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Originally Posted by Chaka
Well, we certainly disagree but I doubt I ever said you were crazy. Look, the Colts have been competitive since Ballard got here, with the exception of the Luck retirement year (and the 2017 season when Ballard was just hired, and Luck was unavailable).
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Our definition of competitive is different. I’m talking competitive for Super Bowls or at least conference titles games, not wild card spots. And even then his record is spotty. I expect more - especially after so many years in charge and all the preaching to be patient because he was building a dynasty.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chaka
Ballard's strategy is predicated on the homegrown players maintaining their level of performance. That's been a problem this year, for some weird reason that nobody has figured out. Except where injuries played a role, the weak spots on the roster are Ballard's responsibility in large part (though I'm certain he also receives input from coaches, scouts etc. on players like Pryor before deciding to give him the starting spot), and in most cases he's got a young, high draft pick in place for the future.
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Having someone in place for the future means shit for that season. And that is the point. Signing Rivers and trading for Ryan should have been win now moves, except Ballard never acted like it with the rest of the roster. He left holes to be addressed later. He has done that every year, but it’s especially egregious those two years.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chaka
And the simple reality is that the elite teams tend to have elite QBs, and the Colts haven't had that despite their best efforts to the contrary. I'm glad you're willing to give Ballard a pass on the QB issue, because I think it's warranted. No matter how much people hate him now, Wentz was a worthwhile gamble. The other, more veteran QBs were also probably the right move for a team that, by all accounts, otherwise seemed ready to compete.
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I can make an argument to justify most of his QB moves. I don’t necessarily agree with his handling though. Continuing to focus on the rest of the roster while hoping to luck into a QB hasn’t made sense to me as an overall strategy. The good things he has built will likely be being dismantled by the time they have the position solved. Especially considering Ballard is unlikely to “overpay” to move up in the draft to acquire one. Unless Irsay dictates it now.
And again - Rivers and Ryan are justifiably to me only if you believe you were trying to win. Yet Ballard left major holes unaddressed with the idea they’ll be fixed in the future. He made “win now” moves at QB but treated the rest of the roster as a rebuilding year. He did this in the name of the financial responsibility and flexibility you promote. I’m still waiting to see the benefits of this system on the field.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chaka
I've never said Ballard is perfect, but I'm convinced that Ballard's strategy is solid. If he's run out of Indy with pitchforks, he'll just succeed elsewhere.
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Until he changes his philosophy he will have to hang his hat on his talent evaluation and not on his team building. There is a difference