Ballard and Steichen are safe

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

I shouldn't get into the trees with folks about Ballard. He isn't a horrific GM and was excellent to start with so many of his moves can be seen and are very good moves. My bottom line is that a decade of not being able to produce a winning team should be enough. It isn't and we will be back here next year again watching the playoffs I fear. He isn't a winner in this long and now is going to lead us to the promise land. I hope so but man it is a hard sell.

He’s not a horrible GM, he’s mediocre. He gives guys like Kray just enough ammunition to convince themselves and others it’s someone else’s fault (Reich, Irsay) or it’s bad luck. And many will tell you how it could be worse, so better not make a change. To me it can’t get much worse than the mediocrity. I’d rather they be bad honestly. 8-9 or 9-8 every year sucks. Watching teams in our division beat us, bottom out, rebuild, and beat us again sucks.

Sadly it makes sense to bring Ballard and Stechein back next year. Should be the last run for them though - short of a true contender run. And like you, I don’t see it with this team.

[IndyNorm]

Originally Posted by rm1369

He’s not a horrible GM, he’s mediocre. He gives guys like Kray just enough ammunition to convince themselves and others it’s someone else’s fault (Reich, Irsay) or it’s bad luck. And many will tell you how it could be worse, so better not make a change. To me it can’t get much worse than the mediocrity. I’d rather they be bad honestly. 8-9 or 9-8 every year sucks. Watching teams in our division beat us, bottom out, rebuild, and beat us again sucks.

Sadly it makes sense to bring Ballard and Stechein back next year. Should be the last run for them though - short of a true contender run. And like you, I don’t see it with this team.

The Irsay stuff is weird. Maybe there's some actual evidence of it other than message board speculation, but if Jim had been meddlesome to the point that he was preventing Ballard from doing his job then you would think Ballard would have bailed.

[Oldcolt]

Originally Posted by IndyNorm

The Irsay stuff is weird. Maybe there's some actual evidence of it other than message board speculation, but if Jim had been meddlesome to the point that he was preventing Ballard from doing his job then you would think Ballard would have bailed.

if Ballard truly did this happily for 9 years then that is who he is, and that isn't a dynamic leader in the least, more like a toady. I do not believe for a minute Ballard was or is that weak.

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by IndyNorm

The Irsay stuff is weird. Maybe there's some actual evidence of it other than message board speculation, but if Jim had been meddlesome to the point that he was preventing Ballard from doing his job then you would think Ballard would have bailed.

I do not at all believe Jim held Ballard back in FA. It’s been clear by words and actions what Ballards philosophy is. He’s told us since day one and he’s mostly followed it. The change this offseason was strictly him feeling the pressure from fans and ownership.

The one thing I concede MAY have been Irsay was starting AR so early. This team has completely fucked up any chance at developing him. AR obviously owns some responsibility but I tend to blame the team more. Ballard has stated he doesn’t believe in veteran leadership and mentoring and I believe that is exactly what AR needed. so even if he was forced to start AR by Irsay, I blame him for not bringing in a true veteran mentor for AR

Relying on your coaches and then hiring soft ass players coaches is a big part of this teams issue. They are soft, lack accountability, and there is no leadership in the locker room. And Ballard has told us he believes the coaches set the culture. It’s one of the first things he said that let me know this team was fucked. And he followed through with his actions.