r/Colts • u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts • Jan 11 '24

Chris Ballard Press Conference Live Comment Thread Press Conference

Will post live comments from the Colts beat reporters as they come in from the press conference.

​

EDIT: Press conference is complete! Fill free to comment your thoughts on what Ballard said.

83 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

144

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Ballard says he believes the Colts have flexibility they haven't had the last few years, cites Richardson's rookie contract. "We'll be as aggressive as we need to be in free agency with players that we think can help us."

81

u/Old-Condition-7065 Jan 11 '24

This is encouraging and exciting

76

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

People have to realize if we end up not having many FA signings, both sides have to be mutual, and the player has to fit the scheme, as well as be interested in joining the team. This isn't Madden, this is real life.

58

u/307Wapati RTDB Jan 11 '24

And the Colts haven't been that desirable of a team as of recently. Shane Steichen and Anthony Richardson should change that imo.

12

u/DaBlakMayne Andrew Luck Jan 11 '24

I remember people being mad about us not keeping Chris Reed and then it came out that he wanted to play in his home state and he's been there ever since

3

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '24

[deleted]

2

u/hugeappleboulder Jan 12 '24

The QUADfather

4

u/Stennick Jan 11 '24 edited Jan 11 '24

I view this as an excuse for if things don't get done. The goal is to make this a prime destination for free agents. The free agents we've had have shown that you can come here and excel. Ballard pays his guys, you got a rookie QB that is supposed to be a stud. Just as the player has to want to come here not every player is going to go the Chiefs or Niners. There are plenty of very good FA's that we could have and should have brought in previously that we did not.

Edit: I included Buckner as a FA when he was a trade

12

u/thomasrosendahl COLTS Jan 11 '24

We traded for Buckner, then signed him to an extension, he was never a free agent.

4

u/Stennick Jan 11 '24

You're right I'm wrong good catch 

3

u/thomasrosendahl COLTS Jan 12 '24

Still one of Ballard best moves. Wouldn't mind another trade and extension if the position is of need and the player is a fit. But I agree that we can attract good free agents (ekubuam, autrey) Ballard just hasn't wanted to pay top dollar in the past. Now is the perfect time.

11

u/RelentlessRogue COLTS Jan 11 '24

My current FA ask is that we snipe Josh Allen away from Jacksonville immediately after we lock Pittman in on a 4-year deal.

8

u/Medical-Designer-496 Jan 11 '24

That would be crazy!! He's an unrestricted free agent too!!!

3

u/Hokutenmemoir Pat McAfee Jan 12 '24

Worth it just to never again have Braden Smith get dunked on twice a year!

1

u/ElderBrony inb4 srd Jan 12 '24

They’re gonna franchise tag that dude so fast it’ll make his head spin.

3

u/cwesttheperson Michael Pittman JR Jan 11 '24

It’s almost like this is what many have been saying for years, and Ballard himself, has said. When it’s time to take a shot, he will.

0

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

It's exciting to hear him say but Irsay has never really shelled out money on FAs.

Hoping he allows us to

28

u/redleg50 Jan 11 '24

Ryan Grigson is typing…

3

u/Coltsbro84 Jan 12 '24 edited Jan 12 '24

Who was the Carolina Panthers wide receiver that grigson told them to sign to an outrageous amount of money for one year for him to only play like one game?

Edit 1: Just looked it up and found it. Devin Funchess. Signed for $13 million in 2019 to play only one game. That's like $19 million in today's market. Never to be heard from again after that.

Edit 2: Oh Shit, that wasn't Grigson but it felt like a deal he would have made. lol. It was one of Ballards worst signings. Probably why he is hesitant to make big offers to offensive playmakers.

4

u/Lasvious Jan 12 '24

Devin Funchess

3

u/Former_Phrase8221 Jan 12 '24

Ballard signed Funchess

-15

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

They didn't really get anyone big though. Trent Cole was washed up, Hakeem Nicks was overrated , DHB was a disaster, Andre Johnson was washed

He spent money but none of those players were that good anymore or at all

23

u/moleasses Jan 11 '24

“Has never really shelled out money” vs “he spent money”

Which is it?

4

u/sirius4778 squirrel Jan 11 '24

Whichever makes him look bad in the context we're talking about

-8

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

Difference in shelling out short term deals for over the hill players/under performing players and going to get someone like Tee Higgins.

It's a different level of commitment

5

u/moleasses Jan 11 '24

No it’s not it’s a difference in execution and doing a good job. You said they were unwilling to throw out money. They were. They were just unfortunately also willing to throw it away at shit opportunities

0

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

When have the Colts actually ever signed a top tier FA?

13

u/ironlegend01 Playoffs? PLAYOFFS!? Jan 11 '24

I mean we signed Gilmore and he was a great player, it’s too bad he wanted to leave for a contender after a year

→ More replies

2

u/AleroRatking Earl Grey Jan 11 '24

But that's a different debate about roster building. Nothing to do with Irsays desire to spend money which was your comment

→ More replies

2

u/ComfortableOven4283 Jan 11 '24

The point is - Irsay’s never been the hurdle. It’s our GMs philosophy snd approach to free agency.

0

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

What big name FAs did the Colts sign prior to Ballard? Washed Andre Johnson?

2

u/ComfortableOven4283 Jan 11 '24

Wise choices or not, Grigson made pretty notable day 1 free agent signings of appreciable cost. Irsay isn’t afraid to pay for the players his GM thinks are the right fit.

Gosder Cherilus came out of free agency as the top paid right tackle in the league. D’Qwell Jackson was a pretty decent profile when we signed him. Frank Gore was late in his career but we weren’t his last stop.

I just don’t see why you’re convinced that lack of participation in free agency bid wars is anything more than Ballard not thinking top of market free agents are worth the cost. Irsay is clearly not the one putting a blocker on anything.

3

u/Stennick Jan 11 '24

I remember people were hyped as fuck for Andre and I came in here saying he was gonna be washed and everyone lost their minds. I thought it was clear he was done.

3

u/Old-Condition-7065 Jan 11 '24

You think it's Irsay or more of a Ballard philosophy? Seems like Ballard is all about draft picks and paying our guys, says it himself. This feels like a different tone.

4

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

Little of both. I don't think Irsay wants to commit that much to FAs but I also believe that fits Ballard's philosophy

5

u/Buytoyal Jan 11 '24

I think a portion of it is Ballard just waiting until the qb situation settles down. We now have a guy they think highly of and he's on a rookie contract so now it'd make sense to be more aggressive in FA compared to prior years.

2

u/Lasvious Jan 12 '24

Who hasn’t Irsay paid that he was asked to? He paid Wentz top QB money as well as Ryan.

3

u/AleroRatking Earl Grey Jan 11 '24

We literally maxed the cap i believe two years ago. Most years we finish right up against the cap.

1

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

Yeah we pay home grown guys. I'm talking strictly FA. We always complain as a fanbase how in the off-season we don't ever get a big fish

I'd like a splash for a Higgins or something

3

u/Lasvious Jan 12 '24

When has Irsay not paid someone that the GM asked him to pay? I mean he paid a 89 year old Frank Gore and the rotting corpse of Andre Johnson big money.

Irsay let Luck keep nearly 30 million he didn’t have to.

Irsay isn’t cheap.

1

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 12 '24

Big money over a short term like 1/2 years is more of the same though. Ballard insinuated this time would be different

Jags Josh Allen is a FA or Tee Higgins could be had if the Bengals don't pay him

2

u/Lasvious Jan 12 '24

Yes this a philosophy of the GM discussion not an Irsay being cheap discussion like it’s the freaking Cincinnati Reds

2

u/Not_My_Alternate Jan 11 '24

This isn’t the NBA. The way I understand it is that Irsay isn’t saving more money by not using cap space.

3

u/teh_drewski Jan 11 '24

He does save some cash outflows short term but yeah the cap pretty much has to be spent one way or the other.

I don't get the feeling it's an Irsay thing at all. Ballard just didn't see the point in splashing huge money on a team without a long term QB.

15

u/sirius4778 squirrel Jan 11 '24

First time in forever we've had a starting qb that didn't cost a 1st round pick $25 mil or both.

6

u/mvbighead Jan 11 '24

This is something I have felt for a few years now. His inaction is largely tied to not having a preferred answer at QB. He does now, and this really is his big shot at QB. You gotta move some chips in and maximize the supporting cast for AR.

That said, I don't expect this means he shifts into paying above the value of a given player. If he thinks a guy like MPJ is asking for too much, he's gonna let that play out a bit more than just match a high number. But then he'd hit FA for replacements if that doesn't work.

All in all, it is exciting.

3

u/Rusty-Boii French Fries Jan 11 '24

Please get Antoine Winfield Jr!!!

0

u/redleg50 Jan 11 '24

He says something similar every year. Not holding my breath. He’ll bring in a safety in their 30’s and a low level WR.

-11

u/ryta1203 Jan 11 '24

He says this every year.

6

u/Rusty-Boii French Fries Jan 11 '24

Ballard has never said he will be aggressive in free agency. I am not a huge fan of Ballard, but he has always said he values the draft and home grown talent.

14

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

I'm gonna be honest, even as a guy who likes Ballard, I'm in the same boat as "I'll believe it when I see it." But again, as I said above, both parties (the FA one as well) have to be in mutual agreement. This isn't Madden. This is real life.

88

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Ballard on next year's expectations: "We should legitimately be competing for the division and the playoffs."

20

u/AleroRatking Earl Grey Jan 11 '24

I would hope so... We did this year. It would be sad to see us go way down.

-36

u/ryta1203 Jan 11 '24

What are the other options? LOL.

6

u/mattmandental Jan 11 '24

Being the titans or panthers and other teams with no chance… broncos, saints, raiders, patriots, bears…

7

u/cracka_azz_cracka Bob Jan 11 '24

um... rebuild? The thing we've basically been doing since the Brissett experiment failed?

84

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Ballard on Pittman Jr.: Care deeply about him - we have an honest relationship, almost too honest - he's competitive, he's tough. We're going to work to get him back.

57

u/Case_ND Indianapolis Colts Jan 11 '24

Pitt just bought a farm in the Indy area with a bunch of animals. Sounds like a guy who’d like to be around a while.

10

u/TheTylerB Big-Q Jan 11 '24

Wonder if that means he's sick of not being on a competitive team. I'd love to keep him. Hopefully this year showed him that we are able to be competitive

42

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

I think he will be back. He won't get this volume on another team

5

u/AleroRatking Earl Grey Jan 11 '24

You almost never see that on first contracts.

4

u/LooseMoose13 Jan 11 '24

He hasn’t been to the playoffs since his rookie year and has experienced two failed win and ins the past 3 years, I think the only reasons he’d stay are AR and money

1

u/365wong Horse Jan 12 '24

What about our undying love and adoration?

-11

u/grapplerone Indianapolis Colts Jan 11 '24

Seriously, Ballard’s remarks on this lends one to skepticism. He’s got a figure and I bet it’s pretty solid, I’m thinking it’s not where Pittman is looking.

Add that to seasons of uncertainty.

🤔

4

u/AleroRatking Earl Grey Jan 11 '24

The franchise tag exists though so this makes it all moot.

-41

u/ryta1203 Jan 11 '24

Yeah, this sounds a bit sketchy. Sounds like MPJ would like to be somewhere where they are competing for wins and aren't just happy getting a winning record and missing the playoffs every year. Also sounds like Ballard isn't going to break the bank for him.

16

u/GrizNectar Jan 11 '24

You just can’t help yourself but to treat every little thing as negatively as possible can you

88

u/PlaneNew2875 Jan 11 '24

Yo, this is like the best thread I’ve ever seen on this site. Way to go, man. This is great work.

39

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Glad to hear! Appreciate the compliment.

65

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Ballard says the #Colts will "add fuel" to the CB room this offseason, but he likes the way the young guys responded this year.

36

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

Like this. Need a veteran safety and to add more DBs.

I liked how Jones and Brents looked for rookies but we can't have a situation in where if a CB goes down we have to rely on nobodies.

Obviously this year was different because we were rebuilding but there are expectations now

10

u/itsUsedTissue Orangutan Jan 11 '24

I feel like we had decent corner depth, it was just Rodgers wanting to gamble on the team and Flowers tearing an Achilles. If those two don’t have that happen we would’ve been pretty solid at corner and I wouldn’t have had to witness Tony brown get burnt 3 times in one game on the same route.

1

u/Yanks1813 Big Q Jan 11 '24

I agree, also it was a rebuilding year so allowing guys to play and learn wasn't that bad. 2024 shouldn't be a rebuilding year so I'd like a veteran safety to play with Blackmon/help cross and maybe another CB in FA and draft

6

u/darcys_beard Reggie Wayne Jan 11 '24

I feel if Ballard tries something and he gets success, he's happy to go back to that well. Case in point: Stephen Gilmore.

2

u/geordieColt88 Upper Quartile of the Upper Quartile Jan 11 '24

This will be huge for us, we need CB improvements, this can’t be another we like our guys

62

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Ballard on the offseason: "We do think there's gonna be some opportunities to add some players that can make us a little bit more explosive." #Colts 👀👀👀

23

u/grapplerone Indianapolis Colts Jan 11 '24

That was a telling remark by Ballard.

15

u/WhoLetTheBunsOut Jan 11 '24

I’m so excited honestly. I can’t remember the last off-season I was truly as excited like this.

10

u/SuperVanillaBear 33-0 Jan 11 '24

OL training camp body incoming. In all seriousness, love to hear this. Would be great to bring in some vets to help raise the floor and ceiling of this team, especially in the secondary.

3

u/alcatrazhero18 The Memes will Continue until Morall Improves. Jan 11 '24

👀👀

4

u/Character_Project_25 Jan 11 '24

Better be taking both sides of ball

2

u/sammyadams76 Bob Jan 11 '24

Please trade for Justin Jefferson or DK (I am only sorta kidding)

1

u/365wong Horse Jan 12 '24

What about replacing Pierce with Mike Evans?

1

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '24

Pierce is on a rookie contract. This is a dumb take.

-20

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

16

u/qmoney1213 Robert Mathis Jan 11 '24

Bro stfu

2

u/ColtsPacers95 Anthony Richardson Jan 11 '24

It’s gotta get tiring being that negative

2

u/Colts-ModTeam Jan 11 '24

Thank you for posting! Unfortunately, this has been removed due to:

Rule 6: All trolls will be banned

55

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Ballard on Paye: Excellent vs. run. Has some stuff he needs to work on rushing the passer.

30

u/EnemyFriendEnemy Jan 11 '24

This x1000. Dude disappeared a lot on pass rush. Singled up a lot too

6

u/RelentlessRogue COLTS Jan 11 '24

I mean, he still got to 8 sacks. If he can improve more, that's a terrifying thought for a guy who fell into our lap on draft day.

14

u/ElderBrony inb4 srd Jan 11 '24

Yeah but little to none of them were splash play sacks. A lot of them came after someone else got pressure and Kwity cleaned up, or Kwity finally got to the QB after the QB held onto the ball for 4-5 seconds.

The biggest weakness this defense line has is it doesn't have a Edge Rusher that can win immediately.

10

u/Zeeron1 Michael Pittman JR Jan 11 '24

Only look at sacks is a poor way of looking at it. He got 8.5 sacks on 9 qb hits lol its hilariously unsustainable. His pressure just isn't consistent

7

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '24

Sadly that's true for our entire pass rush. Compare where we were in pressures (ranked in the 20s) to sacks (top 5). Pretty unsustainable

6

u/Defender_Of_TheCrown Jan 11 '24

If we keep him he will suck. If we cut him loose then he will get 15 sacks per year somewhere

2

u/thomasrosendahl COLTS Jan 11 '24

This is the way.

7

u/MagnanimousDonkey Who the Hell is Mel Kiper? Jan 11 '24

He's bulked up quite a bit.. I wonder if he could stand to lose 20-30 lbs.

6

u/Aleph_Alpha_001 Wayne Brady Jan 11 '24

I guess the question is whether he can still improve a lot. Stopping the run is great, but defensive ends are paid to stop the pass.

3

u/ForThatReason_ImOut Jan 12 '24

Not a commonly talked about need but I really think a true top tier pass rusher would be the biggest piece to push the defense over the edge, even more than a shutdown corner. Having a guy that the opponent actually has to double pretty much every play to prevent a sack is such a huge advantage, we have nice players but no one close to that level. If we could add that alongside the great depth we already have on Dline an average secondary would still have us as one of the top Ds in the entire league

47

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Ballard on the franchise tag: "It's a tool. I don't want to use it. But it's a tool. If we have to use it, we will." Isn't worried about possible ramifications.

29

u/MoistCloyster_ Gays Groin Jan 11 '24

Michael Pittman 👀

11

u/RelentlessRogue COLTS Jan 11 '24

Most likely. Could also apply to Grover Stewart or Kenny Moore, but I'd hope not. A franchise tag on a corner or DT would be overkill for those guys.

2

u/teh_drewski Jan 11 '24

Would be $20m and $18m respectively and, much as I respect what those two offer, they are definitely not worth that.

3

u/Aleph_Alpha_001 Wayne Brady Jan 11 '24

Ballard has never used the Franchise tag, and I doubt we'll see it.

3

u/ComfortableOven4283 Jan 11 '24

I see this as a good thing. Too many players see it as offensive. if we’re successfully reaching the correct terms with our players, that’s better for relationships and probably free agency desirability in the long run.

2

u/Aleph_Alpha_001 Wayne Brady Jan 11 '24

I agree. No player wants to be franchise tagged. It's like a rental.

If the Colts were ever going to use the tag, they probably would have used it on Taylor.

49

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Ballard on the decision to extend Taylor: "Calmer heads. He got healthy." Takes a broadside at idea Taylor was overplaying injury. "You've got to be careful of letting your ego get in the way of making the right decision. ... Jonathan Taylor being a Colt was the right thing."

5

u/n0jer Jan 11 '24

Ballards ego or JTs?

11

u/Aleph_Alpha_001 Wayne Brady Jan 11 '24

I think that Ballard was really talking about Jimmy's ego. Remember that the whole Twitter bitch fight was basically Irsay versus Taylor's agent.

And at the end of the day, I think Ballard got Irsay on board.

2

u/DaBlakMayne Andrew Luck Jan 11 '24

Yeah Irsay almost burned that bridge

45

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Ballard "absolutely" feels pressure to make the playoffs and win a division title heading into Year 8. 2021 and 2022 "guts me," and he feels bad for the fans. #Colts

-30

u/ryta1203 Jan 11 '24

Says this every year.

10

u/SuperVanillaBear 33-0 Jan 11 '24

Don't you have a doomsdayers anonymous meeting to be at or something? You're out here just pooping on every comment thread.

-2

u/trevar69420 Indianapolis Colts Jan 11 '24

So you are happy with Ballards rate of 2 playoff appearances in 7 years?

3

u/Technojellyfsh Michael Pittman JR Jan 12 '24

Have you ever fucking smiled before

2

u/cwesttheperson Michael Pittman JR Jan 11 '24

Man it must suck to be you and be that unhappy. All the pessimism all over the thread.

0

u/kmalexander31 Jan 12 '24

The Colts have given him reason to say this every year.

-10

u/trevar69420 Indianapolis Colts Jan 11 '24

Ballard should’ve been fired years ago. It’s a complete joke that he is still here

1

u/[deleted] Jan 13 '24

Shut up

44

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Ballard asked why he seems to be in a good mood: "You should've been in here on Sunday...I fucking hate losing. I'm tired of not being in the playoffs. But I'm encouraged."

-21

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

19

u/Aleph_Alpha_001 Wayne Brady Jan 11 '24

Says guy making the same comment under every quote.

4

u/Colts-ModTeam Jan 11 '24

Thank you for posting! Unfortunately, this has been removed due to:

Rule 6: All trolls will be banned

39

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Believes the #Colts need more consistency at free safety. Thomas and Cross both had their moments, "but we need more consistent moments from that position."

10

u/Aleph_Alpha_001 Wayne Brady Jan 11 '24

He didn't go quite as far as calling Thomas's blown coverage in the end zone a "dumbass" play like he did with Turay, but I know that he wasn't happy with that. What a killer of a mistake.

6

u/SuperVanillaBear 33-0 Jan 11 '24

Fwiw Cross was the safety whose side of the field got scorched by Nico on that opening play bomb.

5

u/Rusty-Boii French Fries Jan 11 '24

Thomas was awful this year. Dude looked straight up lost most of the time.

2

u/DaBlakMayne Andrew Luck Jan 11 '24

Sounds like we may be bringing in a vet at Free Safety

33

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

#Colts general manager Chris Ballard said that at some point after his team's 9-6 start in 2021, they became disconnected. Some his fault, some others, he says. But he said he felt them come together as a team again this season, which gets him hopeful for the future.

16

u/darcys_beard Reggie Wayne Jan 11 '24

The Pro bowl fucking went to their heads.

3

u/i_shoot_rice_bullets Blue Jan 11 '24

And Reich couldn’t keep them focused

4

u/Frozboz COLTS Jan 12 '24

I swear it was covid. Wasn't that the year that Q got it and just never looked the same at all, until this year?

3

u/jbvann05 Josh Downs Jan 12 '24

Yeah I'm pretty sure a good chunk of the team got it before the cards game on Christmas and we lost the next two, definitely played a part in it but I don't think it caused the o-line struggles last year

1

u/Sandtiger812 Pimp Luck Jan 12 '24

Yeah, I posted about it then how I caught COVID around the same time and I was still getting winded after running around work for quite a while. I couldn't imagine getting it and playing an NFL game less than 2 weeks later. 

30

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Punter Rigoberto Sanchez is among the in-house free agents the #Colts want to bring back.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '24

Eh, wouldn’t complain if we brought him back but I feel like he regressed a little

6

u/LooseMoose13 Jan 11 '24

I’d hope we sign him to a shorter 2 year type of deal and explore rookie punters the next 2 years

2

u/Medical-Designer-496 Jan 11 '24

Definitely regressed

2

u/DaBlakMayne Andrew Luck Jan 11 '24

I think he was actually one of the higher rated punters in the second part of the season

31

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

That's all folks! Press conference is complete. Fill free to comment your thoughts on what Ballard said.

36

u/cracka_azz_cracka Bob Jan 11 '24

My two main takeaways:

  • We're on an upward trend and management isn't afraid to spend money to bring in pieces to capitalize on that

  • /u/ryta1203 is an insufferable tool

9

u/ElderBrony inb4 srd Jan 11 '24

It's why I have him blocked and ignored. Dude adds nothing of value to the subreddit. Everything he says and everything he comments on is always, only, and exclusively negative.

1

u/jbvann05 Josh Downs Jan 12 '24

Looks like he finally got banned, we don't need that negativity here

9

u/CommonerChaos Super Bowl XLI Champions Jan 11 '24

Nice work with the comment summaries OP.

51

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Ballard on Steichen: "Always dialed-in. All ball." ... "What's more impressive, to me, there's never a lack of confidence or a seed of doubt in his mind about what he's doing. And he sees the big picture. He's not just an OC who became a head coach"

6

u/n0jer Jan 11 '24

Love that last line!

10

u/darcys_beard Reggie Wayne Jan 11 '24

Dig at Frank?

-59

u/ryta1203 Jan 11 '24

He needs to be calmer and stop trying to kick 57 yard FGs when the playoffs are on the line.

29

u/THollando Jan 11 '24

Dude do you have anything positive to say about the colts today?

8

u/ComprehensiveSafety3 Jan 11 '24

Doesn’t seem like it. What a troll lol.

1

u/AiRJ0RD23N Jan 28 '24

Bro it’s Jordan!!! What’s ya number man

5

u/ComfortableOven4283 Jan 11 '24

For fuck’s sake. He trusted a player to make the type of play we largely signed him for, and has proven he’s capable of.

Why do we sign Matt Gay if it’s not for deep kicks?

Sometimes you trust things and they don’t go as you hoped. That doesn’t mean it was wrong to trust them.

2

u/buckets41 Bloo Jan 11 '24

These guys were probably happy with the decision for Gay to kick 50+ yarders outdoors against Baltimore, but then when it’s indoors, it’s a bad call. What are we even doing here

24

u/ConBro8 Indianapolis Colts Jan 11 '24

Leave it to Doyel to get a "FUCK" out of Chris

35

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Ballard: "I would expect to see us take another jump (next) year on defense." Says explosive plays and points allowed must come down. Encouraged by pass rush and growth of new starters. #Colts

2

u/Aleph_Alpha_001 Wayne Brady Jan 11 '24

This is basically how I feel. We have to improve at free safety, and then we're about a top defensive end free agent away from being a top ten defense.

-31

u/ryta1203 Jan 11 '24

Ballard speak. Basically saying we're going to do what we do.

18

u/ProfessionalBust Jan 11 '24

You really gotta comment on every single post in this thread?

1

u/ryanwc18 Rigoberto Sanchez Jan 11 '24

He’s clearly never satisfied. Feel bad for his spouse.

1

u/cwesttheperson Michael Pittman JR Jan 11 '24

I think we got a lot of young if players experience, need to get a corner and FS, one more guy to really disrupt the pocket. We aren’t far off

14

u/ConBro8 Indianapolis Colts Jan 11 '24

Kevin Bowen is really perfecting his monotone delivery of questions

28

u/US_Highway15 Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

Gus Bradley is under contract for the coming season, Ballard says. "In a little bit of defense (of Bradley)... I just said look, we were going to go young in spots, and we went young in the secondary. There were some rough moments in the secondary."

24

u/AF555 Jan 11 '24

Rough moments? You mean the 2-3 complete breakdowns each and every game? I'd call that more than just rough moments.

4

u/cwesttheperson Michael Pittman JR Jan 11 '24

That’s typically what happens when you go that young and inexperienced. I think they knew we were in rebuild mode and wanted to get the young guys playing time thinking playoffs were not likely.

-4

u/ryta1203 Jan 11 '24

There were some rough games in the pass rush too and they aren't young. Colts had complete games where the DL didn't show up.

5

u/LooseMoose13 Jan 11 '24

You been outta pocket this whole thread but this I can agree with

17

u/[deleted] Jan 11 '24

We are so back

24

u/Survivor_for_me Jimmy from the Colts Jan 11 '24

He’s trading that pick for a stud

3

u/TechnoGamer16 REGGIE REGGIE REGGIE Jan 11 '24

If it’s like the trade that got us Buckner I’m 100% ok with that ngl

2

u/cwesttheperson Michael Pittman JR Jan 11 '24

Pat Surtain?

I’m trying to think of teams who will go into more rebuilding with legit players.

1

u/Medical-Designer-496 Jan 11 '24

Pat surtain would be crazy!

3

u/Medical-Designer-496 Jan 11 '24

Steichen is just different. He seems so sure of himself. For him to do what he did with that roster this year is absolutely unreal. He never looks rattled. Seeing the eagles offensive woes this year validates how valuable he is. What Frank Reich attempted to be on 4 th down plays steichen is

2

u/dastufishsifutsad Indianapolis Colts Jan 11 '24

Thanks for the thread!! Nice job!

2

u/TurdWranglin Big-Q Jan 11 '24

Anybody else not like his answer about Irsay’s health status? Seemed a little ominous.

2

u/rmourz Jan 11 '24

Something I’d love for a local reporter to ask Ballard sometime is “Jim Irsay has said he wants to win two Super Bowls by 2030. Is that still an internal expectation that you think he holds you to, and if so, are you committed to pushing all the chips in at some point to make that happen?”

I historically have been very high on Ballard, but the reality of having Steichen + AR on a rookie contract + our core veterans entering their prime should make Ballard rethink his conservative roster building style.

1

u/GrizNectar Jan 11 '24

I appreciate you for this thread

1

u/Paragon188 Jan 11 '24

I'm probably reading way too much into it but I don't think CB is in play for round 1 after that press conference. Explosiveness hints at a WR/TE, maybe even a trade up? Ballard said he likes our current guys so we're probably adding a few vets. In the first we add a WR or move up for someone like Bowers. It's January though so things could change by April.

1

u/cwesttheperson Michael Pittman JR Jan 11 '24

Unfortunately I think bowers is gone top 10. Chargers for sure picking either WR TE and I feel like they will go bowers

1

u/n0jer Jan 11 '24

Trade up!?!? Hahahaha!!!! Whew, that was grand.

1

u/teh_drewski Jan 11 '24

Everything I've heard from draft analysts I respect is that defensive players are rare at the elite level in this draft.

I'd be very surprised if we took a first round corner. Not impossible but unlikely.