Ballard Presser
 

Watched it. He says it's so hard to win in the NFL. He waxed poetic about those years we made the playoffs and seemed to say getting back to those glory years (you know 2018, 2020) were the goal. First off it isn't that hard to make the playoffs as 44% of NFL teams do it every year. And setting up a one and done as our goal makes me sick. Anyway takaways (I copied and pasted):

-Insert "I'm disappointed" quote

-Ballard feels good about the talent we have but we need to figure out why we aren't finishing seasons strongly historically (weak finishes from 2023-2025)

-Buckner will be back

-It sounds like there is a good chance that Ward retires but they're holding out hope that he comes back

-They want Pierce back

-Richardson has really stepped up as a teammate even after his injury

-Ballard felt good about Riley Leonard and he is being considered as the QB2

-If they like a QB at the right value in the draft, they'll take them

-Acknowledged that he's received a lot of patience and grace from the Irsay family over the last 10 years

-He thought Zaire and Pratt had solid years at LB

-He acknowledged that he's pretty good at scouting and draft LBs

-Carlies needs to stay healthy and hasn't been able to do that

-Defense needs to be faster

-Latu had a good year (8.5 sacks and 3 picks) and just needs to work on finishing on some plays

-The Front 7 needs help overall though

-Defense needs youth

-Ballard being on a contract year doesn't change anything for him

-Walley and Woehler looked really good and the team were expecting big things from them before they got hurt.

-Sounds like Woehler could potentially be taking Cross' role if we don't re-sign him.

-Braden Smith looked good before his injury and Jalen Travis looked really good when he stepped in at RT

-Had a lot of good things overall to say about the offensive line as a whole

-Goncalves needs to work on some things but Ballard noted improvement at the end of the season

-Not reaching out to John Harbaugh, Shane is their guy


I want him gone more than ever

Wait, what, you weren't blown away with that amazing display of charisma and confidence? I WAS! The man just overflows with tremendous energy and is such a testimony to intensity! LOL!

I was able to listen to a bit of it while driving, and there's no other way to characterize this other than TIRED. You could just put the little recorder with last years presser up to the mic, put a cardboard cut out of him at the table, and it would have been just as effective.

For those out there who question WHY this team constantly folds, why we buckle when any form of adversity hits, look no further than this agonizingly sad reflection of what he is made of:


"getting back to those glory years (you know 2018, 2020) were the goal"

Just close your eyes, close them, and play that snippet on loop- I fucking guarantee your tranquil mind will automatically insert Bruce Springsteen waxing poetically as the backing track. You will fall asleep, and you will likely hate life just a tiny bit more when you wake up and realize your dreams of being a wild card team and almost winning a playoff game- those were the times Billy Joe Armstrong was longing for some 30 years ago!

Then this part:

-Latu had a good year (8.5 sacks and 3 picks) and just needs to work on finishing on some plays
-The Front 7 needs help overall though
-Defense needs to be faster

Latu- is JUST A FUCKING GUY! He will sing his praises because he is HIS guy, but the reality is, that dude is just your random 55-60 other dudes at the position in the NFL. He is NOT an impact player, he DOES NOT need to FINISH some plays, he needs to fucking INITIATE some plays- the plays he makes are just finishing when there's like 6 seconds in the backfield because the QB held the ball for eternity. We need someone who explodes off the line and gets home in 2 -2.5 seconds.

So, with him making all those statements, he's implying he will make us faster up front, meaning he will select a DE with the 2nd rounder, which translates to us putting another notch on the wall where he marks the never ending list of ineffective DE's he has landed--- we are so fucked here!

Man, if you listened to this thing and didn't come away feeling like this dude is pretty fucking comfortable with just being middle of the pack, you didn't listen to his words and tone. This dude is the very reason we collapse, because this is HIS culture, this is a cultivator of mid!

Ballard is full of shit.

I’ve never been less confident in the organization. He inspired zero confidence with his press conference. In fairness though, there isn’t much he can say at this point. Pointing back at his one and done playoff run is about all he’s got to hang his hat on.

Thanks for the breakdown. I haven't listened to one of these for like 3 years now. He always just says the same shit.

He answered every question the reporters asked. He answered them honestly and didn't dodge anything.

Does it sound like same ole same ole? Maybe. But just like you play the teams on the schedule, You answer the questions asked by the reporters

Why are you pissed at Ballard and not the reporters for not asking better questions?

I never listen to anyone who screams there thoughts and can't talk rationally. I dismiss their thoughts as soon as I start reading the tone.

Think about the people in the world that scream their opinion all the time. No one takes then seriously because they are just not ver smart people

This 'goal' of making the playoffs and complaining about how hard it is a big part of the problem to me. He may be correct that all things considered that is realistically all we can shoot for this year. He is right that he has had a very hard time putting together a playoff team. It is why we need new talent and leadership that is naive enough to think the Super Bowl is a reasonable goal. I just don't know that Ballard actually believes in himself anymore. If you have any self awareness this run of mediocrity has got to affect you. He admitted he has no idea of how they so totally collapsed (it is almost like the team is looking for an excuse to fold. we lost a QB and the entire team went south) and obviously doesn't know how to fix it yet that is what he is supposed to do. This team has a 'woe is me' feeling big time to me.

God I hope he doesn't actually believe that.

Yeah, not very inspiring. Kind of like the owners' letter to the fans that says they believe we can compete for the division and a playoff birth next year. Haven't we already been doing that the last couple of years?