NewColtsFan

Yes to all. I can see the Colts playing hardball with both Pitt and Taylor in ways they haven’t before. I used to think Pitt might get 4/72. Now I can see an offer of 3/50. But I think you’re right that Steichen might want to see what Pitt looks like in his offense over a season. As for Taylor, my recent reading is that an offer of 3/40 is likely. So maybe the franchise offers 3/36 to see if there’s any interest? As always, the guarantees will likely make the difference. Many fans here were so unhappy with the Nelson signing (4/80) that they didn’t even notice that Atlanta made Chris Lindstrom the highest paid guard a year later (5/102.5). And I think that shows the Colts likely played hardball with Nelson by only going to 4 years and not 5. So perhaps there’s been a subtle shift in our approach? The next few months with Pitt and JT will say more. On a more personal note, seeing you post here again has made my day! The website is infinitely better when you’re here!!

I don’t see Granson getting cut. Traded is far more likely. If you look at his stats, over 50 percent of his receptions are for first downs. The kid moves the chains. As for Cox, he has graded well in blocking in the past, but didn’t last year. He was very poor. And the team signed Brown who should be at least as good if not better for a fraction of the cost. So I think Cox is very much on notice, especially with the potential salary cap savings. If the Colts decide to trade Granson, I can think of one team in Carolina where their new HC is reportedly a big fan….

Yup! Mad props to him. I watch selected clips on YouTube. He does a nice job. And he’s clearly done a great job because he’s in great demand. He’s built a brand around him and his show. Years ago, when his deal was first reported, I was doubtful as well. It made no sense. And then once you realize the money covers the staff and the production and all the costs associated with the show then it makes more sense. So even if all that costs $10 mill a year, Pat is still making a very pretty penny. No one will ever have to start a Go Fund Me campaign for him. I just hope it all works out for him in the long run….

I suspect that figure covers everyone who works on the show. It’s not all for Pat. So Pat gets $30 mill per minus whatever it costs him to produce and staff the show. But his deal was widely reported as 4 years and $120 million.

Yes…. The 18th overall ranking from PFF is based on the units overall grade. A combination of run blocking and pass blocking combined. The Colts were tied for dead last with one other team which also gave up 60 sacks. But the dead last category was sacks allowed, not pass blocking. Believe it or not it’s possible to be dead last in sacks allowed without being last in overall pass blocking grading.

Hmmm…. I don’t think it’s a contradiction. The ESPN comment is based on the most sacks given up — 60. But it’s not based on the player or unit grade. The other issue is based on their actual grade which is not just based on pass blocking, which improved, but also run blocking. So it’s possible for two things to be true at the same time. (A) that the Colts gave up the most sacks on a season-long basis, and (B) the blocking improved over the course of the season to end up as 18. Hope that clarifies, but feel free to ask a follow up if you want to question or comment.

Minshew gave a good interview with the Colts media Tuesday. And most every question was about Richardson. Very little about him. That could not have been easy. A little about his career. But mostly about his observations of AR. He’s a good interview. I look forward to more from him, though I know the odds are we won’t hear that much from him all things considered.

Yes…. Thanks. I have not forgotten the McDaniels incident. But I wanted to hear from the poster who made the claim. Hiring Frank in the second go around doesn’t mean Ballard wasn’t happy with the hire. I think he was extremely impressed with Frank, and has said so in many interviews over the years.

Frank was never Chris Ballard’s pick from the beginning? Huh? How did you arrive there?

The story, from Bleacher Report, is pointing to a report from ESPN’s NFL reporter Dan Graziano. He’s one of the best in the business, so I’m not worried that anyone is making up anything. But, I think other stories in the last few days are attributing the positive views of AR to Colts coaches. Whether it’s coaches or players, if I’m Ballard I’d be telling my team to tighten things up. Managing expectations is important, especially after the disaster from last year.

For your consideration…. I think you’ve set yourself up for potentially great disappointment. I think if it were as easy to fix AR’s issues as you think he’d have been the easy and obvious first overall pick. But even if they can address his issues better than expected and even if Steichen adjusts his offense for AR as he did for Jalen Hurts, there is still the matter of AR’s inexperience. Less than 1000 career snaps. And there’s no substitute for experience. That means the mistakes he would’ve made in college he’s now going to make in the NFL. AR is going to see defenses he’s never seen before. And the game is going to be sooo much faster. He’s going to need time to learn and experience all the things he didn’t in college. If this all happens, I hope you won’t be too disappointed.

Please don’t take this wrong, I’m not knocking you for posting this. I’m knocking the Colts for letting stories like this get out. At his year end news conference Ballard criticized himself for not managing expectations last year. He should have a lid on this kind of talk at this point. If it’s August and he looks good in pre-season games that’s one thing. But comments like this in May are mostly unhelpful. They raise expectations which is exactly what Ballard said he wanted to avoid this year. The only person who should like this is Irsay if it helps him sell tickets. Otherwise…..

First, your list shows just 7 games. Except the Colts have 9 home games this year. So you might want to re-check because your math would appear to be off. If I was kidding, I’d start with…. a Priest, a Rabbi and a duck walk into Lucas Oil Stadium…..

I have no interest in a bet that would have me rooting against my favorite team. I’d always rather be wrong if it means the Colts are doing better than expected. I’m guessing 6-7 wins. But if the Colts surprise and win 8 or 9 I’m going to be as happy as everyone else. There’s no upside to your offer. I don’t think you know me as you think you do.

If the Colts don’t win the division it’s hard to imagine they’re making the playoffs as a wildcard. The AFC is loaded like never before. I think for the Colts, this year, it’s win the South or it’s go home.

I’m already on record as saying I think we win 6-7 games. I’ve said it many times. I don’t think you understand my position. No reason to do that deal.

Appreciate the response. I’m with you for the first two paragraphs. But the last paragraph is where we part company. I don’t see us competing for the division. I’d love to be wrong, but I just don’t see it. Even if the Colts surprise to the upside and win 8 games, I expect Lawrence to take another step up and for the Jags to win 10.

Im only telling you what Pat said. Same show, but no F-bombs. I doubt they’ll say bull *, but instead nonsense. And they may be put on a 7-second delay so some words get bleeped out. Hey, I get your concerns. I agree with you. I’d be concerned until the show can demonstrate that it’s the same as it used to be.

I didn’t question you over the use of solid. I questioned the use of the word great. Correction: My bad. I misread. You’re correct, 4-13.

This guys projection system has come up with roughly the same win number that ESPN, NFL.com and PFF came up with. 6 wins. Plenty of fans on this website have made roughly the same projection. But here’s a question: Did you really write the Colts are a solid if not great team? Really? Great? Seriously?

Turns out Tuesday would appear to have been the first day where there were more players than just rookies. I did see a video % if Sam Ehlinger near AR, and he’s not a rookie. But I don’t see any story in the main page that talks about veterans at practice, or their reaction to seeing AR for the first time. Those would be the natural stories to post. So it’s hard to get much of a read on attendance at this practice. Perhaps we will learn more this week?

Personally… I think it’s completely and entirely crazy talk. I think the odds of getting the first overall pick is something close to zero. Honestly. The Colts are not going to be worse than last year. They may have bad weeks. AR is going to get humbled a lot. But by the end of the year things should be getting better. Many, many things would have to go wrong for the season to implode. And the odds of all those things happening is incredibly small.

Ok…. I think that’s fair. But I’d share this…. Clearly you’re not alone. Plenty of Pat’s fans think as you do. So much so, that Pat felt compelled to address the issue. He said roughly they’re going to be doing the exact same show. It’s his whole team joining him. Also said the only slight change would be a little better language — no F-bombs. But that most of the other rawness of what makes the show popular IS the language. So, at least he’s on the record. Will that hold up? No idea, but I’d bet against it. What you and other Pat fans fear could easily happen under Disney. But I’d have to imagine Pat had a long heart-to-heart with Bob Iger, the Disney CEO. He had to make it clear that part of his popularity IS the rawness of the show. Will Iger stick to this deal? I hope so, but I have my doubts. I’m pulling for Pat and his fans. I’d like for this to work. But it IS an odd marriage.

For whatever it’s worth…. Pat did NOT sellout to ESPN. I don’t know what he’s going to be making, but odds are he’s taking a large pay CUT. Fan Duel was paying him $30 mil per year. 4 years and $120m total. To the best of my knowledge, Stephen A is the highest paid guy at ESPN at roughly $12m per year. Odds are Pat will be making less. So why would he take such a big cut? For the brand of ESPN. All of the various channels and platforms. More eye balls, more listeners and viewers. He’ll no longer be a big fish in a smaller pond, he’ll be a bigger fish in a bigger ocean with more opportunities. It’s a long play…. Props to Pat and his crew….

well…. THIS link — which is NEW — is from George Bremer. The one I responded to — NFL Rookie Watch — was not. Id strongly caution not to read too much into comments this early. It’s just been rookies for a few days. Nothing else.