ColtStrong2013

I saw an article today with that scenario. could be on the table. He has a history of trading with them with that range of pick. Although I’m not sure I see it with the talent at receiver this draft. It just depends on how they view the rest of the class left. Especially in day 2. I don’t like making predictions or hopes, but if Bowers is there, I kind of want to see them take him and double up on a receiver at 46. That gives a day 2 option at corner or safety at 81 and then using 117 and 151 as interior line and whatever else (coverage linebacker ideally) to round the top 150 out. If I were a betting man, I would put money on us not drafting a linebacker until late and potentially using those last two picks both on linebackers.

I would put money on us not trading up. So I wasn't really thinking that. I think they have their eyes on a certain player that might be there at 15, but not necessarily willing to trade up for because of the alternative options.

I agree. Unless it's to a range in the 1st round that they have equal ratings on multiple players, where they are confident they are getting one of them plus whatever compensation. That generally means whoever they have their eyes on in a separate tier is off the board. If AR develops into a longterm franchise solution (the sooner the better,) then I see the next 3-5 drafts being incredibly important to bringing in foundation guys that step into the major leadership roles that the current ones will be retiring from (or moving on). Once that rookie contract is up, the first few years of a new massive deal requires a solid core in place. That means hitting on picks now and for the next several years.

"I do think there is a shot he's there at 15..." Well, that really narrows down folks. I'm pretty confident I know who "he" is. I'll let you know late Thursday night, alright?

anything that they don’t want leaked… but things they do perhaps?

There’s a lot of setting themselves up for disappointment on this forum. Those in the fire Ballard camp would be happy and excited for a few years and then back to reality, which is the “always living with disappointment” you speak of. I like reading this forum around draft time for the quality discussion it brings in possibilities but there is a lot of people already setting themselves up to be disappointed. “If a or b players are at 15, we HAVE to take them.” And when we don’t? Cue the anti-Ballard sentiment and alarm bells on the colts.com forum.

Enjoy. Hope my boy wants to do that in the near future. I’ve watched the draft alone since I was a kid…

it’s fair. I just don’t know that I buy the cornerback debate. Yosh uses the chiefs for argument, and I understand it. But what we are attempting to do is what the chiefs had success with. Developing corners and being willing to walk when they hit big. I think it’s likely we see a day 2 corner this draft, but I will be shocked if we take Mitchell or Arnold, even if they are at 15. I don’t try and predict much, or more expect much I guess- because I don’t like to build it up that much for my own sake. I wasn’t expecting AR drafted last season, so I was pleasantly surprised. couldn’t believe it actually. I think there is a number of things that can happen that I would be satisfied with Thursday/friday. It’s a good analogy here. I think Ballard was given the green light to a new plan with a build on a drafted qb. But more than that, he was given the green light to lead a new coach search and get it right finally. I don’t see his seat being hot this year, and maybe not even next. as long as the team competes and AR’s development with Steichen is obvious, then he’s not going anywhere. That’s my perspective. Could be entirely wrong. But I think a lot of folks are setting themselves up to be further disappointed. Ballard looks to have been given some grace for 6 seasons and a reset with a new direction that started with Irsay firing Frank- allowing Ballard to work through the coach/qb process, leading to hiring Shane and drafting AR. What we saw this offseason was a continuation of the some of the good parts of the first 7 years of Ballard’s drafting/roster building. No doubt the expectations are high for everyone now. I just don’t think there is a timetable on his seat in the executive office…

I think it’s too much. but I’m not in the camp of complaining about Ballard’s process either. 90%… that’s an A right? 😂

They definitely value metrics. There’s a clip of him in one of the with the next pick series that he clearly says when it comes down to a few players, always bet on the metrics. I always took it by that clip that when they stack their board, and they have several players relatively equal on it, they are always going to go with the guy with better measurables. Its easy to trash him for certain picks, but most on here seem to have the inability to step back and look at some of the picks that should have panned out for us but had bad injury luck. His very first pick here certainly did. He had a promising pass rusher in Turay that never recovered from a freak injury broken leg. Lewis (while still here) had a major knee injury right as he was peaking. Campbell had plenty of promise and is considered a bust, but it’s all because of injuries. Blackmon could have been a legit safety (and he still is very good) but his biggest knock is injuries. Even Carson Wentz (dare I even go down the path of defending him…) had injuries he was dealing with. Shaq Leonard was the best defensive player we’ve had in years, maybe ever at linebacker. Early retirement because of injuries. Our franchise qb. Early retirement because of injuries. Our franchise has had some really bad luck (no pun intended) with injuries at some of our key draft picks and guys that should have been (and should still be) game changers. Even khari Willis was a great player and would have changed the discussion on safety play. Retired abruptly to go into ministry.

I think Steichen and Wayne had a lot of input on Downs. He was also a 8.99 RAS, even with really poor size on that rating. So he makes up for it in other ways. and if you think he “just focuses on RAS,” I really don’t know what to tell you. That’s an interesting perspective…

it is. Im convinced we could watch this team win a superbowl in the next few years, and the same people will discredit him. Hell, one poster said he wouldn’t be satisfied if it came at a technicality (aka- a year with injured qbs)… Like what?

obviously. But he specifically broke his mold on what he looks for in corners, because of what they saw in Kenny. And he’s talked at length about it.

Exhausting. That’s what you are… You refer to Ballard’s work like he’s playing Madden, when that’s actually the only qualification you have to offer input on a career executive in the national football league. It’s laughable. At best. And exhausting. he can’t compete with 31 other GM’s? What are you talking about?

you keep referring to the chiefs. But what the chiefs did was very similar to what he’s tried and trying to do. They drafted a late first corner (not very different from early 2nd- which is what he did last year and prior with ya sin) and the chiefs got sneed in the 4th… and guess what? They let him go! I can’t imagine you as a chiefs fan with this mentality. Would you be royally p’d off right now because they let sneed walk? Don’t you think that may have something to do with Ballard not aggressively pursuing him? “Mahomes was average.” Yeah, I didn’t see an average qb winning his third Super Bowl. That may just be me. 4k and 27 tuddy’s last year is average? Man… if we had just had average qb play like that these last 7 years, you wouldn’t be saying Ballard’s methods suck, because we would have accomplished quite a bit…

More sample size to see how he played in the league. He’s not going to break that principle very often…

He did that with Kenny Moore did he not?

Spending and focusing on the defensive line in a qb driven league is outdated and stubborn? Buckner trade was worth it. They couldn’t have found anyone like him, and he was available and willing to come here/be a focal point. Regarding Sneed, I’m not saying that’s why, I’m simply suggesting it could be a possibility. I think he’s in Tennessee because they are the only one who put an offer for him… I just don’t think we were going to do it. I think we reached out and possibly worked through some early negotiation with the chiefs, but when it came to it, backed out at what he was looking for. Agreed. There could be a number that fit that mold. having long 6 foot 3 corners on the outsides would be something…

I would prefer Nashville over Indianapolis... And I live here. My comment had zero to do with team quality. Although Brian Callahan will have that team playing competitive football. I don't think it's highly unlikely at all. I'm not grasping at straws. These are legit questions. Are his hands tied by ownership? Is that why he was hired, with a plan to be conservative/draft and development focused... and subsequently held on through a coaching change? I don't doubt he didn't want to pay the guaranteed money. I think i've specifically stated I don't think we were ever that serious in the pursuit of Sneed, contrary to what Destin Adams posted incorrectly on twitter. Ballard's comments regarding our current young core of cornerbacks, backs that belief. I don't think he cares to spend much money on the cornerback position at all...

Same argument can be made for Sneed... He simply might not have wanted to be here unless he was paid xx amount of dollars, which was unreasonable. Again, we bash Ballard for not making the moves we think he should push to make. But what if his hands are tied, and those deals are unreasonable due to those players having little to no interest in Indianapolis.

we don’t know what the terms were from us. He made no mention that the move was about money. He did talk about going home, which was all we have. regardless, we did try and quite hard by all accounts. and to your argument- if it is because of guaranteed money and what you say is true regarding Jim Irsay not allowing it, then why are we bashing Chris Ballard for not getting free agents? Wouldn’t you agree his hands are tied, if that is the case?

I'm fully under the preparation for a trade down. I think that it's coming.

I'd argue that neither Arnold or Mitchell will be as good as Sneed *could* be. We'll of course see how Sneed performs in a new system and not on the Chiefs... That might be telling enough. Cam Hart is certainly one that I am thinking of regarding my comments. Max Melton as well. There are several. I think it's a relatively strong class. And I don't agree that the team needs an elite corner. We play zone. I think we have stronger needs at linebacker and safety, quite frankly.

Yet there was a report that the Colts offered more money... It was 2 years, so it's not like it was a 3 or 4 year fully guaranteed contract that Irsay has preached against. We gave a washed up Matt Ryan $36 million guaranteed over two years. I'm not sure there is much difference.