Don’t remember Seattle doing that at all. Can you point out when? The question was a purposeful, forced youth movement with a franchise QB in place. Something similar to the entire Colts LB core having like 6 combined starts. Basically a team knowingly sacrificing several peak QB years to completely rebuild a roster with extremely young players.

New Orleans is by far the closest answer suggested. Bree’s was in his 14th season, but still playing at a very high level.

Show me the posters who love everything Ballard does? I question his moves, as do I believe many on this board. It's just we've seen little evidence to prove his moves wrong.

Ballard, perhaps wrongly so, went and got players who fit Pagano's system last season, just to give Pagano a real chance of improving the defense. It didn't happen and we knew it wasn't going to happen. You gotta admire Ballard's humility to do that, even when he also doubted the results.

Fast forward to this season and Ballard got rid of most of the Pagano stench, to give this regime the same chance he gave Pagano.

Hankins doesn't have a job. Tell what gives there? Anderson isn't even starting on a Jets team that runs a scheme that's fits his talents. What would he have done here?

Ballard admitted that he made a mistake by holding onto Simon too long and trying him in a variety of roles. It didn't help Simon and it didn't help the team.

Ballard deserves no praise for any of his personnel moves the last 2 years. He would probably tell you that himself. Because at the end of the day it's all about W/L. Sure we can question him and I often do. Just not to the point that I always think that the sky is falling every time he makes a decision that I don't agree with.

Who know's maybe with ample playing time and a few games under their belts, guys like Basham and Turay can at least become key contributors. I would certainly hope that each could top Simon's career high 5 sacks from 2 years ago.

Us loyal happy horse-shitters are just saying...Let's wait and see.

Now... this yr

Yeah no shit ..... impressive point. Thanks

So basically you have no opinion until it becomes obvious? Hard to be wrong that way I guess.

I agree with you. I would like to add that while this will probably a tough year, I think there are good signs. That's what I think from what I've seen. I like that the O line is headed in what appears to be the right direction. I like the D is younger and faster. I like that the offense seems to be less predictive.

It could be a worse record this year, than last. It's absolutely possible. But that's not going to dampen my enthusiasm for Sunday's game.

I’m curious, at what point would people thinks it’s fair to criticize Ballard? I didn’t pay attention to see when disagreeing with Grigson became considered legitimate and not “sky is falling” overreaction. Puck says he’ll wait to have an opinion until he has the benefit of hindsight. Is that the way to not be considered a hater?

Not at all. I like that Ballard had a good reputation. And I am not calling for his head or anything like that. I am just not impressed with what he has done. For example:

1). We have Andrew Luck. As far as I know he is healthy. You build your team knowing you have a top 5 qb in the league. Meaning that you can win quickly.

2). The build through the draft propaganda is annoying. Every team builds through the draft. That is the best and cheapest way to add talent. We aren’t doing something special here.

3). Hankins, simon and Anderson are talented football players. Cutting good players speaks directly against the competition mantra he tries to sell. Scheme fit isn’t an issue either. That is a lie.

4). I like that Ballard seems intent to build the lines. I agree with that. Not sure why he took the dudes he took but at this point I have no problem letting that play out.

5). Saving that much cash is asinine. You can use some to supplement the roster. Unless he thinks he can do what nobody has ever done and nail the draft every year. He will be lucky to get 2 really good players a year in the draft. Adding talent with the available cap space is just smart.

6). This roster, on paper, is unproven at best and a disaster at worst. That is just a fact.

I don’t hate Ballard. I don’t like that he is not taking advantage of all his resources and playing only one hand. He has a home run hitter in luck and he is asking him to bunt. That is my main issue.

And god damn shrek needs to stop editing my posts. I have never touched a post out of spite and never would. That has never been what this board was about. Shows his lack of integrity.

And it is you’re btw.

Its a weak, young team right now.

8-8 will be a big accomplishment this season

I am not thrilled with Ballard so far. Has been a mixed bag for the most part, but I just don't understand some of the cuts and lost players on D this past season or saving so much in cap space right now.

I wonder how much has to do with keeping Pagano for a year beyond Grigson. Would have made much more sense to clean how all at the same time. I am sure that was an Irsay decision. It did put Ballard as well in a tough spot for one year, wondering what to do with the roster last year.

Ultimately much of how we judge Ballard will be based on how the draft picks pain out because that is how he is choosing to build. If he refuses to use cap money on big free agents AND proves he can't draft well, its another bad choice for GM.

Thus far it appears he whiffed on Quincy Wilson and Tarell Basham, not a good start. Maybe they will surprise us though. And the kick returner he drafted can't even hold onto the ball after a punt, let alone return it.

Its going to be a long season.