AwesomeAustin

I’m sorry but the Colts losing a football game is nowhere close to someone’s kid dropping out of high school. I get the frustration bc I too think Ballard has underperformed. I’ve been complaining for years bc he chose to chase the delusional veteran QB method that hardly ever works. I think Ballard has been below average at drafting DE, WR and S and it’s really held the team back. I would also of understood and accepted him being fired LAST year. However, we have a good coach and a new rookie QB and firing Ballard would probably be detrimental to this team. They are linked and going for to ride or die together. IMO, the Colts losing is more comparable to someone’s freshman son starting on the varsity team bc of an injury. You think he is going to be burned all year but plays surprisingly well but and despite giving up the big play that loses the last game, he makes all conference honorable mention. Still a good season.

Good season!!

I get what you are saying. I agree this defense can work but with Gus but I could see Shane wanting his own guy. Like you said, we need another playmaker at every level of the defense. I can’t say what will happen but I do know there will be some much needed roster additions either way.

Today is the day! In my circle, even the casual football fans are tuning in for this game. This has been a good year. Except for Brice Arians, I haven’t felt we had a very good coach since Dungy. What Shane has done with this team is beyond impressive.

I agree with you. Rock was capable of playing both zone and man. I think his biggest issue was locating and making a play on the ball. Not sure that is why they shipped him out or more he was the player needed to trade for Yannick. Rock is a backup for Baltimore after Vegas let him walk too. Leads me to believe we had seen enough and he wasn’t developing like Colts thought he would. CB has been a revolving door kind of like DE. Hopefully Jones, Brents or Flowers sticks.

I get how this logic works in theory. However you have to consider the other team is full of players that have also been playing since they were 8. Nothing is like a robot or automatic when you are going against professionals. The Colts do need to adjust and defend the screen better but it really is a tough play that is designed to put a playmaker out in space with OL on smaller defenders set up to defend the sticks.

Lol. Those wanting to blame Reich and Ballard for this. I believe I’ve seen somewhere 1 out 3 Americans have some sort of criminal record. People get in trouble, it’s not their boss’ fault. It’s the individual.

We need both of those guys healthy and on the field. They are very good players. I’m betting Kelly gets extended but a team friendly contract and Smith will continue with his current contract.

I know this won’t be popular but I don’t think Freeney will or should get in. Great career and he was definitely a force for the Colts. I’ve seen crazier things so I hope he does. Reggie deserves to be in there. He put up top 10 all time stats while he was second fiddle most of his career. WR log jam May keep him out for awhile but I think he will eventually get the votes. He was too good for too long not to.

Well that’s a bummer. Blackmon was playing very well. Unfortunately this may be it for his time in Indy. With the injury concerns and money needed elsewhere on the roster, I could see the Colts moving on.

Next year should be his make or break year. Pierce will get the starting QB back and he will have enough experience he should help AR just as much as AR helps him. I feel if he doesn’t take the next step in 24 the team will definitely start making plans on how he will be replaced when his rookie deal runs out. It wont be unreasonable to want 750ydd and 3-4 scores out of him as the 3rd option trying to solidify as the #2. I also can see how the team may not believe he will get there and go ahead and grab someone else in the draft to compete for his starting spot. If he does continue to develop then it’s an added bonus. I personally don’t think he is anything more than a backup. I get some WRs develop later like Reggie Wayne did…AP is not Reggie so not likely going to happen.

I totally agree about Pierce. I will say AR didn’t play long enough to show the deep ball threat. That takes time for any rookie QB to work into the offense. NFL DBs will pick off the deep throw if it isn’t performed correctly. There is so much that goes into the 8 and 9 routes than just chucking it. I believe the Colts would be there now if AR stayed healthy but it isn’t something you want your rookie QB doing until he fully grasp NFL coverages and how to move safeties from the pocket.

This team needs top shelf talent at DE, CB, WR and S. If we can and to those positions above average starters with 1 of those elite, this team can win the division and compete for SBs.

Another playmaker would be great. Cant have enough talent on offense. However, what this team needs is its starting QB. Minshew is a backup and will have games he can’t get the offense rolling. He really needs all his weapons and the OL playing well to win games.

This defense is bending and breaking

Pierce is anything but reliable. I know he has had a couple good games but I don’t think he should be a starter bc of moments like that

I agree with you that he probably isn’t 100% and he won’t say anything about it. Diving a little deeper into this, I don’t think he will ever be back to what he was at a physical standpoint. First off he is only getting older, he isn’t old by any means but 27 is a lot different than 22-24 in football. NFL lineman take a beating and as their career goes on they have to deal with their bodies wearing down a bit. I think Nelson will learn to work around this with technique. He was basically mauling people into submission when he first entered the league. Seemed like every few plays he was pancaking someone and now it needs to be more of a redirection of the defensive player Just the natural career progression of a guard in the NFL and he will figure all of this out. Someone mentioned if the team would keep paying him 20m a year with this slight decline in play. I believe 2025 is the first “out year”. I personally feel he will play his entire contract unless there are huge injury concerns or we get lucky in the draft and a day 2 or 3 pick becomes elite. I see it much more likely Q signs and extension in 25 or 26 that lowers his cap hit and allows him to finish his career a Colt. He is loved here by fans and the organization and rightfully so.

What elite edge rushers have come available in FA? Teams tend to lock those guys up and if not they are traded. I know there are good DEs that come available but hardly ever remember elite ones. I feel like Ballard has done well signing DL in FA. Got a lot of bang for his buck with signing guys that were backups and just need more playing time that it may not be worth over paying for a guy that is just a little bit better. Chase Young could be available but is he really producing at an elite level above Ebukam? Von Miller and Khalil Mack were available a couple seasons ago. Trying to remember who else recently.

Ballard is the Michael Pittman JR of GMs. Solid but not spectacular. You can have a long career being good but not great. I’m glad he is our GM.

Or rotate them all and see who has the hot hand and stay with that guy.

Playoffs started last week. Unfortunately we aren’t a top seed so will need to win 7 in a row to get a championship. Atlanta will be playing to win so I’m sure the Colts aren’t overlooking anyone.

Huge win against the Steelers! Still a lot of work to do in these last three games. None of them will be easy and any of them can knock us out of contention. This is going to be a fun three weeks!!

No it doesn’t. Hard to read intent on a message board but meant it more anything is possible bc I have no clue about replacement options. . I honestly think they will resign Grover to a team friendly deal for him to end his career a Colt.

Could possibly be an alternative if Stewart is not resigned. I honestly do not know enough about other players at Grover’s position to really have much of an opinion if it’s worth trying to find a cheaper option.

I’m totally on board with 2nd and 3rd day OL picks. Keep bringing in more bodies until you find a cheap replacement for your highly paid starter. Rinse and repeat.