Ballard’s draft record

[Kray007]

Originally Posted by Puck

Zack Hicks on Ballard's draft pick history

https://youtu.be/neeINZFaoJw

I only had a few bones to pick with Hicks. He seems to weight his rankings based on how high a player was drafted, which I didn’t like. Using that standard, a good player selected in the 3rd round is better than a great one taken in the 1st. He also downgrades a player if they left and found success, but didn’t do it as a Colt. And he grades players as busts who failed because they couldn’t stay healthy. .

[Puck]

Lawrence Owen
@Colts_Law
·
12h
#Colts Laiatu Latu has more sacks than any other D-lineman selected in the 2024 #NFL draft.

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by Puck

Lawrence Owen
@Colts_Law
·
12h
#Colts Laiatu Latu has more sacks than any other D-lineman selected in the 2024 #NFL draft.

Sacks... my favorite. Problem with just looking at those is you come away saying Latu has a half sack more than Verse—so why such a discrepancy in perception for each?

Well, because...


Total Pressures: Latu, 61 - Verse, 80

Hurries: Latu, 41 - Verse, 52

Hits: Latu, 9 - Verse, 20

Forced Fumbles: Latu, 1 - Verse, 3

Solo Tackles: Latu, 29 - Verse, 38

Stops: Latu, 27 - Verse, 35


Would we trade that 2025 production for half a sack over two years?

[Puck]

Originally Posted by ChaosTheory

Sacks... my favorite. Problem with just looking at those is you come away saying Latu has a half sack more than Verse—so why such a discrepancy in perception for each?

Well, because...


Total Pressures: Latu, 61 - Verse, 80

Hurries: Latu, 41 - Verse, 52

Hits: Latu, 9 - Verse, 20

Forced Fumbles: Latu, 1 - Verse, 3

Solo Tackles: Latu, 29 - Verse, 38

Stops: Latu, 27 - Verse, 35


Would we trade that 2025 production for half a sack over two years?

Would you agree that Verse plays on a much better D with better line help? Latu has basically been "the guy" on our Dline most of the year with injuries and oldness

I think if they were swapped. Latu would have great numbers

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by Puck

Would you agree that Verse plays on a much better D with better line help? Latu has basically been "the guy" on our Dline most of the year with injuries and oldness

I think if they were swapped. Latu would have great numbers

For sure, I'm not down on Latu. More a commentary on cherry-picked stats. Seems like the guy's point is that Verse gets all the hype but Latu has the better numbers... but that's misleading.

I don't know if there's a metric out there that's like an amalgamation of opponent's average time to throw juxtaposed with their completion percentage/conversion rate/tight window throw rate... but I'd be interested to see how that applies to Latu and the CB's he had behind him.

I also wonder how much the CB room led to Anarumo coaching the DL to engage the OL and squeeze the pocket - my perception is it was quite a bit. But I don't know.

[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by ChaosTheory

Sacks... my favorite. Problem with just looking at those is you come away saying Latu has a half sack more than Verse—so why such a discrepancy in perception for each?

Well, because...


Total Pressures: Latu, 61 - Verse, 80

Hurries: Latu, 41 - Verse, 52

Hits: Latu, 9 - Verse, 20

Forced Fumbles: Latu, 1 - Verse, 3

Solo Tackles: Latu, 29 - Verse, 38

Stops: Latu, 27 - Verse, 35


Would we trade that 2025 production for half a sack over two years?

Snaps: Latu, 1374 - Verse, 1690
PBU's: Latu, 6 - Verse, 3
Int's: Latu, 3 - Verse, 0

So clearly, Verse got more snaps and more pass rush attempts, because of that usage, and the fact that Latu was dropped into coverage more than Verse.

IMO, with this data taken into context, it is a wash at this point in time, as to who has performed better. Both have probably mildly underachieved.

I do believe that with better D/L coaching, that Latu can still breakthrough.

[Oldcolt]

I don't think Latu has the explosion/power that the absolute stud pass rushers have. He is still damn good but I think will just always be a tick below the top players because of this.

[Dewey 5]

Originally Posted by Kray007

A theme amongst Ballard’s detractors has seemed to have emerged…that he doesn’t draft well. Let’s look at that.

2018
Quenton Nelson
Shaq Leonard
Braden Smith
Zaire Franklin
Tyquan Lewis

Nelson will be in the Hall Of Fame. Leonard would have been. Braden Smith has been a bookend RT from the day he stepped onto the field. Zaire Franklin was a tackling machine and a pro bowler. Tyquan was serviceable.

2019
Rock Ya Sin
Parris Campbell
Bobby Okereke
EJ Speed

Rock is starting for the Lions. Campbell had all the talent in the world. Bobby is starting for the Giants. Speed for the hated Texans.

2020
Michael Pittman Jr
Jonathan Taylor

Pittman is a upper echelon Receiver. Taylor is the best Running Back in the league.

2021
Will Fries

2021 was slim pickings. Ballard seemed determined to find an edge guy, so he rolled the dice with Paye and Odeyingbo. A small amount of redemption came in round 7 when he found Will Fries.

2022
Alec Pierce
Jelani Woods
Bernhard Raimann
Nick Cross

If 2021 was a bad year, ‘22 was a home run. In Pierce, he found a home run hitter who has developed into one of the best receivers in the league. Jelani gets mentioned because of the immense talent short circuited by injury. Bernard is a bookend Left Tackle. Cross is a stalwart in the back end.

2023
Anthony Richardson
JuJu Brents
Josh Downs

Richardson was a roll of the dice at Quarterback. He still has time, but the sands are running out. JuJu makes the list because saying Juju makes me happy. And Downs is the consummate slot receiver.

2024
Laiatu Latu
Adonai Mitchell
Matt Goncalves
Tanor Bortoloni
Jaylon Carlies

Latu is one of PFF’s top 10 edge players, racking up 11 sacks and 61 pressures. Adonai has all pro tools wrapped up in a fool’s head. He single handedly cost us a win. Goncalves and Bortoloni are cornerstones on the line. Carlies might be an answer at Linebacker.


2025
Tyler Warren
Justin Walley
Jalen Travis
Riley Leonard

Tyler is emerging into an elite TE. Walley looks legit at Corner. Travis might be a bookend RT forbthe next decade. And Riley Leonard opened a few eyes on Sunday.

After a decade on the job, Ballard has built a roster with only two holes…DE and cover Linebacker. This year’s draft is reportedly rich at Linebacker, so given his track record at the position, I expect him to fill the spot in round 2. At Defensive End, i suspect that the Irsay girls will slice off a chunk of money and give Ballard the latitude to sign the top guy on his wish lisy at DE.

He drafts so well that the Colts miss the playoffs every year.

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by Dewey 5

He drafts so well that the Colts miss the playoffs every year.

Panthers have the blueprint. Losing record but won the division and hosted a playoff game.

Dan Morgan has really turned that franchise around.

[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by ChaosTheory

Panthers have the blueprint. Losing record but won the division and hosted a playoff game.

Dan Morgan has really turned that franchise around.

People said the said the same thing about the Commanders last season. At least 3 years in a row of playoff football, should be the bar to determine if a team is doing it right.