Ballard 2024 end of year presser

[Racehorse]

Watching it now. He is owning his mistakes from the past. and it looks like he wants to make some serious changes to his style.

[Dewey 5]

On Anthony Richardson: "We knew when we took him it was going to be a roller coaster... The number 1 thing we have to figure out and have to work through is he's got to stay healthy. That, to me, is the biggest question."

"We have to have competition at the position ... because competition makes you better and because he's not proven he can stay healthy for 17 games."

On his team-building: "Right now, we're not close. I want to make that clear. Being close is losing on the last play of the of the Super Bowl. Going 8-9 is not close."

Re-signing and rewarding so. many of his own last offseason created a complacency and that was a major problem. Must be an edge in the locker room.

Apparently had a convo Zaire Franklin & I don't think it was comfortable for Franklin.

[Dewey 5]

He did say things I wanted to hear now lets see if there is action behind those words.

They also let DBs coach Ron Milus and LBs coach Richard Smith go

[rm1369]

Watching it now. He is owning his mistakes from the past. and it looks like he wants to make some serious changes to his style.

It’s better to hear him acknowledge mistakes than to double down on them, but I won’t believe it until we see it. He’s been the same guy from the beginning and the issues have been obvious from the beginning to anyone not drinking the Kool Aid. The only thing that’s changed is that he’s running out of excuses. I’m afraid he’s just a con man placating the masses still convinced he’s right. Unfortunately all we can do is watch and see.

[Racehorse]

It’s better to hear him acknowledge mistakes than to double down on them, but I won’t believe it until we see it. He’s been the same guy from the beginning and the issues have been obvious from the beginning to anyone not drinking the Kool Aid. The only thing that’s changed is that he’s running out of excuses. I’m afraid he’s just a con man placating the masses still convinced he’s right. Unfortunately all we can do is watch and see.

He has to reflect, and it seems he did. It seems to me that he identified his shortcomings correctly. What he does with that information is what matters.

When he addressed free agency, it seemed to me that his pause was there because he did not want to let it out what he has planned, but I think we see him more active in the trade market than before, and tries to do the trades like for Buckner, which was a definite home run.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

They also let DBs coach Ron Milus and LBs coach Richard Smith go


That isn't too surprising.

Both of those guys have pretty much followed Gus Bradley around for much of the last decade.

[Colts And Orioles]

It’s better to hear him acknowledge mistakes than to double-down on them ......





o


Whenever I read something along these lines, I always think of Jim Caldwell's time-out call with 29 seconds left to play in the 4th quarter of the 2010 Wildcard playoff game against the Jets ...... and his subsequent post-game press conference in which he insisted that he would do it all over again if he had the chance.



Look at the expression on Peyton Manning's face, followed by his helpless hand-gesture immediately after the timeout was called between the 1:55:12 and the 1:55-25 mark of this video.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y48nV0UR1E

o

[Thorgrim]

While the criticism of Richardson is valid I see Ballard's comments as deflection from an egregious failure that rests squarely on his shoulders, that is, his misguided approach to the secondary last year. The back four was an absolute disgrace last year. Ballard steadfastly refused to utilize free agency, trades, or draft capital to improve the secondary both in starting talent and depth, instead proudly insisting that the growth of the players would be sufficient.

How did 2024 stack up against 2023 in some valuable metrics? Yards per attempt: 2023/7.32 2024/7.60 Completion percentage: 2023/65.1. 2024/69.4 Touchdowns: 2023/21 2024/27 Interceptions: 2023/15 2024/16 (woo-hoo)
Passer rating: 2023/88.2 2024/95.8

While one must take into account the job the front 7 are doing these figures are a damning indictment of Ballard's failure as a GM. It was, without question, one of the biggest topics of conversation last offseason. Not just on this forum but in the media as well. This was the hill Ballard chose to die on. And die he did. So much of what comes out of his mouth is nothing more than subterfuge to secure yet another inexplicable year of employment at perhaps the most impactful job in the NFL. I'll bet the sheer number of people that Ballard has been willing to throw under the bus requires them to run on a schedule around Lucas Oil Stadium.

[IndyNorm]

It’s better to hear him acknowledge mistakes than to double down on them, but I won’t believe it until we see it. He’s been the same guy from the beginning and the issues have been obvious from the beginning to anyone not drinking the Kool Aid. The only thing that’s changed is that he’s running out of excuses. I’m afraid he’s just a con man placating the masses still convinced he’s right. Unfortunately all we can do is watch and see.

Exactly. With the exception of in '22 where he blamed the OL going to shit on the media giving him crap about the WR room, he basically says the same thing every year: the buck stops w/ me, I need to get better, etc. I'll believe all of that when I see it.

[apballin]

I like how he called out the “unnamed player “ giving quotes to the media a chicken shit

[ChaosTheory]

Apparently had a convo Zaire Franklin & I don't think it was comfortable for Franklin.

Almost certainly happened exactly two days after the season ended, when Franklin made that public apology.

[YDFL Commish]

Okay, we all remember '22 with not a lot of fondness, I know. But, before that season, Irsay gave the edict to put all your chips on the table. Which of course we know that Ballard didn't do, giving the Colts Matt Pryor and Danny Pinter to work with as O-Line replacements for Castonzo and Glowinski.

If he didn't get fired for that alone, then he is teflon.

[Hoopsdoc]

Yada yada yada. It’s all meaningless.

A tiger doesn’t change his stripes and Ballard won’t change his. When the rubber hits the road, he will revert to the same old formula.

Of course AR needs REAL competition but Ballard won’t be willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. And then he’ll say well it just wasn’t feasible.

Of course, we need help in free agency at multiple positions but Ballard won’t be willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. And then he’ll say well, we just don’t have the cap space.

This isn’t going to work. The Colts need a hard reset. If Chris Ballard had what it takes to build a winning team, he would have done it by now.

Bookmark this post if you want but i guarantee you Jim Irsay will be forced to blow the WHOLE thing up at this time next year.

All Jim has done now is delayed ripping off the bandaid.

[Voosh]

Yada yada yada. It’s all meaningless.

A tiger doesn’t change his stripes and Ballard won’t change his. When the rubber hits the road, he will revert to the same old formula.

Of course AR needs REAL competition but Ballard won’t be willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. And then he’ll say well it just wasn’t feasible.

Of course, we need help in free agency at multiple positions but Ballard won’t be willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. And then he’ll say well, we just don’t have the cap space.

This isn’t going to work. The Colts need a hard reset. If Chris Ballard had what it takes to build a winning team, he would have done it by now.

Bookmark this post if you want but i guarantee you Jim Irsay will be forced to blow the WHOLE thing up at this time next year.

All Jim has done now is delayed ripping off the bandaid.

I was thinking the exact same thing about a tiger doesn't change its stripes. Ballard will do what he does and it will be the same old shit. I've been out on Ballard for a while and when I saw Colts fans on the internet (not here) posting he would be shit canned I just laughed.

Irsay has backed Ballard to the point where I feel like he has a permanent residency here. Sometimes I think Jim overcompensates with the "stability" because his dad was such a loose cannon. Regardless of that, Ballard was going to get time to develop Richardson and we are going into year 3, so we will see.

I don't have much hope for Richardson tbh. I've watched a lot a football over the years and I feel like I've never seen a QB as erratic as him pan out. Yes, he is young and raw, but I don't see it. I keep seeing comparisons to Josh Allen's development but I don't think the talent is there.

I don't post too much and I don't like to post negative shit, but I just needed to vent.

[IndyNorm]

Yada yada yada. It’s all meaningless.

A tiger doesn’t change his stripes and Ballard won’t change his. When the rubber hits the road, he will revert to the same old formula.

Of course AR needs REAL competition but Ballard won’t be willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. And then he’ll say well it just wasn’t feasible.

Of course, we need help in free agency at multiple positions but Ballard won’t be willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. And then he’ll say well, we just don’t have the cap space.

This isn’t going to work. The Colts need a hard reset. If Chris Ballard had what it takes to build a winning team, he would have done it by now.

Bookmark this post if you want but i guarantee you Jim Irsay will be forced to blow the WHOLE thing up at this time next year.

All Jim has done now is delayed ripping off the bandaid.

No doubt his comments over the past half decade or so have been meaningless. Hopefully this year it's different, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

[Brylok]

I got around to watching it last night. It was fine. He answered tough questions and appeared more humble than usual. I hope there is positive change, but I'm in the "show me" camp until I see it on the field.

[Colts And Orioles]

I don't post too much and I don't like to post negative shit, but I just needed to vent.





o


276 posts in 8 years ???

Would you please shut the fuck up, you windbag ???

o

[CletusPyle]

Our only hope is that he does change because Jim is on his way out and no way the daughters fire Ballard as their first official act in power! We are stuck with Chris Ballard for the next 5 years!:eek:

[ChaosTheory]

Are only hope is that he does change because Jim is on his way out and no way the daughters fire Ballard as their first official act in power! We are stuck with Chris Ballard for the next 5 years!:eek:

I don't care if your name is Cletus... This won't fly.

[ChoppedWood]

I fucking despise this mealy mouthed do nothing fuck more than I ever have before after this shit. Spew all that bullshit, buck stops with me, not close, gotta be different.

Then as others have pointed out essentially just bus rolls over a bunch of others to deflect the shit from him.

Dude is pure con, pure trash, pure scum!

FUCK YOU CHRIS BALLARD--- FUCK YOU!

[apballin]

Be interesting to see who the “competition “ is at QB

Do they put some real heat on his ass and sign Fields or do they just light a small flame signing someone like Desmond Ridder.

Who they sign will tell me if they truly believe in AR or not

[Colts And Orioles]

I fucking despise ......





o


Anything, everything, and everybody ...... from the time that you wake up to the time that you go to sleep you hate, despise, and curse anything and anybody that comes across your path.

o

[YDFL Commish]

Be interesting to see who the “competition “ is at QB

Do they put some real heat on his ass and sign Fields or do they just light a small flame signing someone like Desmond Ridder.

Who they sign will tell me if they truly believe in AR or not

I would look at Daniel Jones.

[CletusPyle]

I don't care if your name is Cletus... This won't fly.

It's a homophone....(no homo)!:D

[Hoopsdoc]

I would look at Daniel Jones.

Or Sam Darnold if Minnesota is dumb enough to let him go.

[YDFL Commish]

Or Sam Darnold if Minnesota is dumb enough to let him go.

They won't do that. They will franchise Darnold and keep McCarthy.

[IndyNorm]

I would look at Daniel Jones.

Hard pass there. We'd be better off w/ sticking with Ehlinger as the "competition".

[YDFL Commish]

Hard pass there. We'd be better off w/ sticking with Ehlinger as the "competition".

Then no competition?

[IndyNorm]

Then no competition?

I'm not saying that. I'm just saying we'd be better off w/ Ehlinger than Daniel Jones.

[ChoppedWood]

o


Anything, everything, and everybody ...... from the time that you wake up to the time that you go to sleep you hate, despise, and curse anything and anybody that comes across your path.

o

Not really the case surprisingly; my personality is pretty chill and sort of agreeable in general. I do however have a very very very low tolerance for stupid bullshit and this dude is kinda near the top of the stupid bullshit pyramid. He is one of biggest buck passing deflecto ass bags I've ever seen and it is so shitty to see him be rewarded for that.

[YDFL Commish]

I'm not saying that. I'm just saying we'd be better off w/ Ehlinger than Daniel Jones.

To say that Ehlinger is on the same level as Jones is ludicrous. I'm not wedded to Jones, but I do want an experienced, athletic, younger QB (mid to late 20s). How many of those can you name?

[njcoltfan]

Be interesting to see who the “competition “ is at QB

Do they put some real heat on his ass and sign Fields or do they just light a small flame signing someone like Desmond Ridder.

Who they sign will tell me if they truly believe in AR or not

Or draft a guy like Jackson Dart or the kid from Indiana !!

[IndyNorm]

To say that Ehlinger is on the same level as Jones is ludicrous. I'm not wedded to Jones, but I do want an experienced, athletic, younger QB (mid to late 20s). How many of those can you name?

Not really considering how terrible Daniel Jones is. Bringing him in would be like bringing Wentz back. Only Wentz is more talented and was at least good at one point in time in his career.

To clarify - I'm not saying Ehlinger is any good. I'm saying that Daniel Jones is that bad.

[Hoopsdoc]

Not really considering how terrible Daniel Jones is. Bringing him in would be like bringing Wentz back. Only Wentz is more talented and was at least good at one point in time in his career.

To clarify - I'm not saying Ehlinger is any good. I'm saying that Daniel Jones is that bad.

Daniel Jones is as much better than Sam Ehlinger as Lamar Jackson is better than AR.

I don’t want to sign Jones, but he’s objectively a HELL of a lot better than Sam Freaking Ehlinger.

[IndyNorm]

Daniel Jones is as much better than Sam Ehlinger as Lamar Jackson is better than AR.

I don’t want to sign Jones, but he’s objectively a HELL of a lot better than Sam Freaking Ehlinger.

Talentwise yes, but performance wise he's not. Jones had 1 maybe close to average season in a contract year, but otherwise he's been a shit show. He's so bad that NYG ran him out of town and took at ~$20M cap hit to do so w/ absolutely nothing in return. Like I said earlier, bringing in Jones would be like bringing in a worse version of Wentz.

And yes I fully realize that we need someone better than Ehlinger backing up/competing w/ AR. Like most of us on here I actually think Bean is much better than Ehlinger and said numerous times that Bean should have been on the roster rather than Ehlinger.

[IndyNorm]

Just for fun I prorated Ehlinger's and Jones' career stats to a 17 game season and here's what you get (rounded to the nearest whole number):

Jones: Passing - 64% completion %, 3,593 yards, 17/12 TD/Int ratio. Rushing - 537 yds, and 4 TDs. Also, 12 fumbles/yr

Ehlinger: Passing - 63% completion %, 3,247 yards, 17/17 TD/Int ratio. Rushing - 493 yrd, 0 TDs. 11 fumbles/yr



So objectively speaking Jones is slightly better than Ehlinger. Not leaps and bounds like some of you think he is. And again I'm not trying to prove how "good" Ehlinger is b/c he clearly isn't. I'm justing showing you bad Daniel Jones actually is.

[YDFL Commish]

Just for fun I prorated Ehlinger's and Jones' career stats to a 17 game season and here's what you get (rounded to the nearest whole number):

Jones: Passing - 64% completion %, 3,593 yards, 17/12 TD/Int ratio. Rushing - 537 yds, and 4 TDs. Also, 12 fumbles/yr

Ehlinger: Passing - 63% completion %, 3,247 yards, 17/17 TD/Int ratio. Rushing - 493 yrd, 0 TDs. 11 fumbles/yr



So objectively speaking Jones is slightly better than Ehlinger. Not leaps and bounds like some of you think he is. And again I'm not trying to prove how "good" Ehlinger is b/c he clearly isn't. I'm justing showing you bad Daniel Jones actually is.


Here are your under 30 alternatives...should they be available. Darnold (doubtful), Wilson, Lance, Rush, Fields, Mac Jones, Daniel Jones.

[ChaosTheory]

Here are your under 30 alternatives...should they be available. Darnold (doubtful), Wilson, Lance, Rush, Fields, Mac Jones, Daniel Jones.

Given the situation, without thinking/researching much... Isn't Fields the most intriguing?

He's the closest 1:1 with AR. He can obviously do the run game stuff, and his completion percentage is beyond what AR has displayed yet.

If we're talking about motivation... A 26-year-old, similar style athlete/player who just had a pretty decent showing with a more competent roster filling in for Wilson.

[IndyNorm]

Here are your under 30 alternatives...should they be available. Darnold (doubtful), Wilson, Lance, Rush, Fields, Mac Jones, Daniel Jones.

Slim pickings for sure. Of the players you listed and assuming Darnold is unavailable I would go w/ Fields or Rush. The rest are pure garbage. If I have to pick one of those 4 I would say Mac Jones, but that's only b/c we could give Dam shit about it when he comes into the game and sucks.

Of the UFA QBs I would pick Mariota. He's not under 30, but at 31 isn't ancient. And he played really well this year when he had to step in for Daniels.

[apballin]

Given the situation, without thinking/researching much... Isn't Fields the most intriguing?

He's the closest 1:1 with AR. He can obviously do the run game stuff, and his completion percentage is beyond what AR has displayed yet.

If we're talking about motivation... A 26-year-old, similar style athlete/player who just had a pretty decent showing with a more competent roster filling in for Wilson.

Has a more decorated college resume and played in one of the worst weather stadium/divisions in the NFL

[IndyNorm]

I think you guys are right about Fields if we want to bring in someone to legitimately compete w/ AR for the starting QB job.

But if the idea is to bring in more the mentor type role to help get AR back on track then I say you go w/ Mariota. Or just throwing this out there - bring Minshew back. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Vegas releases him, which would be a ~$6M cap savings, or willing to trade him for a low round draft pick which would be ~$9M savings.

[rm1369]

I think you guys are right about Fields if we want to bring in someone to legitimately compete w/ AR for the starting QB job.

But if the idea is to bring in more the mentor type role to help get AR back on track then I say you go w/ Mariota. Or just throwing this out there - bring Minshew back. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Vegas releases him, which would be a ~$6M cap savings, or willing to trade him for a low round draft pick which would be ~$9M savings.

I’m torn between legit competition and a mentor. How much would Fields need to outplay AR before you give him the starting job? If you think Fields is playing well enough to be the possible long term answer then that’s one thing. But if he’s just a little better than AR who do you start? May be hard to lure Fields here if it’s not a true competition. But if Fields comes in and just barely beats out AR, then Ballard and Stechein are likely done in Indy. AR too.

[Dewey 5]

Or draft a guy like Jackson Dart or the kid from Indiana !!

Will Howard & even Kyle McCord are better than Kurtis Rourke

[CletusPyle]

Will Howard & even Kyle McCord are better than Kurtis Rourke

Rourke didn't do himself any favors in the playoff game with Notre Dame, his mobility or lack thereof, was really exposed!

[Spike]

It's a really bad QB class.
Maybe Sanders or Cam Ward might be good. Milroe maybe. The rest, hard pass for me. Just JAGS!

[IndyNorm]

I’m torn between legit competition and a mentor. How much would Fields need to outplay AR before you give him the starting job? If you think Fields is playing well enough to be the possible long term answer then that’s one thing. But if he’s just a little better than AR who do you start? May be hard to lure Fields here if it’s not a true competition. But if Fields comes in and just barely beats out AR, then Ballard and Stechein are likely done in Indy. AR too.

Agree. That's why I'm leaning towards the mentor and attempt to get AR back on track approach. Of course if Ballard and Steichen believe AR likely won't get there then the better move is to go w/ Fields.

[apballin]

Agree. That's why I'm leaning towards the mentor and attempt to get AR back on track approach. Of course if Ballard and Steichen believe AR likely won't get there then the better move is to go w/ Fields.

Seem to recall Ballard really like Fields that year in the draft

[CletusPyle]

The only way the Colts don't get set back 3-5 years is if Richardson works his ass off and comes back next season as a much better QB. He can physically make all the throws and we know he can run, no reason why he can't be greatly improved next season if he is willing to put in the time!

[YDFL Commish]

The only way the Colts don't get set back 3-5 years is if Richardson works his ass off and comes back next season as a much better QB. He can physically make all the throws and we know he can run, no reason why he can't be greatly improved next season if he is willing to put in the time!

The reason I question whether or not AR is going to what it takes, is his end of season presser.

When ashed directly, if he was considering working with one of the QB gurus {Tom House) AR replied that he would work with his guys.

What has his current team done to improve his game? That is not a guy who is committed to improving. That is a guy who wants to feel comfortable. To win in this league, you have to do some things that make you uncomfortable and challenge you.

[rm1369]

The reason I question whether or not AR is going to what it takes, is his end of season presser.

When ashed directly, if he was considering working with one of the QB gurus {Tom House) AR replied that he would work with his guys.

What has his current team done to improve his game? That is not a guy who is committed to improving. That is a guy who wants to feel comfortable. To win in this league, you have to do some things that make you uncomfortable and challenge you.

Or is it a guy that doesn’t know what it takes to improve? Similar to not understanding the level of preparation that’s required weekly? Both scenarios are issues but one is completely on him and one is more on the team. I honestly can’t get a sense if AR is lazy / unwilling to work or just naive and not being mentored properly. I see little indication the team has done him many favors. I’m often not a fan of the play calling, he’s lacked the typical security blankets (pass catching RB and TE), their handling of the benching and the back injury were shitty, and we’ve seen no indication anyone is really mentoring him. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t lead me to much optimism.

[Colts And Orioles]

I fucking despise ......







o


Anything, everything, and everybody ...... from the time that you wake up to the time that you go to sleep you hate, despise, and curse anything and anybody that comes across your path.

o






Not really the case surprisingly ..... my personality is pretty chill and sort of agreeable in general.





o


Oh, OK.

So, throughout a good portion of the day, you're a typical, mild-mannered, Clark Kent type of person ...... you just kind of roll with the punches, go about your business, and don't take life too seriously ...... you can be counted on to be even-keeled, level-headed, and generally fair-minded in various areas of life.


But then ....... at the mere mention of anything having to do with the Indianapolis Colts ....... you turn into a raving, foaming-at-the-mouth maniac ....... FUCK CHRIS BALLARD !!! Ballard can go straight to fucking hell !!! And FUCK ANTHONY RICHARDSON !!! He's the weakest fucking pussy ever to step foot on a football field !!! And FUCK GUS BRADLEY !!! I fucking hate him with every inch of my soul !!! And FUCK JIM IRSAY !!! That lying son-of-a-bitch kept Gus Bradley on board an entire year longer than he should have !!! And FUCK ANDREW LUCK !!! That fucking little pussy quit on the team 3 weeks before the start of the season, and left the franchise in a shambles, of which it may NEVER recover from !!!



I think I understand, now ...... thanks for clarifying that.

o

[YDFL Commish]

Or is it a guy that doesn’t know what it takes to improve? Similar to not understanding the level of preparation that’s required weekly? Both scenarios are issues but one is completely on him and one is more on the team. I honestly can’t get a sense if AR is lazy / unwilling to work or just naive and not being mentored properly. I see little indication the team has done him many favors. I’m often not a fan of the play calling, he’s lacked the typical security blankets (pass catching RB and TE), their handling of the benching and the back injury were shitty, and we’ve seen no indication anyone is really mentoring him. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t lead me to much optimism.

I agree totally that providing the team with some Tight End and RB pass catching options would be ideal. It remains to be Seen if AR is the guy to hit those layups though.

Can Cooper Flagg play TE?

[ChoppedWood]

o


Oh, OK.

So, throughout a good portion of the day, you're a typical, mild-mannered, Clark Kent type of person ...... you just kind of roll with the punches, go about your business, and don't take life too seriously ...... you can be counted on to be even-keeled, level-headed, and generally fair-minded in various areas of life.


But then ....... at the mere mention of anything having to do with the Indianapolis Colts ....... you turn into a raving, foaming-at-the-mouth maniac ....... FUCK CHRIS BALLARD !!! Ballard can go straight to fucking hell !!! And FUCK ANTHONY RICHARDSON !!! He's the weakest fucking pussy ever to step foot on a football field !!! And FUCK GUS BRADLEY !!! I fucking hate him with every inch of my soul !!! And FUCK JIM IRSAY !!! That lying son-of-a-bitch kept Gus Bradley on board an entire year longer than he should have !!! And FUCK ANDREW LUCK !!! That fucking little pussy quit on the team 3 weeks before the start of the season, and left the franchise in a shambles, of which it may NEVER recover from !!!



I think I understand, now ...... thanks for clarifying that.

o

Ummmm, fairly close. I think Bradley was retained for a couple years longer than he should have been. Sorry, not sure it's my fault the Colts have been a disgrace of an organization with some absolutely fucking shitty management and some atrocious players for the better part of a decade. A lot of the people you name, really suck. Not all of them, but many of them, especially Chris Ballard. Fuck Chris Ballard!

[Colts And Orioles]

Ummmm, fairly close. I think Bradley was retained for a couple years longer than he should have been. Sorry, not sure it's my fault the Colts have been a disgrace of an organization with some absolutely fucking shitty management and some atrocious players for the better part of a decade. A lot of the people you name, really suck. Not all of them, but many of them, especially Chris Ballard. Fuck Chris Ballard!





o


Nobody said that the Colts' failures was your fault ..... my observation was due to the fact that you seem to not be able to make a post without going berserk with endless exclamation points and profanity.

The Colts' mediocrity seems to eat at your soul with a vengeance, but it's your life if you're OK being that way.

o

[ChoppedWood]

o


Nobody said that the Colts' failures was your fault ..... my observation was due to the fact that you seem to not be able to make a post without going berserk with endless exclamation points and profanity.

The Colts' mediocrity seems to eat at your soul with a vengeance, but it's your life if you're OK being that way.

o

I do love this team with incredible intensity. It does hurt my soul to see this extended period of suck, and it torments me that for some reason it is sort of just accepted. That's what gets my fury so high. I just can't understand why it is so okay to be run by what is clearly a fraud who doesn't have a clue what he is doing.

[Racehorse]

I do love this team with incredible intensity. It does hurt my soul to see this extended period of suck, and it torments me that for some reason it is sort of just accepted. That's what gets my fury so high. I just can't understand why it is so okay to be run by what is clearly a fraud who doesn't have a clue what he is doing.

Why get so worked up over a game? I think that’s Coats and Oreo’s point. Why get so upset at something as trivial as this but be chill about other more important things?

[Colts And Orioles]

Why get so worked up over a game ??? I think that’s Coats and Oreo’s point. Why get so upset at something as trivial as this, but be chill about other more important things ???





o


Actually, I do understand getting worked up over the Colts ...... if they are in a close game, I will sometimes write a tongue-in-cheek post that if Matt Gay misses a kick I'm going to blow up his fucking car in the parking lot.

And there are plenty of posters who get pissed off and say so when the Colts shit the bed and lose a crucial game to a team like the Giants with their playoff hopes on the line ...... and I understand that, too.


But what I perceive as peculiarly excessive from Chopped Wood is that in about 80 to 90 percent of his posts, he lashes out vehemently at somebody in the front office, some coach on the team's sidelines, and/or one of the team's players ...... it's almost as though he does so as if he's remembering to sign his name at the end of a written letter ...... and if he really is as upset as he is saying that he is (and as often as he expresses it), it makes me wonder if his fandom of the Colts is even worth it. The whole point of being a fan is to get some type of enjoyment out of it, even if your team has a record of 2-15 and you are showing others that you are a loyal fan through thick and thin by wearing the team colors (which is what I do, regardless of how good or bad my teams are ...... I wore the Baltimore Orioles' colors every day when they were losing more than 100 games 3 times in 4 seasons between 2018 and 2021, just as much as when they had 5 straight winning seasons between 2012 and 2016.) If he is OK with being that way like he says he is, that's his business, but I almost feel a little bad for him if he really is that upset over it all.

o

[albany ed]

Fans have a lot of different ways of dealing with their disappointment. Some go ballistic, others make jokes, some say "we'll get'em next week" and others get specific about who should be blamed. Bottom line, nobody here wants to see their team lose and when they do, this is a good place to vent. We're fans, but I'm pretty sure none of us here knows more about what it takes to turn this team around. We may think we do, we may proffer our opinions, but you know what they say about opinions ... "everybody's got one"

I do like reading everyone's posts. I don't agree with all of them, but I still like reading them. The more passionate ones help me get through some of the Colts shittiest performances, and in a season like this one, they're more enjoyable than the shit show game I just suffered through. So keep it up, it's therapeutic for me.

[rm1369]

Fans have a lot of different ways of dealing with their disappointment. Some go ballistic, others make jokes, some say "we'll get'em next week" and others get specific about who should be blamed. Bottom line, nobody here wants to see their team lose and when they do, this is a good place to vent. We're fans, but I'm pretty sure none of us here knows more about what it takes to turn this team around. We may think we do, we may proffer our opinions, but you know what they say about opinions ... "everybody's got one"

I do like reading everyone's posts. I don't agree with all of them, but I still like reading them. The more passionate ones help me get through some of the Colts shittiest performances, and in a season like this one, they're more enjoyable than the shit show game I just suffered through. So keep it up, it's therapeutic for me.

Yeah the danger is when fans start becoming apathetic. I’m just now starting to follow the Pacers again after years of not caring. I was a die hard fan, but once I felt the team was content being mediocre as long as they were ok enough to have seats filled, I quit. I can deal with losing and rebuilding. Honestly sometimes those are the most exciting times - if you think something is being built. But if the team doesn’t seem to care, why should I? I’m in that danger zone with the Colts. I would have not renewed my season tickets if I had the option now. I still get frustrated, but it’s becoming more a resignation now than anything else.

[ChoppedWood]

Yeah the danger is when fans start becoming apathetic. I’m just now starting to follow the Pacers again after years of not caring. I was a die hard fan, but once I felt the team was content being mediocre as long as they were ok enough to have seats filled, I quit. I can deal with losing and rebuilding. Honestly sometimes those are the most exciting times - if you think something is being built. But if the team doesn’t seem to care, why should I? I’m in that danger zone with the Colts. I would have not renewed my season tickets if I had the option now. I still get frustrated, but it’s becoming more a resignation now than anything else.

Good shit, and I am fighting the same battle. Maybe that's the best way to put it into context- Ballard makes me WANT to be apathetic but my conflict and as such my rage comes by way of my love for the team causing me to lash out instead.

In terms of my off board life and my board life, I do view the Colts and other sports of course, as a source of entertainment and release; so I am not irrational. Loses happen, they suck, it hurts, but I still have to go about life and do the things I have to do each and every day both good and bad. Life's so full of crazy shit to be absorbed, addressed, resolved, much of it you have to just deal with. So then comes the few hours of disengagement from all the world's requirements by taking in what should be enjoyable and instead it's 3 hours of pure shit, well then I start losing my shit!

Look Ballard in particular, to me, is soooooo fucking far away from my perceived standards for this organization it's unreal. I'm old, I've been through the atrocious and the glorious Colts experience. At this point, this feels like the absolute worst. Seems a bit ludicrous to say about a team that is at least competing for the playoffs, but that's how it feels. It feels like the TEAM is apathetic- willing to accept insufficient effort and outcomes with a meh and then off to island paradise attitude---- and that fucking sucks!

I have, right or wrong, laid my blame for that apathy squarely on the shoulders of Ballard who I legitimately believe is a con-man. I don't think he is good at this shit at all and I think he is willing to stab his own mother in the back for self preservation, and I fucking HATE people that are like that.

I am tired of watching the same movie over and over again. As RM points out, shit I can live with 2-14 but you KNOW the team is making changes for the better. Fucking give me that, give me some really bad football players that go out and just die on the field trying. In the Giants game thread I might have reached my most acerbic state when Locke ran for the TD and Nick Cross literally stood there and watched him score without even making a step toward him. To me, that is this version of the Colts in a single play and that shit is why I RAGE at this version of the team. That is not entertainment to me and I can invest my time and $$$ elsewhere in the entertainment world but I sure as hell don't want to! Chris Ballard is pushing me more and more in that direction.

TRIPLE FUCK CHRIS BALLARD!

[YDFL Commish]

First off, I empathetic to your disillusionment. Believe me, many of us on this board share your sentiment. But you are singling out one individual and no one else for this situation.

The truth is, that none of us know who is running this shit show of a franchise right now. For all we know Carlie has been pulling the puppet strings for 2 years, or maybe it was Jim, or Ballard. Maybe Steichen is getting mixed messages from all of these fools, hence his blundering of everything media related.

All of them have their faults and culpability in this. It's impossible top know, who is most responsible, and to what extent.

That is why I choose to blame players more often than not, because we can see with our own eyes when they are not giving effort, execution and a basic awareness of football intelligence.

JT is my whipping boy in so much of this. He is PFF's lowest rated RB in the league, with lowest amount of yards after contact. He can't block, he can't catch, and he can't think (at least on the football field). That man is a fraud!

There are others though, Blackmon, Speed, Mitchell, AR, Flacco and to a lesser extent, Franklin, who just don't give a shit.

I'll never blame a player for just not being physically, big enough, strong enough or fast enough. But I will blame them for lack of effort, stupidity and lack of improvement.

Give me a team of guys like Jaylon Jones, Pittman, Pierce, Nelson, Moore, Raimann, Fries and Big Grove.

I will say this against Steichen though, WTF is up with 8 captains. WHY...WTF, which of those 8 voices to players look to? Do not use the excuse that, it was a players vote either. Your dumbass decided how many captains we would have.

[Colts And Orioles]

First off, I empathetic to your disillusionment. Believe me, many of us on this board share your sentiment. But you are singling out one individual and no one else for this situation.

The truth is, that none of us know who is running this shit show of a franchise right now. For all we know Carlie has been pulling the puppet strings for 2 years, or maybe it was Jim, or Ballard. Maybe Steichen is getting mixed messages from all of these fools, hence his blundering of everything media related.

All of them have their faults and culpability in this. It's impossible top know, who is most responsible, and to what extent.

That is why I choose to blame players more often than not, because we can see with our own eyes when they are not giving effort, execution and a basic awareness of football intelligence.

JT is my whipping boy in so much of this. He is PFF's lowest rated RB in the league, with lowest amount of yards after contact. He can't block, he can't catch, and he can't think (at least on the football field). That man is a fraud!

There are others though, Blackmon, Speed, Mitchell, AR, Flacco and to a lesser extent, Franklin, who just don't give a shit.

I'll never blame a player for just not being physically, big enough, strong enough or fast enough. But I will blame them for lack of effort, stupidity and lack of improvement.

Give me a team of guys like Jaylon Jones, Pittman, Pierce, Nelson, Moore, Raimann, Fries and Big Grove.

I will say this against Steichen though, WTF is up with 8 captains. WHY...WTF, which of those 8 voices to players look to? Do not use the excuse that, it was a players vote either. Your dumbass decided how many captains we would have.





o


Jonathan Taylor's dropping of the ball at the 1/2 yardline is emblematic of the all of Colts' failures in almost all of their crucial games over the last 4 seasons, since Philip Rivers retired.

I think that Taylor is trying, as he played very well in the Colts' final 4 games of the 2024 season ...... but his dropping of the ball at the 1/2 yardline is worse than not trying, it was absolutely inexcusable for any player at the collegiate or professional level of football.

o

[YDFL Commish]

o


Jonathan Taylor's dropping of the ball at the 1/2 yardline is emblematic of the all of Colts' failures in almost all of their crucial games over the last 4 seasons, since Philip Rivers retired.

I think that Taylor is trying, as he played very well in the Colts' final 4 games of the 2024 season ...... but his dropping of the ball at the 1/2 yardline is worse than not trying, it was absolutely inexcusable for any player at the collegiate or professional level of football.

o

It's not just his dropping of the ball 1/2 yard line. I have documented on here 4 fatal errors in the Giants game alone. He has no fight, no thrive to improve and no football smarts.

[ChoppedWood]

It's not just his dropping of the ball 1/2 yard line. I have documented on here 4 fatal errors in the Giants game alone. He has no fight, no thrive to improve and no football smarts.

His lack of football smarts is something really really really fucked up. The guy is a genuinely smart person but he steps on that field and has ZERO game time intelligence. So fucking strange.

[CletusPyle]

To me there are athletic highly skilled players and there are football players. The Colts need more football players! It's not enough just to be athletic, you have to have that competitive fire, fearlessness, and love for the game. Guys that possess those qualities are the ones that take teams from middle of the road to contenders. Not saying those guys are easy to find, but it doesn't look like the Colts even look for them!

[ChoppedWood]

To me there are athletic highly skilled players and there are football players. The Colts need more football players! It's not enough just to be athletic, you have to have that competitive fire, fearlessness, and love for the game. Guys that possess those qualities are the ones that take teams from middle of the road to contenders. Not saying those guys are easy to find, but it doesn't look like the Colts even look for them!

Absolutely agree. I don't think Ballard even knows what the difference is. FUCK CHRIS BALLARD!

[Indystu2]

Or is it a guy that doesn’t know what it takes to improve? Similar to not understanding the level of preparation that’s required weekly? Both scenarios are issues but one is completely on him and one is more on the team. I honestly can’t get a sense if AR is lazy / unwilling to work or just naive and not being mentored properly. I see little indication the team has done him many favors. I’m often not a fan of the play calling, he’s lacked the typical security blankets (pass catching RB and TE), their handling of the benching and the back injury were shitty, and we’ve seen no indication anyone is really mentoring him. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t lead me to much optimism.

Pass catching RBs and TEs are a struggling QBs best friends. Colts have neither. I think the team has failed AR, but in saying that, I realize AR has to drive his own success as much as he is able.

[IndyNorm]

To me there are athletic highly skilled players and there are football players. The Colts need more football players! It's not enough just to be athletic, you have to have that competitive fire, fearlessness, and love for the game. Guys that possess those qualities are the ones that take teams from middle of the road to contenders. Not saying those guys are easy to find, but it doesn't look like the Colts even look for them!

Unfortunately you're probably going to end up in this situation when the GM prioritizes RAS scores by far more than anything else.

[sherck]

Is it the culture inside the locker room that is the problem?

Is it the culture of the owners and managmeent that is the problem?

Is it picking RAS scores over football players that is the problem?

Is it the scheme? Is it the playbook?

Do we have accountability on the field? In the locker room? Among leadership?

Do we have an NFL capable QB?

Reality is that it is probably some of all the above and the only way to change most of that is to BLOW IT THE F UP!

However, we are choosing not to do that for 2025 which means we will, again, have a middle of the road season (because I do not think AR is the guy) that will result in a middle of the road draft pick that has a low chance of delivering our next franchise QB which is the #1 need of any NFL franchise that does not have one.

While I am a lifelong Colts fan, I have about zero enthusiasm to look forward to the 2025 version of the Colts because I think we are just on the wrong path and until the team gets blown up, we have no chance to get on the right path.

[IndyNorm]

I read the RATS 10 thoughts on Ballard's presser article earlier this week. Not much was mentioned that hasn't been hashed out on this thread so not going to post the whole thing, but the below section really stuck out to me, especially the stat included at the end. Hope Ballard read that :cool:

4. Ballard used the term "competition" 10 different times in nearly 50 minutes at the podium. It was the theme he took away of why this year's team fell short.

I think that's right to a degree: The starters he rolled back with major extensions on defense didn't face any threat to playing time. He had some other unproven players who didn't feel a legitimate push to the role they had, from running back Trey Sermon to the tight ends to outside cornerbacks JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones.

But the primary issue right now is still talent. Free agency isn't the primary avenue to add talent at a number of positions, but it can fill a void on the roster, and the Colts needed that at running back, tight end and in the secondary.

The draft cannot find all of the answers and certainly not the immediate ones. Using that alone to address the secondary was a good indication the Colts weren't going to improve on last year's 9-8 finish.

That's how every playoff team wound up adding at least one starter through free agency, and the Colts added none.

[Dewey 5]

I read the RATS 10 thoughts on Ballard's presser article earlier this week. Not much was mentioned that hasn't been hashed out on this thread so not going to post the whole thing, but the below section really stuck out to me, especially the stat included at the end. Hope Ballard read that :cool:

So it took Ballard, the dumb fuck that he is, 8 years to figure out that you need to have competition to get on the field. Instead he said fuck it we’ll just roll with the players that haven’t done shit because we like our guys.

[YDFL Commish]

Reality is that it is probably some of all the above and the only way to change most of that is to BLOW IT THE F UP!


Yeah man, BLOW IT THE FUCK UP "TIGER BOB STYLE". St. Louis needs a team or maybe become 2nd cousin to the Bears!;)

[omahacolt]

I think you guys are right about Fields if we want to bring in someone to legitimately compete w/ AR for the starting QB job.

But if the idea is to bring in more the mentor type role to help get AR back on track then I say you go w/ Mariota. Or just throwing this out there - bring Minshew back. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Vegas releases him, which would be a ~$6M cap savings, or willing to trade him for a low round draft pick which would be ~$9M savings.

my god do not bring back minshew

[IndyNorm]

So it took Ballard, the dumb fuck that he is, 8 years to figure out that you need to have competition to get on the field. Instead he said fuck it we’ll just roll with the players that haven’t done shit because we like our guys.

I was trying to point out the stat that every team that made the playoffs this year added at least 1 starter via free agency, but that's a good take away as well.

Back to the free agency stat. I wonder how often that's the case.

my god do not bring back minshew

Not sure why you'd say that. If the goal is to bring in someone to help get AR back on track and improve then Minshew is a good fit. He works well w/ AR, is proficient in Steichen's offense, and has proven that he's good in relief and can win games when the starter's out.

Now if the goal is to bring in someone to compete w/ and potentially replace AR then I agree that's not Minshew. And really only Fields fits that of any QBs who are likely to be available.

[Thorgrim]

So it took Ballard, the dumb fuck that he is, 8 years to figure out that you need to have competition to get on the field. Instead he said fuck it we’ll just roll with the players that haven’t done shit because we like our guys.

Don't be surprised if Ballard's seasonal mismanagement of the roster has the residual effect of free agents not wanting to join this shit show.

[ChoppedWood]

Don't be surprised if Ballard's seasonal mismanagement of the roster has the residual effect of free agents not wanting to join this shit show.

No shit, who in the fuck would want to come play for this disgrace of a fucking organization?

I don't think there is any intention for this to work, I think the plan is to just let it all implode next year- the entire fucking thing is washed with bleach including Jim turning it over, and we start from absolute scratch as basically an expansion team.

FUCK YOU CHRIS FUCKING LOSER BALLARD!!!