don't know who all looked at Young. I thought the word was he was playing well after injuries. Probably some combination of the past two injured seasons and the upcoming contract kept teams prudent.

5 sacks in 7 games this season. He was injured the last 2 years, but I think the former #2 overall pick who was described as a more athletic Nick Bosa is still in there somewhere.

[QUOTE=Spike;281425]Young is going to be an unrestricted free agent in March.

So why give up a 3rd round pick for a rental this year when it is apparent the Colts are not contenders.
Here's a novel idea, trade for him ,then try to sign him to an extension !! He would immediately become your best pass rusher, and he's only 24 yrs old!!

[QUOTE=njcoltfan;281514]Orrrrrrr........just spitballing here.

Don't spend the 3rd round pick, let him play for SF on his rental year when they are a contender and then at the end of the season when they cannot afford him, sign him in the off season as a free agent!!!

[QUOTE=Ironshaft;281516]Great idea, but you know who our GM is right?? He will do neither !!!! Love them draft picks...........................................

DE is the one position he has spent money on in free agency. Granted, it's never been the type of contract it will take to get Chase Young, but his largest (and best) free agent contracts have gone to DEs.

The first article that pops up when you Google 49ers future cap space says they are projected to have $280m worth of salaries going into '24. The projected salary cap is $256m.

That's without Chase Young in the picture. If they decide they want him, where does that push the projection? North of $300m, right? And by the way, this is with them paying their QB $2m total for '24 and '25. That's the real monster contract around the corner.

Some trimming is coming for them.

Agree that Young is someone we should look at in FA, but the only way he ends up here is if he either gets hurt or doesn't do much w/ the 9ers. Either of which would put him in mid level or 1 year show me contract range. If he stays healthy and continues to produce like he has for the first half w/ Wash then someone(s) will offer him a high end contract, and we all know that there's no way Ballard will do that.

I am not so sure Ballard would not offer a competitive contract to Young. Ballard has tried to find a pass rusher in the draft. He has spent big time draft capital. He understands that to win in this NFL you need to be able to get to the passer-his drafting says as much. For a stud pass rusher that could transform your defense he might be willing to pay. He hasn't been able to hit on one otherwise. My question is is Chase Young that stud pass rusher that you gamble somewhere over 23-25 million a year for?

Wonder what that contract would look like. Sweat went for a higher pick for a reason. Prove it year contract? Would that work or is there some team out there willing to blow the bank to sign him? Would anyone here support that?

Sweat just got extended by the Bears

Yeah I figured they would. That's not a win now move.

That probably depends on what he does the rest of the season and (unless the 9ers slide continues) in playoffs. He's currently on pace for 12 sacks this year, but he'll probably see a lot of 1-1 blocking w/ the other 49ers DL. So the potential's there for him to have a big 2nd half. If this happens and he makes some plays in the playoffs then he's probably looking at a big payday.

But if he gets hurt and/or struggles for some reason then he's probably looking at a 1 year show me deal.

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Colts Eyeing Former No. 4 Overall Pick After Striking Out at Trade Deadline

(By Vinny Somma)

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/artic...13132_39499856

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I’m not sure how they will address this. Minshew needs to throw deep but refuses. NE will watch the Carolina game and figure they just have to play base defense to shut down the run. This will force Minshew to throw them out of base defense to give the run game a chance

Have they said what kind of knee injury Downs has?

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For starters, the Colts should be 7-4 because they were flat-out robbed in their game against the Browns.

Secondly, the Colts are playing with a back-up quarterback who often overthrows open targets. The overall defense is pretty good, the running game is very good, the receivers are good, and the place-kicker is excellent ...... the 2nd-string quarterback is the one glaring weakness on this current Colts team.

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On the first bold: We're not just 7-4 (fuck you, CLE) with a backup QB, either. Our secondary has been ravaged starting in June when Rodgers got busted, the other starter gets IR'ed, and now Brents has been out several weeks.

We also haven't had a healthy OL basically all season and they're doing very well anyway. What percentage of snaps has our entire starting OL played together this season? That'd be an interesting stat.

JT missed the first quarter of the season, Grover is out 6 games, Buckner has been limited, Franklin's missed time, Kwity has missed time... I'd say the depth has been tested.

On the second bold: It depends on the perspective you take. Minshew is definitely limited and not good enough to reach the excellence we want. That said, our backup QB has started and/or finished every single one of our 7 wins (fuck you, CLE).

So as a franchise QB... he's not what you want. As a backup... how much better could you expect?

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I don't expect much more from Minshew ...... I was pointing out the fact that he's the one glaring weakness as things currently stand.

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I know and I agree. It's the way I worded it. I meant the generic-you, not the C&O-you.