HAVE WE LOOKED AT GM BALLARD CLOSE ENOUGH

[elyanon]

This was a tough season for the Colts and Fans. Regardless of the head couch or starting QB very few players had played with the Colts last season and we had one of the fastest revolving doors with players coming and going all year, than I can recall for any team in 5 decades.. There were positions we needed to address on both sides of the Ball and if we begin at the Draft we were addressing those positions with some very good picks and a little luck like getting Marlon Mack in the 4th. Before the pre-season was underway as a Colt Fan since 59' I didn't see what we did other than trash an entire D and pick so many players from somewhere else or um-drafted, walk on and a 90 plus man only Colts tryout  players it looked like the couching staff was somehow having to evaluate enough players for 4 or more teams not ONE. And it just continued for weeks into the season.

Something was very wrong when the season got underway and the loss of Luck made a flaky situation even worse. Enough has been said about Bissett, the kid did a hell of a job just being tossed into the line up. We had 1 point losse, 3 point losses and overtime losses won with only seconds, or the clock more than I can remember ever seeing in 1 year; 9 games we should have won really only 1 real blow out game 1 when Tolzien scored more for the Rams than the Colts.

It didn't look like a team until after mid season, Vonte Davis jut left mid season, rookies were the entire backfield other than Butler who made some great plays for the positions and limited play he had. Geathers did finally play and Farley was a positive surprise and 3 of our backfield rookies showed real potential when not injured.

Anyone looking at our WR situation had to be baffled by what they saw the entire season. Without T.Y., and Doyle and our rookie RB Mack we had kept second string WR's and only 1 TE, tossing some very good WR's from the pre-season into the first half of the regular. We had no less than 4 WR's go through our revolving doors that could have replaced anyone on the team other than T.Y. and Montcrief, a couple would have given Montcreif some competition.

Other than our 3 down line men, Snead and Simon and some decent rookie back ups even though injuries played a part our ILB's and backfield players probably only were acquaintances not team mates and with Davis leaving mid season when talk of trading T.Y. surfaced the same week. AS A FAN I REALLY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IN THE WORLD BALLARD WAS DOING AND STILL WONDER. How do you evaluate nearly 200 players in 4-5 weeks and still end up starting Tolzien when Morris and Murpy played better even though Tolzien was more familiar with what we wanted to do with the team?

If we even go through a quarter of the players we did in 2017 WE NEED SOME ANSWERS FROM BALLARD. WE NEED TO QUESTION HIS VALUE TO THE COLTS AGAINST HIS DAMAGE. BUT MOST OF ALL CONFUSION BY  HIS REVOLVING PLAYER DOOR. THE COUCHING STAFF AT LEAST NEEDS TO KNOW WHO THEIR PLAYERS ARE BY THE TIME THE SEASON STARTS NOT UNTIL WEEK 10 OR 13.

[Aluckiswolverine]

TL;DR

 

Ballard was paired with a coach he didn’t want. Ballard Did pretty good IMO with what/who he was stuck with. 

 

Ballard is not the problem. 

[Peterk2011]

Why are you screaming so much?

[elyanon]

Ballard wasn't stuck with anyone they were his choices not the couches. or owners that was very clear to everyone. I agree he and the HC had serious problems and both probably didn't want to work together. But the number of players we looked at, cut, traded and kept was Ballards responsobility.

[Coltsfanforlife12]

Can we lock this article?? This is a pointless and uninformed evaluation of Ballard.  He turned over a bad roster and you can’t do everything in one offseason.. we had 10 new starters on defense verse last year... he did an adimirabke job with the crap roster we had.  There is a lot of work to be done and it won’t all be done in one season.  We also had one of the highest injury rates of any teams which would be your revolving door.  Also, the revolving door with who was starting and not was Pagano.  Ballard let him make the decisions he had been wanting to make for five years. 

[Coltsfanforlife12]

1 minute ago, elyanon said:

Ballard wasn't stuck with anyone they were his choices not the couches. or owners that was very clear to everyone. I agree he and the HC had serious problems and both probably didn't want to work together. But the number of players we looked at, cut, traded and kept was Ballards responsobility.

What do you mean Ballard wasn’t stuck with anyone?? He was forced to keep Pagano when he was hired... he was stuck there 

[Shadow_Creek]

your not looking at the big picture. Grigs buried our team and set it up for failure when he did nothing after drafting Andrew to help this team get better. just look at all the past Drafts and tell me whose still on this team from them? hardly any of them. Now to pass judgement on a rookie GM who did nothing but try his best to patch up a sinking colts ship is just wrong on so many levels because he is not the issue 

[dodsworth]

Ballard is going through the numbers to try to find diamonds

for pennies on the dollar. Look at all the no names that Belicheck

wins titles with and you have found your answer. 

 

I for one don't have a problem with Ballard's itchy trigger finger

for kicking average players to the curb and trying to find good 

players.

 

Players on this team realize that if they don't produce they may be gone

and that's the way it should be.

[IndyScribe]

Ballard did well. Free agents and draft picks were all a success(except Aiken, but he was on a cheap, one-year deal).

[NewColtsFan]

 

Ballard inherited an old flawed roster...   

 

He needed to rebuild the roster.   A 4-12 season is what happens when you have to rebuild a roster and play without your all-pro quarterback.    

 

This season was expected by everyone who wasn't in denial...

 

Ballard is not the problem.

 

[DraftMaster]

Not enough capitalized words 

[Jdubu]

9 minutes ago, elyanon said:

Ballard wasn't stuck with anyone they were his choices not the couches. or owners that was very clear to everyone. I agree he and the HC had serious problems and both probably didn't want to work together. But the number of players we looked at, cut, traded and kept was Ballards responsobility.

The new GM allowed Pagano an open channel into making personnel decisions unlike how Grigson did while GM, so no, it is not clear that CB was picking all the players and telling Pagano to deal with them. You nor I, know how a player was picked out and chosen. For all we know, CB scouted 5 players and presented Pagano with them and told him to choose the player that fits your scheme. Maybe he picked them, maybe he didn’t but let’s be real here, nobody here knows who and how a player was selected and placed on the roster. What we are clear of, this team had major roster turnovers because on injuries and because the previous roster that was put together. Without A healthy Luck at the helm, major flaws were exposed and we will be a better team next season and beyond for having this type of season as we will know how to build a team, not just enjoy watching a elite type QB pull us into a win. This is the season we should have seen 2012/2013 in reality. Luck was such a talent that he covered up too many flaws and we didn’t have a coach or a GM that could see we had major flaws in the roster, Luck allowed them to see a very good roster around him when in fact, we had a low quality group made to look better with Luck. Add in a poor decision maker and planner in Pagano and it was a recipe for disaster that we seen   

[a06cc]

2 minutes ago, NewColtsFan said:

 

Ballard inherited an old flawed roster...   

 

He needed to rebuild the roster.   A 4-23 season is what happens when you have to rebuild a roster and play without your all-pro quarterback.    

 

This season son was expected by everyone who wasn't in denial...

 

 

You beat me to it. I’d also like to add. When the season started Irsay and Ballard said it would be a restart like 2012. So why are you surprised? 

[elyanon]

Who's screaming folks. I just asked some questions whether you believe them uninformed or not fine though as one fellow fan said wanting to lock this useless question line down Ballard changed 10 of 11 defensive starters 1 due to the GEATHERS injury that seems like more than a little involvement with who ended up as D starters. I thought the 2 DE's (even their backups) were good keeps and as I wrote Simon and Snead. on the field its the couches that have to work with the players not the GM. I can't say Ballard is wrong for the Colts, but did anyone hear in the off season or the end of last year we were going to be replacing so many players. That we were going to still be looking for player 10 days before the start of the season with the 96 looked in our open tryouts at that time.

I thought the nway the teams were not cut down to starting rosters until after the last pre-season game cost sevral NFL teams real problems the the first quarter of the regular season.

If we were seeing what some are calling a sub par team in 2017 are we going to see anything like the player movement we saw in 2017 in 2018?

[aaron11]

i think he was average at best, but he didnt have much to work with either

 

this offseason will make or break his career imo

 

we have lots of money, and high picks. we have to start protecting luck or his career wont last much longer.  that means we need a new offense and oline, and we need them to work quickly 

[IndyScribe]

1 minute ago, aaron11 said:

i think he was average at best, but he didnt have much to work with either

 

this offseason will make or break his career imo

 

we have lots of money, and high picks. we have to start protecting luck or his career wont last much longer.  that means we need a new offense and oline, and we need them to work quickly 

Ballard did great, IMO. Offense will be fine with Luck back. O-Line will most likely be addressed in free agency, if they don't all re-sign with their respective teams.

[Jason_]

26 minutes ago, Coltsfanforlife12 said:

What do you mean Ballard wasn’t stuck with anyone?? He was forced to keep Pagano when he was hired... he was stuck there 

 

Ballard didn't have to accept the GM position with the Colts.   So no, he wasn't stuck with anyone.  He took the job full well knowing that Pagano would be the coach in 2017.

[NorthernBlue]

What the heck is couching staff?

[Jason_]

3 minutes ago, elyanon said:

Who's screaming folks. I just asked some questions

 

you are.  typing in all caps on a message board is considered yelling.  

[NewColtsFan]

6 minutes ago, Jdubu said:

The new GM allowed Pagano an open channel into making personnel decisions unlike how Grigson did while GM, so no, it is not clear that CB was picking all the players and telling Pagano to deal with them. You nor I, know how a player was picked out and chosen. For all we know, CB scouted 5 players and presented Pagano with them and told him to choose the player that fits your scheme. Maybe he picked them, maybe he didn’t but let’s be real here, nobody here knows who and how a player was selected and placed on the roster. What we are clear of, this team had major roster turnovers because on injuries and because the previous roster that was put together. Without A healthy Luck at the helm, major flaws were exposed and we will be a better team next season and beyond for having this type of season as we will know how to build a team, not just enjoy watching a elite type QB pull us into a win. This is the season we should have seen 2012/2013 in reality. Luck was such a talent that he covered up too many flaws and we didn’t have a coach or a GM that could see we had major flaws in the roster, Luck allowed them to see a very good roster around him when in fact, we had a low quality group made to look better with Luck. Add in a poor decision maker and planner in Pagano and it was a recipe for disaster that we seen   

 

No.   I'm sorry, this is not true.

 

The input that Pagano had over players was about who to start.    It was not about who to draft or which free agent to sign.   That was clearly and obviously Ballard's job.    As the HC,  Pagano could give input, but the final decision, including the 53 man roster was Ballard's.

 

This is how it worked.

 

[Buck Showalter]

4 minutes ago, NorthernBlue said:

What the heck is couching staff?

I hope Ballard comes in & addresses the couching issues at my house this off season, man is my furniture in bad shape...

 

& with the 3rd pick in the draft the Colts pick...

A sweet new LAZY-BOY!!!

 

Just joking...

But really, I need some new furniture...

[NewColtsFan]

On 1/8/2018 at 12:42 PM, elyanon said:

Who's screaming folks. I just asked some questions whether you believe them uninformed or not fine though as one fellow fan said wanting to lock this useless question line down Ballard changed 10 of 11 defensive starters 1 due to the GEATHERS injury that seems like more than a little involvement with who ended up as D starters. I thought the 2 DE's (even their backups) were good keeps and as I wrote Simon and Snead. on the field its the couches that have to work with the players not the GM. I can't say Ballard is wrong for the Colts, but did anyone hear in the off season or the end of last year we were going to be replacing so many players. That we were going to still be looking for player 10 days before the start of the season with the 96 looked in our open tryouts at that time.

I thought the nway the teams were not cut down to starting rosters until after the last pre-season game cost sevral NFL teams real problems the the first quarter of the regular season.

If we were seeing what some are calling a sub par team in 2017 are we going to see anything like the player movement we saw in 2017 in 2018?

 

Yes...    we will see a lot of player movement in 2018.   This is what happens when you go 4-12.

 

We have a lot of money to spend in free agency, and we will.   We will add through the draft.    There will be considerable turnover on the roster.    Expect it.

 

[ReMeDy]

3 minutes ago, NorthernBlue said:

What the heck is couching staff?

 

I'd like to say it's auto-correct, but couching isn't a word.

[Pelt]

17 minutes ago, NewColtsFan said:

 

Ballard inherited an old flawed roster...   

 

He needed to rebuild the roster.   A 4-23 season is what happens when you have to rebuild a roster and play without your all-pro quarterback.    

 

This season son was expected by everyone who wasn't in denial...

 

Ballard is not the problem.

 

4-23?

 

Well, I guess it did kinda feel like that this year! 

[csmopar]

34 minutes ago, elyanon said:

Ballard wasn't stuck with anyone they were his choices not the couches. or owners that was very clear to everyone. I agree he and the HC had serious problems and both probably didn't want to work together. But the number of players we looked at, cut, traded and kept was Ballards responsobility.

Good grief charlie brown.

5 minutes ago, NorthernBlue said:

What the heck is couching staff?

Isn't that what they use for female actresses interested in becoming porn stars?

[aaron11]

2 minutes ago, IndyScribe said:

Ballard did great, IMO. Offense will be fine with Luck back. O-Line will most likely be addressed in free agency, if they don't all re-sign with their respective teams.

i liked the simon, sheard and hankins pick ups.  pretty much everyone knew we had find some olbs though.  

 

his draft class has potential, but none of them had what i would call even a good rookie season.   

[IndyScribe]

Just now, aaron11 said:

i liked the simon, sheard and hankins pick ups.  pretty much everyone knew we had find some olbs though.  

 

his draft class has potential, but none of them had what i would call even a good rookie season.   

Ballard can't control injuries. It's not his fault that Hooker tore his ACL. Hooker played really well, given the circumstances. Wilson was limited by Pagano's dumb decision not to play him, but played well in his limited time. Basham was still learning a new position and showed flashes. I also suspect it wasn't 100% Ballard's pick. Mack played well for what he is - a 4th round pick. What did you expect them to do?

[Zoltan]

I'm surprised that someone can be mad at a GM after one year, when talking about a GM it's like college coaches you got to give them at least 4 years to get there guys in the building. 

 

I'm expecting 4 or 5 new starters on offense next years and maybe 4 or 5 new starters on defense.

[Zoltan]

1 minute ago, IndyScribe said:

Ballard can't control injuries. It's not his fault that Hooker tore his ACL. Hooker played really well, given the circumstances. Wilson was limited by Pagano's dumb decision not to play him, but played well in his limited time. Basham was still learning a new position and showed flashes. I also suspect it wasn't 100% Ballard's pick. Mack played well for what he is - a 4th round pick. What did you expect them to do?

Don't Forget Hairston who showed to be a good/great nickel corner for us

[TDewar1987]

Srsly?

 

[aaron11]

Just now, IndyScribe said:

Ballard can't control injuries. It's not his fault that Hooker tore his ACL. Hooker played really well, given the circumstances. Wilson was limited by Pagano's dumb decision not to play him, but played well in his limited time. Basham was still learning a new position and showed flashes. I also suspect it wasn't 100% Ballard's pick. Mack played well for what he is - a 4th round pick. What did you expect them to do?

i have to disagree about hooker and wilson

 

hooker was good at playing the ball in the air, but not much else. he wasnt good at tackling or cleaning up plays the LBs missed.  id like to see that out of a FS.  ftr pff rated him as average, so not bad for a rookie but not what i would call good yet either

 

to me wilson looked like he had a ways to go early on.  he finished better than he started, but im not sure i would put him out there over melvin, desir or hairstone 

[IndyScribe]

1 minute ago, aaron11 said:

i have to disagree about hooker and wilson

 

hooker was good at playing the ball in the air, but not much else. he wasnt good at tackling or cleaning up plays the LBs missed.  id like to see that out of a FS.  ftr pff rated him as average, so not bad for a rookie but not what i would call good yet either

 

to me wilson looked like he had a ways to go early on.  he finished better than he started, but im not sure i would put him out there over melvin, desir or hairstone 

Tackling isn't a FS responsibility. Hooker is supposed to play the ball in the air. Geathers is the one responsible for tackling. You also realize Hooker is incredibly raw and only played 3 games, right? He needs more experience at FS(only had one prior to being drafted). Everyone also knew to temper expectations. Hooker is only going to get better as time goes on. Wilson still needs to develop, I agree. I'd put him in as a CB2, which is more than anyone can expect out of a second round draft choice. Hairston played the slot and I'd definitely put Wilson over desir.

[dgambill]

17 minutes ago, NorthernBlue said:

What the heck is couching staff?

Indiana spelling....so sad....but let me tell you since I've moved to Kentucky the educational system in Indiana looks like Ivy League material.

[Dingus McGirt]

18 minutes ago, ReMeDy said:

 

I'd like to say it's auto-correct, but couching isn't a word.

"couching" is a word...as in "she is couching her remarks to avoid controversy."  It's also a term used in embroidery.  :^)

[elyanon]

Thanks for your responce Jduba. You're right we can't read minds and Luck having to miss the season changed a lot. We also had a lot of key injuries with last years backfield draft (which I felt 3 we very good picks and we got lucky on a 4th). plus we got Mack on the O we've been hit with too many  injuries in the last 3 seasons . As far as the personel merry go round of 2017 from everything written while it was going on

[BullsColtsFan1]

To early to tell on Ballard.  He's only had one season to upgrade a flawed roster with his starting QB out for the season.  I thought the defense showed strides. Obviously still a lot of flaws but hopefully with a new coach, free agency and the draft, he will start turning it around.  It will take some time to get back to where we want to be as fans.  It's tough because us Colts fans are spoiled with being contenders every year.   The past 3 years have been rough to say the least. 

[elyanon]

Sorry I had no idea caps was considered yelling. I appologize to all my fellow Colts Fans

 

[Myles]

1 hour ago, elyanon said:

AS A FAN I REALLY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IN THE WORLD BALLARD WAS DOING AND STILL WONDER. How do you evaluate nearly 200 players in 4-5 weeks and still end up starting Tolzien when Morris and Murpy played better even though Tolzien was more familiar with what we wanted to do with the team?

 

I don't think Ballard had much to do with starting Tolzien.   That was probably Paganos choice.  

 

I think Ballard did a great job.  He signed several players for cheap who were in their prime (24-28 years old).   He was given a very poor roster to start with.   No depth.   He is coming along nicely.     I would give him a B+ alfter only 1 offseason with the crap he was given.  

[azcolt]

2 minutes ago, elyanon said:

Sorry I had no idea caps was considered yelling. I appologize to all my fellow Colts Fans

 

Not sure I agree with all of your lengthy comments, but starting the season with Tolzien  as QB was GM malpractice. Hopefully he learned something from his mistake. But if you look at his resume, he's learning on the job. He's no Polian, at least not yet.

[Jdubu]

26 minutes ago, NewColtsFan said:

 

No.   I'm sorry, this is not true.

 

The input that Pagano had over players was about who to start.    It was not about who to draft or which free agent to sign.   That was clearly and obviously Ballard's job.    As the HC,  Pagano could give input, but the final decision, including the 53 man roster was Ballard's.

 

This is how it worked.

 

You can state it anyway you want, but it still is t “fact”. Unless you are in the top of the organization and attend meetings there, none of us know exactly how personnel decisions were made completely. Yes, it’s typical that GM’s make the player picks for the team however, knowing how much conflict Pagano was under the prior GM, the fact that he was forced to be retained this season at the insistence of the owner, how many people have question whether the coach had failed because of the former GM meddling and not by his decision making alone and the new GM’s statements coming in allowing the coach more freedom to make his team, it lends more to the fact that this season, a GM and owner said let’s see what types of choices Pagano can make, given some expanded parameters, and see if it was true he was held back because of the GM or if he doesn’t have the vision we are looking for in the decision making process. So you have an opinion as do I and neither know if we are correct or not so please don’t come here and pretend your opinion is the correct one unless you provide us with your pictures of colts high level meetings that you have attended.