[JAFF]

https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...ine/902030002/

Chris Ballard is in his second season as general manager of the Indianapolis Colts. His method of building the franchise is through the draft and he acknowledges he has made mistakes along the way.

He said Friday he paid too little attention to the offensive line in the 2017 offseason, and watched as injuries decimated the unit. Colts quarterbacks were sacked 56 times and the team averaged just over 100 yards rushing per game, 22nd in the league.

"I screwed it up last year," Ballard told 1070-WFAN AM host Dan Dakich from Colts camp in Westfield. "I should’ve addressed it last year. I didn’t address the depth. … It taught me a great lesson that we’re gonna fix it."


The Colts added guard Quenton Nelson with the No. 6 overall pick in this year's draft, and guard Braden Smith (who has tried tackle in training camp) in the second round. Indianapolis also added veterans Matt Slauson and Austin Howard. Center Ryan Kelly is healthy after playing in just seven games in an uneven second season.

If the interior of the line performs, Ballard said, the tackles improve, too.

"It makes a huge difference," he said. "It makes a huge difference in your tackles’ play, too. They just gotta push guys by."

On Andrew Luck

Ballard said Luck isn't all the way back from the shoulder injury that sidelined him last year, but the quarterback has regained his most important attribute.

"(Throwing accuracy), being able to anticipate throws, knowing when to let go when a guy is coming out of his break," Ballard said. "That’s more important than arm strength."

Ballard added he is confident Luck's arm strength will soon return.



Are the Colts talented enough?

"Not yet," Ballard said. "We’re not there yet. We’ve got some young, athletic talent and some guys who have some upside, but you want to get to a point where you don’t have any concerns about any part of the roster not being talented enough."

Why he decided to build through the NFL Draft

Ballard said accumulating young players with talent and who are willing to take responsibility will change the team's culture over time.

"Coaching can take you so far," Ballard said. "The locker room takes you over the top. You’ve gotta have a locker room that can challenge each other, not being average. … They’re the police officers. They’ve gotta be the ones that solve the problems."

On Malik Hooker and Clayton Geathers

The safeties were taken off the physically unable to perform list, but they won't be running full speed immediately. Ballard said getting them on the field now for walkthroughs and individual work is important.

New helmet rule

Ballard said he likes the NFL's new rules designed to lessen helmet-to-helmet contact. The Colts' approach is teaching the "hamstring tackle." It's a "low-style tackle with the helmet to the side."