Needs
 

It’s early to be looking forward to the offseason; with any luck, January will roll in and see the Colts with a wild card berth.

That having been said, with 4 games left, I think we have a pretty good idea of the path that Chris Ballard or whomever is in charge needs to blaze.

First off is a real, honest to God, elite, scheme versatile Cornerback. Someone who’s equally at home playing zone or one on one on an island; someone who can give Gus Bradley or whoever the confidence to blitz without worrying about disaster if the pressure doesn’t get home. If it were me, I’d move heaven and earth to get Jim to open his wallet, shake out the moths, and ante up for a DJ Read or Charvarius Ward.

Then, I’d move on to Safety and do another un Ballard like thing and trade up in the draft to get this year’s version of Troy Polamalu…Malaki Starks.

Third on my list of needs has me torn between WR and TE. I’d love to add a dynamic, game changer on the outside, but there’s a heck of a lot of value in a Rob Gronkowski/Travis Kelce/George Kittle kind of guy who gets open, moves the chains, doesn’t drop the ball, and can actually, like, plant a defender in the ground when asked to block.

Next up, a Linebacker tough enough to snuff the run and who can actually cover a Tight End over the middle.

Then, a Running Back to spell Taylor on fifteen plays a game, someone who runs well, poses a threat as a receiver, and can stone a blitzing Safety.

Somewhere in there you can slot a gobsmacking Defensive Tackle, someone to ensure that whenever Grover Stewart exits the game, the middle of the D doesn’t turn into a total shitshow.

Then, of course, you can never have enough bodies on the Offensive Line.

Sounds about right. I think CB/TE are our biggest needs, while some of the rest are difficult to find, kind of like four leaf clovers in the late fall.

DT is high on the priority list for me. Buck and Grove are both on the wrong side of 30, and there is very little depth behind them. TE is definitely a more needed position, but Idk if I would rank any other need above DT.

I would put a new DC above and beyond any player acquisitions. Bradley is a negative contributor.

100% agree.

Watching this Broncos vs Browns game, with the way they push the ball down the field, Nix could go for 4 bills easy against that scheme. They will confuse the ever living shit out of Gus.

The problem with criticism of Bradley is that he doesn’t have the personnel to play the kind of scheme all of us would prefer. Sam Womack will never remind anyone of Richard Sherman, and there’s no Earl Thomas or Kam Chancellor in that locker room.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not joined at the hip with Gus. But, I’ve been a Colts fan since 1967, and sometimes it seems like the last time we had a tough, hardnosed defense, Ted Marchibroda was stalking the sidelines.

o


The 1975 Baltimore Colts "Sack Pack" set was then a record of 60 sacks in a 14-game season.


John Dutton

Fred Cook

Mike Barnes

Joe Ehrmann

o

I remember them well. Joe Thomas built a pretty good team, then got run out of town on a rail. Took us a quarter century to find another GM anywhere near as good.

I don't see Ballard going after a CB as a FA.

I like Starks, but is he too similar to Cross? Cross and Blackmon are both best at SS, and Blackmon is likely gone.

Man, I'm right up there with you on TE. Every TE we have is replacement level.

We need JT's replacement soon. He got paid to be everything Barkley is doping for the Eagles and he's half the player.

I thought that Raekwon Davis was the answer. But he can't play football. DT is definitely a need.

You should tell that story to all the people that want Ballard canned.

o


The Colts did have a decent run from 1987 through 1989, immediately upon acquiring Eric Dickerson ...... Dickerson single-handedly gave the franchise a much needed shot in the arm, turning them from the NFL's laughing stock into a respectable team. They had 3 consecutive winning/non-losing seasons (9-6, 9-7, and 8-8 respectively in 1987, 1988, and 1989.) I was thrilled when they won the AFC East in 1987. We beat the Browns in the regular season that year, and I thought that we might have beaten them again in the divisional playoffs if Gary Hogeboom had stayed healthy.

o

Having not looked at the '25 class much... Unless there is a DT or Pass Rusher or to a lesser extent a CB worthy of moving up for...

I am very intrigued by Tyler Warren from PSU. Usually see him at the end of the first, but I feel like he'll move up. Could line up well for where we're at.

I like him better than the Michigan kid because he's huge, uber versatile, and productive even though he can still polish his route running and has room to grow. Very athletic.

Most of all, he is a big, capable blocker. Especially with AR going forward, I've wanted that Jack Doyle-type blocker back in the lineup.

The '87 Colts were actually a decent team,even without Dickerson. Albert Bentley was a pretty good RB in his own right. Dickerson put butts in the seats and gave the team some national exposure. Cornelius Bennett would have made the Colts a better team though.

AB was a GREAT 2nd option, had his jersey!

o


The Colts were not decent without Dickerson.

Bentley was pretty good, but Dickerson was an all-time great in his prime.

Dickerson led the AFC in rushing in 1987, and he only played in 9 games after the trade. They got national exposure because they went from 3-13 to 9-6 and the AFC title, largely because of Dickerson. The 1987, 1988, and 1989 Colts probably would have gone somewhere between 5-11 and 6-10 without Dickerson.

o

\\Lest we forget '87 was a strike season. So most NFL starters only played 9 games.

In the 3 non-strike games that Bentley started before Dickerson was the starter, he accumulated 492 scrimmage yards or 164 scrimmage yards per game. This was weeks 16 0f '86 and 7,8 of '87.

Sure Dickerson was a superstar. It still doesn't make it the right move for the Colts, as RB was not their biggest need.

oo

No, most starters did not play 9 games in 1987. Most starters played 12 games in 1987, because there were 12 non-strike games. In fact the only player in the entire NFL who had more rushing yards than Dickerson was Charles White, and he played in all 15 games, including the 3 strike games ...... White had 1,374 yards in 15 games, and Dickerson had 1,011 games in 9 games with the Colts.

There were 12 non-strike games in 1987. Dickerson played in 9 of them with the Colts.

The Colts went 6-3 in the 9 non-strike games in which Dickerson played in in 1987. The Colts went 1-2 in non-strike games in which Dickerson did not play in in 1987.

The Colts were not a good team, or even a decent team without Dickerson in the late 1980's. Dickerson is the primary reason of what made them the respectable team that they were in 1987, 1988, and 1989.



Your numbers are wrong on Albert Bentley. There were 2 games before the strike, not 3. In those 2 games, Bentley had 230 yards from scrimmage, or 115 yards per game. In the first game back from the strike, Bentley had 118 yards from scrimmage. In those 3 games combined Bentley had 348 yards from scrimmage, or 116 yards per game.

Bentley had a great game against the Jets, in which he had 145 yards on 29 carries. That was Dickerson's first game with the Colts, in which he played very little in, gaining 38 yards. So in the final 8 games of the season in which Dickerson played the entire game he gained 973 yards, which computes to 1,946 yards over 16 games.

o

One of my favorite what-ifs is Jerry Rice's 1987 box score:

65rec, 1078yds, 22tds - 12 games

87rec, 1438yds, 30tds - 16 games

His receptions and yards would've been very good. But his TD's could've been untouchable. Over 1/3 of his receptions were TD's which is fucking bananas.

o


Rice showed a lot of integrity in not crossing the picket line in the final strike game of 1987 ...... Joe Montana, Roger Craig, Dwight Clark and a bunch of other stars on that team crossed the line to play in the final 2 strike games ...... Rice chose not, and waited for the NFL Players Union and the team owners officially ended the strike.

o

No matter where the Colts draft, I want this guy. He will instantly upgrade the entire offense.

You Sir, are correct. I had forgotten what a screwed up season '87 was and that the first two games were not played by the Scabs.

However, I stand by my premise that the Dickerson trade did not make the Colts appreciably better. Ron Meyer had as much to do with the Colts success as anyone.

If Bennett wasn't going to play for the Colts, then I would have traded with the Steelers for Rod Woodson and picks.

Late to the discussion, but here are what should be IMO the priorities in the offseason:

1. New DC
2a. CB
2b. TE
2c. S
5. OL depth. In particular OG as Fries will be a UFA coming off a major injury and while Tucker showed some promise early he was very much exploited his last couple of starts.

an entirely new lber room. at least the starters. franklin and speed need to go.

te- fuck this group sucks


dt- I want a vet. a leader type. someone like Corey Redding was. we need leadership from outside the locker room. this locker room has no leaders. Kenny Moore is about it


safety- Blackmon can fuck off. again this is a great spot for a veteran with leadership skills from a good team


lbers- all new ones. the rookie can stay. fuck Franklin and speed. those guys are garbage

cb- always need corners

guard- not sure what happens here with fries but we need help here

Did Zaire always suck, and was just hyped, or has he regressed....because at one time I thought he was our top defensice player?

A lot of tackles, but very few are stuffs or behind the LOS. He sucks in coverage too.

Zaire "I didn't know winning was a linebacker stat" Franklin.

Neither one of them can effectively take on a block. Their ability to hold a gap is garbage. Maybe I don't understand football anymore but if either of those two have to deal with a guard, more often than not they get swallowed up.

I think Speed's athleticism makes him more valuable than Franklin and I also think Speed is better about keeping his mouth shut and getting to work vs. Franklin's attitude which I personally perceive to be a bit arrogant.

They both can go but if only one can go, draft a guy that can beat out Zaire - please.

I think he has regressed some. or simply got paid and doesn't care as much. I don't think his effort is great down to down

I see really poor gap integrity as well. They both seem to run to open space rather than honor their gap. While at it, let the LB coach go too, for allowing that type of crap play.

I agree Speed over Zaire...but it'll never happen.

o


For starters, I think that we all need l Kray l to continue posting here on ColtFReaks ...... in my rat's ass of an opinion, Kray is the most objective poster on the board.

o

Draft Ashton Jeanty and wait for Kyle Pitts to be released, then pick him up.

o


I'm a big Jonathan Taylor fan, but I would take a Rookie Ashton Jeanty in a second over Taylor at this point in his career ...... I doubt that he'll be available by the time that the Colts pick, though.

o

So either we have a very flawed offensive philosophy, or we have a historically poor pass game RB/TE group.

These stats are embarrassingly terrible.

The 7 RB/TE's have combined for 114 targets on 72 receptions, with 4 TD's.

WTF are we doing?

I think it is a flawed system. There is too much talent for us to be so inefficient on offense. Part of it is predictability. There are a lot of runs up the middle on first down. Defenses recognize tendencies, and this is a big one for us.

Second, there are too many runs up the middle no matter what the down and distance is. Taylor is dangerous in space, but we refuse to get him out into space.

Third, and this one I mentioned in the game thread, Shane does not do a good job of covering his mouth when calling the plays. Every team has someone upstairs watching the coach.

Fourth, every play is out of the shotgun. This limits the offense, too.

Shane has to take a long look in the mirror this offseason and figure it out, or he will be done here.

I personally think it’s talent. We need a good TE. My vote is for Tyler Warren since he can play inline or out and is a good and willing blocker too. Right up Ballard’s alley. A pass catching back would be nice as well. We need more chain movers. AR should improve his short game in the offseason. Add some vet pieces as well who can stabilize things when stuff goes wrong go and balls bounce badly.

Steichen will use them if he has one. He did in Philly.

absolutely no 1st round rb

There is a HUGE problem with talent on this team. We have a few really good players, and BUCK could be considered a star player, outside of that, a lot of JAGS. The depth is shit. When a front line guy goes down, the performance at the position just plummets- for example Grover out and Bryan in. For YEARS Ballard has shot blanks at the DE position, and all he's hit was some moderately successful players- who are seemingly very injury prone. As EVERYONE has pointed out, the TE room is a clown show.

Ballard needs to go, period!

As for Steichen, he certainly has had some moments of brilliance but in a lot of the day in day out play calling, he is not very effective. Last week, to me, he looked panicked as the game started to head in Denver's direction. I think he gets lost in the moment and loses focus on things that have been effective. For some reason he seems to revert to a footing that AR can be a gunslinger from the pocket and go on huge completion streaks- right now, HE CAN'T DO THAT CONSISTENTLY!

So combine the two, and this is a pile of shit!

To me it all starts with getting rid of Ballard. His mentality needs to go, his way of evaluating talent, needs to go. Everything about his approach screams middle of the road contentment. FUCK THAT GUY!

Burn.....It......All......Down......

Ownership......

Management......

Coaches.......

Players........

New growth comes from the ashes of a huge fire.......

Burn.....It......All......Down......