Colts lose starting lb Anthony Walker

[bluephantom87]

Colts lose another piece on defense. He signs with the Browns. Thoughts?

[CanuckColtsFan]

For 3m too that's plenty cheap. Can''t believe we didn't resign him

[coming on strong]

he was a good run stopper and leader but terrible in pass coverage .   colts usually only play two linebackers and use moore or come out in 3 safeties .   Ej speed is more athletic and can be better in passing coverage with him darius and bobby i still think colts are fine .  

[LJpalmbeacher2]

A pretty decent LB for only $3.5 million....a good sign by Brownies. 

[coming on strong]

Just now, CanuckColtsFan said:

For 3m too that's plenty cheap. Can''t believe we didn't resign him

this tells me they believe someone on the team is better or colts need every penny because they are getting ready to spend

[CanuckColtsFan]

Just now, coming on strong said:

this tells me they believe someone on the team is better or colts need every penny because they are getting ready to spend

I really hope so I really liked Walker and that is an absolute steal.

[Valpo2004]

5 minutes ago, LJpalmbeacher2 said:

A pretty decent LB for only $3.5 million....a good sign by Brownies. 

 

I agree, unless Ballard has someone on hand that he thinks is better this seems like a lost opportunity.  

[Colts1324]

Wonder if this is why we are interested in Neal. I think Ballard/Flus likes having 3 safeties on the field over 3 LB's

[ProblChld32]

13 minutes ago, bluephantom87 said:

Colts lose another piece on defense. He signs with the Browns. Thoughts?

We have Okereke, I feel no way !

[aReggie7]

11 minutes ago, coming on strong said:

this tells me they believe someone on the team is better or colts need every penny because they are getting ready to spend

 

I think this was driven by Walker's desire to play more than it was money or the Colts wanting him or not.

[Four2itus]

Likely, Ballard shared what he thought Walkers playing time might be, and AW asked for an opportunity to play more than he would have this season with the Colts.

 

Sorry to see him go....but I get it. 

[coming on strong]

4 minutes ago, CanuckColtsFan said:

I really hope so I really liked Walker and that is an absolute steal.

i think ej speed will be better because he has that  speed that ballard likes . walker is slower and less athletic , all season every time a pass was thrown in the middle it was walker getting beat .   His pff grade in pass coverage is the worst on the team . his grade overall was only 48 even bobby got a 58 .    His passing grade rating is bottom tier of the nfl last year , he is limited athletically and ballard wants long  quick  guys who can cover distance .   walker is not built like bobby and darius or speed .

[coming on strong]

Just now, ar7 said:

 

I think this was driven by Walker's desire to play more than it was money or the Colts wanting him or not.

i still think if ballard offered him 7 million a year he is taking it right away .  Its hard on players to move their families and start over .  That is why players take pay cuts to say on the teams that drafted them .   I think ballard was moving away from walker already , we know what ballard likes in a linebacker  he said it many times on interviews .  He likes them to have long arms and legs like darius bobby and kenny moore .   ballard has a style and walker was drafted in between pagano and frank when we were still a 3-4 team . He was a filler type player until the rebuild was done , that is what it seems like to me .

[Mackrel829]

5 minutes ago, Four2itus said:

Likely, Ballard shared what he thought Walkers playing time might be, and he asked for an opportunity play more that he would have this season with the Colts.

 

Sorry to see him go....but I get it. 

 

This.

 

He wasn't guaranteed play time in Indy and he's far too good to be on the bench.

 

Fantastic signing for Cleveland.

[JediXMan]

The writing was already on the wall when he lost more snaps to Bobby. 

[coming on strong]

we cant pay two middle linebackers can we? it was bobby and darius or walker and darius .   We do not play tons of sam so its either rotate the two or keep one . bobby is long and has range , ej speed can play sam or fill in for one of them

[Fluke_33]

Going to miss him. I’ll be rooting for one browns player this year that’s for sure 

[coming on strong]

23 minutes ago, Mackrel829 said:

 

This.

 

He wasn't guaranteed play time in Indy and he's far too good to be on the bench.

 

Fantastic signing for Cleveland.

it was a bad signing for cleveland they let schobert go who was rated better in pass coverage then walker .  walker graded worse then the browns current line backers in pass coverage .  schobert is a great tackler and against the run .  

[Jackie Daytona]

35 minutes ago, coming on strong said:

i still think if ballard offered him 7 million a year he is taking it right away .  Its hard on players to move their families and start over .  That is why players take pay cuts to say on the teams that drafted them .   I think ballard was moving away from walker already , we know what ballard likes in a linebacker  he said it many times on interviews .  He likes them to have long arms and legs like darius bobby and kenny moore .   ballard has a style and walker was drafted in between pagano and frank when we were still a 3-4 team . He was a filler type player until the rebuild was done , that is what it seems like to me .

Players take pay cuts primarily because it's all they are going to get paid to play NFL football..... I don't recall many saying, "don't cut me, just pay me less so I don't have to relocate"

[krunk]

 

[coming on strong]

11 minutes ago, Shafty138 said:

Players take pay cuts primarily because it's all they are going to get paid to play NFL football..... I don't recall many saying, "don't cut me, just pay me less so I don't have to relocate"

reggie wayne said he left millions on the table to stay with the colts because he loves the colts .   its not just about relocating but staying with the team they been playing on since coming into the league . its home for some players and a family .  You are acting like players do not take pay cuts to stay with the team that drafted them .

[Horse Shoe Heaven]

Walker being gone will hurt the defense more than people know yet!

[EastStreet]

Colts will miss him. Oke is better in pass coverage, but Walker is way better vs the run. Praying Oke steps up, because his overall grade (49.6) was pretty poor. IMO, our run D just too a hit, and our pass D was already poor. And Oke was a part of the pass D struggles too (Walker wasn't really playing many passing downs). We haven't seen Speed much at all, so hard to assume he's going to step in a play a big role. And keep in mind, Walker was the QB/signal caller of the D for years.

 

I do agree Walker wanted more playing time, and probably was unhappy losing snaps to Oke. I wish Walker well. He was a good guy, and he was a tackling machine.

 

Here's an article with Leonard and Kenny talking about the loss of Walker.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/03/browns-agreement-with-lb-anthony-walker-1-year-up-to-35-million-gets-ringing-endorsement-from-colts-all-pro-darius-leonard.html

[Horse Shoe Heaven]

1 minute ago, EastStreet said:

Colts will miss him. Oke is better in pass coverage, but Walker is way better vs the run. Praying Oke steps up, because his overall grade (49.6) was pretty poor. IMO, our run D just too a hit, and our pass D was already poor. And Oke was a part of the pass D struggles too (Walker wasn't really playing many passing downs). We haven't seen Speed much at all, so hard to assume he's going to step in a play a big role. And keep in mind, Walker was the QB/signal caller of the D for years.

 

I do agree Walker wanted more playing time, and probably was unhappy losing snaps to Oke. I wish Walker well. He was a good guy, and he was a tackling machine.

 

Here's an article with Leonard and Kenny talking about the loss of Walker.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/03/browns-agreement-with-lb-anthony-walker-1-year-up-to-35-million-gets-ringing-endorsement-from-colts-all-pro-darius-leonard.html

All this is true great assessment!!

[John Hammonds]

Only 2 players left from CB's first draft in 2017

 

1/15 - Malik Hooker, S, Ohio St

2/46 - Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

3/80 - Tarrell Basham, DE, Ohio

4/137 - Zach Banner, OT, USC

4/143 - Marlon Mack, RB, South Florida

4/144 - Grover Stewart, DT, Albany St

5/158 - Nate Hairston, CB, Temple

5/161 - Anthony Walker Jr, LB, Northwestern

[coltsfeva]

 In a way, its a good sign that the Colts are losing solid players.
  Walker played tough and was a smart player but you’re only as good as your weakest link.        I think we saw the writing on the wall, when he started getting less playing time.

  I wish him well, (unless he’s playing the Colts).

[Bravo]

3 minutes ago, coltsfeva said:

 In a way, its a good sign that the Colts are losing solid players.
  Walker played tough and was a smart player but you’re only as good as your weakest link.        I think we saw the writing on the wall, when he started getting less playing time.

  I wish him well, (unless he’s playing the Colts).

What’s that make the Colts now if they are only as good as their weakest link. Plenty of weak links on the DL and only 2 starting caliber LB’s.

 

I understand Ballard pretty much stated in his press conference that Walker was leaving but Colts losing a lot of talent and adding..... really nothing.

[IndyD4U]

EJ Speed time. Our LB room is strong. 
Walker is a heck of a player. He’ll do good in Cleveland 

[csmopar]

27 minutes ago, John Hammonds said:

Only 2 players left from CB's first draft in 2017

 

1/15 - Malik Hooker, S, Ohio St

2/46 - Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

3/80 - Tarrell Basham, DE, Ohio

4/137 - Zach Banner, OT, USC

4/143 - Marlon Mack, RB, South Florida

4/144 - Grover Stewart, DT, Albany St

5/158 - Nate Hairston, CB, Temple

5/161 - Anthony Walker Jr, LB, Northwestern

Not surprised, different schemes different coaches

[NewColtsFan]

I have no doubt we will miss Walkers leadership and quarterbacking of the defense.  
 

But when you heard Ballard GUSHING praise for Walker at the Jan news conference, the writing was on the wall.   Ballard called Walker either a future Head Coach or General Manager.  Whatever he wants.  Ballard LOVES the guy!   He knows who and what Walker is. 
 

And he still let him go. 
 

The Colts want to get faster.  Walker was going to be on the field less and less.  We’re playing more nickel and dime defenses with faster DB’s and fewer LB’s on the field.

 

AW wants and needs to play.  Great for him.  But our future is different, and it didn’t really include enough playing time for AW.

 

Our world is changing as we’re trying to get better.   

[NewColtsFan]

20 minutes ago, bravo4460 said:

What’s that make the Colts now if they are only as good as their weakest link. Plenty of weak links on the DL and only 2 starting caliber LB’s.

 

I understand Ballard pretty much stated in his press conference that Walker was leaving but Colts losing a lot of talent and adding..... really nothing.

We likely don’t have to add anyone.

 

Starters:  Leonard, Okereke, Speed

 

Backups:  Adams, Franklin,  Glasgow, Moore.

 

The younger guys (Speed, Adams) will get the Walker snaps.  But we’re also likely going to be playing fewer downs with three linebackers on the field. 
 

Ballard and Flus have factored this in. 

[tvturner]

This has nothing to do with the Colts $ and everything to do with Walker wanting more playing time/to start

 

I'm glad he'll get his chance in Cleveland, he's a great fit there 

[twfish]

He wanted out. However i will say he is one of the more underrated colts players in the past 10 years.

[LJpalmbeacher2]

1 hour ago, John Hammonds said:

Only 2 players left from CB's first draft in 2017

 

1/15 - Malik Hooker, S, Ohio St

2/46 - Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

3/80 - Tarrell Basham, DE, Ohio

4/137 - Zach Banner, OT, USC

4/143 - Marlon Mack, RB, South Florida

4/144 - Grover Stewart, DT, Albany St

5/158 - Nate Hairston, CB, Temple

5/161 - Anthony Walker Jr, LB, Northwestern

 

Building through the draft 

[EastStreet]

1 hour ago, John Hammonds said:

Only 2 players left from CB's first draft in 2017

 

1/15 - Malik Hooker, S, Ohio St

2/46 - Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

3/80 - ,Tarrell Basham DE, Ohio

4/137 - Zach Banner, OT, USC

4/143 - Marlon Mack, RB, South Florida

4/144 - Grover Stewart, DT, Albany St

5/158 - Nate Hairston, CB, Temple

5/161 - Anthony Walker Jr, LB, Northwestern

Hooker is not signed with someone else yet. Although it's reported that he's visiting the Cowboys. I'd take him back on a cheap deal, similar to Mack's.

 

Also ironic we let Basham go, he started for the NYJs last year with decent grades, etc.. He just signed with the Cowboys.

[Hammer]

Good solid LB. Kinda sorry to see him go...kinda.

[AustexColt]

I kinda knew this was going to happen because Ballard told us in his year end talk. My guess is that he came to that decision after sitting down with the coaches and his key evaluators. Ballard does not do things without a succession plan for that position. 

[Hoose]

Won't Walker be playing in a 3-4 defense for the Browns? If so, I think that would be a much better fit for him.  

[1959Colts]

He was alright, but there is room for improvement.

[jshipp23]

1 hour ago, John Hammonds said:

Only 2 players left from CB's first draft in 2017

 

1/15 - Malik Hooker, S, Ohio St

2/46 - Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

3/80 - Tarrell Basham, DE, Ohio

4/137 - Zach Banner, OT, USC

4/143 - Marlon Mack, RB, South Florida

4/144 - Grover Stewart, DT, Albany St

5/158 - Nate Hairston, CB, Temple

5/161 - Anthony Walker Jr, LB, Northwestern

But I thought he was best GM in NFL???