Chris Ballard Praise (Merge)

[lennymoore24]

I know the trolls will have to remind me "The season hasn't started yet" or "winning the offseason means nothing".

 

However, I love what Ballard has done so far.  I thought even last year Dwayne Allen should be traded away while he had value.  He is too inconsistent and hurt too often.  So getting a 4th out of Allen in a year that is strong in defense and RB, too Colts needs, is a good move.   I like how he has released/not resigned some vets we had.  They were just too slow to inconsistent.  As far as free agents, I had hoped the Colts would sign John Simon.  He is a perfect weakside LB to take Waldens place.  Very good against the run.   We have also gotten a punter and a flyer on Mingo.  But most importantly, none of these guys are costing the Colts much as far as free agents go.  After watching Grigson open up the checkbook for too many over the hill players or part time starters who never amounted to anything, I have real optimism that Ballard is going to turn this defense around quickly.  Simon is a very high character, high intensity guy.  We need more of them in the locker room.

[cbear]

I wonder if he is building the team in Pags image.  I would hope so as that would mean these two guys are truly on the same page.

[Jason_]

23 minutes ago, lennymoore24 said:

I know the trolls will have to remind me "The season hasn't started yet" or "winning the offseason means nothing".

 

However, I love what Ballard has done so far.  I thought even last year Dwayne Allen should be traded away while he had value.  He is too inconsistent and hurt too often.  So getting a 4th out of Allen in a year that is strong in defense and RB, too Colts needs, is a good move.   I like how he has released/not resigned some vets we had.  They were just too slow to inconsistent.  As far as free agents, I had hoped the Colts would sign John Simon.  He is a perfect weakside strongside LB to take Waldens place.  Very good against the run.   We have also gotten a punter and a flyer on Mingo.  But most importantly, none of these guys are costing the Colts much as far as free agents go.  After watching Grigson open up the checkbook for too many over the hill players or part time starters who never amounted to anything, I have real optimism that Ballard is going to turn this defense around quickly.  Simon is a very high character, high intensity guy.  We need more of them in the locker room.

 

agree with your post pretty much all around...just one minor little correction in there

[braveheartcolt]

I find it hard to form any considered opinion right now. Nothing he has done so far has been spectacular. I'm not complaining, just sitting on the fence for now.....

[Andrew Luck fan club]

I've been on the Ballard hype train ever since he got hired. Don't see myself getting off any time soon. 

[chad72]

Let us come back and have this discussion in 2 years. A lot more will become clear by then.

 

[Jason_]

1 minute ago, chad72 said:

Let us come back and have this discussion in 2 years. A lot more will become clear by then.

 

 

sure, in a couple of years we'll have a much better idea...but that won't change the early encouragement some people may feel at this point.

[chad72]

1 minute ago, Jason_S said:

 

sure, in a couple of years we'll have a much better idea...but that won't change the early encouragement some people may feel at this point.

 

True.

 

FA and drafting decisions for 2 years will help us get a good picture of his vision for this team. It will tell us if he walked his talk, from the trenches' emphasis to the locker room guys' emphasis etc.

[Superman]

I am convinced he has a plan, and he's showing discipline to stick to that plan. It won't be until later that we'll know how well his plan was conceived or executed. He's doing a good job so far, 8 transactions in... 

[Mr. Irrelevant]

4 minutes ago, Superman said:

I am convinced he has a plan, and he's showing discipline to stick to that plan. It won't be until later that we'll know how well his plan was conceived or executed. He's doing a good job so far, 8 transactions in... 

 

Yeah, and if I'm reading him right, he might even be playing things fairly safe for now. 

[RockThatBlue]

I like what hes done so far. Its pretty obvious that hes on a mission to fix the defense, which is good. 

[NannyMcafee]

27 minutes ago, Majin Vegeta said:

I've been on the Ballard hype train ever since he got hired. Don't see myself getting off any time soon. 

 

You and me both. His hire on press conference sold me.

[will426]

He's staying true to his words you don't buy your team in FA and you develop your own players  he's trusting these "incompetent" coaches unfortunately lol but hopefully it works out for the better 

[Steamboat_Shaun]

1 hour ago, lennymoore24 said:

I know the trolls will have to remind me "The season hasn't started yet" or "winning the offseason means nothing".

 

However, I love what Ballard has done so far.  I thought even last year Dwayne Allen should be traded away while he had value.  He is too inconsistent and hurt too often.  So getting a 4th out of Allen in a year that is strong in defense and RB, too Colts needs, is a good move.   I like how he has released/not resigned some vets we had.  They were just too slow to inconsistent.  As far as free agents, I had hoped the Colts would sign John Simon.  He is a perfect weakside LB to take Waldens place.  Very good against the run.   We have also gotten a punter and a flyer on Mingo.  But most importantly, none of these guys are costing the Colts much as far as free agents go.  After watching Grigson open up the checkbook for too many over the hill players or part time starters who never amounted to anything, I have real optimism that Ballard is going to turn this defense around quickly.  Simon is a very high character, high intensity guy.  We need more of them in the locker room.

 

I like everything about him thus far. But at the same time, I have to remind myself that even Grigson won Executive of the Year in his first season.

[SteelCityColt]

2 minutes ago, Steamboat_Shaun said:

 

I like everything about him thus far. But at the same time, I have to remind myself that even Grigson won Executive of the Year in his first season.

 

2012 was a massively weird season in terms of how much the team overperformed. On the basis of looking at the following seasons it's fair to say Grigson caught lucky.

[UKColt13]

Early doors yet. I'll judge post draft.

[lollygagger8]

This is Ballard right meow: 

[Buck Showalter]

8 minutes ago, will426 said:

He's staying true to his words you don't buy your team in FA and you develop your own players  he's trusting these "incompetent" coaches unfortunately lol but hopefully it works out for the better 

LOL...

Really???

Must every thread have the coach bashing comments???

[Rackeen305]

The only thing that sucks is that he doesnt have that special team Ace in Pat McAfee. Pat McAfee is highly underrated and would have even better numbers had our special teams spotted the ball within 5 yards of the goal line, instead of fumbling, pushing, or tapping their feet inside the inzone. 

[Steamboat_Shaun]

3 minutes ago, Buck Showalter said:

LOL...

Really???

Must every thread have the coach bashing comments???

 

Yeah, there's a minimum requirement of one per thread.

[coach kline]

Watch and wait not much has been done. 

[ManningGM]

1 hour ago, cbear said:

I wonder if he is building the team in Pags image.  I would hope so as that would mean these two guys are truly on the same page.

I hope he's building the team in his own image. Wasn't Pagano the guy who wanted Patrick Robinson here anyways? Yikes. 

[Buck Showalter]

10 minutes ago, Steamboat_Shaun said:

 

I like everything about him thus far. But at the same time, I have to remind myself that even Grigson won Executive of the Year in his first season.

Yeah & what looked like an amazing 2012 draft class, early on, has now become lackluster, with Allen under-performing and losing Vic Ballard to the injury  curse...

[aaron11]

1 minute ago, Buck Showalter said:

Yeah & what looked like an amazing 2012 draft class, early on, has now become lackluster, with Allen under-performing and losing Vic Ballard to the injury  curse...

yeah, just luck and TY left

 

fleener and allen will hang around the league for a while though, will be interesting to see if they ever hit their potential

[cbear]

1 minute ago, ManningGM said:

I hope he's building the team in his own image. Wasn't Pagano the guy who wanted Patrick Robinson here anyways? Yikes. 

 

I don't know if Pags wanted PR.  But if Ballard is building it in his own image, Pags will definitely be gone next year, unless he's bought into what Ballard wants to do.

[Valpo2004]

I'm encouraged that he's clearing out Grigson's mistakes.  And with Dwayne Allen getting a pick for it. 

 

But you don't know til the games how good his signings and draft picks are.  

 

The offseason always feels more optimistic then the actual season. 

[aaron11]

2 minutes ago, cbear said:

 

I don't know if Pags wanted PR. 

PR probably never comes to indy if chuck didnt want him.  Especially since hes a DB, which is paganos main area

[bababooey]

3 minutes ago, cbear said:

 

I don't know if Pags wanted PR.  But if Ballard is building it in his own image, Pags will definitely be gone next year, unless he's bought into what Ballard wants to do.

If the team comes out flat half the time and comes up short in 4th quarter come backs or pulls a stupid fake punt again you can bet he will be gone even if he does buy into Ballard.

[Valpo2004]

8 minutes ago, Buck Showalter said:

Yeah & what looked like an amazing 2012 draft class, early on, has now become lackluster, with Allen under-performing and losing Vic Ballard to the injury  curse...

 

Really the 2012 draft class was amazing regardless.  The problem was that they should have kept Fleener who's a solid receiving TE instead of Allen who has hands of stone, is injury prone, and PFF scores him lower on blocking then Jack Doyle.  

 

But ultimately Grigson got 2 pro-bowl players (Luck and TY) in one draft.  If you add in Fleener to that mix then it's 2 pro bowlers and a solid starter.  Plus you recall he also added Vontae Davis during the 2012 offseason as well.

 

The problems started with what came after that.  Bad drafting, bad free agency signings, and bad trades.  Very few good things that Grigson did came after the 2012 offseason.  

[AustexColt]

First I am really surprised how quick Ballard went to work on the FA market. His picks are sound but at the end of the day, it is availability. If guys are injured most of the time than Bad News. The Colts do not have a deep bench so every body counts.  I agree that the moves seem to indicate that our defense is  being revamped BIGTIME. That is good news. I always felt that we never had  a first class Front 7 since the days in Baltimore. (Bellichek was our linebacker coach!!)

[jameszeigler834]

58 minutes ago, chad72 said:

Let us come back and have this discussion in 2 years. A lot more will become clear by then.

 

I like the signings of Locke the punter proven punter and is pretty good and John Simon the LB also pretty good I'm not high on Mingo but he could be very good for ST so I'm ok with the signings so far we will see how it turns out.

[theanarchist]

1 hour ago, lennymoore24 said:

I know the trolls will have to remind me "The season hasn't started yet" or "winning the offseason means nothing".

 

However, I love what Ballard has done so far.  I thought even last year Dwayne Allen should be traded away while he had value.  He is too inconsistent and hurt too often.  So getting a 4th out of Allen in a year that is strong in defense and RB, too Colts needs, is a good move.   I like how he has released/not resigned some vets we had.  They were just too slow to inconsistent.  As far as free agents, I had hoped the Colts would sign John Simon.  He is a perfect weakside LB to take Waldens place.  Very good against the run.   We have also gotten a punter and a flyer on Mingo.  But most importantly, none of these guys are costing the Colts much as far as free agents go.  After watching Grigson open up the checkbook for too many over the hill players or part time starters who never amounted to anything, I have real optimism that Ballard is going to turn this defense around quickly.  Simon is a very high character, high intensity guy.  We need more of them in the locker room.

Right now, with the exception of the Allen trade which I love, he's just doing the obvious. He's thinning the trash that Grigson brought in here. He's signing some mid level FA's to come in and compete. He's got a lot of work left to do. We have no depth at CB, S, LB(even with the two he has signed its thin)and many other positions.

[indyagent17]

As I have said before Ballard is running with Scissors and putting his stamp on the team

[jet1968]

Considering Grigson couldnt identify defensive talent if it jumped up and bit him the nose, it doesnt take much to improve. Unlike Grigson  I believe Ballard is showing he does have a plan and he is sticking to it. Obvoiusly he isnt going to let linebackers stay here that can't tackle and cornerbacks that cant cover.

[will426]

1 hour ago, Buck Showalter said:

LOL...

Really???

Must every thread have the coach bashing comments???

Damn right until I see some developed players & ingame adjustments I'm gonna bash em lol but on the real I'm hoping they were just not able to do things they want based on grigson so I'll get them the benefit of the doubt 

[jshipp23]

I would prefer to try to win at ALL costs every year, instead of wasting a couple more years of Andrew Luck's prime....I'm sure the slow process can work IF you hit on draft picks and they avoid injuries, but it's not guaranteed..I think with our offense we should make trades for impact guys if the opportunity is there, and go after playmakers in free agency even if they are expensive.. The thought of going into a season without a Super Bowl as the goal when Andrew Luck is your QB isn't the best strategy in my opinion...Why not go all in now? Pay what it takes to bring in Hightower, Poe, Claiborne, and Barwin..        Draft a franchise RB, OLB, IlB, and G in draft who can make impacts and we would be instant contenders...Instead, it looks like we are gonna go for mid level guys in FA, let 2 of our most reliable defensive players go and hope we nail it in the draft and wait for them to develop for 3 years..                                              Luck will be in his 30's with this strategy..That's what you do when he is 22 not when he is 27 getting ready to hit his prime...I don't understand the attraction to this philosophy?  If we didn't have a QB I'd understand it, but it seems like a flawed plan for our situation..Sure eventually it may payoff, but what about the years we are throwing away?

[BullsColtsFan1]

I've liked what he's done so far.  I hope he drafts well too!

[funktacious2]

I agree and we still have money left. Here's to hoping we can get Hightower and/or Lang (or at least Zach Brown). I'm getting very exciting to be getting back to mock drafting! 

[lennymoore24]

3 hours ago, Jason_S said:

 

sure, in a couple of years we'll have a much better idea...but that won't change the early encouragement some people may feel at this point.

 

Exactly what I mean.  It seems every time someone posts anything about being excited about this or that, a few people always has to them that you have to wait a year or two.  Duh!  We all know that!  But if you can't speculate, what is the point of a discussion forum!??!?

[CheezyColt]

48 minutes ago, jshipp23 said:

I would prefer to try to win at ALL costs every year, instead of wasting a couple more years of Andrew Luck's prime....I'm sure the slow process can work IF you hit on draft picks and they avoid injuries, but it's not guaranteed..I think with our offense we should make trades for impact guys if the opportunity is there, and go after playmakers in free agency even if they are expensive.. The thought of going into a season without a Super Bowl as the goal when Andrew Luck is your QB isn't the best strategy in my opinion...Why not go all in now? Pay what it takes to bring in Hightower, Poe, Claiborne, and Barwin..        Draft a franchise RB, OLB, IlB, and G in draft who can make impacts and we would be instant contenders...Instead, it looks like we are gonna go for mid level guys in FA, let 2 of our most reliable defensive players go and hope we nail it in the draft and wait for them to develop for 3 years..                                              Luck will be in his 30's with this strategy..That's what you do when he is 22 not when he is 27 getting ready to hit his prime...I don't understand the attraction to this philosophy?  If we didn't have a QB I'd understand it, but it seems like a flawed plan for our situation..Sure eventually it may payoff, but what about the years we are throwing away?

Of course a super bowl is the goal. You have to be smart about it though. Using every last drop of salary cap space just because you have it and hoping that it's enough to win a Superbowl is extremely dangerous. Say Luck gets injured again and we basically lose our chance... with your strategy we spend the next few years in cap hell because we went balls out trying to win in free agency and building a dream team or greatest shoe on turf scenario.... all for nothing. The less extreme way at least allows us to keep building because we know, realistically, that while Luck gives us a shot, we're not likely to take home that trophy this year. Same reason why most people don't walk into a casino, throw their entire salary on one number on the roulette wheel, and let it ride. It's dumb and will mess your entire life up.