Free Agency Under Ballard 2017

[FalseStart]

New #Colts under Chris Ballard:

Johnathan Hankins
Jabaal Shears
John Simon
Kamar Aiken
Margus Hunt
Barkevious Mingo
Brian Schwenke
Al Woods

[DaColts85]

Some good youth and depth. Plus he brought back our own guys that have an impact and let the others go. Butler is huge because Green is far from a starter. Doyle is key and Luck needs a safety blanket. Turbin provides good depth. Hankins sealed it for me though. Solid starter to eat up the middle. 

[Andrew Luck fan club]

On paper it's been a great free agency. 

[jvan1973]

Ask me after the season.  On paper I give it a B

[D-lineman]

A+

[21isSuperman]

I think an important factor to consider is not only the players he's brought in, but the contracts.  In general, it's been low investment contracts so we aren't tied to these guys for years down the road.  I think that's very important

[FalseStart]

1 hour ago, 21isSuperman said:

I think an important factor to consider is not only the players he's brought in, but the contracts.  In general, it's been low investment contracts so we aren't tied to these guys for years down the road.  I think that's very important

 

It will be interesting to see which draft prospects we bring in to balance out our team...I'm thinking at least 2 CBs, 1 RB, 1 OL, 1 DL, 1 S, 1 ILB somewhere in the Draft... See how he blends it all into a strong off season...

[dodsworth]

Compared to free agent signings in the past A+++++++

[2006Coltsbestever]

50 minutes ago, 21isSuperman said:

I think an important factor to consider is not only the players he's brought in, but the contracts.  In general, it's been low investment contracts so we aren't tied to these guys for years down the road.  I think that's very important

Also re-signing Doyle and Butler have to be included with his key pickups. I would probably go B+, not quite an A and before today it was still a B- which was borderline Good and Above Average when factoring in everything = contracts and talent pickup. Today was huge. I voted B

[Yoshinator]

Either an A or B for sure. Tempted to give it an A, but was conservative and gave a bit because it's Ballard's 1st year and I want a sample size. He stuck to his mantra for the most part and filled the trenches. Also helped the pass rush a decent amount and put us in great position for the draft. The great thing now, is our needs are also guys who should be BPA in the draft, and that will benefit us greatly. Hankins really was the whipped cream on the proverbial brownie.

[Jason_]

I would've given an A if he could've landed a Corner

[stitches]

On paper B+. He got 2 of my favorite FAs(Hankins and Simon), but he kind of overpaid for one of them(Hankins). He gave out good contracts that don't tie us up long term, yet give us some mid-term upside(the 3 year contracts) if those players pan out. We are arguably better now than before FA at pretty much every single position(except for CB) and he did it without big splashes. He improved the depth and competition on the roster and he set us up to largely be able to draft without much consideration for need in the draft.

[jblastick]

He's swapped old and slow for young and fast.  The contracts don't create salary cap issues in future years.  He's taken one of the oldest rosters and turned them into one of the youngest without the benefit on ONE draft. If he builds the defense even stronger through the draft and this will be an outstanding offseason.  Being able to make ONE tackle to prevent a first down can be the difference in a game.  Colts had the 30th ranked defense last year.  I'm not expecting them to be top 10 but hell, be 20th and you'll win a couple more games.  Look at some of our losses last year that could've been wins with a LITTLE better defense.  Detroit, both Houston games, Jax at London.  Turn those into wins and we're 12-4 last year as crazy as that sounds.  If you think about last year, the only games we really weren't competitive in were at Denver, KC, Oakland and Pittsburgh.  I don't feel many, if any, of our 8 wins last year were "fortunate" or lucky. We MAY have caught Green Bay playing poorly but that happens to all teams.  San Diego was a game we won late but actually pretty much controlled and squandered away the lead.  Last game vs Jax you throw out given the circumstances of being out of the playoff hunt.  I realize I'm making a short story long but the Colts aren't as far away as many (out of market mostly) might think.  We need to be BETTER on defense, not elite and I think by getting younger and quicker (and will be even more so through the draft) Ballard has really done that.  Grade = A for executing his plan.

[Mr. Irrelevant]

12 minutes ago, stitches said:

On paper B+. He got 2 of my favorite FAs(Hankins and Simon), but he kind of overpaid for one of them(Hankins). He gave out good contracts that don't tie us up long term, yet give us some mid-term upside(the 3 year contracts) if those players pan out. We are arguably better now than before FA at pretty much every single position(except for CB) and he did it without big splashes. He improved the depth and competition on the roster and he set us up to largely be able to draft without much consideration for need in the draft.

 

Yeah, it is also important to stress that Ballard had to do a lot in a short time. He was hired late, had to make a lot of decisions about which players to cut, and the quickly patch things up in FA. You're not meant to rebuild a team with FA (and this is not the long term goal with this FA class), but defense definitely looks better now than in December.

 

What I like the most, however, is that you get a feeling that Ballard has a vision for building a defense, with Grigson it was kinda random. I couldn't see the overall vision anyway, LOL. 

[GwinnettColt]

I would have liked to have seen a CB to replace Robinson but I'm expecting one in the draft early on (1st or 2nd).

 

I love the Hankins signing and I like the Sheard signing also. Simon looks like he may be good on the other side as well.

 

 

[Defjamz26]

B+

 

I don't think he made any bad moves. Young players on cheap contracts. He's creating real depth and competition which we didn't have in the Grigson era because older FAs were brought in and handed jobs.I think based on what was available in FA vs the draft, he got what we needed.

[coltsfanatic24]

I'm giving Ballard an A for free agency. Hankins was arguably the best DT available and he's still young. Sheard and Simon played important roles on top 10 defenses. Now, he just needs to finish this great off-season with the draft.

[funktacious2]

We are a lot younger and our depth looks to be in place. Now to just draft our starters over the next couple years!

[AZColt11]

Incomplete.  I won't know until after the season.  On paper though, a high B, low A.

[Jason_]

8 minutes ago, AZColt11 said:

Incomplete.  I won't know until after the season.  On paper though, a high B, low A.

 

Duh, everyone giving it any kind of trade right now is doing it based "on paper"  lol

[FalseStart]

58 minutes ago, J@son said:

 

Duh, everyone giving it any kind of trade right now is doing it based "on paper"  lol

Vicious...It's not even Friday the 13th JV. 

[Jason_]

7 hours ago, J@son said:

 

Duh, everyone giving it any kind of trade right now is doing it based "on paper"  lol

 

Btw that was supposed to be grade, not trade. Lol

[UKColt13]

Interesting pieces on team friendly contracts.

 

like it very much.

[AZColt11]

4 hours ago, J@son said:

 

Btw that was supposed to be grade, not trade. Lol

It's alright.  Probably hard typing with that hockey mask on.

[gacker65]

No impact Defensive player

[ColtsBlitz]

4 hours ago, gacker65 said:

No impact Defensive player

Super confused

[gacker65]

Who is the impact Defensive player we got in FA..  Maybe Hankins, but will have yo wait to see as he came from a 4-3.  Then rest, meh.  Will give Simon a wait to see how he works out as a Sam OLB