lts offensive line with no outside additions

[Colts And Orioles]

Originally Posted by JAFF

Chicken salad out of chicken shit ???

o


The first thing that comes to mind when I hear that phrase is Billy Martin ...... he twice took the worst team in baseball (the 1973 Texas Rangers, and the 1979 Oakland Athletics), and immediately made them contenders with winning records in his first season managing said teams. Both of those teams were coming off of back-to-back seasons with more than 100 losses.

Additionally, Martin took 2 teams that had losing records the year before he got there (the 1968 Twins and the 1970 Tigers), and went 97-65 and 91-71 with both of those teams, respectively.

o

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by ChaosTheory

They might. Could believe that with continued continuity this unit could do well. Still plenty of time, though.

I'm still here ^^. If I had to bet right now, I'd say our starting OL is going to be what finished last season: Raimann-Nelson-Kelly-Fries-Smith.

Depth is interesting. Ekiyor is very intriuging because although he was a guard at Alabama, he was running at center at the Senior Bowl. He also played center in high school. So his immediate competition is Pinter since he backs up both. I also wouldn't be surprised if he gives Fries a run. He's more stout, but much stronger than both.

The young tackles are both going to take some time I think.

[Oldcolt]

This has the smell of disaster to me. We are happy with how last years line played at the end so no additions? We think a new line coach is all that is needed? I think I am feeling this way because of last year, we were worried but told to relax as the Colts had this. We all lived through that debacle. I hope we aren't in for the same shit this coming year. If they don't fix that line it won't matter who they add, they will suck.

[ukcolt]

I am ok with the tackle situation. Think Raimann was always going to be the starter and we have drafted a guy in the 4th to be his backup. But I think we should be upgrading Fries. But there are still a couple of decent free agents still out there who could really do a job for the Colts. Dalton Risner or Isaiah Wynn have a lot of starting experience, although my favourite just for this season would be Justin Pugh.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

This has the smell of disaster to me. We are happy with how last years line played at the end so no additions? We think a new line coach is all that is needed? I think I am feeling this way because of last year, we were worried but told to relax as the Colts had this. We all lived through that debacle. I hope we aren't in for the same shit this coming year. If they don't fix that line it won't matter who they add, they will suck.

There were three additions through the draft, two of which could see PT, one of which could win the starting RG spot. I get them feeling okay about OC, Kelly may bounce back and if he doesn't, Pinter plays well there, that seems to be the only spot he plays well. I think more could've been done with OG, but Ekeyor was seen as a round 3-4 guy by most pre-draft, so he's the type who should be able to come in and compete for a starting spot.

[IndyNorm]

“You look back at a lot of the good things we did, some things that were just missing here and there, and I think a lot of the negative kind of clouded our memory of how the year went,” Kelly said. “The eye-opening thing, watching the film, was we did a lot of great stuff, too.”

For starters WTF was Kelly smoking when he was watching that film?

Bringing in a new OL coach will probably help, but we'll see how much. Ballard really should at least bring in some competition. If nothing else to show that complete shit play isn't acceptable.

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

There were three additions through the draft, two of which could see PT, one of which could win the starting RG spot. I get them feeling okay about OC, Kelly may bounce back and if he doesn't, Pinter plays well there, that seems to be the only spot he plays well. I think more could've been done with OG, but Ekeyor was seen as a round 3-4 guy by most pre-draft, so he's the type who should be able to come in and compete for a starting spot.

A rookie 4th rounder MAY be counted on to provide some depth. I still want to see a completion. He shouldn’t be handed anything.

A rookie 7th rounder and a rookie UDFA should not be counted on for jack shit. It doesn’t matter than some mocks had the UDFA as 3-4 rounder. The team obviously didn’t see him that way.

It’s still plenty early in the offseason so I’m not going to bitch about it too much, but if nothing else is done this will be another example of one of my major issues with Ballard - gifting young guys spots. Betting it all on his drafting ability. You have a rookie QB, there is nothing more important to his on the field learning than the damn OL. Don’t repeat last years mistake.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by rm1369

A rookie 4th rounder MAY be counted on to provide some depth. I still want to see a completion. He shouldn’t be handed anything.

A rookie 7th rounder and a rookie UDFA should not be counted on for jack shit. It doesn’t matter than some mocks had the UDFA as 3-4 rounder. The team obviously didn’t see him that way.

It’s still plenty early in the offseason so I’m not going to bitch about it too much, but if nothing else is done this will be another example of one of my major issues with Ballard - gifting young guys spots. Betting it all on his drafting ability. You have a rookie QB, there is nothing more important to his on the field learning than the damn OL. Don’t repeat last years mistake.

I didn't say pencil them in the starting lineup, I said I could see them getting playing time, not necessarily for emergency reasons, and doing well in that playing time.

[ukcolt]

Originally Posted by rm1369

A rookie 7th rounder and a rookie UDFA should not be counted on for jack shit. It doesn’t matter than some mocks had the UDFA as 3-4 rounder. The team obviously didn’t see him that way.

I suspect his talent they all valued him as a mid rounder, it is his knee injury that seems to have been the real cause for concern. But that might have been overblown from what he has said.

Only time will tell what reality actually becomes.

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by ukcolt

I suspect his talent they all valued him as a mid rounder, it is his knee injury that seems to have been the real cause for concern. But that might have been overblown from what he has said.

Only time will tell what reality actually becomes.

I hope he becomes the starter and plays 10 years. My only point is that Ballard has to stop expecting young guys to step up and fill every role. Beyond round 1 and maybe round 2 you shouldn’t be depending on these guys for anything other than competition. Make them earn it. Quit expecting it and damn sure stop gifting it.