Getting it wrong and not prioritizing it are two different things. You mentioned it, but I'll emphasize... taking Nelson at 6 overall and Smith at 37 overall when we already had two first-rounders (Castonzo, Kelly) cannot happen with a GM that doesn't prioritize the OL.

I think everybody acknowledges that Matt Pryor was a bad decision. Even if he was always planned to be temporary, which is evidenced by the rotation with Raimann from the first game. And I'll be the broken record that says we don't know if he tried to bring in a more established guy or who that might have been.

However, nobody saw the OL unit performing like this. Anybody that says they did is lying. Even guys like me and you who were talking back in April about Glow and Reed leaving... we were concerned, but not because we thought career back-up Chris Reed leaving will suddenly make Quenton Nelson have his worst season and we'll give up more sacks in 9 games than we did in 17 games with ball-holding Wentz and we'll be 30th in rushing after producing the rushing champ last year. It's one of the weirdest things we've seen in football.

We agree Hoopsdoc. I just don’t think any coach would be given much of a chance here. If Saturday can get people to start to believe in themselves I would consider that a win. This is a lost season. I am glad Irsay sees that, although he won’t say it

depends on how "success" in this situation is measured. and who is measuring that success.

to me irsay had seen enough to know he needed to go in another direction next season, so he made the move now in hopes of not letting the situation spiral over the next couple months.

irsay is a bit bonkers, but I would assume he doesnt expect saturday to come in and miraculously make us a contender for the rest of this season. I think he brought in saturday to just try and steer the ship straight for the rest of the season. that's the success he is looking for, not letting it turn into a further shit show.

I think he should have had ventrone do this though. I think bringing in an "unexperienced outsider" rather than someone that has been in the building and is more familiar with the players is some of what's gotten under ballard's skin. ventrone seems to be universally liked and probably would have been a good choice to just finish out the year.

i really hope that they have a good interview process and quality candidates come in. I hated the initial choice of mcdaniels and was happy when he backed out. ballard and irsay need to do better this time.

but what the hell do i know.

But really, how do we know that Ballard and Irsay didn't approach Bubba or Fox or Bradley and they simply said "I'm good, thanks"?
I don't think Bubba could have done anything by that move except hurt hit stock going forward.

Nah, I think Jim genuinely believes Saturday can turn this around. He’s harkening back to the glory days of the franchise. Hell, he probably called Peyton.

I agree that Ventrone should have gotten a shot. Keefer was saying that there are a lot of pissed off coaches right now, both in Indy and around the league, that Saturday got this shot without paying any dues at all. Guys work their whole careers for an opportunity like this and here Saturday gets one because Jim likes him. “He’s the right fit” was the only reason Jim would give.

There is really no other logical reason. Even if you think a fresh perspective is needed, you don’t throw the guy in halfway through the season with an awful team and expect his message to get through.

Jim saw the season spiraling out of control and he really believes Jeff Saturday can save it. He’s insane, but I think that’s what he really believes.

It’s going to be a disaster. I don’t think they win another game.

oh I bet there are some pissed off coaches, and players. but I would guess most interim coaches dont end up with the long term job so although the initial reaction is 'pissed off' it probably unwarrented.

now if they go trough the interview process and they hire saturday for a long term plan, well....

I disagree with you though. irsay isnt dense enough to think we can really turn this around this season. he wants a high pick to get a new QB. he knows how important it is to winning in this league.

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Thank you.

I remember making numerous posts last season about complimenting Ballard in regard to building a "complete team" that was not overly-dependent on the starting quarterback (see the Peyton Manning years, followed by the Andrew Luck years.)

The quintessential example of the overly dependence on the starting quarterback was a 3-year stretch between 2010 and 2012.


2010: ) Peyton Manning leads an otherwise flawed team to a 10-6 record, the AFC South division title, and a playoff berth.

2011: ) With Peyton Manning injured and Andrew Luck still playing college football at Stanford, the Colts start the season at 0-13, and finish it at 2-14.

2012: ) Rookie stud quarterback Andrew Luck leads the Colts to an 11-5 record, and a Wildcard playoff berth ....... they in fact, have a better overall record than the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, who went 10-6 that season and defeated the Colts in the first round of the playoffs.



Back to Ballard ...... when I was making those comments about him actually building a complete team, and not just giving lip-service to it, I gave numerous examples of why he was indeed doing just that (such as the fact that the Colts had one of the best offensive lines in the entire NFL last season. )I don't recall getting a single argument from anyone here on Colts Freaks about my claim ...... hell, when the Colts were 9-6 last season after a great win over Kyler Murray's Arizona Cardinals on national television, l Chopped Wood l was conceding that he was wrong about Frank Reich !!!




http://www.coltfreaks.com/forum/show...t=Reich&page=8




Here is a thread that I started immediately after that win over the Cardinals last year ...... read all of the comments in that thread, and it will give you an idea of what the general mindset was at Colt Freaks at the time ...... hell, we had posters that were complimenting Carson Wentz !!!


http://www.coltfreaks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=136388

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And look, I'm not picking on anyone and/or singling out Chopped Wood in regard to their comments with my above post ...... I'm simply pointing out that the wind blows in very different directions when a team is winning compared to when they are losing ...... winning covers up all sorts of dirty laundry, while losing brings out the lynch-mob in almost every fan-base in sports.

o

I don't agree with their interpretation of what he said. I don't think he regrets taking Pierce or that he blames local media for forcing him to do that. Local media has little to do with how we draft.

I do think some of the local media are pretty arrogant towards him and think a lot of their own opinions, especially Dakich and some of the radio guys. That query yesterday was going off with schadenfreude yesterday towards Ballard and the rest just about calling him names and everything.

As for his actions, yup, Ballard's actions are where we are with the LT situation. Supposedly Darrisaw and Paye were neck and neck on the draft board and they went with pass rush bc they put a slight more positional importance on it than LT.

yeah, thats a dumb interpretation probably made by someone that doesnt really follow the team that closely.

i have been hammering ballard on that quote, but for the reason that i thought it was a petty thing to say. he should be above that.

his major fuck up was not addressing LT when he had chances, namely leno and darrisaw who were there for the taking.