I def am not in the camp to think Ballard has built a bad team. I think it was clear already this year that simply upgrading the QB and coach was enough to get this team back into being playoff-caliber.
The problem though, was that we then lose said QB, plus have to deal with a bunch of losses to defensive personnel.
I never really bought much into that "next man up" stuff. I mean of course the next guy has to step up, but 2nd and 3rd string players are 2nd and 3rd string for a reason. You're nearly *always* going to have a drop off in play quality when you're digging down in your depth chart.
I do agree though that Ballard's emphasis on "measureables" in his receivers is a problem. His big athletic guys just aren't panning out. Pittman is the best in that bunch and in the end Pittman is at best a #2 receiver, but is really a possession receiver across the middle, and that's it.
If it wasn't for Reggie identifying Downs and vouching for him, we would still be struggling for impact at the WR position - but Reggie picked a non-Ballard type player because he could recognize that Downs knows how to play the position.
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