To put the running game in context

[Pez]

I think Ballard he would agree with you also

Compare:
2017 top 3 (Hooker, Wilson, Basham)
to
2018 top 3 (Nelson, Leonard, Smith)

There is reason for optimism.

In 2017, Ballard was able to get a solid starter in Hooker, a depth player in Wilson and well, kinda missed on Basham. I was pretty high on Basham though and thought he would have a break out preseason. This is a pretty good showing under conditions that might be less than ideal.

Under conditions he was in control of, he transforms the team in three picks. This is the kind of vision we need in a GM... at least until he proves otherwise.

[Pez]

Looking around at some of this draft stuff and I came across this SI article that was an initial "draft grade" for each pick. This was from April 2018.

Quentin Nelson = D+
Darius Leonard = B
Braden Smith = D-


https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/26/in...ections-grades

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by Pez

Looking around at some of this draft stuff and I came across this SI article that was an initial "draft grade" for each pick. This was from April 2018.

Quentin Nelson = D+
Darius Leonard = B
Braden Smith = D-


https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/26/in...ections-grades

Harkens back to the days of Polian's best drafts with the Colts. Low "graded" productive drafts are the best.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Pez

Looking around at some of this draft stuff and I came across this SI article that was an initial "draft grade" for each pick. This was from April 2018.

Quentin Nelson = D+
Darius Leonard = B
Braden Smith = D-


https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/26/in...ections-grades

To be fair they did not give the low grade based on the talent of the players but on the positional value of Nelson and then taking Smith in the 2nd after taking Nelson 6th overall. It seems obnoxious to devalue either pick that much.

[JAFF]

Originally Posted by Butter

To be fair they did not give the low grade based on the talent of the players but on the positional value of Nelson and then taking Smith in the 2nd after taking Nelson 6th overall. It seems obnoxious to devalue either pick that much.

Positional value. That varies from team to team. Was there a team in more “need” for O linemen than the Colts? Anyone that argues that he Colts didnt get “value” for Nelson hasnt seen him play. Same nonsense about drafting Freeney too early.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by JAFF

Positional value. That varies from team to team. Was there a team in more “need” for O linemen than the Colts? Anyone that argues that he Colts didnt get “value” for Nelson hasnt seen him play. Same nonsense about drafting Freeney too early.

Nelson has to have a John Hannah like career to make the pick work for value. If the 200 yard rushing games and lowest sack rate in the league continue, he may get there, but that doesn't make it not a risky bet.

[Racehorse]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

Nelson has to have a John Hannah like career to make the pick work for value.

Not if he keeps Luck off his back and the injury report for the next ten years.

[Tanner]

I think I'm losing my mind, but help me out here. Who the fuck was John Hannah?

[Racehorse]

Originally Posted by Tanner

I think I'm losing my mind, but help me out here. Who the fuck was John Hannah?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_H...rican_football)

John Allen Hannah (born April 4, 1951), nicknamed Hog, is a former American football left guard who played for the New England Patriots (1973–1985) in the National Football League (NFL). In 1999 the Sporting News ranked him as the second greatest offensive lineman in NFL history after Anthony Muñoz. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991. Sports Illustrated dubbed him, on its August 3, 1981, cover, "The Best Offensive Lineman of All Time."[1]

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by Racehorse

Not if he keeps Luck off his back and the injury report for the next ten years.

He can't do that by himself.