Official Jagoffs limp dick us into submission

[Puck]

Originally Posted by sherck

The biggest mark agains Leonard that I have is that after watching cuts from his college career, he:

A. Has issues throwing from the pocket; he would much prefer to roll-out.

B. Tends to pull the ball down too quickly and run.

Both of those can work in college; neither work long-term in the NFL because everyone is at least as good of an athlete as you.

His arm strength was never in doubt.

While the odds are against him, I would rather have seen Leonard play these last four weeks and lose just like Rivers did but get some development than do the experiment we did with Rivers. Rivers entertained me but did nothing to advance the team.

How was being on the sideline vs being in the stands?

In hindsight that is the right decision. But we were still in playoff contention. It would be malpractice for them to not even try to get a better option at QB

Once Rivers came in they saw he was the better option. So he was signed

I am not sure why this is so hard for people to see. They were fighting to the end for a playoff spot. It's now over and NOW they can throw Riley in

Could he play lights out? Maybe. If so that will make the FO look very very bad. But I don't see that happening.

I like Leonard. I root for and watch ND But he has nver impressed me as a starting QB in the NFL

[Lov2fish]

Originally Posted by ChoppedWood

He has a pretty live arm, he just has a wildly inaccurate arm. To me, he is not as guess where it is gonna go as AR, but he isn't that far off either. The problem is it is particularly obvious when he is given a well formed, 3-6 second NFL type of pocket. It's like he can't relax and just throw it in those situations so he aims it instead.

I will say his improv game, especially on designed pocket rolls, is pretty solid. He did that shit to ND against them and that's why they had him as their QB doing that shit to others last year.

He is undoubtedly a tough and competitive kid though. His performance in the natty last year was testimony to that.

When I was down there watching him he didn't make one bad throw. He had nobody in his face either so you have a fair assessment. I'll admit I didn't watch much ND football last year. I am also not advocating he is our savior. I am advocating that I have seen enough of the dog and pony show. AR is just bad at football and I do not want to watch another washed up QB get trotted out there. DJ is not elite, but we can win with him. However, until something is seriously done with our front 7 we are fucking fodder for the other AFC teams.

[CletusPyle]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

That doesn’t make sense. The only reason Rivers is here is because of Steichen. So it’s more likely Steichen doesn’t want Leonard playing.

Why would Ballard not want Leonard playing?

If Ballard wanted Leonard to play no way we get Rivers, Steichen is not writing checks, the decision to bring in Rivers was up to Ballard and ultimately CIG. If Leonard performs well, even if Steichen wanted Rivers, it won't reflect on him nearly as bad as on Ballard.

I would really like some of you to explain to me what you think a GM's job is, because anytime things go badly for this team it is never the GM's fault?

[apballin]

I don’t see why anything has to change as far as running the same offense they intended or visualized running with AR, Leonard isn’t as athletic as AR but he’s more athletic than Minshew with a better arm.

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by CletusPyle

If Ballard wanted Leonard to play no way we get Rivers, Steichen is not writing checks, the decision to bring in Rivers was up to Ballard and ultimately CIG. If Leonard performs well, even if Steichen wanted Rivers, it won't reflect on him nearly as bad as on Ballard.

I would really like some of you to explain to me what you think a GM's job is, because anytime things go badly for this team it is never the GM's fault?

What the hell are you talking about? Steichen and Rivers go way back. They talk every week on the phone. Rivers himself said it was Steichen who asked him to come back. It was Steichen who wanted Rivers, not Ballard.

And it is ALWAYS the coach who determines who plays, not the GM. The GM builds the roster, the coach sets the depth chart.

Also, Leonard was a 6th round draft pick. If he plays poorly, that’s not going to make Ballard look bad. He’ll be like 1000 other late round picks who don’t pan out. Every GM who has ever lived has had draft picks who don’t work out.

I get that you hate Ballard but what youre trying to claim here is asinine. I’m not really sure what it is you’re claiming aside from “Ballard bad”.

[ChoppedWood]

Originally Posted by apballin

I don’t see why anything has to change as far as running the same offense they intended or visualized running with AR, Leonard isn’t as athletic as AR but he’s more athletic than Minshew with a better arm.

That's what has me so incensed with the entire thing. I am not in any way hostile toward Rivers, give him his flowers for doing what he was able to do in these games, he is a competent competitive leader- good for him.

It's instead the fact that Leonard has been here for a long enough period, and plays the same game as DJ which opened up the playbook, that he SHOULD have been able to come in and be the QB and we should have been able to play the same style. The fact they didn't feel he was capable of doing the RPO's, designed rolls, the QB end arounds, to me is a huge black mark upon the coaching staff and why I am back in the camp that I want them all shit canned.

[CletusPyle]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

What the hell are you talking about? Steichen and Rivers go way back. They talk every week on the phone. Rivers himself said it was Steichen who asked him to come back. It was Steichen who wanted Rivers, not Ballard.

And it is ALWAYS the coach who determines who plays, not the GM. The GM builds the roster, the coach sets the depth chart.

Also, Leonard was a 6th round draft pick. If he plays poorly, that’s not going to make Ballard look bad. He’ll be like 1000 other late round picks who don’t pan out. Every GM who has ever lived has had draft picks who don’t work out.

I get that you hate Ballard but what youre trying to claim here is asinine. I’m not really sure what it is you’re claiming aside from “Ballard bad”.

Steichen can't bring in Rivers because they go way back....you obviously don't know shit about who hires players. If Ballard already had a good QB on the roster why bring in Rivers? Why waste the money on him?

If Riley does well he makes Ballard and Steichen both look like idiots.

[Puck]

Stephen Holder
@HolderStephen
Postgame: Colts coach Shane Steichen said he’ll think over his QB decision the next couple of days and decide who will start in Week 18 at Houston.
4:22 PM · Dec 28, 2025
·
15.9K
Views

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by CletusPyle

Steichen can't bring in Rivers because they go way back....you obviously don't know shit about who hires players. If Ballard already had a good QB on the roster why bring in Rivers? Why waste the money on him?

If Riley does well he makes Ballard and Steichen both look like idiots.

Because Rivers was who his coach wanted? What’s Ballard going to say, no? That’s insane. They were fighting for a playoff spot. Ballard isn’t a coach. He doesn’t call plays. If Steichen tells Ballard he has a better chance with Rivers, Ballard is going to sign Rivers. Regardless of what he(Ballard) thinks of Leonard.

I guess Belichick looked like an idiot when he played Bledsoe over Brady? Shanahan looked like an idiot when he played Trey Lance over Brock Purdy?

You hate Ballard but you’re making zero sense here.

[Racehorse]

Originally Posted by CletusPyle

If Leonard starts next week, which he certainly should, it won't be because Ballard wants him too...maybe Shane or CIG, but not Ballard. Because if the kid plays well, and I think he will, Ballard will look like even more of a fool!

That makes no sense. Shane wanted Rivers, and Ballard agreed. IF, big IF, Leonard plays well, it proves nothing.