Originally Posted by sherck (Post 1259)

I agree 100%.

Our offense was rounding into form over the 2nd half of the season. Really, all it needed was for the O-Line to gel and it appears that was happening. Hopefully, a new WR coach will bring the younger guys further so that they support T.Y. better and about the only player needed on the offensive side is a young RB to backup Gore.

However, on defense, it is pretty much a disaster. No LBs that I have confidence in except Walden and he might have priced himself out of us re-signing him with his double digit sack year (which will never happen again).

Our D-Line ended up not being the strength that I had hoped it would be although there were times that it played well. Our secondary has Vontae and perhaps Geathers as studs and a few other nice players in Robinson, Butler and Melvin but needs more work.

In my perfect world, however, 4 defensive free agents (D-Line, ILB, OLB, CB) to go along with 3 or 4 defensive rookies (first 3 rounds for sure and then either RB or defense in 4th round) would go a LONG way in upgrading the defensive side of the ball and make us a 10 win team again.

Think of this....

NE scored 51 offensive TDs, 27 FGs, 46 XPM and 1 2-point conversions on offense.

IND scored 45 offensive TDs, 27 FGs, 44 XPM and 2 2-point conversions on offense.

NE. = 435 offensive points scored (27.19 ppg)
IND = 399 offensive points scored (24.94 ppg)

3 points per game less scored on offense per game.....however...

NE. = 250 defensive points allowed (15.63 ppg)
IND = 392 defensive points allowed (24.50 ppg)

9 points more per game allowed on defense.

A one season defensive "Manhattan Project" with the RIGHT guys brought in could create a HUGE turnaround in 2017.

Perhaps, even enough to overcome some of Clappy McWoodChoppers' faults and tendencies to lose us games.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by VeveJones007 (Post 1382)

I'm really concerned that they are going to sit on this cap space. Who would they need to save it for?

Originally Posted by bigalbert (Post 1380)

From the tweets by players of their dislike for grigson, one has to wonder what the hell this guy was all sticking his nose into, so YES it is absolutely possible that it happened

Originally Posted by omahacolt (Post 1396)

someone worth the money?

Originally Posted by VeveJones007 (Post 1432)

Poe and Bouye would look pretty darn good in Colts jerseys next year. When you fail so epically in the draft as Grigson did in 2013-2014, it's not like you have guys to extend. They either sign free agents or the cap space will not be used. You can't keep rolling over $40MM until you're ready to (hopefully) extend a few players from Ballard's first draft.

Originally Posted by FatDT (Post 1458)

It seems reasonable to expect Ballard to target one of both of Poe and Berry. Players move with coaches or execs their familiar with all the time.

Originally Posted by Horse (Post 2033)

I like everything I've read about Ballard. Should be a major upgrade over Grigson. In addition to all that, he maintains a scraggly beard, which I'm sure sealed the deal with Irsay.