Chris Ballard interview 11am ET

[TKnight24]

 

 

I as well as other forum members I’m sure will post all notes, updates, news, etc etc from this interview here in this thread 

 

Chris Ballard thus far has been very direct and informative in all his interviews and conferences. Wouldn’t be mad if we heard more of Ballard & Reich, less of Irsay. Hearing direct and thoughtful answers as opposed to the um button from Irsay is just easier on the ears

 

[Barry Sears]

Umm, umm...you're umm correct...uh, yes...correct

[stitches]

Ballard has been pretty straight forward and honest about his process so far. It seems like people are upset because they didn't actually listen to what he was saying and continued to have unrealistic/mismatching expectations about what the Colts were going to do. He said from the very start that he will not overpay for players in FA and will use the draft picks as main building blocks and FA as supplement. 

 

Before FA started I thought going for high impact players was the way to go, but once it became clear that you will have to overpay for those high impact players it dawned on me that we are not getting anyone of major consequence. And I'm OK with it. I think with time his strategy has crystallized and we can now more clearly see what he's doing. He doesn't seem like a GM who thinks his team is close to competing and thus he doesn't think signing high end FAs for big money will be prudent in this situation(i.e. it would be waste of money for improvements that will end up not being enough and will lead to nowhere). Instead he seems to be doubling down on homegrown talent and hoarding capspace that he will roll over for next year's free agency when hopefully we will have 4-5 new homegrown starters that are showing great promise and the team will be closer to competing. 

 

I would be listening closely again and try to glean over what he's thinking about in constructing the roster and the draft. 

[Barry Sears]

3 minutes ago, stitches said:

Ballard has been pretty straight forward and honest about his process so far. It seems like people are upset because they didn't actually listen to what he was saying and continued to have unrealistic/mismatching expectations about what the Colts were going to do. He said from the very start that he will not overpay for players in FA and will use the draft picks as main building blocks and FA as supplement. 

 

Before FA started I thought going for high impact players was the way to go, but once it became clear that you will have to overpay for those high impact players it dawned on me that we are not getting anyone of major consequence. And I'm OK with it. I think with time his strategy has crystallized and we can now more clearly see what he's doing. He doesn't seem like a GM who thinks his team is close to competing and thus he doesn't think signing high end FAs for big money will be prudent in this situation(i.e. it would be waste of money for improvements that will end up not being enough and will lead to nowhere). Instead he seems to be doubling down on homegrown talent and hoarding capspace that he will roll over for next year's free agency when hopefully we will have 4-5 new homegrown starters that are showing great promise and the team will be closer to competing. 

 

I would be listening closely again and try to glean over what he's thinking about in constructing the roster and the draft. 

 

I agree and feel like spending big bucks on FA this year would be a waste.  Just look at all the $$$ the Redskins spent on FA in the past and it got them nowhere.  They had a few mega millionaires who sat and watched the playoffs at home on TV like the rest of us.

[Jason_]

10 minutes ago, Barry Sears said:

Umm, umm...you're umm correct...uh, yes...correct

 

Look, let me just say this...Irsay does say umm a lot.  That's true.  But look, let me just say this too, CB says "look" and "let me just say this" almost as much. lol

[Case]

 

[MTC]

Listening now. Will try to take notes along the way. 

[csmopar]

2 minutes ago, MTC said:

Listening now. Will try to take notes along the way. 

All im hearing is commericals

[MTC]

1 minute ago, csmopar said:

All im hearing is commericals

 

It's on now. 

[TKnight24]

 

[MTC]

Ballard says things are moving in the right direction. Mentions how he and Coach Reich are on the same page with player development. 

[MTC]

Ballard said he didn't want to drop too far back in the draft. Says there are 7-8 players that are premium difference makers. Predicts that QBs will go top 3 or even 4. 

[csmopar]

Ballard says they'd been trying to trade Hankins for 2 weeks plus

[MTC]

Ballard says he cut Hankins due to scheme. Mentions athleticism and speed. Sounds like they tried to trade him away, but nothing came about. 

[csmopar]

Ballard says looking at speed and athleticism are priorities 

[csmopar]

Says Melvin was a scheme move as well as they move from a press to a zone

[Trueman]

1 minute ago, MTC said:Ballard said he didn't want to drop too far back. Says there are 7-8 players that are premium difference makers. Predicts that QBs will go top 3 or even 4. 

 

Qb’s going 1-4 would be beyond ideal.

 

That would just leave Denver to spoil the party.

[MTC]

Ballard did not think that Melvin fit the new scheme either. 

 

In terms of Eric Ebron, Ballard says they did a lot of research on him. Mentions how he is 24 years old and shows flashes of potential. Likes the tight end depth of Doyle, Ebron, Swoope, and Travis.

[Trueman]

4 minutes ago, csmopar said:

Ballard says they'd been trying to trade Hankins for 2 weeks plus

 

Of course he did. The “ why didn’t we at least trade him for a 3rd?” crap was ridiculous.

[MTC]

Ballard mentions how big spenders in free agency tend to not consistently win. The big spenders are the ones who are constantly re-tooling. Says this will be the new norm going forward.

 

Edit: 

 

By new norm, Ballard explains how Colts will continue to not be big spenders in free agency going forward. They will focus on building through the draft. 

[csmopar]

Ballard says they will continue to be prudent spenders and not just blow money.

[TKnight24]

 

[MTC]

For the offseason program in a couple weeks, Luck will be eased along. He'll be involved.

 

[TKnight24]

 

[MTC]

Mentions Grant is a reliable receiver with a lot of upside. Matt Slauson a veteran player who Ballard knows well. Brings a lot of leadership and presence.

 

Ballard says now its all about depth. Says he is continuing to look for linebackers and offensive line in the market. 

 

[csmopar]

Hinted that they will be looking at OL during the draft.

[Trueman]

2 minutes ago, TKnight24 said:

 

 

Exactly , not all 4-3’s are identical.

[Fisticuffs111]

Heh, bringing up the RPO game.

[MTC]

Ballard mentions Colts are close to re-signing Pierre Desir and Jack Mewhort. 

 

 

[TKnight24]

Mewhort is coming back!!!!!

 

 

[csmopar]

Ballard said he didn't understand how the local fans felt about new england until the McDaniels saga. Said the Rivalry is back on just popped out

[MTC]

The interview just ended. 

 

Surprised Donte Moncrief was not mentioned at all. 

[Shadow_Creek]

1 minute ago, TKnight24 said:

Mewhort is coming back!!!!!

 

 

i heard jack signed with the panthers

 

[dgambill]

Just now, csmopar said:

Ballard said he didn't understand how the local fans felt about new england until the McDaniels saga. Said the Rivalry is back on just popped out

Yeah right....that was for Irsay. No doubt he wanted some red meat...and it didn't feel natural for Ballard...but he tossed it in afterwards.

[throwing BBZ]

Vomit.

[TKnight24]

 

[MTC]

1 minute ago, Shadow_Creek said:

i heard jack signed with the panthers

 

 

Not sure where you heard that. It's not reported anywhere.

 

There was a rumor that Mewhort visited the Vikings a few days ago, but it was never confirmed. 

[lollygagger8]

2 minutes ago, Shadow_Creek said:

i heard jack signed with the panthers

 

[coltsfansince65]

2 minutes ago, Shadow_Creek said:

i heard jack signed with the panthers

 

Source?

[Yoshinator]

Something he said stood out to me. He said there are Guards in rounds 2-4 that can start right away. I think we may get two of them in that range this year. Will do a mock in a bit with two Guards in that range.