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TomDiggs

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Posts posted by TomDiggs

  1. On 3/26/2024 at 1:51 PM, chad72 said:

     

    I'll be good w whatever we decide as a start as long as i know the date and thew rough time of when i need to be online to make a selection. if i wont be around (example if it falls when i have to put my little ones to bed), then just let me know who to message my preferred list of picks in order to. thanks all and excited to have some fun w this again! 

  2. 5 hours ago, stitches said:

     

    Like I said above... I'm just kind of tired of watching the same thing happen every year under Ballard.

     

    ... But do those moves actually have any serious impact? Do they raise the ceiling of this team. I feel like Ballard has resigned himself to the draft and I can't help but follow suit and just have all my hopes for this team tied to the draft. And this is happening with a QB on rookie deal too... I have no idea why I believed him when he was hinting he might change his approach now that he can afford more things now that his QB is really cheap... 


    these parts of @stitches post resonate most w me. I admit I am usually a Ballard supporter. Love his eye for talent. And generally agree w the approach to not overpay for the top tier free agents because the ones that hit the open market usually do for a reason and they reset the market when they aren’t the elite of the elite and don’t deserve to be the ones resetting the market. 
     

    that said , now is the time to push hard when you have your rookie contract qb. And I’d bet behind the scenes the colts did and they fell short. 
     

    Hunter is a great example. If he truly took less to go play at home then what can you do? 
     

    the funny things is this:

     

    if you said the colts signed a top-3 free agent wr and a top cb and a top DT and that they spent around $200M in free agency, we would all be throwing our hands up in praise and hallelujah. 
     

    thsts what they just did. But it Doesn’t feel that way because all of those guys were our home grown guys. So we didn’t really get better as a team. We spent that to just remain at the level we were at. 
     

    I don’t see any guys out there worth throwing major money at currently. I wanted Sneed. But that drama got to be exhausting and I don’t think he’s a $22M deserving guy either, especially not when trade compensation goes along w that cost. 
     

    I will say this:

     

    last year I was hell bent on needing OL upgrades. We did nothing. I thought we were doomed running it back w the same cast and just a new coach. I was wrong and sparano killed it. I think the exact same thing could happen this year for our DL. 
     

    if we make a couple solid secondary signings then we can allocate draft resources to critical areas and see a jump. 
     

    after all, we spent recent fairly high draft capital in pierce, downs, woods, Brents, cross. Those guys haven’t made their leaps yet and if they do they’re a major improvement more so than free agency likely would bring. I have honest faith in this team if Richardson gets and stays healthy. But I’d love to add another elite pass catcher at 15 (please Thomas or Bowers if he’s there) or invest in Arnold or Mitchell and take advantage of the crazy wr depth and grab a good one in round two. 
     

    I don’t see this as doom or gloom. And I do truly hope we live to see some exciting free agency news one of these years. This year it just happened to be all the internal re-signings were actually the right big money moves. 
     

    but man, Sneed would have been fun lol

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  3. Genuinely I don’t care what the contract looks like. Even if it seems rough now (which I have faith it won’t ), it will look decent in a year or two as contracts keep skyrocketing. If we walk out of FA w Sneed and getting Kenny back then we arguably end up w the two best CBs on the market to put w Brents and Jones and hopefully a healthy Flowers coming back. Address safety and then this team is cooking. A third and a future mid round pick would be great value. Genuinely excited if this officially goes down. 

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  4. Destin is funny lol

     

    But at least we are talking. As I expect we are. Probably super active and just not able to close the deal on guys. 

     

    Ultimately free agency isn't just about fit. Most guys go where the money is. So it is either outbid everyone for a player (which I don't think Ballard will ever do. Just not in his DNA)or you mine for diamonds in the rough.

     

    Still, I would love to see a savvy vet like Simmons on the back end.

     

     

     

     

     

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  5. 1 hour ago, Superman said:

     

    I would have signed Davis, and let Grover walk. Half the money, shorter contract, similar player/production. 

    Agreed. Though I have a feeling Grover’s deal is really more like 2/$26M-$27M and he probably doesn’t see that almost $12M in yr three at age 33 or so. 
     

    And I suppose technically if he struggles this year and loses at step at 30 and isn’t injured they could walk away after this year for even less. 
     

    but I’d bet this is more like 2/$27M w a dead cap of $2M in 2026 if we don’t pay that almost $12M or so in 2026. 
     

    I still like the Davis signing  even if it isn’t the pinnacle of allocation of resources   (As I believe you have mentioned and I also agree with)

     

    but if Ty Lewis is a $6M backup then Davis being a $7M backup I can see also. 
     

    just seems to be the going rate even if I don’t agree with it lol 

     

     

     

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  6. 19 minutes ago, Zoltan said:

    Yeah I don’t get it, they seem to contradict themselves in their write ups, even the NFL comp said and I’m paraphrasing he’s George Kittle without Kittles blocking ability. Which is kind of an important part of his game. 

    1 million percent agreed.

     

    I guess he's a more athletic Kittle without the blocking chops....which means not Kittle lol.

     

    I did see some La Porta comps that could be solid based on how he set the world on fire as a rookie and the athletic prowess.

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  7. 9 hours ago, Zoltan said:

     

    I think Kittle is a bad comp to Bowers, because Kittle is a great blocker (one of the best blocking TEs) and is used in-line. Bowers really shouldn't be used in-line to the degree that Kittle is, as he is more of a Dallas Clark (F) type. I'm not saying he can't be used there but it's not his strength.

    100% agreed on the blocking and Kittle's prowess there. 

     

    And maybe it is lazy takes on the part of experts but I would say 75% of the takes I see on player comps for him are Kittle and the others are guys like McBride and Pitts.

     

    All that said here,  are just a few sources w the Kittle comp.....I admit I haven't watched tonnnns of film on Bowers. I've just seen him play a handful of times and the impact he makes. I could see him ascending to top-5 TE status quickly in the right scheme. Finding the next Dallas Clark would be awesome if he works out that way. I imagine he could actually be even better though.

     

    https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10091024-brock-bowers-nfl-draft-2024-scouting-report-for-georgia-te

     

    https://www.nfl.com/news/scouting-brock-bowers-georgia-tight-end-similar-to-49ers-pro-bowler-george-kittl

     

    https://www.nfl.com/prospects/brock-bowers/3200424f-5719-6560-aaaa-d9f4cc244721

  8. I'll say this: like many folks say, both these guys could be gone when we pick.....buttttttttt

    This is a very, very, very good WR and OL draft class. And there are at least 4 QBs likely going before pick 15 (Caleb, Drake, Jayden, McCarthy- and McCarthy by the experts I tend to trust is said to be a lot higher in teams' minds than in the casual fan's minds). 

    If those 4 QBs go before the Colts pick and some of the elite WR/OL guys go....it is entirely feasible one or both of those guys mentioned falls to 15. 

     

    If so, I am taking Bowers all day.

     

    You want to hit on dynamic offensive playmakers. He immediately changes what you can do on offense. Steichen would scheme him into superstardom here. 

     

    I've seen many comps for both guys....but the most common I have seen for Bowers (and seen many places) is George Kittle. Now I don't care what round Kittle was taken in (I know he was a later round pick). The reality is if you told me I could add Kittle to our team or Lattimore to our team, I am taking Kittle over and over again.

     

    Bowers is my dream pick since the only offensive weapons I would prefer over him are MHJ, Nabers and Odunze.  

    Brian Thomas Jr is a heck of a consolation prize if he ends up being the pick also. 

     

    At the end of the day, I like Mitchell a lot. I think I might like Arnold a tiny bit more, but it is close. 

    But I would load up the offense with young, cheap guys and then if we are going to spend any money, spend it on defense....namely the secondary.....where there are tonnnnnnnnns of great DBs out there...especially safeties. 

     

    Just my two cents. Glad to be back on the boards w some Draft fever! 

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  9. 6 hours ago, VikingsFanInChennai said:

    You had a good draft last year for Washington. 

     

    Go ahead and pick a team of your choice, that will make it clear for everyone else to know which teams are still available.

     

    I will make a list of teams followed by participants who have got their teams assigned. 

    I'll take the Falcons and if we have to double up on teams let me know and I will grab another

     

     

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  10. 3 minutes ago, shasta519 said:

     

    Yep. Unless Ollie parlayed last year into a promotion, it would seem like the FO and coaching staff agreed to an extent.

     

    And if it was that the Colts fired him, watch out for the whiplash from how fast the narrative turns into "well the pass rush wasn't really that good." After so many of Colts Twitter have said it was really good.

     

    I always find analysis fascinating if only because you can always seemingly find metrics to support whatever narrative you want to tell.

     

    Oh the Colts are top-10 or Top-5 in sacks.

     

    But the Colts are bottom 10 in pressure rate.

     

    But then the Colts are top-10 as a team in PFF pass rush grade

     

    And the Colts finished top-5 in Pass rush win rate. (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38356170/2023-nfl-pass-rush-run-stop-blocking-win-rate-rankings-top-players-teams#teams)

    At the end of the day, I am all for looking for what is deemed an upgrade. Hell, I was speculative of Sparano Jr when hired and he turned the same OL group we had into a much better group.

     

    So I am hopeful. Especially with some of the talent on that DL that should keep ascending. 

     

    But I am admittedly not certain that Todd Wash is that guy. And for all intents and purposes he will likely at least be the first person linked to the opening. 

     

     

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  11. I definitely found this a bit odd.

     

    Earlier this offseason Zach Hicks hinted that the Colts might make a move to bring in more of a vet presence at DL coach.

     

    Cited names like Todd Wash and Brentson Buckner.

     

    Still a bit surprising since the Colts have been a top-10 sack unit under Ollie's guidance the last two years and finished w the Indy team sack record this past year finishing top-5 in the NFL.

     

    I wonder what they are looking to do differently or what direction they are heading in as a result here.

     

    Will be curious to hear more in the future. 

     

     

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  12. I found this graphic both fascinating and super informative in terms of how we are doing in the trenches.

     

    Takes both PFF grade and ESPN win-rate into account. (clink twitter link to see it bigger. The small image is just a preview and doesn't do it justice)

     

    Bottom line:

     

    Colts are above average in pass protection and pass rush (wow!, for once) and are straight up elite in run blocking and run D.

     

    Very telling that on the run blocking and run D front, the Colts and Eagles are almost a direct overlay on each other. 

     

    Steichen's staff and schemes are somehow not getting enough credit, despite the kudos they are already getting. They are basically taking the same offensive line and almost the same defensive front and making them worlds better than last year. It may only be two games, but so far this team's future looks echelons brighter than it has in a long time. 

     

     

     

    F6aS5dAXMAAObsP.jpg

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  13. 5 hours ago, Solid84 said:

    Smith wasn’t “credited” with at least one sack he let through, possibly two. I believe pff made a boo boo. 

    Smith was having a go of it but i will say this.....he was often times matching up w Allen, who was an absolute game wrecker yesterday. Allen ended up w a top-10 Edge grade for the week at 86.9. So Smith had his hands full and had to also deal w the least reliable and least effective member of our line playing beside him too. 

     

    I will also say this, on at least one of the sacks he "allowed" he did a great job of running the defender (Walker) off and past where Richardson was set up. AR should have been able to step up and dump it off.  Instead the defender looped around to complete the sack. Braden did his job and it still resulted in a sack. That is probably the type of play PFF doesn't ding him for. 

     

    The potential is high for this unit if they can just settle RG. But I am not very hopeful about that since we have known that all off-season and have not seen moves made.

     

    Maybe Sills can be an answer, but I am not sure. 

     

    And there is a complete and total void of quality OL play across the league. So many teams are hurting for OL talent, so there is not much just hanging out there to solve issues sadly. 


    Note: this is the video of the Walker sack on Braden.

     

     

    https://www.nfl.com/videos/travon-walker-flies-past-braden-smith-to-sack-richardson

     

    No way this is on Braden. The ball is snapped from the 19. He runs Walker past the QB back at the 8 yard line back 11 yards behind the line of scrimmage. At that point (6 second mark) Richardson steps up and has a WIDE OPEN RB in the flat to his left with no defender within 15 yards. He also has another WIDE OPEN receiver across the middle at the 24 with no defender within at least 8 yards. You do not get more wide open for either dump off. And yet he took a sack there. That is stuff that will be cleaned up in time. 

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  14. For all of those saying the Colts "low-balled" Hunt  or whatever other narrative you want to play out in your mind, it was reported that basically the Colts' offer was already better than the Saints' offer. We knew that when they called to get him up here during his Saints' visit.

     

    That said, one of the Saints' beat writers confirmed it. Basically, the Saints and Colts offers were similar but sounds like the Colts had more guaranteed money and didn't backload it like the Sants did. 

     

    Definitely seems like Hunt visited, got our offer and now is basically wanting to take other visits to other interested teams and shop our offer around to see if he can beat it.

     

    It is what it is. These vets that are unsigned will start signing soon since camps and off-season activities are mostly over as pre-season games kick off and prep for the season in truly here now. 

     

    So we will see where people land in short order.

     

     

     

    • Like 3
  15. 1 hour ago, Fluke_33 said:

    Taylor in April was asked about his contract and said he signed the paper and would honor it and that the next contract would work itself out when it was time .  He wasn’t worried.    (This is discussed on the podcast by mike Lombardi)
     

    what happened between April and now?  I assume the new agent came in after he said those things  

     

    I think it is just posturing.  I think he plays out this year for the colts.  

     

    I think the agent switch is one thing but the bigger thing was the RB conference call that was had.

     

    Back in April, guys like Saquon, Jacobs and Pollard were all franchise tagged. There was still some hope that they would get their big long-term contracts before the July 17th deadline.

    When that deadline came and went and none of them got a deal and they saw the landscape of the RB market, things changed and they had that conference call.

     

    It was basically shortly after that time that most likely the trade request came in and all this drama escalated.

     

    I said it in another post and others touched on it here, but JT is carrying the flag for all RBs it seems in trying to re-set the market and trying to fix a downward RB trend that the league has had coming for awhile. 

     

    And he is getting steamrolled as he tries to do this. 

     

    Just totally unfortunate. 

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  16. 6 hours ago, NFLfan said:

     

    Can there be a compromise?

     

    The Vikings have a player, D. Hunter, who was in the same situation -- he was in camp this month but not practicing. He was under contract for this last year of a long term deal. This weekend, he was given a new one-year contract that works for him and the team. He wanted a long-term deal which the GM was not ready to give. So, to compromise, Hunter was given a deal and will make more money this year. He can sign with any team, including us, next year. If he leaves we get a 3rd round comp pick. It works for player and team.

     

    The Colts are better with JT than without him and definitely without the distraction.

     

    I thought of this as a potential option when stuff first started. But almost no way now.

     

    Hunter was odd too....he was set to make $4.9M and the Vikings gave him $17M with another $3M in incentives AND a no tag clause to report this year. 

     

    Hunter won that big-time. 

    JT has zero leverage here. He could maybe maybe maybe get a Saquon type deal where there's a small sweetener. But no way the colts give up the tag provision and no incentive for them to give him any big money when he has almost no options. 

     

    Just ugly. 

    • Like 1
  17. 1 hour ago, TimetobringDfence! said:

    If he holds out all year he'll never see a nice contract. He'll be lucky if a contender will take him on a lower offer if he is smart enough to sign. LeVeon 2.0

    Agreed w this take in general. But Mainly because I think the NFL has learned from the Le’Veon Bell situation. 
     

    for what it’s worth, Bell sat a year. He had made around $16M for his entire career in five years before sitting a year. Then he got another $27M the next two years he came back from the jets before he was done. And he was never the same player. 
     

    so he got his money in the end but probably could have earned a lot more just staying put and continuing down the path he was on. 
     

    history exists for us to learn from it. That’s literally the entire point of people studying history lol 

     

    JT is taking a page out of the wrong book if he even considers sitting. Not to mention the contract tolling. 
     

    but make no mistake , if he sits everyone loses. His value continues to plummet in any trade. His loses a year of earnings and a better chance at a payday. 
     

    but if he was LeVeon 2.0 he’d likely be content w that $27M he got for two years. Lol

     

     

    i just think like you suggested that he can’t be Le’veon 2.0 because no team is gonna make the jets mistake if he sits. He needs to go the saquon route and just show up and maybe even ask for a little more guaranteed this year. Saquon got like an extra $1M. And yes that’s a tag and not under contract like JT. But man he probably has to either suck it up and play or scrape for any tiny win he can get 

     

    such a sucky situation all around. 

     

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