2018 State of the Colts Salary Cap

[omahacolt]

Originally Posted by Colt Classic

Not sure if this question fits better here or in the head coaching search thread, but with the players who will be back versus what is still needed, is it a given that the defense will stay as a 3-4 or could a coach be considered who would want to scrap that and go back to 4-3?

it doesn't matter what defense we run

[omahacolt]

Originally Posted by sherck

So, within the constraints that he was not allowed to fire Pagano due to Irsay and he had to use Grigson's scouting staff for free agency and the draft.....

-- His 3 highly paid ($5m+ per year average) free agents (Hankins, Sheard, Doyle) all performed well in 2017 and were good value for what we paid them.

-- Many of his lower paid free agents (less than $5m a year but above vet min) performed well: Simon, Woods, Hunt, Bostic, Mingo, Turbin).

-- He did miss on some of his free agents:
P Jeff Locke but only because he found a UDFA to replace him cheaper.
WR Kamar Aiken. Pure miss.
ILB Sean Spence. Pure miss.

So, in free agency, Ballard pretty much nailed it.

The draft?
Bad luck on Hooker going to IR but he looked like a keeper.
Now that Wilson is being allowed to play, he looks like he is developing.
Mack? Keeper
Banner? Miss.
Walker? Meh, not showing much yet but he is a 5th rounder.
Hairston? Keeper.

The only thing that I can criticize him on is his failure to fix the O-Line sufficiently in 2017. That HAS to be a priority in 2018.

So, what am I missing on Ballard's 2017 off-season that you say that it was not good?

Walk Worthy,

sheard was arguably a worse player than walden. simon was ok but very overrated. our olbers got worse. our ilbers got worse. mingo made a handful of good plays for all the snaps he got.

this defense was atrocious for all these so called good players. explain that one to me.

the offensive line was terrible again. did he bring in anyone to help that situation? no.

brissett fell into his lap. and he wasn't good. otherwise the qb situation was a trainwreck.

i think ballard is going to be ok. i think his 1st offseason was ok. to say he nailed it is pretty much grading on a massive curve.

the only reason i don't say it was a complete failure is because pagano is just that bad.

[omahacolt]

oh and i will say that sheard was undoubtedly worse than walden. his setting the edge at times was simply pathetic.

[sherck]

Originally Posted by Colt Classic

Not sure if this question fits better here or in the head coaching search thread, but with the players who will be back versus what is still needed, is it a given that the defense will stay as a 3-4 or could a coach be considered who would want to scrap that and go back to 4-3?

Sheard could be a hand in the dirt 4-3 DE. So could Chubb.
Hankins, Woods, Grover as NTs.
Anderson, Hunt, Ridgeway as UTs

Simon could be an WOLB.
Mingo? SOLB perhaps.

MLB? At least we would need to find less of them!

Secondary? I don't think it changes much.

So, sure. We could move to a 4-3. Need some more DEs and OLBs along with our ILB/MLB mess but we could do it.

Walk Worthy,

[sherck]

Omaha, all I can say is that you are a glass half full guy. Nothing will ever please you.

You are wrong.

Walk Worthy,

[omahacolt]

Originally Posted by sherck

Omaha, all I can say is that you are a glass half full guy. Nothing will ever please you.

You are wrong.

Walk Worthy,

we had one of the worst defenses in the league and one of the worst offenses in the league.

we won 3 games. we will struggle to beat 4th string qb of the texans at home without their top 4 players.


i am not wrong at all. we improved one area of the team. the run defense. and that was ranked terrible in large part to that so called stud sheard at the end of games handing the edge away like dam giving away bj's.

i am optimistic for the future, but i will not pretend i didn't just watch this season.

[Coltsalr]

Originally Posted by omahacolt

oh and i will say that sheard was undoubtedly worse than walden. his setting the edge at times was simply pathetic.

Sheard was unarguably better at rushing the passer than Walden.

[apballin]

Originally Posted by omahacolt

we had one of the worst defenses in the league and one of the worst offenses in the league.

we won 3 games. we will struggle to beat 4th string qb of the texans at home without their top 4 players.


i am not wrong at all. we improved one area of the team. the run defense. and that was ranked terrible in large part to that so called stud sheard at the end of games handing the edge away like dam giving away bj's.

i am optimistic for the future, but i will not pretend i didn't just watch this season.

I'd say the Defense wasn't helped by the offense constantly giving points to the other team

[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by omahacolt

oh and i will say that sheard was undoubtedly worse than walden. his setting the edge at times was simply pathetic.

Walden was good at setting the edge every year but 2016. He really regressed his last season as a Colt.

[omahacolt]

Originally Posted by Coltsalr

Sheard was unarguably better at rushing the passer than Walden.

That is false