OL Matt Slauson visiting Colts Tuesday

[COLTS449]

2-3 years ago I'd be like heck yeah Slauson baby !!!! LOL. But yeah. He's not the same player now. That doesn't mean he wont come in and ball out for a year, but.......Anyways. Why the ___ didn't we just go after Sitton ??? Who was a top 5 Guard last year and would've been a killer stopgap.

[shasta519]

This seems like a "need to sign someone" move...a move you make when you whiffed on your other moves.

[needanoline63]

I’d rather sign joeckel or Jonathan Cooper. Slauson is 32 and not even good

[richard pallo]

Gotta get Fleming in here.

[Mel Kiper's Hair]

4 hours ago, Four2itus said:

From Greg Rosenthal at NFL.com....

 

Worst free-agency deals: 

Practically every big-ticket offensive line signing: Supply and demand was a problem for teams in need of offensive linemen. The market forced the Giants to pay Nate Solder starting quarterback money despite Solder never having made a Pro Bowl. It forced the Browns to give Chris Hubbard, a super sub in Pittsburgh, quality starter money.

The Bucs made Ryan Jensen the highest-paid center in football despite him making all of 16 starts at center in his career, all in 2017. (The Ravens never viewed Jensen as more than a backup in his five seasons, elevating him to a starter only because of injuries.) Former Giants Weston Richburg and Justin Pugh were both paid like stars despite serious injury concerns.

Some of these moves will work out, but history says that most will not. Offensive lines are mysterious beasts, with coaching, cohesion and continuity often playing a bigger role than talent. Teams are essentially paying a premium in free agency for failing to draft and develop linemen, ponying up exorbitant prices for players that previous teams believed were expendable."

 

 

[boo2202]

8 hours ago, Four2itus said:

Hold it....I thought FA was over, we can't protect Luck, and we weren't spending any money. 

 

Sorry, just had to. 

You'll be the first one yelling slauson sucks after week 2 

[Myles]

As long as the Ballard doesn't think having Slauson at guard means we don't need to draft Nelson, I'd be on board with this if they got him dirt cheap.

[crazycolt1]

39 minutes ago, Myles said:

As long as the Ballard doesn't think having Slauson at guard means we don't need to draft Nelson, I'd be on board with this if they got him dirt cheap.

I don't know what your estimate of dirt cheap is but his veteran league minimum may not be as cheap as you want?

[crazycolt1]

10 hours ago, shastamasta said:

This seems like a "need to sign someone" move...a move you make when you whiffed on your other moves.

Whiffed? Make a list please. I would like to see the ones whiffed on.

[John Waylon]

12 hours ago, IndyD4U said:

> VJ

 

Only by a narrow score of 1-2. 

 

And at his age, it could change at any moment. Doesn’t do much to actually make the line better, honestly. 

[Old Colt]

15 hours ago, Four2itus said:

Hold it....I thought FA was over, we can't protect Luck, and we weren't spending any money. 

 

Sorry, just had to. 

Not over, but true impact players are gone and now we are on to the 2nd wave of "Potential"  

[Old Colt]

27 minutes ago, crazycolt1 said:

Whiffed? Make a list please. I would like to see the ones whiffed on.

Evidently Hankins....

[Fisticuffs111]

Definitely seems like a backup plan after not striking deals with Jensen/Pouncey/Pugh.

 

Reminds me of the Schwenke signing from last year. A decent talent, above 30, coming off an injury. He's good enough to compete for a starting spot on this line unless we draft a ton of O-lineman, but availability is huge for us.

[shasta519]

1 hour ago, crazycolt1 said:

Whiffed? Make a list please. I would like to see the ones whiffed on.

 

You guys are so sensitive when it comes to comments regarding Ballard...it's like you are trying to pick fights. I am just saying Matt freakin' Slauson sounds like a plan E when it comes to fortifying the OL. 

 

Ballard has been connected to Norwell, Jensen, Pugh, Pouncey...that's four OL. Since the running theory is that he did in fact make a very strong offer to Norwell, then I am going to assume he did so with the Jensen (who viisted) and Pugh (who they were trying to fly in). Pouncey I am not sure about...but the Colts were at least connected.

 

So here is a handful of guys that he tried to sign and was unsuccessful...aka whiff. The alternative of course is that he didn't really make strong offers.

This notion that Ballard is infallible is getting pretty old. I am sure he would even admit that he was planning on getting at least one of the half dozen OL players that have signed.

[crazycolt1]

2 minutes ago, shastamasta said:

 

You guys are so sensitive when it comes to comments regarding Ballard...it's like you are trying to pick fights. I am just saying Matt freakin' Slauson sounds like a plan E when it comes to fortifying the OL. 

 

Ballard has been connected to Norwell, Jensen, Pugh, Pouncey...that's four OL. Since the running theory is that he did in fact make a very strong offer to Norwell, then I am going to assume he did so with the Jensen (who viisted) and Pugh (who they were trying to fly in). Pouncey I am not sure about...but the Colts were at least connected.

 

So here is a handful of guys that he tried to sign and was unsuccessful...aka whiff. The alternative of course is that he didn't really make strong offers.

This notion that Ballard is infallible is getting pretty old. I am sure he would even admit that he was planning on getting at least one of the half dozen OL players that have signed.

So by not over paying for free agents is whiffing? OK, if you say so.

[stitches]

Slauson was hurt early in the season so I would take his PFF grade with a pinch of salt since it's on very small sample. On the other hand he graded very well in 2016 as starting center - 81.2 by PFF. 

[throwing BBZ]

1 hour ago, Old Colt said:

Evidently Hankins....

 

Hankins had his chance to prove himself. And he showed he couldn't pressure the QB. And isn't likely to improve at it.
We will find that type of DT for this defense as quickly and prudently as possible. It really is that simple.

[throwing BBZ]

9 minutes ago, stitches said:

Slauson was hurt early in the season so I would take his PFF grade with a pinch of salt since it's on very small sample. On the other hand he graded very well in 2016 as starting center - 81.2 by PFF. 

 

 I will say it. Slauson is much greater than Vujo. And can play quality center. He would be a good add.
And he is actually a real guard, unlike our 6'6" 305 lb Haeg.

[shasta519]

1 minute ago, crazycolt1 said:

So by not over paying for free agents is whiffing? OK, if you say so.

 

This is where we start to go around and around in circles.

 

If I said he didn't offer enough...you would say the players were overpaid.

 

If I said he did offer enough but couldn't close...you would say you can't make players sign.

 

If I said he was stubborn...you would say he's principled. 

 

I wouldn't necessarily say those things...as I think the truth is more in the middle. But the end result is the same...and Ballard missed out on several OL players.

[crazycolt1]

2 minutes ago, throwing BBZ said:

 

 I will say it. Slauson is much greater than Vujo. And can play quality center. He would be a good add.
And he is actually a real guard, unlike our 6'6" 305 lb Haeg.

Adding a potential starter or even a depth player is a good thing. I don't understand why some have a problem with it?

 

[crazycolt1]

1 minute ago, shastamasta said:

 

This is where we start to go around and around in circles.

 

If I said he didn't offer enough...you would say the players were overpaid.

 

If I said he did offer enough but couldn't close...you would say you can't make players sign.

 

If I said he was stubborn...you would say he's principled. 

 

I wouldn't necessarily say those things...as I think the truth is more in the middle. But the end result is the same...and Ballard missed out on several OL players.

Call it what ever you want.

Ballard said he wasn't over paying for free agents. That's pretty easy English to understand. I guess his opinion is the one that matters. If you have a different opinion carry on complaining.

[Old Colt]

6 minutes ago, crazycolt1 said:

Adding a potential starter or even a depth player is a good thing. I don't understand why some have a problem with it?

 

Slauson is depth at best and at age 32 at the twilight of an average career... goes against getting younger and faster that Ballard is preaching....  

[lance_m8]

14 hours ago, Trueman said:

 

 damn.. that’s not a bad deal at all.

 

Maybe the Chargers will actually do something next season. They’ve been underachieving for a while , imo.

Did you watch last season? They were one game back from a who card spot after starting the year like 0-5 

[crazycolt1]

2 minutes ago, Old Colt said:

Slauson is depth at best and at age 32 at the twilight of an average career... goes against getting younger and faster that Ballard is preaching....  

Having a veteran player around never hurts anything.

[Trueman]

3 minutes ago, lance_m8 said:

Did you watch last season? They were one game back from a who card spot after starting the year like 0-5 

 

Yeah..going 0-5 would be underachieving.

 

 

[lance_m8]

4 minutes ago, Trueman said:

 

Yeah..going 0-5 would be underachieving.

 

 

Finishing 9-7 is not 

[Trueman]

1 minute ago, lance_m8 said:

Finishing 9-7 is not 

 

Oh, but it is, Lance.

 

They’ve had good talent for years now. 

 

Good talk.

[shasta519]

4 minutes ago, crazycolt1 said:

Call it what ever you want.

Ballard said he wasn't over paying for free agents. That's pretty easy English to understand. I guess his opinion is the one that matters. If you have a different opinion carry on complaining.

 

You are the only one complaining here. I made an observation on the Colts' interest in a 32 year-old OG...you apparently didn't like it and ran to Ballard's defense. 

 

Again, Ballard obviously was trying to bring in established OL talent...but wasn't successful with several targets. I am sorry you take offense to the word "whiff," but that's the end result.

 

And Ballard doesn't seem to be the type to waste his or others time, so I highly doubt he's just low-balling every FA and drawing a line in the sand. These FA negotiations have been going on for a long time and he knows what it will take, so if a player is visiting or Ballard is trying to get them to visit, it's because he has a competitive offer.  

[Valpo2004]

I'm ok with a stop gap player if it keeps Luck off IR.  

[NDcolt]

13 hours ago, esmort said:

 

It's a bridge/stopgap/competition option... Nothing wrong with it if it's cheap. 

These are the type of OL getting QB's killed.  Can't stop anybody, nothing more than a bridge to the QB & providing stiff competition to see who can go on IR first!  We have the worst OL in the NFL & we continue to dumpster dive.  SMH

[shasta519]

1 hour ago, stitches said:

Slauson was hurt early in the season so I would take his PFF grade with a pinch of salt since it's on very small sample. On the other hand he graded very well in 2016 as starting center - 81.2 by PFF. 

 

So Slauson had success at C as well. That makes three players now that the Colts have been interested in who have had experience (and success) at C. That's a trend...so I am very interested to see how this plays out in regards to Kelly. 

[Fisticuffs111]

11 minutes ago, shastamasta said:

 

So Slauson had success at C as well. That makes three players now that the Colts have been interested in who have had experience (and success) at C. That's a trend...so I am very interested to see how this plays out in regards to Kelly. 

Yeah, I'm wondering if Ballard/medical staff think the injury troubles could be a trend for Kelly, or if the concussion is still an issue.

 

Of course there's also the fact that we saw multiple centers go down. But yeah, I feel for Kelly, he had a rough year with injuries. And he came into the league with nagging shoulder issues to add to the foot injury/concussion.

[waka waka]

9 minutes ago, shastamasta said:

 

So Slauson had success at C as well. That makes three players now that the Colts have been interested in who have had experience (and success) at C. That's a trend...so I am very interested to see how this plays out in regards to Kelly. 

i don't think its anything to do w/ kelly but if he's hurt you have ppl that have played the position before 

[crazycolt1]

33 minutes ago, shastamasta said:

 

You are the only one complaining here. I made an observation on the Colts' interest in a 32 year-old OG...you apparently didn't like it and ran to Ballard's defense. 

 

Again, Ballard obviously was trying to bring in established OL talent...but wasn't successful with several targets. I am sorry you take offense to the word "whiff," but that's the end result.

 

And Ballard doesn't seem to be the type to waste his or others time, so I highly doubt he's just low-balling every FA and drawing a line in the sand. These FA negotiations have been going on for a long time and he knows what it will take, so if a player is visiting or Ballard is trying to get them to visit, it's because he has a competitive offer.  

You are the one who made a negative issue out of Ballard and his "whiffs".  And when I said IMO they were not whiffs in the sense they were over paid and it didn't interest Ballard.

Now all you want to do is argue? No thanks.

[austriancolt]

still trying to fix that Offensive Line with the trash left behind, ha? Sorry, I'm kidding. He is a diamond in the rough! would be a great signing, Ballard turning every stone in this country to get better!

[lollygagger8]

18 hours ago, Flash7 said:

From the link provided in the report: Slauson, 32, is a former sixth-round pick of the Jets back in 2009. Then he went to the Bears in 2013. Then the Chargers. Last year he played in 7 games with the Chargers and then went to IR.

 

Slauson: A 32-year old lineman coming off of IR. Ranked 53rd guard out of 78.

 

Annnnnnndddddd........STILL better than Vujnovich. 

[lollygagger8]

Also, why the heck haven't the Colts re-signed Mike Person? 

[Flash7]

1 minute ago, lollygagger8 said:

 

Annnnnnndddddd........STILL better than Vujnovich. 

True...maybe.

 

But this is odd: 

1) Ballard has preached getting younger and this flies in the face of it.

2. He is coming off of IR, which has been a major issue for our O-line. We have had zero continuity on the O-line due to injuries. We need healthy bodies - at least Free Agents with indication that they can remain healthy, not an older guy coming off of IR.

3. Many FA are better than Vuj.Let's not change our MO just to go after Slauson.

[DaveA1102]

3 hours ago, Old Colt said:

Evidently Hankins....

[DaveA1102]

21 minutes ago, lollygagger8 said:

Also, why the heck haven't the Colts re-signed Mike Person? 

 

I wonder if they see Bond as an adequate understudy for starting G/C? 

 

He certainly looked to have potential before Vujnovich's stomp of doom broke his foot.