Funch to GB

[Riversrun]

BNew here and from NC ,Just my two cents on WR .I have been to just about every one of Phil’s NC state games and followed his career .Jericho Cotchery ,Vincent Jackson ,Antonio Gates .This is the type of animal we need for Phil .A player who can seal off and high point in a crowded phone booth .The player I’d target right now is Devanti Parker with Miami .I would then go TE at 34 and best DB available at 44 .Rivers has never had a fan base cheer for him as a pro ...Phil will love playing for the Colts in a stadium that offers this man an advantage .Phil has played 16 years behind a terrible Oline .With Devanti ,Ty ,a young  beast at TE and the older one this is a team ready for one hell of a year .

[NewColtsFan]

1 hour ago, Jdubu said:

I think that is inaccurate. I think CB said this kid was as talented as any 1st rd kid but needed much more polishing. If he was able to reach that potential, he was a high ceiling kid. That doesn’t sound like an expected 4 or 5 guy to me. 

Inman can probably be had about at any time. He seems to be either a Charger or a Colt option. He was steady and reliable, not taking over any games but I like him for just a “do your job” kind of guy 

 

and everyone thought we had a top 5 WR stable before the season started last year too. Not all things are as they seem in the nfl. 

Because these too have tremendous talent. None of the 2020 top draft prospects have done squat yet either and how many people are salivating over certain prospects? Because they have tremendous upside. 

If that is what we go into the year with and they are healthy, I’m good with that group. Draft the receiver TE and weapons are going to be plenty for Rivers. 

“And everyone thought we had a top-5 receiving  stable before last season too.”

 

On what planet?  On what planet did ANYONE here think we had a top-5 group?   I don’t even recall people thinking we had a top-10 group.   Most here HATED Funchess.   Most here were underwhelmed with Campbell.   There were super low expectations for both Cain and Fountain.  Most here have little interest in Rogers.   So where is this great group?   Even after the draft a number of us talked about the 2020 wide receiver draft class and how we’d definitely be wanting at least one from this class, maybe even two. Honestly. 
 

I’ll be generous and say your memory is playing tricks with you.  But the situation you described last season simply didn’t exist. 

[CurBeatElite]

4 hours ago, EastStreet said:

I'm confident in Moore and Rock looking better with the addition of Buckner, but Tell is not someone we can rely on to take over coverage duties. He's a S switching to CB, and didn't play a lot last year. We've got to add someone.

 

On WR, I think everything depends on how he views TY, Campbell, and Fountain. I think we all know they aren't giving up on Campbell. Not sure how they view TY's health. They seemed very high on Fountain before his injury, and frankly I like his chances to be that 3rd guy in the Z/slot bucket. So if we all agree they aren't cutting TY, Campbell, or Pascal, that leaves 2-3 openings. I'd bet on Fountain taking one of those slots so long as he's fully recovered. If that's the case, it's all about adding a good X.

 

I could be wrong, but I don't think that Ballard's ready to quit on Q. Wilson just quite yet.  I do think we need to add a bit of depth at the CB spot, but I think we're going to be a lot better wtih an improved DL. A lot of assumptions to make... but, if Turay stays healthy and Ben B. continues improving, I think our DL is going to be pretty good with the addition of Buckner.  

 

1 hour ago, Jdubu said:

I think that is inaccurate. I think CB said this kid was as talented as any 1st rd kid but needed much more polishing. If he was able to reach that potential, he was a high ceiling kid. That doesn’t sound like an expected 4 or 5 guy to me. 

Inman can probably be had about at any time. He seems to be either a Charger or a Colt option. He was steady and reliable, not taking over any games but I like him for just a “do your job” kind of guy 

 

and everyone thought we had a top 5 WR stable before the season started last year too. Not all things are as they seem in the nfl. 

Because these too have tremendous talent. None of the 2020 top draft prospects have done squat yet either and how many people are salivating over certain prospects? Because they have tremendous upside. 

If that is what we go into the year with and they are healthy, I’m good with that group. Draft the receiver TE and weapons are going to be plenty for Rivers. 

 

Yea, we thought Cain was going to be something very special.  Injuries stink.  I like Fountain, but Ballard isn't going to say "I thought this guy was a 5th round pick that is going to perform like fans expect a 5th a round pick to perform like."  Of course, he and any other GM are going to tell the fans to expect something positive from him.  He is coming off a pretty nasty injury and hasn't really done anything other than show some glimpses of hope in pre-season games.  I'll believe he's more than a 5th WR when I see it.

[Freenyfan102]

So our weakness are now DE WR TE and CB awesome but we signed an old QB and used a 1st round pick for a trade for a DT

[crazycolt1]

14 minutes ago, Freenyfan102 said:

So our weakness are now DE WR TE and CB awesome but we signed an old QB and used a 1st round pick for a trade for a DT

Yeah, he was just any ol' DT. 

[ProblChld32]

7 hours ago, Mr.Debonair said:

Who is Rivers going to be throwing to?

 

Is Robby Anderson still available? I’d love to grab him on a 2 yr deal. 

[shasta519]

7 hours ago, CurBeatElite said:

 

I fear TY's going to struggle to have a fully healthy year again in the NFL.  He's had 2 years now where nagging calf injuries have hampered him.  Due, at least in part, to his size, he has to rely very heavily on his speed and quickness and it's very noticeable that his play declines when he's just a smidgen slower than normal.  

 

I really hope we address WR.  Factor in that after Doyle, who is really more of a blocker and short yardage receiving TE, we don't have a proven TE who is a receiving threat and our passing game could struggle even with improved QB play.  Thankfully, the draft is loaded at WR and has several very solid TEs who should be available to us in rounds 2-4.  It'd be nice if we did address at least one of those positions in FA though, even if pickings are getting slim.  I like Demarcus Robinson (WR from KC) and Tyler Eiffert (TE from Cincy) in FA, otherwise, not a lot of talent left at those positions.  

 

 

Ballard said, I believe dating back to last year's draft, that the WR class in this draft is loaded... and it is.  Chances are there will be someone very capable available at 34 or 44 (or maybe even in the 3rd).  

 

I agree, the world isn't ending with our current WR situation... but going into this offseason the positions of utmost concern on this team were IDL, QB, WR and TE (maybe could argue that edge rusher sneaks in there somewhere).  We've addressed IDL and QB.  The next logical steps would be to address the WR and TE positions.  It's not like the sky is falling with our current WR mix, but IMO, it is not clear cut between WR and TE for the weakest group on this team.  

 

 

Campbell did show flashes when he was healthy last year.  The guy is a freak athlete and very explosive with the ball in his hand.  The coaches and Ballard are very high on him... if he's healthy, I have faith he'll be all right.  Fountain, while I like the guy, was a 5th round pick and he's coming off a very nasty injury.  I don't think he was ever expected to be much more than a 4th or 5th WR.  He's shown some flashes, but yea, I don't think he's a guy we can rely on as a surefire solution to the WR position.

Agree...am surprised he hasn’t brought in a pass catcher. I fully expect him to draft a couple pass catchers relatively early (my hope is they are WRs)...but there’s only so many picks to go around when you need TE as well.

 

I had hoped for Henry to hit FA...and possibly Ballard did as well (and with the Rivers connection...Colts likely would have had a good shot). But I have since hoped a trade for a TE might be brewing. Would be great to get a good young TE for a later pick or a future pick. There are some interesting options in the draft...but like I said...I would rather use those picks on WR. 

 

 

[ClaytonColt]

It's very strange but even though we've signed Buckner and Rivers it feels like we're going backwards. We just seem to be opening up more spots in our roster than we're filling!

[Yoshinator]

59 minutes ago, ClaytonColt said:

It's very strange but even though we've signed Buckner and Rivers it feels like we're going backwards. We just seem to be opening up more spots in our roster than we're filling!

This is partly Ballard's fault. He released Desir, he let Hoyer go instead of trading or releasing Brissett and opening up more cap space while promoting Kelly to backup QB. We let Haeg go, we didn't re-sign Funchess. Even Buckner isn't a total win because we traded a 1st for him, he's 26 already, and we paid him 5 years, 105 million (great player though). 

 

Our QB situation and entire offense besides starting O-Line needs work. Our secondary could use a little help now as well. I hope Ballard opened up cap for Clowney, as he's the only player worth releasing Desir for left in FA.

[crazycolt1]

2 minutes ago, Jared Cisneros said:

This is partly Ballard's fault. He released Desir, he let Hoyer go instead of trading or releasing Brissett and opening up more cap space while promoting Kelly to backup QB. We let Haeg go, we didn't re-sign Funchess. Even Buckner isn't a total win because we traded a 1st for him, he's 26 already, and we paid him 5 years, 105 million (great player though). 

 

Our QB situation and entire offense besides starting O-Line needs work. Our secondary could use a little help now as well. I hope Ballard opened up cap for Clowney, as he's the only player worth releasing Desir for left in FA.

The whole sky is falling!!!

[Yoshinator]

Just now, crazycolt1 said:

The whole sky is falling!!!

You can bash me, but I'm a neutral poster. I call it like I see it. I'd rather be objective than a total Colts homer, or someone who is completely negative. EastStreet already showed you the effect of keeping Brissett with our QB cap, and unsurprisingly, you ignored it. I would say watch the season and you'll see the negative effect that $21 million we're paying Brissett has not going toward depth players when we acquire injuries, but you genuinely won't care as long as Brissett is our backup and you get to support him on the bench even though he's not starting.

 

I mean, as long as Ballard says it, you'll follow him. Am I right?

[crazycolt1]

11 minutes ago, Jared Cisneros said:

You can bash me, but I'm a neutral poster. I call it like I see it. I'd rather be objective than a total Colts homer, or someone who is completely negative. EastStreet already showed you the effect of keeping Brissett with our QB cap, and unsurprisingly, you ignored it. I would say watch the season and you'll see the negative effect that $21 million we're paying Brissett has not going toward depth players when we acquire injuries, but you genuinely won't care as long as Brissett is our backup and you get to support him on the bench even though he's not starting.

 

I mean, as long as Ballard says it, you'll follow him. Am I right?

I am not bashing you at all. You are making comments like it's the end of this up coming season 5 or so months before it has even started.

I didn't ignore anything EasyStreet showed me. 

 Ballard does his things his way regardless if me, you or anyone else like it or not so why get bent out of shape over it? 

Getting yourself all worked up over something you have no control over does nothing positive to yourself.  Lighten up, you will have less grey hair. 

[Jdubu]

6 hours ago, NewColtsFan said:

“And everyone thought we had a top-5 receiving  stable before last season too.”

 

On what planet?  On what planet did ANYONE here think we had a top-5 group?   I don’t even recall people thinking we had a top-10 group.   Most here HATED Funchess.   Most here were underwhelmed with Campbell.   There were super low expectations for both Cain and Fountain.  Most here have little interest in Rogers.   So where is this great group?   Even after the draft a number of us talked about the 2020 wide receiver draft class and how we’d definitely be wanting at least one from this class, maybe even two. Honestly. 
 

I’ll be generous and say your memory is playing tricks with you.  But the situation you described last season simply didn’t exist. 

Listen oh superior one, get over yourself and move on.
 

There was plenty, I mean plenty of posters that felt at the beginning of the 2019 season when we had Cain returning, we had TY, we signed Funch, we had Fountain who was getting tons of praise and we had Ebron to pair up with Luck. There were lots that had much enthusiasm, it could be YOU didn’t think that way and YOUR memory is clouded. 

 

god people like you disgust me. I’ll add you to the blocked list so that I don’t get banned by ripping into your belittling posts. 

[Hoose]

Things are not great with our receiving corps; let’s be honest here. Lots of unproven talent but little experience. A move TE and a #2 WR are serious needs. Of course Ballard knows this. I suspect he’ll go bargain hunting soon and also wait for June 1 cuts. Perhaps a pre draft trade. But just relying on the draft for these needs is risky. 

[richard pallo]

4 hours ago, Jared Cisneros said:

This is partly Ballard's fault. He released Desir, he let Hoyer go instead of trading or releasing Brissett and opening up more cap space while promoting Kelly to backup QB. We let Haeg go, we didn't re-sign Funchess. Even Buckner isn't a total win because we traded a 1st for him, he's 26 already, and we paid him 5 years, 105 million (great player though). 

 

Our QB situation and entire offense besides starting O-Line needs work. Our secondary could use a little help now as well. I hope Ballard opened up cap for Clowney, as he's the only player worth releasing Desir for left in FA.

I think the Desir and Hoyer releases were all about getting Clowney.  I'm hoping he signs him soon so he can hopefully shore up a few other positions as well. 

[Barry Sears]

Well, according to some on here, Rivers will be comleting passes to defensive backs, for the most part, so it doesn't matter who we have at WR..LOL!

 

How old are Reggie and Marvin again?

[Shive]

7 hours ago, Freenyfan102 said:

So our weakness are now DE WR TE and CB awesome but we signed an old QB and used a 1st round pick for a trade for a DT

Our top 2 needs were at 3T and QB. We signed a very good QB that will be an upgrade over JB and traded for a top 3T.

 

Arguably, our top needs at this point are CB, WR, TE, OT, OG. Those positions typically carry high price tags in FA and Ballard may not have liked the FA options. We still have more free agency left and the draft to address all of these positions.

 

Relax.

[Colts1324]

14 hours ago, cjrichard said:

Trade up to around the 20th pick and select J. Jefferson.  My favorite WR in the draft.

 

Joseph

He's my favorite WR in the draft as well. Hoping he falls due to the run on QB's and offensive lineman early. 

[P'Son]

Damn... looks like we'll be running the Wishbone.

[lollygagger8]

Surprised about Bobby Anderson signing for $10M/yr....that's what Colts paid Funchess for 34 yards. 

 

I've thought they should move Hines to WR for awhile, but WR is a definite need for sure. 

 

I hope Campbell and Fountain can stay on the field. 

[Fisticuffs111]

Keep thinking of Ballard’s quote about being mad at himself for leaving the cupboard bare at CB depth last year. I know we’ve got the draft and it’s a great one for WR’s, and there are some meh options left in FA, but those two groups kind of concern me at the moment. Kinda banking on the young guys’ potential.

[The Fish]

I'd wager as the year goes on there's going to be some questions about giving up the rights to a slew of potential #1 WR's in the first round for Buckner. WR was a problem last year and it's not likely at this point to be drastically better this year. T.Y needs to stay healthy and Campbell needs to show something for this course to not go sideways.

 

This is going to be thing that rattles around in my head until it's put to rest, as good as Buckner is, that's a position that I'd hoped Ballard could get right without giving up top end resources.  Ah, well. He didn't. Onward.

[EastStreet]

8 hours ago, CurBeatElite said:

 

I could be wrong, but I don't think that Ballard's ready to quit on Q. Wilson just quite yet.  I do think we need to add a bit of depth at the CB spot, but I think we're going to be a lot better wtih an improved DL. A lot of assumptions to make... but, if Turay stays healthy and Ben B. continues improving, I think our DL is going to be pretty good with the addition of Buckner.

You may be right about Wilson, it's just a huge gamble IMO. I actually have high hopes about tell too, but that's a gamble and likely some wishful thinking. I've followed him since HS recruiting as ND was after him.

 

I agree on the DL impact. Having Buckner and Houston on the same DL will have a drastic impact. Turay played very well in situational D, so thinking he's going be more than that after injury is a bit wishful thinking too. We should at minimum me much improved on passing downs assuming he recovers. 

8 hours ago, CurBeatElite said:

Yea, we thought Cain was going to be something very special.  Injuries stink.  I like Fountain, but Ballard isn't going to say "I thought this guy was a 5th round pick that is going to perform like fans expect a 5th a round pick to perform like."  Of course, he and any other GM are going to tell the fans to expect something positive from him.  He is coming off a pretty nasty injury and hasn't really done anything other than show some glimpses of hope in pre-season games.  I'll believe he's more than a 5th WR when I see it.

I think the QB situation (and injury to an extent) was responsible for hosing up Cain. Trying to change him into a possession WR (knowing he was deep specialist that needed to develop over time) and bouncing him back and forth from X to Z really was bad management. I understand why they did it, but still bad. I hope they have a better plan for Fountain. He's got the same type of profile (raw, coming back from injury) to an extent and I hope they pick a spot (hoping Z/traditional slot), and let him mature there. IMO, patience and focus is needed, and if given, should provide good long term results. 

[shasta519]

7 minutes ago, lollygagger8 said:

Surprised about Bobby Anderson signing for $10M/yr....that's what Colts paid Funchess for 34 yards. 

 

I've thought they should move Hines to WR for awhile, but WR is a definite need for sure. 

 

I hope Campbell and Fountain can stay on the field. 

 

Not that surprising...the only thing good about the Funchess deal was that it was one year.

 

Anderson is certainly not without his own flaws...but he's a much better weapon than Funchess.

[shasta519]

6 minutes ago, The Fish said:

I'd wager as the year goes on there's going to be some questions about giving up the rights to a slew of potential #1 WR's in the first round for Buckner. WR was a problem last year and it's not likely at this point to be drastically better this year. T.Y needs to stay healthy and Campbell needs to show something for this course to not go sideways.

 

This is going to be thing that rattles around in my head until it's put to rest, as good as Buckner is, that's a position that I'd hoped Ballard could get right without giving up top end resources.  Ah, well. He didn't. Onward.

 

Hopefully the Colts get lucky and a couple top WRs fall into the 2nd round. If that happens...and they still pass...then I will have some serious questions. Last year, they passed on two very polished WRs in Deebo AND AJ Brown to draft two projects on defense (and then drafted Campbell). Deebo and Brown are already WR2s with WR1 upside...Campbell is an unknown.  

 

 

[atapcl]

15 hours ago, NewColtsFan said:

We didn’t pay him $13 mil.   He’d only get that if he hit incentives which he clearly didn’t.   He got hurt in the first game of the season.

 

We paid him $10 mil.   We will never know if he was worth it due to injury.

 

 

 

I don’t think he was worth 10 mil. I live 30 miles from the Panthers and saw him play a couple games live and was not that impressed. 

[Hoose]

2 hours ago, shastamasta said:

 

Hopefully the Colts get lucky and a couple top WRs fall into the 2nd round. If that happens...and they still pass...then I will have some serious questions. Last year, they passed on two very polished WRs in Deebo AND AJ Brown to draft two projects on defense (and then drafted Campbell). Deebo and Brown are already WR2s with WR1 upside...Campbell is an unknown.  

 

 

Don't forget that they also need a receiving TE who can complement Doyle. Someone like Kmet would be a terrific addition. Add him and another WR as the two second round picks and things would look much better. 

[shasta519]

50 minutes ago, Hoose said:

Don't forget that they also need a receiving TE who can complement Doyle. Someone like Kmet would be a terrific addition. Add him and another WR as the two second round picks and things would look much better. 

 

Kmet would be great as well. With a little luck...I would love to see Kmet, Mims/Higgins/Aiyuk and then Tyler Johnson in the 3rd round. All the pass catchers on Day Two.

 

They definitely do need a TE though. The offseason just started...but I am sort of surprised Ballard hasn't added a pass catcher. I was really hoping Henry would hit FA...to pair with Rivers. But I am still holding out hope that Ballard might have a trade for a TE up his sleeve...someone like Njoku would be a great post-hype buy.

[Chrisaaron1023]

Dang.. dude played 5 mins of Colts football... Goodbye bro and good luck

[MPStack]

5 minutes ago, Chrisaaron1023 said:

Dang.. dude played 5 mins of Colts football... Goodbye bro and good luck

He doesn’t need any luck. He’s set for life, as long as he doesn’t pull a Cromartie. 

[WoolMagnet]

6 hours ago, Shive said:

Our top 2 needs were at 3T and QB. We signed a very good QB that will be an upgrade over JB and traded for a top 3T.

 

Arguably, our top needs at this point are CB, WR, TE, OT, OG. Those positions typically carry high price tags in FA and Ballard may not have liked the FA options. We still have more free agency left and the draft to address all of these positions.

 

Relax.

FINALLY!  Some common sense.  Thanks.

[WoolMagnet]

So...... anybody hear any #s on a contract?

[pacolts56]

11 hours ago, Jared Cisneros said:

Even Buckner isn't a total win because we traded a 1st for him, he's 26 already, and we paid him 5 years, 105 million (great player though). 

He’s 26 “already”??
 

Why, you snot nosed kid!! 

[stitches]

This is less than ideal. I don't think you can rely on Campbell and Fountain being ready to start and be consistent contributors, since they haven't shown anything in the league to give us any confidence they will be good. Is there a chance they take a step forward and become productive players? Sure, but I don't think you can enter the season with this expectation and no extra shots at a high end receiver. The problem right now is that the WR pool in FA is draining and there really aren't many viable options left. IMO big X receiver will be one of the premier targets for Ballard in the draft unless we sign someone like... I personally wouldn't be shocked if we drafted 2 WRs in this draft. 

[Riversrun]

Devanti Parker was made for Rivers 

[jameszeigler834]

23 hours ago, DEFENSE said:

yes

Brown is a cancer no!!!!!!.

[jameszeigler834]

4 hours ago, stitches said:

This is less than ideal. I don't think you can rely on Campbell and Fountain being ready to start and be consistent contributors, since they haven't shown anything in the league to give us any confidence they will be good. Is there a chance they take a step forward and become productive players? Sure, but I don't think you can enter the season with this expectation and no extra shots at a high end receiver. The problem right now is that the WR pool in FA is draining and there really aren't many viable options left. IMO big X receiver will be one of the premier targets for Ballard in the draft unless we sign someone like... I personally wouldn't be shocked if we drafted 2 WRs in this draft. 

Fountain was showing positive signs in early 2 weeks of camp before his horrible injury while Campbell was glass all season long.

[GRUMPY OLD MAN]

6 minutes ago, jameszeigler834 said:

Brown is a cancer no!!!!!!.

great talent

[Rivers4SB]

On 3/24/2020 at 6:16 PM, bravo4460 said:

WR is a BIG NEED.

 

Correct me if I’m wrong. Signed now.

 

1.) Hilton

2.) Pascal

3.) Campbell

4.) Inman

5.) Fountain

 

Hilton is a stud WHEN healthy.

Pascal can be solid on occasion

Inman is reliable

Campbell and Fountain are complete unknowns..

 

Probably bottom 10 WR group in the league....

Inman has played with Rivers. I think a better TE is needed, ok with WRs.

[will426]

Sigh I have faith in what we have and whoever we draft since we have rivers behind this line..this group we have can score