Should Chris Ballard be fired?

[Defjamz26]

7 hours ago, Restinpeacesweetchloe said:

Really good video. Titled how to fix the Colts. These guys don’t realize there is more to being a GN then just evaluating talent 

 

That’s actually my go to Podcast for the draft after Move the Sticks. There was a lot of conjecture here. I actually think when they do Fix Your Franchise, they should bring In local media/podcast guys to give them better insight.

 

I listened today and they completely 

missed the issues with how he’s handled FA, how he early extended two QBs, how he sometimes overvalues RAS scores and character, and how often he has overcommitted to mediocre players at certain positions. They missed how hyper focused he is at having his own guys on the roster over better outside vets. They focused solely on his draft success, which is something most of us are unanimous on anyways. I also didn’t like how they pretty much touted the same line about how “It’s hard to get better than Ballard” and that you could be worse like other teams. 
 

It doesn’t seem like they took the time to really look into his shortcomings and ask the fans because they already had their minds made up about Ballard.

 

I liked the mock drafts they did because the hit the nail on the head with the need for playmakers at CB, LB, and TE. But when they had us signing Holland in FA (an idea I love)I knew they hadn’t done their research because that’s not typically a move Ballard makes which is why the Colts are where they are.

[GoColts8818]

I go back and forth on if Ballard should be fired.  I watch the team and I see a lot of talent which is his job.  What I see is a coaching staff that’s failing.  However, this is Ballard’s second coach and I am not sure any GM can justify getting a third one with A playoff win to his credit.  He does have some missing peaces and those extensions for Speed and Franklin are not looking good right now.  I do think they need some more game changers but you normally find those players in the top 15 in the draft unless you get a bit lucky like he did with Taylor.  If you look at his three top 15 picks he’s had though he’s gotten Nelson, Buckner, and AR.  While the jury is still out on AR you can argue Nelson and Buckner have been the Colts best two players for several years so it’s not like he missed on them.  
 

When Polian built through the draft he did it with Marvin and Glenn already here and then got Manning, Edge, and Freeney in the top 15 and got extreme value on Clark and Wayne and lucky with Mathis, Bethea, Saturday and that was the core of the team for a long time.  
 

As much as some people like to ignore it you do have to factor in the Luck situation.  He was pretty much forced to rebuild the whole team as they lost the guy the team was built around overnight and was headed in the right direction.  I am also the first to say the Luck thing all goes out the window with the drafting of AR.  That’s now Ballard’s guy and I think that’s who determines if he keeps his job or not.  If he’s working out and the Colts are seeing signs he’s the guy I think he’s stays.  If the Colts feel AR is a bust then I think Ballard is shown the door.  
 

The thing is that last question is all up to Jim Irsay and he’s nearly impossible to tell what he’s thinking until he’s ready for the world to know what he’s thinking.  I think the fact he’s being uncharacteristically quiet this season tells me he’s wrestling with it like some here are.  There as points in Ballard’s favor but I also think it’s fair to go it’s been 8 years when do they start winning again?  I also think Irsay is wondering if Shane is the guy?  If he’s not does he trust Ballard to get a third head coach?  Those are big questions and something that deserves thoughts.  I do think these last five games are going to play a large role in the answers to those questions.  They are all winnable.  If the Colts look like they have vs this recent stretch of hard games I think Irsay may pull the plug but if they can win most of them and maybe sneak into the playoffs I think everyone stays.

 

With that said, as I’ve said before that means getting into the mind of Jim Irsay which is a hard place to be.

[CoachLite]

The Colts tolerate mediocrity at every level. They don't have high enough expectations, nor do they demand performance. That's on Jim Irsay. Don't see that changing.

[csmopar]

On 11/28/2024 at 1:00 PM, GoColts8818 said:

I go back and forth on if Ballard should be fired.  I watch the team and I see a lot of talent which is his job.  What I see is a coaching staff that’s failing.  However, this is Ballard’s second coach and I am not sure any GM can justify getting a third one with A playoff win to his credit.  He does have some missing peaces and those extensions for Speed and Franklin are not looking good right now.  I do think they need some more game changers but you normally find those players in the top 15 in the draft unless you get a bit lucky like he did with Taylor.  If you look at his three top 15 picks he’s had though he’s gotten Nelson, Buckner, and AR.  While the jury is still out on AR you can argue Nelson and Buckner have been the Colts best two players for several years so it’s not like he missed on them.  
 

When Polian built through the draft he did it with Marvin and Glenn already here and then got Manning, Edge, and Freeney in the top 15 and got extreme value on Clark and Wayne and lucky with Mathis, Bethea, Saturday and that was the core of the team for a long time.  
 

As much as some people like to ignore it you do have to factor in the Luck situation.  He was pretty much forced to rebuild the whole team as they lost the guy the team was built around overnight and was headed in the right direction.  I am also the first to say the Luck thing all goes out the window with the drafting of AR.  That’s now Ballard’s guy and I think that’s who determines if he keeps his job or not.  If he’s working out and the Colts are seeing signs he’s the guy I think he’s stays.  If the Colts feel AR is a bust then I think Ballard is shown the door.  
 

The thing is that last question is all up to Jim Irsay and he’s nearly impossible to tell what he’s thinking until he’s ready for the world to know what he’s thinking.  I think the fact he’s being uncharacteristically quiet this season tells me he’s wrestling with it like some here are.  There as points in Ballard’s favor but I also think it’s fair to go it’s been 8 years when do they start winning again?  I also think Irsay is wondering if Shane is the guy?  If he’s not does he trust Ballard to get a third head coach?  Those are big questions and something that deserves thoughts.  I do think these last five games are going to play a large role in the answers to those questions.  They are all winnable.  If the Colts look like they have vs this recent stretch of hard games I think Irsay may pull the plug but if they can win most of them and maybe sneak into the playoffs I think everyone stays.

 

With that said, as I’ve said before that means getting into the mind of Jim Irsay which is a hard place to be.

I honestly go back and forth as well. I see a team that outside the lions game, has been in contention of every loss. We’re not in need of a total rebuild (see the Jags….) but yet we’re not over the hump yet. 
 

im gonna stick with my thoughts the night AR was drafted, I think AR and Ballard get 3 seasons to prove themselves. At the end of year 3(end of the 2025/26 season), I think a full evaluation will be done by the Irsays to determine just what we are and whether to stay the course.