2020 with Philip Rivers, 2021 with TBD ...... the Unenviable Dilemma of Chris Ballard

[rm1369]

I agree - Ballard has backed up his words in making the team more than the QB. The real question is - was it a smart move without a QB in place? It’s not that difficult to get where the Colts are now. What is difficult is finding a SuperBowl caliber QB once the rest of your roster is good. Definitely an unenviable position to be in.

[albany ed]

Originally Posted by rm1369

I agree - Ballard has backed up his words in making the team more than the QB. The real question is - was it a smart move without a QB in place? It’s not that difficult to get where the Colts are now. What is difficult is finding a SuperBowl caliber QB once the rest of your roster is good. Definitely an unenviable position to be in.

Ballard has made some brilliant decisions since coming here. However, he did not (nor could anyone) anticipate the Andrew Luck sudden retirement. He structured a team with a solid player at QB and who knows how they would have done this past year if Luck were still here. I won't fault any of his moves so far, and I only hope he can get some sort of really quality QB play this coming year to go along with this solid, young team.

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by albany ed

Ballard has made some brilliant decisions since coming here. However, he did not (nor could anyone) anticipate the Andrew Luck sudden retirement. He structured a team with a solid player at QB and who knows how they would have done this past year if Luck were still here. I won't fault any of his moves so far, and I only hope he can get some sort of really quality QB play this coming year to go along with this solid, young team.

Let me be clear - I’m not faulting Ballard. You don’t have to blame him to deal with reality. The Colts are in the same position a lot teams find themselves in. Last off season he chose to continue building the roster instead of solving the QB issue. That’s fine. It’s not an easy issue to address and may take more than one offseason. I said last year that if he didn’t see his future QB in the that draft he should push the the #2s to this year (they typically bring a #1) to have more trade ammo to move up for his guy in this draft. That obviously has consequences. So does not having a QB. We’ll see how he handles it this offseason.

My only point is that any team building a roster that doesn’t prioritize the QB position is taking a risk. I like Ballard, he’s made some great moves. But he’s also going into his 5th offseason and the team has no QB, no LT, huge questions at edge rusher, and no playoff wins. So I’m not going to suck his dick. It’s not entirely his fault, but if at some point he doesn’t realize QB is not just another position then all his other work likely won’t matter at all. That’s simply reality.

[Puck]

Originally Posted by rm1369

Let me be clear - I’m not faulting Ballard. You don’t have to blame him to deal with reality. The Colts are in the same position a lot teams find themselves in. Last off season he chose to continue building the roster instead of solving the QB issue. That’s fine. It’s not an easy issue to address and may take more than one offseason. I said last year that if he didn’t see his future QB in the that draft he should push the the #2s to this year (they typically bring a #1) to have more trade ammo to move up for his guy in this draft. That obviously has consequences. So does not having a QB. We’ll see how he handles it this offseason.

My only point is that any team building a roster that doesn’t prioritize the QB position is taking a risk. I like Ballard, he’s made some great moves. But he’s also going into his 5th offseason and the team has no QB, no LT, huge questions at edge rusher, and no playoff wins. So I’m not going to suck his dick. It’s not entirely his fault, but if at some point he doesn’t realize QB is not just another position then all his other work likely won’t matter at all. That’s simply reality.

We beat Houston in the playoffs last yr

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by Puck

We beat Houston in the playoffs last yr

You are correct (year before) - my mistake.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by rm1369

Let me be clear - I’m not faulting Ballard. You don’t have to blame him to deal with reality. The Colts are in the same position a lot teams find themselves in. Last off season he chose to continue building the roster instead of solving the QB issue. That’s fine. It’s not an easy issue to address and may take more than one offseason. I said last year that if he didn’t see his future QB in the that draft he should push the the #2s to this year (they typically bring a #1) to have more trade ammo to move up for his guy in this draft. That obviously has consequences. So does not having a QB. We’ll see how he handles it this offseason.

My only point is that any team building a roster that doesn’t prioritize the QB position is taking a risk. I like Ballard, he’s made some great moves. But he’s also going into his 5th offseason and the team has no QB, no LT, huge questions at edge rusher, and no playoff wins. So I’m not going to suck his dick. It’s not entirely his fault, but if at some point he doesn’t realize QB is not just another position then all his other work likely won’t matter at all. That’s simply reality.

Not really seeing it the way you do on the QB issue. Luck retired unexpectedly, so year one post-Luck he's forced to go with a wild card - Brissett - and quickly brought in an experienced backup (Hoyer). Not surprisingly, things didn't click.

Year two, he brings in Rivers, an older but certainly above average QB, on a one-year deal. He resists Rivers' overtures for a two-year deal, presumably because he think better options may become available and doesn't want to be locked in to Rivers for more than one year. He also uses a mid-level pick on a highly rated but project QB (Eason) - giving the Colts at least a year to see what he can do, and also providing a potential low-cost replacement for the expensive Brissett as a backup QB.

Now we are in year three post-Luck, and I don't think anyone outside the organization really knows what his QB plan is, but he's said quite clearly in interviews that he understands the importance of the QB position but won't be pressured into making the wrong move. I believe him - he's held firm on his vision so far despite howls of protest at times, while demonstrating that he's not afraid to make a decisive move if the opportunity presents itself (Buckner). He's also put the Colts in a good position via the cap to make such a move.

Whether that move is Wentz, Darnold, Trubisky or someone else, I don't know. I really don't think it will be a draftee though. We will have an experienced QB at the helm when the season starts. And whoever it is, given Ballard's demonstrated restraint, I'll be fairly confident that he's been vetted thoroughly and is likely to succeed.

[rcubed]

Originally Posted by rm1369

But he’s also going into his 5th offseason and the team has no QB, no LT, huge questions at edge rusher, and no playoff wins. So I’m not going to suck his dick. It’s not entirely his fault, but if at some point he doesn’t realize QB is not just another position then all his other work likely won’t matter at all. That’s simply reality.

Come on man. Dumb. Its not his 5th season with no QB. Luck nuked his plan two years ago. First season there wasn’t enough time to effectively replace Luck. Year two he got a vet who knows the system in the middle of a global pandemic and didnt kill the teams future. Overall rivers did well then retired. He also drafted a potential QB either starter or back up and continues the search.

What fantastic long term QB should he have gotten over the last couple years? They dont just come available. We would have exploded he he gave up what the rams did for stafford. No one seems to really want wentz or darnold.

If you think he doesn’t know the QB is uber important then you are dense. I dont care what he has said in the past, but Luck was a huge reason he took the colts GM job. He knows but his plan hit a huge landmine a couple years in. Teams go decades without finding their franchise QB. Lets hope he can do it quicker than that.


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[rm1369]

Originally Posted by rcubed

Come on man. Dumb. Its not his 5th season with no QB.

Who the fuck said it was?

[/QUOTE] Teams go decades without finding their franchise QB. Lets hope he can do it quicker than that. [/QUOTE]

No fucking shit? What’s the long term outlook for those teams? Sounds like that is exactly what the fuck I am saying. I’m not criticizing him for not having found one, I’m questioning how much all the other great shit he does without one will matter. That’s fucking it. But because I’m not bowing down and sucking his dick you guys get your panties all fucking twisted. I’ve repeatedly said I like Ballard. Repeatedly said I don’t envy his position. But yes I must be dense because I don’t believe he values a QB to the same degree I do. Which is fine. We’ll see how it plays out.

I fucking said last year what I think he should have done if he didn’t think one of the QBs was worth going after - push draft capital into the future to help move up for a QB this year. They went a different route. I didn’t say it was stupid. I’m not throwing a fucking fit. I would have went a different way. Apparently that’s too much criticism. Jesus fucking Christ.

[rcubed]

Originally Posted by rm1369

Who the fuck said it was?

You did.

Originally Posted by rm1369

But he’s also going into his 5th offseason and the team has no QB, no ...

Then said something implying not prioritizing the QB. Its not like he has plethora of choices. Lets see what he does. I suspect a trade up in the draft, but what the hell do I know!?

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by rcubed

You did.



Then said something implying not prioritizing the QB. Its not like he has plethora of choices. Lets see what he does. I suspect a trade up in the draft, but what the hell do I know!?

The fuck I did. I pointed out how long Ballard has been in charge in reference to the team not having a known long term solution at ANY of the 3 (in my view) most important positions. I don’t blame Ballard for not having a franchise QB. I have concerns with what it appears his method is. There is a significant difference.

If you suspect a trade up in the draft then Ballard would have done exactly what I want him to do - identify his guy and go get him. My ever so slight criticism stems from the assumption they won’t pay the price. It is admittedly an assumption, but one based on Ballard’s words (this year), his actions (last year), and the current rumors on Wentz.