Colts offseason discussion / Ballard Grievances (merge)

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

12 minutes ago, shasta519 said:

He said it was being finalized and heavily implied it was going to get done. He thought he had the scoop. If it had gotten done, he’d be doing victory laps. It didn’t. That’s the game. That’s why Schefter and Rappaport are who they are. 

 

His mea culpa is weak. He deserves any criticism he gets. And he will move on from it. And hopefully he does learn and get better. 

Final details means not signed and something can always happen. 

[VikingsFanInChennai]

33 minutes ago, shasta519 said:

He said it was being finalized and heavily implied it was going to get done. He thought he had the scoop. If it had gotten done, he’d be doing victory laps. It didn’t. That’s the game. That’s why Schefter and Rappaport are who they are. 

 

His mea culpa is weak. He deserves any criticism he gets. And he will move on from it. And hopefully he does learn and get better. 

Schefter and Rappaport are who they are, because their job is to announce when everything is finalized, they even mention which agent worked on the deal and confirmed. It's pretty clear the information became a fact before their reporting. They rarely speculate, and when they do, they usually mention explicitly that it's a speculation. 

 

What these beat reporters like Destin do is bring you some inside reports, which could or couldn't happen and which may or may not be true. They report that so that today's social media and fans including us wants any update when the trade talks for Sneed for example was ongoing.

 

They serve different purpose, and you need to take those "inside sources" with grain of salt, not completely believe it to happen, wait for the confirmation from national reporters or credible information to come out, and not be so hung up that guys like Destin were wrong. 

[shasta519]

50 minutes ago, Superman said:

 

I would think fans would be more judicious about who/what they latch on to moving forward.

Agree. Not just a lesson for Destin, but for fans.
 

But it was a crazy couple days on Twitter. And he was mostly fueling it. Would have been cool if he got it right though. 

[shasta519]

51 minutes ago, Restinpeacesweetchloe said:

Final details means not signed and something can always happen. 

Right. He knew the risk in reporting it. 

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

Just now, shasta519 said:

Right. He knew the risk in reporting it. 

So. Read the above post. He served a different purpose then shefty and rap.

[shasta519]

26 minutes ago, VikingsFanInChennai said:

Schefter and Rappaport are who they are, because their job is to announce when everything is finalized, they even mention which agent worked on the deal and confirmed. It's pretty clear the information became a fact before their reporting. They rarely speculate, and when they do, they usually mention explicitly that it's a speculation. 

 

What these beat reporters like Destin do is bring you some inside reports, which could or couldn't happen and which may or may not be true. They report that so that today's social media and fans including us wants any update when the trade talks for Sneed for example was ongoing.

 

They serve different purpose, and you need to take those "inside sources" with grain of salt, not completely believe it to happen, wait for the confirmation from national reporters or credible information to come out, and not be so hung up that guys like Destin were wrong. 

I’m not hung up at all. Knew he wasn’t reliable.
 

But where do you draw the line? He’s not some random Colts Twitter account. He fancies himself as a Colts reporter and insider. 
 

If national guys confirm it being a done deal, then Destin gets immediate clout.
 

If they don’t, he just skates from any accountability for jumping the gun? 
 

I don’t care about Destin one way or the other, I just found his “apology” to be weak. He deserves to own it, but he didn’t IMO. Instead, he said it was the fans’ fault for getting upset and that the NFL is what it is.

[shasta519]

8 minutes ago, Restinpeacesweetchloe said:

So. Read the above post. He served a different purpose than shefty and rap.

Different purpose. Different risks. He doesn’t say he’s wrong. He’s not sorry. Saying “I’m sorry what I heavily implied was happening…didn’t happen” is something toy would hear from a politician. Very carefully-worded. 
 

But I’m done with this. No clue how you defend this. And next time Destin breaks some obvious re-signing or some asst. coaching hire, I will give him an attaboy. That’s more info than I will ever have. But I will also hold him accountable for using his platform to be an insider and gain clout, when he’s wrong. 

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

6 minutes ago, shasta519 said:

Different purpose. Different risks. He doesn’t say he’s wrong. He’s not sorry. Saying “I’m sorry what I heavily implied was happening…didn’t happen” is something toy would hear from a politician. Very carefully-worded. 
 

But I’m done with this. No clue how you defend this. And next time Destin breaks some obvious re-signing or some asst. coaching hire, I will give him an attaboy. That’s more info than I will ever have. But I will also hold him accountable for using his platform to be an insider and gain clout, when he’s wrong. 

Because maybe he wasn’t wrong. Maybe Titian’s  in at last minute. Even the athletic Dianna Russini said she was about to send out a tweet it was done 

 

People need to understand that things happen. There is no reason to be so angry or mad. Even Stephen holder was wrong about Jonathan Taylor.  This kind of info should just be taken for what it is. Sometimes things fall through. It is what it is. Destin had been pretty accurate on a lot of stuff. Fans want to take every interested in a player tweet to mean it’s happening. Posts like yours is why a couple have stopped giving info. Fans like to take them the wrong way.

[Superman]

5 minutes ago, Restinpeacesweetchloe said:

Because maybe he wasn’t wrong. Maybe Titian’s  in at last minute. Even the athletic Dianna Russini said she was about to send out a tweet it was done 

 

People need to understand that things happen. There is no reason to be so angry or mad. Even Stephen holder was wrong about Jonathan Taylor.  This kind of info should just be taken for what it is. Sometimes things fall through. It is what it is. Destin had been pretty accurate on a lot of stuff. Fans want to take every interested in a player tweet to mean it’s happening. Posts like yours is why a couple have stopped giving info. Fans like to take them the wrong way.

 

Holder didn't say 'the Colts are working on a trade to get rid of Jonathan Taylor.' He gave his opinion about what would happen with the situation. It's not comparable.

 

I think Destin's apology is fine, but what he did was malpractice. I bet real reporters could put out tweets referring to deals that appear to be in the works, but they know better. Ever wonder why Dianna Russini didn't send her tweet?

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

4 minutes ago, Superman said:

 

Holder didn't say 'the Colts are working on a trade to get rid of Jonathan Taylor.' He gave his opinion about what would happen with the situation. It's not comparable.

 

I think Destin's apology is fine, but what he did was malpractice. I bet real reporters could put out tweets referring to deals that appear to be in the works, but they know better. Ever wonder why Dianna Russini didn't send her tweet?

Wrong. He said Taylor did not want to be here. Taylor has since said that wasn’t the case. Malpractice lol. If that’s how you feel you take that stuff way too serious.  Beat reporters serve a different  purpose. Your never getting that from beat reporters.

[Superman]

8 minutes ago, Restinpeacesweetchloe said:

Wrong. He said Taylor did not want to be here. Taylor has since said that wasn’t the case. Malpractice lol. If that’s how you feel you take that stuff way too serious.  Beat reporters serve a different  purpose. Your never getting that from beat reporters.

 

There's a rich irony in you telling someone that they take something too seriously.

 

Taylor asked for a trade. He pretended he didn't want to be with the Colts to gain leverage. And if you don't see the difference between Holder saying 'Taylor doesn't want to play for the Colts,' and Destin saying 'the Colts are basically finishing up a trade for Sneed,' then it's a lost cause.

 

It really feels like you have a personal stake with Destin. He screwed up. Everyone will acknowledge it but you. Again, why do you think Russini held off on sending the tweet?

[GoColts8818]

2 hours ago, shasta519 said:

True. But those are standard talking points for Destin. That’s fine. Never thought he was reliable. Just found the support for him to be goofy. 

That’s fair on your part.  

[GoColts8818]

6 minutes ago, Superman said:

 

There's a rich irony in you telling someone that they take something too seriously.

 

Taylor asked for a trade. He pretended he didn't want to be with the Colts to gain leverage. And if you don't see the difference between Holder saying 'Taylor doesn't want to play for the Colts,' and Destin saying 'the Colts are basically finishing up a trade for Sneed,' then it's a lost cause.

 

It really feels like you have a personal stake with Destin. He screwed up. Everyone will acknowledge it but you. Again, why do you think Russini held off on sending the tweet?

I mean even Destin acknowledged he made a mistake (people don’t generally apologize if they are right).  So I don’t get it at this point.  If the guy who is in question acknowledges they could have done better and promises to learn from this then why would anyone defend them like they did no wrong?

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

This is why I won’t  posting any thing that had any kind of info anymore. If you guys want to find you know where you can find it.  I get really tired of the arguments about info that is out there. It creates conversation. With out conversation this board would not be active.  So I don’t want anyone to ask me to post info anymore. I am done with that.

[Superman]

21 minutes ago, Restinpeacesweetchloe said:

This is why I won’t  posting any thing that had any kind of info anymore. If you guys want to find you know where you can find it.  I get really tired of the arguments about info that is out there. It creates conversation. With out conversation this board would not be active.  So I don’t want anyone to ask me to post info anymore. I am done with that.

 

That's weak, but whatever.

[stitches]

6 hours ago, Superman said:

 

I'd like to see what this looks like over the last 3-4 years. It seems like players are coming back faster from Achilles injuries. When we signed Fisher, I was very bearish on his ability to be ready early in the season, pointing to this specific study. Fisher got hurt in the conference championship, and I think he only missed the first two games of the next season, so eight months? I think his lateral movement suffered, but for such a big person to recover from an Achilles in that short time frame is super impressive, and it indicates that the procedures and protocols have improved in recent years. There have been other players who have recovered quickly as well.

 

Not predicting anything for Flowers, just saying I think it's possible the recovery times for Achilles injuries has trended shorter since 2018 when this study was done.

Also, keep in mind that in general rehab and recovery for younger players on average has better outcomes. 

[Superman]

6 minutes ago, stitches said:

Also, keep in mind that in general rehab and recovery for younger players on average has better outcomes. 

 

Yeah, Flowers isn't 31, and he's not carrying 300+ pounds. But he also has to run 50+ yards every play, and needs to cut and jump. Functional recovery shouldn't be a problem. Whether he can reach his former level of athleticism remains to be seen. But we have a lot of recent examples of guys getting back to 100% or close to it, and in less than a year.

[stitches]

Just now, Superman said:

 

Yeah, Flowers isn't 31, and he's not carrying 300+ pounds. But he also has to run 50+ yards every play, and needs to cut and jump. Functional recovery shouldn't be a problem. Whether he can reach his former level of athleticism remains to be seen. But we have a lot of recent examples of guys getting back to 100% or close to it, and in less than a year.

Don't quote me on that but from what I remember I think there were some studies that showed that the thing that suffers most after recovery from Achilles tear is explosiveness.

[Superman]

17 minutes ago, stitches said:

Don't quote me on that but from what I remember I think there were some studies that showed that the thing that suffers most after recovery from Achilles tear is explosiveness.

 

Yeah, that makes sense. 

[w87r]

37 minutes ago, Superman said:

 

Yeah, Flowers isn't 31, and he's not carrying 300+ pounds. But he also has to run 50+ yards every play, and needs to cut and jump. Functional recovery shouldn't be a problem. Whether he can reach his former level of athleticism remains to be seen. But we have a lot of recent examples of guys getting back to 100% or close to it, and in less than a year.

I think he looked pretty explosive in that rehab video I posted of him straight line sprinting.

[Superman]

11 minutes ago, w87r said:

I think he looked pretty explosive in that rehab video I posted of him straight line sprinting.

 

Sure, but the real test will come in September.

[RollerColt]

5 minutes ago, Superman said:

 

Sure, but the real test will come in September.

And it’s a good thing it’s only March. I hope he takes his time with the process. I was always impatient during my recoveries from injuries… 

[richard pallo]

Just read on pro football rumors that a couple of veteran FA CB were signed tonight.  I don’t recognize their names but they were FA.  Also saw a short podcast tonight from Chat Sports predicting four FA signing.  Interesting thing is they predicted Gilmore will resign with the Colts.  I wasn’t expecting that one so I thought I would share it.  Lots of podcasts and predictions out there.

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

2 minutes ago, richard pallo said:

Just read on pro football rumors that a couple of veteran FA CB were signed tonight.  I don’t recognize their names but they were FA.  Also saw a short podcast tonight from Chat Sports predicting four FA signing.  Interesting thing is they predicted Gilmore will resign with the Colts.  I wasn’t expecting that one so I thought I would share it.  Lots of podcasts and predictions out there.

Gilmore would be a nice short term addition to a young secondary. At this point in his career though I don’t see it. He is going to be very choosy to try and find a team who has chance at a SB.

[colts52761]

Couldn't Gilmore got to FS and play there?

[w87r]

Saw something about us having some interest in Micah Hyde earlier. Not sure how reputable, but makes sense to have interest there 

 

 

Would be decent pickup if he stays healthy, been battling injuries last couple years but graded out above 80 two years ago.

 

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

1 minute ago, w87r said:

Saw something about us having some interest in Micah Hyde earlier. Not sure how reputable, but makes sense to have interest there 

 

 

Would be decent pickup if he stays healthy, been battling injuries last couple years but graded out above 80 two years ago.

 

didn’t realize he was as old as he is. But he could come and help a young safety they draft.

[RollerColt]

I saw Hyde in person during the Bills - Bengals game last season. He was all over the place for most of the game. Seemed to have a good read on Burrow as well because he was dialed in on batting down passes. 

[chad72]

4 minutes ago, RollerColt said:

I saw Hyde in person during the Bills - Bengals game last season. He was all over the place for most of the game. Seemed to have a good read on Burrow as well because he was dialed in on batting down passes. 

 

Over their history, Buffalo has not had good luck with their LBs in coverage and DL for run defense. Their CBs and safeties have always been good. So good QBs like Brady, Mahomes, Burrow would just eat them alive throwing to their TEs or running it down their throat. But then Gronk is a different kind of beast, even the best safety would have a hard time dealing with him 1-on-1. 

 

Micah Hyde started off as a TE coverage specialist with the Packers initially before his stint in Buffalo.

[OhioColt]

Talking about building through the draft.  To me offensive players are an easier choice then selecting defensive players with regards to all the changes in the NFL with game play.  The NFL and owners just created another issue for the defense now banning hip-tackles.  Before was helmet to helmet hits and now hip-tackles.  Better watch out how your tackle the quarterback.  I understand player safety but now seems that the scouts and coaching staff have to find players who don't fall into these categories that the NFL and owners have set the newer standards or somehow coach these techniques out of players that have long been engrained.   Penalties are drive kills or can extend drives as we all know.  At this rate it seems the game will become two-hand touch or flag football, without the lingerie.   Wouldn't want to be a defensive player in today's game.  Free agency period is cooling off and maybe we acquire some more players but sure am like most here looking forward to the NFL Draft and seeing who our next Colts are. 

On 3/22/2024 at 8:40 AM, DougDew said:

Curious, why does a GM let these great players leave if they were so great or were not replaceable?   Seems like he's drafting good/great players at positions that can more easily be found in a the draft.  Finding the lower hanging fruit and reaping genius like compliments...at least in the past.

 

And not picking on you, but I also read comments where "every GM has misses".  Their average is about 52/48.  Fine.  Then if his misses are describes as "just happened to not work out"...why wouldn't the hits equally be described as "just happened to work out" but instead are described as some great find?  Is Raimann, the guy that was picked after struggling AP and Woods, a great find, or, is he " just happening to be working out" whereas AP and maybe Woods are "just happening to not be working out" and should be chalked up to simple averages?  (Of course we'll know more as time passes, but the context of the comments are accurate so far, IMO)

 

Not just with Ballard, but with all talk of GMs, it seems like their 52 hits are because a GM is great, but the 48 misses are just the law of averages and the GM being a victim of the environment.  Seems tilted to me.

Not sure what the law of averages would be, but to me am figuring seven rounds, seven players, and if we hit on 3-4 each year that's a great draft.  As well all know some players are scheme specific and their career just depends on the team's system used.  I understand my own thoughts on a player whom I think we hit on will be viewed differently by another.  I went back and posted earlier the players that have been draft by Ballard since he joined and again my own personal feeling is yes, we aced our drafts.  Not everyone is a keeper and sticks around and the good ones do tend to move on.  So many moving variables that fans, including my, nitpick over.  By far am no expert but, like most here want to express their gratitude and frustration.  Reasons why we don't quit our day jobs as the expression goes.  

 

Always somebody else's opinions and how they see the world.  Never going to satisfy everyone.  Take it with a grain of salt and move on.  As fans we all want to be in the playoffs every year and main goal to win the Super Bowl, realistically odds are stacked against.  

[OhioColt]

On 3/24/2024 at 12:31 PM, jvan1973 said:

Leonard wasn't coming off a major surgery when he signed his extention.  He was also All Pro after signing the extension 

Thanks for the correction and yes Leonard was an All Pro Weakside Linebacker.  One our better Ballard draft picks, when he was fully healthy.  That is the true essence of building through the draft.  Hoping to draft the next All Pro player.  Long-term is trying to retain them that can be the issue. 

[AwesomeAustin]

https://imgur.com/a/BQgy8BO

 

Super late to the game but here is Princess Cookie our 6yr old Golden Retriever.  
 

https://imgur.com/a/BQgy8BO

[MikeCurtis]

From my perspective

 

Ballard has some "hard" rules to building a roster

 

1) Build the lines FIRST

2) Resign own FAs

3)  Draft talent / dont pay for someone elses top FA

4) Build depth (bottom of the roster) through FA (some draft)

 

[BeanDiasucci]

On 3/24/2024 at 12:31 PM, jvan1973 said:

Leonard wasn't coming off a major surgery when he signed his extention.  He was also All Pro after signing the extension 

He was coming off an ankle surgery, though, and continued to have a nagging ankle injury through that All Pro season in 2021. His later back surgery in 2022 was described as needed because of two discs in his back that were pushing down on various nerves, causing pain down his leg and a functioning issue with the ankle. Then he played on three games in 2022. 

 

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/colts-insider/2021/08/08/indianapolis-colts-news-darius-leonard-signs-contract-extension/8045740002/

 

https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2022/06/13/indianapolis-colts-darius-leonard-injury-update-nerve-back-ankle-calf/

[CoachLite]

2 hours ago, MikeCurtis said:

From my perspective

 

Ballard has some "hard" rules to building a roster

 

1) Build the lines FIRST

2) Resign own FAs

3)  Draft talent / dont pay for someone elses top FA

4) Build depth (bottom of the roster) through FA (some draft)

 

I hope Ballard doesn't rely solely on such simplistic rules. That would hinder becoming a good or great GM because team-building is far more complex than that.

[richard pallo]

Anyone know who our kick returner is?  McKenzie is gone.  With the new kick off rules it might be a good idea to get a good one.  Cooper Dejean is one of best in the current draft class as well as being a highly rated cornerback.  I like Arnold for our 1st pick but if gone I would be very happy with Dejean.  He would fill two needs actually.

[indykmj]

3 hours ago, MikeCurtis said:

From my perspective

 

Ballard has some "hard" rules to building a roster

 

1) Build the lines FIRST

2) Resign own FAs

3)  Draft talent / dont pay for someone elses top FA

4) Build depth (bottom of the roster) through FA (some draft)

 

 

[Superman]

On 3/23/2024 at 12:38 PM, stitches said:

Chloe, you still don't get it. Ballard does NOT value CB at that level. I really doubt he spends a top 15 pick on the position, especially since NONE of the top CBs in the draft cover his length requirements for the position. He might trade back to the end of the 1st or beginning of R2 and take like... Kool-Aid McKinstry or TJ Tampa or Ennis Rakestraw ... 

 

But you know what position he really values? He values the hell out of the trenches and especially defensive trenches... and there are players in that 15 range that fit the bill... Dallas Turner(if he falls to 15)... he's like almost carbon copy of the guy he tried to sign in FA - Danielle Hunter if you look at his measurements and testing, Jared Verse, Chop Robinson, Latu... he can easily fall in love with any of them IMO, 

 

Bingo.

 

I could see Quinyon Mitchell being an option, given his vertical and speed, and especially his film. He's a great fit for our scheme. 

 

But I think the Colts value strategy is pretty obvious. I think a corner prospect would have to check all of Ballard's boxes, and be a standout on film, to get drafted by the Colts at #15. And even then, we'd probably have to see that guy as the clear best prospect on the board, and that's not likely this year. There are too many good OL/DL prospects that will get pushed down 3-4 spots because of how top heavy it looks at QB and WR.

 

By the way, I think the same logic applies at WR, which is why I've said I don't think we'll draft a WR at #15. But I think that's more likely than a corner.

[Superman]

36 minutes ago, richard pallo said:

Anyone know who our kick returner is?  McKenzie is gone.  With the new kick off rules it might be a good idea to get a good one.  Cooper Dejean is one of best in the current draft class as well as being a highly rated cornerback.  I like Arnold for our 1st pick but if gone I would be very happy with Dejean.  He would fill two needs actually.

 

With the new kickoff rule, suddenly kick returner has some renewed value. Josh Downs returned a couple last year.

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

12 minutes ago, Superman said:

 

Bingo.

 

I could see Quinyon Mitchell being an option, given his vertical and speed, and especially his film. He's a great fit for our scheme. 

 

But I think the Colts value strategy is pretty obvious. I think a corner prospect would have to check all of Ballard's boxes, and be a standout on film, to get drafted by the Colts at #15. And even then, we'd probably have to see that guy as the clear best prospect on the board, and that's not likely this year. There are too many good OL/DL prospects that will get pushed down 3-4 spots because of how top heavy it looks at QB and WR.

 

By the way, I think the same logic applies at WR, which is why I've said I don't think we'll draft a WR at #15. But I think that's more likely than a corner.

There is no room for more dline. Ballard is paying bucks for that dline and we have too many players. right now.  No dline or oline  right now is going to improve this roster right now. This would be a terrible pick and Ballard should be canned on the spot. We are good on both lines right now. Seriously should not be here if thst is the pick and he is a very unserious GM. No ssg would be went out and paid Grover and Davis yo draft for trenches. That is not a good use of money