[Building a team like the Titans, Bills,]

I don't know what Ballards ultimate vision is with this team, but its my opinion that it is easier to be a consistent contender when the QB position is filled by a top 10 talent then trying to build solely around a defense and other areas.  To me, the current NFL is designed to favor offenses (spefically passing) and even when a defense is really good, it is not a wise proposition to rely on defense and running game formula to completely defeat other playoff teams.

 

The Bills lost that game yesterday because their offense basically spun their wheels while their D was playing lights out for the better part of 2 + quarters.

 

While I am estatic that the Titans knocked out the Pats, they were fortunate that they were not done in by an impotent passing game.  My gut tells if Edelman doesnt flat out drop that pass on 2nd and 6 late in the 4th quarter, NE drives for either game winning FG or TD.

 

Even earlier today, Vikes won in OT because Cousins made some nice elite level throws to set up and score the winning TD.

 

 

 

 

[Where Is the Hate Coming From??]

So here is my take on this 

 

As a diehard fan, I personally do not have any "hate" for job that specifically Ballard or Reich have done so far.   I have every reason to believe that they are right guys for their jobs to steer the franchise to future glory.  

 

That being said, I do think there is/was an element especially in the local media (read previous articles by Gregg Doyel and Stephen Holder) where specifically Chris Ballard has been anointed as a HOF GM when, in reality, this is his 1st time running a team and, therefore, he is going to make mistakes and whiff on roster building philosophies, moves, personnel decisions.  The key for him in this regard is that does he learn from it and apply it in the future or stubbornly stick with something when there is clear evidence it is not working with putting the team in the best position to win.  So far, the Vinatieri situation this season was a strike in that aspect.  It remains to be seen how the QB situation and Brissett is handled this offseason. 

 

One thing I would like to laid to rest is the babble coming out of our front office about solely building through the draft and acting as if free agency, trades using draft capital is completely useless.  No NFL team would be good if they draft poorly.  That is not even debatable.  However, the consistent winners (e.g. Pats, Chiefs, Ravens, Seahawks) supplement good drafts with opportunistic trades and FA signings.  No one, even the greatest GMs of all time, are going to nail the draft 100%.  At the end of the day, drafting is still an inexact science.  So to deny that and rely solely on the draft to improve a roster and fix holes will not lead to a good long term result. 

[Irsay’s comments on Luck]

1. My thoughts on this whirlwind from today

 

1.  Hate to say it, but it needs to be put out there,  I think we have reached the point where Lucks durability is always going to be a question mark in his career going forward. This is absolutely not a knock on his toughness or ability to pay through pain, but it is weird/concerning maybe even alarming that he continues to have issues that take incredibly long to heal and no clear recovery path being followed...all at the age of 29. I think years of his physical style of play both in college and his early years (thank you Pagano, Grigson) have led to his body starting to breakdown.

 

2.  Ballard, Reich etc. can pay whatever lip service they want to Brissett, and they are a better team than 2017, but there is no way this team is even any close to a contender without a 90-95 percent Luck taking snaps.  Especially in todays NFL, an upper echelon top 10 qb is needed to truly contend for a championship..

 

3.  While the team may not lied or misled about the injury, I dont for the life of me understand the need to downplay severity of Lucks injuries.  In truth, Ballards phone conference should have happened one wee ago.

 

 

[Peter King on Luck]

The most perplexing thing to me about the whole calf injury is that this is still an issue nearly 4 months after he initially injured it.  I even saw a video clip with Peter King interviewing Luck where it was insinuated that he might have even injured it late last season which would even add to my concerns.

 

Perhaps the holding out of practice is just a way to avoid extra wear on the area, and this was the plan all along, but its still weird how our QB who is not even 30 yet is healing more like one in his 40's. 

[Andrew recruiting at the Pro Bowl]

1 hour ago, WoolMagnet said:

Agee.  With the way offenses are hitting the short routes, i think the value of box type safeties and LBs who can cover will continue to increas along with salaries.  You can have the fastest two edge rushers in the league and they just dont have time to get there.

  Invest in, and get pressure from your front 4...: especially up the midde which now seems to be more troublesome for QBs (and rbs).  I also agree about the safety to pair with Hooker.  

Today's defens scmust be flexible on that 2nd kevel... VERY flexible.  Get pressure with front 4 and fill those short passing lanes.

 

Good points and to add on to this, assuming that we have beat NE in order to win the AFC, the best way to limit Brady and Pats offense is to be able to do what you described.

 

Having guys who can close in space combined with a coverage scheme that boxes things in would, in theory, limit YAC which is how NE generates its chunk plays.

[Why Brady is NOT the GOAT]

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/04/super-bowl-53-tom-brady-goat

 

This article written after game last night is a classic example of the nonsensical drivel that gets written every time the Pats win a SB, basically turning a team accomplishment into an individual accolade

 

In it, the author provides no substantive reason why last night "settled" the debate other than him winning his 6th ring.

 

Any rational, objective person watching that game last night can see Brady "winning" had more to do with his defense basically shutting down the Rams than anything.

[I think I speak for all colts fans right now]

39 minutes ago, #12. said:

The thing from our perspective, though, is I don't think you can build a team and just hope Brady fades.  He might be there a while.  You have to build a team, and your organization has to be set up to beat them.  Until you prove otherwise, the AFC is their conference.

 

I agree 100%.  In my opinion, you have to go through them in order to get the AFC and more importantly, a team has to be built to play in Foxboro and the potential elements that can come there come January.  

 

So far, Ballard has done a great job with the strides that O-line made this year.  I think defensively, we have get the rushers that allow us to get pressure with 4 and apply the inside pressure that bothers Brady the most.  

 

If Andrew Luck had a defense give the type of performance the Rams D did tonight, his team wins the game. 

[Why Brady is NOT the GOAT]

Look, here is the thing: football is the ultimate team game.  One individual player, no matter how talented, can really only do so much to carry a team to victory with minimal assistance fromo other phases which is why it is utterly ridiculous that the basis of the Brady GOAT proclamation is based a team accomplishment: SB rings.  

 

Before I go further, let me start off by saying that in my opinion, at worst, Brady is a top 3-5 all time great QB to play this game.  He has really enhanced his ability to read coverages through the years and his longevity over the years due to his training and nutrition regimen is remarkable.   

 

However, the two facts that I feel are critical here are following

 

1. In games that Tom Brady has missed since he took over as starter, the Patriots are 14-6, which is a very good record indicating that the team has shown they are clearly capable of winning football games without him

2.  He has had Belichek as his head coach, managing the other facets of the game that are clearly critical to winning games for all of his SB championships.  This is critical because it has allowed Brady the luxury through his career of winning, advancing in the playoffs when sometimes his play was not up to levels that other QBs in this conversation have had to meet in order to get their team to go forward.

 

In the end of day, this narrative of Brady as the undisputed GOAT has been repeated so many times by the mainstream sports media, that is simply accepted as fact without anyone caring to peel back the layers.   

[I think I speak for all colts fans right now]

It is frustrating and sickening as a Colts fan to see that organization in NE get rewarded. 

 

I just hope Ballard and Reich can puts things together this offseason to get a team that knocks those guys off their pedestal. 

[Ballard admits they pursued FAs last year]

Ballard is in a little bit of tough spot with free agency this year IMO.

 

On the one hand, it is understandable to have a price value for each free agent and pass when the bidding war gets past that number. 

 

However, the team is in a position where they need to add talent especially in certain areas if they are going to take the next step with adding top end players to compete with NE, KC and others in the conference.  Having cap space is nice and all, but it doesn't mean squat when we take the field against these teams.  I just don't think we can rely solely on draft or internal development to get the necessary horses to beat the elite teams.

 

I also think we have to be more open about adding guys in trades (e.g. Antonio Brown) that may have bad reps from the their previous stops and do our own assessment to see if these guys could potentially hold things together long enough to contribute to a SB championship.

 

Bottom line, I trust Ballard will make the correct decisions with who/who not to bring in and what to pay them.  He has earned at least that much as a fan from me based teams ascension so far during his tenure here.  I am hoping that he is smart enough to modify his principles, core beliefs on roster construction to fit the situation as necessary.  

 

 

[Peyton's wins vs Belichick seem a lot more impressive now]

I agree 100% that in light of Patriots dominance of the AFC especially over the past 3 years, Peyton's performance against them is impressive.

 

As a long time Colts fan, it still burns me that we lost the AFCCG in 2004 to those guys.  I thought we should have handled them but just didnt have the necessary wisdom on how to handle their defensive "tactics" and "style" that day.