Coltsman1788

I hope WR isn’t this year’s version of DE from last year. Over reliance on youth and not enough veteran talent brought in. No evidence to merit that confidence from Ballard…just potential. Ended up costing us at DE last year. Ballard corrected his approach to DE a year later after finally seeing his error.

Agreed

Foles making me nervous man. Lol

We really need help at wide receiver. But Defense looks pretty good thus far.

Much appreciated NCF and we are good. You are right that we should wait and see how it all plays out for this off-season. The day one lack of activity looks like more of the same and I think that is what is triggering some of us…making us think of past off seasons that were not as productive as we would have liked when all was said and done. I think looking back to last offseason…many fans wanted to see a veteran pass rusher signed because our talent was so young and we let go of several experienced players. Guys like Ngokoue and Reddick signed reasonable deals elsewhere and ended up having very solid seasons. That’s an example of what we would like to see Ballard do more of. Effectively using free agency to augment the talent on the team and compliment his draft. I have high hopes for Kwity & Dayo but we know that rookies take time and patience to develop so it wasn’t wise for Ballard to put all eggs in the youth basket at DE. As for LT, Ballard played the waiting game last offseason talking about how deep the draft was. Then the draft came and didn’t really fall the Colts way and we took a late round guy…the name escapes me. Ballard then circles back to the remaining free agent scraps and signs Fisher a player trying to make a come back from injury. At the time it seemed good because he was a former all pro, familiar name and still available to be signed at the price Ballard felt comfortable with. But as we know that discount deal didn’t play out well. I give Ballard credit for taking a swing on Wentz. It just didn’t work out. Luck’s retirement has thrown the Ballard build time table off schedule. While that is true it will still only buy him but so much time to correct. While the QB dilemma is understandable… when he whiffs on Wentz it just sets the team back that much more. We have a young roster that is good enough to compete now but missing it’s most important piece. We essentially are a donut of a team. This is not an excuse but it is a daunting challenge that Ballard will have to find the answer to if the Colts are to be successful in the AFC. I realize you already understand all of this. Just trying to show why some fans are feeling the way that we are even after day one. But yes you are correct in that we should still wait and see how it all actually plays out this offseason. To be clear… I don’t want Ballard fired nor am I currently advocating for that at this time. I want him to succeed and for the Colts to be successful. I just don’t know if he will adapt to a more balanced approach which many believe is necessary to maximize the talent on the field.

You are a good poster NCF but quote me correctly. I said this team has the same problems as last “off season”. You misquoted me. That is an important distinction though. Because the point is these problems were addressed by Ballard last offseason his way and it did not work. We are coming into a new off-season and these same issues are carrying over. He is doing things his way but the results are not there. Yet each year you and others try to make those who point out these issues feel like we are the clueless ones. Maybe you have too much faith in Ballard to really see what is going on? It’s not working. Under Ballard, we will continue to be this fringe playoff team looking for a year where we can be a 7 seed and win a playoff game unless something changes. He is a good GM with many admirable qualities. He just needs to be open to adapt when necessary. He is too rigid and stubborn when it comes to his team building philosophy in my opinion.

Good video. Saw it earlier today. Strong language so listeners be advised.

Jax realizes that they still have their franchise QB on a rookie contract so they spent money to get him key weapons that they wanted him to have. They targeted the receivers they wanted and used their large amount of cap space to SET THE MARKET. Yes.. the price paid seems ridiculous but it was a price that they could afford to pay that others were not willing to. Therefore they have their guys Kirk and Zay. And they still have their high draft picks to add more weapons if they so choose. Meanwhile...teams like the Colts are shocked by the sticker price and resign themselves to play the waiting game in an attempt to see prices come down to a level where they value a player. Thus because Jax has already set the market...some players that the Colts thought might be available latter at their price may now be out of the price range they feel comfortable paying. Thus, we end up signing lesser talent. This is the residual effect of Jax taking initiative in setting the market at a position that is also a need for their much more conservative divisional rival. This year it would have been nice to see the Colts actually try to set the market for a pass rusher like Chandler Jones. They have the money to get a difference maker at the position but if we continue to always play the waiting game sometimes you miss your opportunity to add a legitimate game changing talent to your team. We have the most cap space in the league. Improve this team in a way that matters. Enough with these incremental or neglible improvements. One significant early signing at a position of need isn't too much to ask in my opinion. Especially this off-season where jobs may be on the line.

Sometimes man...you've seen the contrived plot so much that you already know the ending. Lol Colts fans have observed Ballard's rigid way of doing things for 5 years now. He isn't changing and the Colts aren't getting any better.

Lol..I get your sarcasm. Yeah...San Diego is what all in looks like. The Colts are just blowing smoke up our collective...you know what. Ballard had a horrible off-season last year in my opinion and should be the focus of Irsay's ire for falling short last year. Instead, they made Carson the scapegoat and face for last season's debacle. But Ballard was the one who did not pay enough attention to LT and pass rushers. He put too much confidence in young inexperienced drafted guys and jettisoned key vets who were contributors and locker room leaders. ( I.e. Houston and Autry). This team basically has the same issues that it did last off season.

His supposed strength is his downfall. He is good at building sustained fringe playoff teams. That's called mediocrity. The AFC is leaving the Colts behind. They better look behind them because Jax is coming up on them soon.