NewColtsFan

Moose? I’m not trying to yank your chain here, but I don’t think you were following the conversation I was having with Coach Lite. He was saying there’s an administrative aide who works inside the Colts front office who is terrible at his job and has been hurting the Colts for years, if not longer. I disagreed. He was saying there’s a person like that dug in to his job most everywhere in business. I was saying likely not in a football franchise. And we disagreed. So he and I were talking about a much different thing at a much lower level. Your response had nothing to do with my conversation with Coach Lite. Hope this explanation makes sense to you.

My response would be this…. I listen to every Ballard presser he gives, long or short. I’ve never heard him give a snide response to a reporter, though I realize that’s all in the ear of the listener. And I more typically hear him say “That’s a fair question” to anyone who asks a tough question. As to changing his approach…. I don’t think Ballard believes his approach has been the problem for the lack of success. I think he believes he’s built a good roster except at one position, quarterback. And certainly not because he didn’t try. If Wentz had worked out I think the conversation around here would’ve been very different these last years.

Sincere question: How do you measure Ballard’s arrogance? Perhaps you’re using it in a way I might not. And that’s ok. I’m just trying to understand your thinking on that viewpoint.

I’m just going by what I’ve read here. That our 24 schedule is much harder than our 23 schedule. Comparatively our SOS is always going to be weak as long as the league has been one good to very good team, one slightly above average team, one poor team and one that is among the five worst. It’s built in until the AFC South flips the script. I think we are now a little better. The AFC South I believe is now the 7th best division behind the NFC South. They’re now the lowest ranked. That’s what I’ve read at least.

No. Not at all. Fired with a winning record (in 24) and an inexperienced QB? Who does that? Growing pains should be expected. If not, great. But if they happen, no one should be surprised. Most here believe Ballard and AR are connected. So I think they’ll be together in 24, 25, and maybe even 26. I know that won’t be popular with you and others, but that’s my viewpoint.

I’m on record as saying 9-8 again. I accept we’ve got a much harder schedule this year and that AR will basically be playing his rookie season. He has to learn. He’ll make silly rookie mistakes. The only way to learn is playing. No shortcut to experience. As for repercussions, I have nothing in mind specifically. Unless the season becomes a disaster like 2022, then I don’t expect any big changes to be made, perhaps beyond the anticipated change at DC. If the season somehow implodes, then all bets are off. Irsay could do something unpredictable, but I’m not anticipating that.

Josh Downs says hello!

The thing I try to stress in that Colts Super Bowl is that it came in Peyton’s 9th season! I believe the run to a Super Bowl is the hardest thing in all of sports. So many things can go wrong. So many things have to go right.

@DougDew Appreciate the response. Im sincerely sorry for any Colts fans who didn’t enjoy the season as much as I and others did. But I know people often see the same thing differently. So for 2024, I think you’re going to see even more from Shane Steichen. I think he’s a really good young coach. He was a pleasure to watch his first season. Thought he coached the heck out of the team. I expect to see even more improvement from him. So at least there will be a good feeling that the Colts have their HC for the long-term. And maybe we will see great improvement from AR. So maybe fans will think the Colts might have their WB of the future. And I say that as someone who always says be patient with young QB’s they need at least 3-4 years to figure it out. I’m in the glass half full crowd. Hope to convince more people to join me and leave the glass half empty camp.

Last year was an exception to the rule type of season. They force fed the rookies. Let them learn the hard way. The goal was to let them take their lumps so they’d be better this year. Thats not going to happen this year. The goal is to be much more competitive. In part because the kids should make the second year jump and also because the view is AR is going to exceed expectations. This year should be very different than last year. Doesn’t mean the Colts will have a great year, only that the goal is to be much more competitive than last.

Sorry Tweeze. I wasn’t calling you out. I thought it was part of the Tweet from MLFootball. I didn’t think it came from you. Could he fall from the 2nd round to 3rd round? Yes. I don’t think it’s a lock to happen, but I’d say it’s probable it will happen. Again, my apologies.

The person who wrote the tweet ends it with this…. “Will he drop out of the 1st?” I doubt I’ve seen one mock either from NFL.com or ESPN, or the 33rd Team that has ever had Sweat mocked in the first. He’s been a second round mock everywhere I’ve looked. Ridiculous. Good player, but as a general rule I don’t like 360+ pound players.

“Many of us thought it was a terrible season.” That may or may not be true, but you’re the first person I’ve seen actually say it. That you thought it was a “terrible season.” I’ve read some who were frustrated with a season where the young kids were allowed to play and learn on the job…. That’s not easy to watch being a fan. I get that. But “terrible season”?!? Really? You're the first. Holy Cow….

Perhaps I got you confused with another poster? I’m sorry if that’s the case. Didn’t mean to do that to you.

I appreciate the kind words of support. It’s been a tough few days around here. I appreciate all the friends I have here. And yes, we do agree far more than we disagree.

Huh? Other than Wentz, who has Ballard expressed regret over?

I think it’s an interesting position to take. Because from my perspective, the Colts are coming off one of the most enjoyable seasons of my nearly 13 seasons of Colts fandom. Nearly making the playoffs with a backup QB starting for the vast majority of the season. I think Steichen is an interesting coach to watch. I think he coached the heck out of the team. I think there’s the likelihood of a promising future for the team. If 2022 was a bad job by Ballard, and I’ve said it was, I think 2023 was one of his best. But I’m sure my point of view will it be popular, and if they were still available, would earn me some laughing emoji’s. Thats life here.

And yet all 32 NFL head coaches hold their own chart every game. To be clear, all 32 charts are different as each team has their own proprietary data. But they do have a chart. How much each coach weighs or values the chart is unknown. How much other factors are considered is also unknown, though it stands to reason that the context of the game would be heavily factored. That’s a fair point.

This is your interpretation of comments Ballard has made about the team. The Ballard detractors twist his meaning. The Ballard defenders do not. We see this differently. Just like we do when you think Ballard now wishes he had done things differently. That’s your opinion. I think Ballard has been proven right that he and Irsay and Frank made the best decisions they could for a team viewed as in “win now” mode. Im sorry we don’t agree more often, I think you’re one of the smartest people here. I’ve said that publicly a number of times. But we rarely seem to find enough common ground. Wish it wasn’t so.

I think you’re confusing me with someone else. Seriously. I’m sure you’ll disagree.

I don’t share that view. Ballard’s comment about the 53 man roster is a comment directed at the back half if the roster. That if they play hard they can make a difference between winning and losing, like with special teams, a core Ballard belief. It does not relate to his comment about not getting the quarterback right. It’s nit like Ballard is unaware that quarterback is the most important position in the roster. By the way, you’re not the first person to state your argument this way. @Yoshinator first tried that several years ago and it went down in flames. This is common for the Ballard-haters club.

No. That’s correct. And I’m not aware of any rule about no hindsight. Hindsight is what is often discussed here. Why did Ballard draft this guy in 2018? Why didn’t Ballard trade up for a QB in any given year. Why did Ballard pay to keep JT? Dont we have a thread devoted to Ballard complaints? Isn’t that hindsight?

Hindsight? If you read my post, I said I didn’t like his post the night he wrote it. As for Ballard not picking a QB until 2023, I don’t know why you’d think he’d now agree that he should’ve gone after a QB sooner? I think he believes he did what he did for all the right reasons. The team was built to win then if he could only get the right vet QB. Those reasons haven’t changed. Ballard publicly said in Jan things haven’t gone according to plan because he couldn’t get the QB right. But Irsay supported those plans at the time. We see this differently.

The angriest you’ve been in this forum is with me? That’s news to me. Feel free to write me a private note and I’ll get back to you. It may take about a day. I’m off to sleep now, and most of my tomorrow is booked. But I will respond. I’m certainly curious why the angriest you’ve ever been is with me.

So…. Apparently, the answer to my question about owning a bad post is “no”. Ok, your call. As for not liking “crucified” how about you were as angry as I’ve ever seen you. That’s why that post stuck with me since then. As for everything else, I guess we can agree to disagree, and leave it there.