"one perceived flaw"

They aren't "perceived" and there are at least two, one on the end of each of his arms.

Then there is the blocking thing... that makes three.

They let all this "talent" go after trying to fix these "perceived" problems. A 25 year old first round with lots of talent

There is plenty of space between Grigsons approach and Ballard’s. I’m not advocating a spending spree for stop gap veterans meant to put the team over a hump. I’m saying there was enough talent in free agency and enough cap space to fill a few holes with above replacement level players. Would you have had to overpay? Absolutely. That’s the nature of free agency. You can’t build a team through it, but you sure as hell can add important pieces to it. Especially when you have the most important piece in place - a franchise QB. This was not the Cleveland Browns. Not when you have Luck in place. I sure as hell hope Luck is as patient with his career and health as you are. He’s going to be throwing 40+ times again next year behind what is at best an inexperienced line (assuming they use their picks there) and at worst another shitty one.

My complaint isn't not signing and over paying other people's free agents. It's letting players go that were likely better than they're bringing in creating new holes in this swiss cheese franchise

I don't think it's at all ridiculous to question Ballard this offseason. He's made some good decisions, I haven't completely written him off. But he's also

- cut Vontae Davis for some reason
- cut John Hankins for some reason
- ignored or whiffed on the top OL options in FA two years in a row
- tried to hire a dickhead that we all now universally revile in McDaniels, supposedly after a full year of relationship building

To me those are not winning moves. I'm happy with the extra draft picks, but I'm not thrilled that the FA strategy is going to force the team to target certain positions in the draft based on roster need. It wasn't necessary.

And it's clear Ballard knows the OL isn't good enough. He wouldn't have tried to get Norwell, Jensen, or Pugh if he thought otherwise. But he couldn't close any of those despite the most cap space we've ever had as a team.

Yeah it's too early to say Ballard is a clown, that he sucks, that he should be fired. But there's plenty of reason to question his decision-making. I've said from the beginning I'd trust him until he gave me a reason not to, and he's now given Colts fans multiple reasons to at least wonder about his judgement.

I have much less issue with not resigning Melvin than you seem to, but I was absolutely livid at the Haskins release. Melvin wanted a big payday after one big year and that’s risky. I get it. But we’ve also done jack shit to try to fill that or any other hole through free agency. And then went and created another hole on the DL because the coaching staff can’t figure out how to use one of the few above average players the D actually has. All to save some money that they have absolutely no intention of spending. And there is no one left to spend it on even if they wanted to.

I sure hope Hooker and Wilson match up to the teams ideal visions for their positions. Hate to seem them cut for not matching up. Sound ridiculous? Absolutely, but is the Haskins release really significantly different? I don’t think so.

sounds whiny

I dont completely disagree. All I really wanted two OL signed in FA and hoping norwell was one. A decent LB would have been nice.

I prefer bitchy to whiny. Would more cursing help?

Signing some OL help would have been ideal. I hate the idea of putting more rookies in front of Luck and hoping they get it and jell. But after two free agent periods of Ballard running things that seems to be the only option left for fixing the line this year.

I’ve been against using a high draft pick on a guard, but at this point they might as well - they’ll have a high pick again next year. Maybe then they can address more impact positions like pass rusher. I’ll admit before hand that I’m going to lose my shit if they end up with Barkley. I’d have lost all faith in Ballard at that point.

I am more ok with a guard at 6 than I was at 3, I will not flip out about Barkley at 6, but I really feel like a team is as well off with RB by committee and using high 1st rounders on many other positions.