[Racehorse]

Originally Posted by rm1369

Apparently the key to being a GM is simply blind luck at QB? Can’t find a QB, you are not bad, just unlucky. Find a QB and you aren’t good, you are just lucky. The rest of the roster is irrelevant until you get lucky and find a QB. I’m curious why Ballard would be fired if DJ isn’t the QB they think. Isn’t that just him being unlucky? Again. Is DE similar? And was Ballard a genius for drafting Raimann or was that just luck? Over the years I’ve learned that for any bad decision Ballard makes it’s bad luck or someone else’s fault. And any good decision is an example of his genius.

To be serious here, I’m well aware of the worst case scenarios and teams that have struggled to find QBs over long stretches. I remember Gary Hogeboom, Mike Pagel, Chris Chandler, Jack Trudeau. And I’ll also tell you, those were mostly poorly ran teams besides lacking at QB. And that’s true of many of the other teams. Those that weren’t poorly ran put together short peaks. Like a Rex Grossman getting to the SB. Or the 49ers three playoff appearances you gloss over - 2 NFC finals losses and a SB loss, with two different QBs (Smith and Kapernick). Ballard has been in the worst division in football and hasn’t won it. And he hasn’t been facing Mahomes, Allen, or Lamar in the division either. He can’t beat the Titans, Texans, and Jaguars. Actually well ran franchises perform better than the Colts have in Ballard’s tenure - even without the super star QB.

I’m not disregarding how difficult it can be to find a competent QB. I’m not someone who believes Ballard sucks because he didn’t find the next Josh Allen in two seasons. I am saying that his overall philosophy sucks and leads to what we have seen. Both his philosophy for finding a QB and for building the roster. I can see why you agree with his philosophy though - it matches what you apparently believe about the position, that it’s nothing but luck. No need to identify and go get your guy (like a Stafford), just churn through enough guys until you get lucky and one sticks. I hope DJ is the guy. I’m admittedly skeptical. Just remember if he is that it’s just Ballard getting lucky, nothing more.

To paraphrase Finch fromTKAM, people usually find what they are looking for. Some look for reasons to hate on Ballard. Others look for reasons to believe he can get it done. We know who is who, so why quibble on it any longer.