Trusting Ballard, as I am merely a fan

[ukcolt]

I love the Colts, I like to think that I know the guys on the roster and how they have played when they suit up in the games. But that is all I or we as fans know, the make up of the players, their medical conditions, attitudes, personality, outside personal issues, are things we have zero access to, so I will trust in the Colts personnel staff when it comes to building the roster.

At the end of last year everyone could see that we needed a starting QB due to Rivers retirement, they made a pre draft trade to bring in Wentz. Castonzo retired, so a huge need was left there, in free agency they have brought in two guys Tevi and Davenport, both of whom have had significant starting experience, I suspect neither are close to the ability level of Castonzo, but they have seen significant game time. We lost Autry and Houston, and have replaced them with Rochelle, and our top two draft picks. Hooker is likely not to be resigned, and we have signed Sean Davis and drafted Shaun Davis. Trey Burton, has been replaced with a productive receiving TE, which fits exactly the sort of player to compliment our existing TE room. Anthony Walker has left, but I think most people have felt comfortable with our backups being ready to step up anyway.

The draft has also brought in a big receiver to compete as a depth player and the same with a promising experienced college QB. And finally added an interior offensive lineman to compete for the final roster spot.

I am content with how most of the issues that were prevalent at the end of last year have been addressed, barring maybe a top quality starting LT. But some resources have been thrown at the position. Maybe we could have looked at spending some draft capital at CB, as we have both Rhodes and Carrie who are closer to the ends of their careers than the beginning.

Overall though I believe management have been able to inject some quality youth into the roster, and we still have some cap space to potentially pick up a LT in free agency or during cut down. I believe going forward we will be better than we were last year, predominantly because we were already a relatively young/inexperienced roster, who have all gained another year of experience and they will get a full offseason, hopefully with a training camp to develop even further. We have lost some experience with Rivers, Castonzo, Houston, Autry and Walker, but we still have a very good group of leaders at those positions, Nelson and Kelly on the offensive line, Buckner is the leader of the defensive line, and Leonard clearly for the linebackers, these were all already the leaders of these groups anyway, so not too much of a hit in my opinion.

Onwards and upwards towards the Superbowl hopefully is where we are headed.

[HoosierinFL]

I hope these 2 pass rushers pan out, because I'm totally underwhelmed by the rest of the picks. Esp that QB, I didn't see the point of that one, if we just want a camp arm, then one could be had as a UDFA.

I can only assume that Ballard was influenced by the superbowl. Tampa showed that a dominant pass rush is a winning formula in today's NFL. I've never seen Mahomes as flustered by a pass rush until that game. If we can get anywhere near that, I would think the offense can do what it needs to win - assuming Wentz is the guy, and assuming we find an acceptable LT.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by HoosierinFL

I hope these 2 pass rushers pan out, because I'm totally underwhelmed by the rest of the picks. Esp that QB, I didn't see the point of that one, if we just want a camp arm, then one could be had as a UDFA.

I can only assume that Ballard was influenced by the superbowl. Tampa showed that a dominant pass rush is a winning formula in today's NFL. I've never seen Mahomes as flustered by a pass rush until that game. If we can get anywhere near that, I would think the offense can do what it needs to win - assuming Wentz is the guy, and assuming we find an acceptable LT.

The last two teams Tampa played were missing their starting tackles. If anything it should hammer home how important LT is. Not to discount passrush because we need it too. But if our QB gets hurt, we aren’t going anywhere. So if we head into the season with Davenport and Tevi we are in trouble.

[apballin]

After watching the post draft presser and I feel a lot better love Ballards honesty, big on character and resilience which is exactly what Paye is and I’m sure they know more about these guys than I do, but I want a team full of resilient, hardworking, professional guys and that’s exactly what we have. They’ll sure up left tackle one way or another either way I’m proud to say this is my team, from the owner to Ballard to Reich to the team on the field I like where we’re at so I was disappointed in the draft in May but I’ll probably be ecstatic come January

[IndyNorm]

Playing armchair GM is part of being a fan. It's just odd that after prioritizing the OL in previous off seasons Ballard seems to have gone away from that this year. Maybe Davenport and Tevi are much better than we're giving them credit for, quality depth and human turnstile respectively, but at this point it's more likely that they are what they've been.

Also, for all of the great picks Ballard has made Edge has been one position where he has struggled despite spending some pretty high draft picks on it (CB being the other one that comes to mind). Hope Paye and Odeyingbo buck that trend, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

[Racehorse]

Originally Posted by IndyNorm

Playing armchair GM is part of being a fan. It's just odd that after prioritizing the OL in previous off seasons Ballard seems to have gone away from that this year. Maybe Davenport and Tevi are much better than we're giving them credit for, quality depth and human turnstile respectively, but at this point it's more likely that they are what they've been.

Also, for all of the great picks Ballard has made Edge has been one position where he has struggled despite spending some pretty high draft picks on it (CB being the other one that comes to mind). Hope Paye and Odeyingbo buck that trend, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

I am hoping that those guys were victims of circumstances, but will flourish around our linemen.

[njcoltfan]

Originally Posted by HoosierinFL

I hope these 2 pass rushers pan out, because I'm totally underwhelmed by the rest of the picks. Esp that QB, I didn't see the point of that one, if we just want a camp arm, then one could be had as a UDFA.

I can only assume that Ballard was influenced by the superbowl. Tampa showed that a dominant pass rush is a winning formula in today's NFL. I've never seen Mahomes as flustered by a pass rush until that game. If we can get anywhere near that, I would think the offense can do what it needs to win - assuming Wentz is the guy, and assuming we find an acceptable LT.

The reason he was “flustered “ is because the Chiefs two starting TACKLES were out of the game!! Right now Sam Tevi is the starting tackle protecting Wentz’s blindside, God help him!!

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by Racehorse

I am hoping that those guys were victims of circumstances, but will flourish around our linemen.

I wouldn’t get your hopes up. Chargers laughed at the Tevi turnstile comments last year when they played him. This year they let him go and drafted a LT with their first pick. They would rather start a rookie than have him there.

I don’t have a problem with what Ballard does, it what he doesn’t do that I find perplexing. We seem to go into every year with a hole on the roster and I don’t understand why. It certainly isn’t a lack of money. We have a QB with confidence issues and now his blindside is gonna be protected by backups. You can’t hide LT behind other positions, it’s on an island. You going to park a blocking TE there every play? That really limits you schematically. We got outmaneuvered in the draft. I really hope they bring in a better vet for the position.

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

We got outmaneuvered in the draft.

This is the problem I have. They got jumped in at least 3 rounds for OTs they wanted by their own admission. The talent they got isn't all that bad (not who I would've chosen, but I'm hoping they pan out now), but they entered the draft with a gaping hole at LT and they left the draft with a gaping hole at LT in the deepest OT class in a decade. That seems like poor planning, exacerbated by the fact that the last viable option in Round 2 was taken the pick before the Colts. Bottom line is Ballard gambled and lost, and now he has his work cut out for him to fill the gaping hole he left on the roster.

[JAFF]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

This is the problem I have. They got jumped in at least 3 rounds for OTs they wanted by their own admission. The talent they got isn't all that bad (not who I would've chosen, but I'm hoping they pan out now), but they entered the draft with a gaping hole at LT and they left the draft with a gaping hole at LT in the deepest OT class in a decade. That seems like poor planning, exacerbated by the fact that the last viable option in Round 2 was taken the pick before the Colts. Bottom line is Ballard gambled and lost, and now he has his work cut out for him to fill the gaping hole he left on the roster.

Yeah lots of OTs. That doesnt mean quality.