Free agency 2023

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

I don’t get the weird obsessions with Ballard. Guy isn’t perfect but he does a good job drafting and finding talent. He’s a lot better than Grigson who didn’t seem to warrant this kind of vehemence.

This stuff has a way of leaking out through other channels. So wtf did Ballard do that Reich didn’t want? He got him Rivers, he got him Wentz. It hasn’t been a lack of trying to fix QB. Rivers worked for a year. It’s only been a couple years. He filled LT in the second year of needing one. We have some promising young DEs.

Ballard has built the team exactly how he said he would. When I pointed out (several years ago) that in the modern NFL it is needlessly slow I was told I was nuts. Look back at the history and you certainly can’t say I was wrong. The Eagles won a SB, completely rebuilt the team (including changing QBs) and just played in another in the time that Ballard has done what? Slowly filled holes.

Fuck man I hope you are right that all he did was what Reich wanted. If true then I expect a completely different GM. But I don’t think you even really believe that. The team has been built by Ballard’s mold. I’m not sure how anyone can disagree. And I don’t even really knock the guy for QB. I knock him for never filling out the roster when he acquired the possible QB.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by rm1369

Ballard has built the team exactly how he said he would. When I pointed out (several years ago) that in the modern NFL it is needlessly slow I was told I was nuts. Look back at the history and you certainly can’t say I was wrong. The Eagles won a SB, completely rebuilt the team (including changing QBs) and just played in another in the time that Ballard has done what? Slowly filled holes.

Fuck man I hope you are right that all he did was what Reich wanted. If true then I expect a completely different GM. But I don’t think you even really believe that. The team has been built by Ballard’s mold. I’m not sure how anyone can disagree. And I don’t even really knock the guy for QB. I knock him for never filling out the roster when he acquired the possible QB.

Bc the Eagles got lucky and found a QB that no one, not even them, thought would be anything better than a Taysom Hill type. They also build through the lines and spend a lot of capital on them. They have a stacked team. They actually have a very similar build theory to the Colts. Probably why they liked Steichen bc he comes from that theory. I think Reich liked it. Lots of teams have been crap during this period and have stayed crap. Broncos gave their left nut for a short QB who bombed spectacularly.

The past 2 out of 3 drafts the top pick has been a WR. The last 3 out of 4 they have used high picks on receivers. The team hasn’t been a disaster. They’ve been competitive and have battled for the division several times with no QB. Usually when you have no QB you’re the Texans. Even this year they could have easily had better record with some luck, likely would have if they hadn’t fired Reich. But Irsay wanted to break the cycle and now they are finally in position for a young QB.

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

Bc the Eagles got lucky and found a QB that no one, not even them, thought would be anything better than a Taysom Hill type. They also build through the lines and spend a lot of capital on them. They have a stacked team. They actually have a very similar build theory to the Colts. Probably why they liked Steichen bc he comes from that theory. I think Reich liked it. Lots of teams have been crap during this period and have stayed crap. Broncos gave their left nut for a short QB who bombed spectacularly.

The past 2 out of 3 drafts the top pick has been a WR. The last 3 out of 4 they have used high picks on receivers. The team hasn’t been a disaster. They’ve been competitive and have battled for the division several times with no QB. Usually when you have no QB you’re the Texans. Even this year they could have easily had better record with some luck, likely would have if they hadn’t fired Reich. But Irsay wanted to break the cycle and now they are finally in position for a young QB.

I completely 100% disagree that Philly has a build theory similar to the Colts. If you mean the idea of building up the lines (in theory) then yes, but that’s where the similarities end. Philly went out and actively improved their roster for this year. They made a conscious push to win this year. Never once has Ballard done that. Not once. And that is my single biggest complaint. You claim they are finally in a position to draft a QB, they could have been earlier if not for going the vet QB route. But the maddening thing is they half assed it. If you sign Rivers you should be in win now mode, Ballard wasn’t. If you trade for Wentz you should be in win now mode. Ballard wasn’t. If you trade for Ryan you should be in win now mode, Ballard wasn’t.

Yes there are teams that have been worse. Does that somehow make Ballard’s team building a success? I’ve never claimed he’s the worst GM in the league. I’m not positive I even want him fired. I’d like to see him wise up and change his antiquated philosophy. It’s just infuriating listen to guys pretend he’s a fucking genius. He’s a good talent evaluator and a mediocre GM. The record proves it no matter how many excuses you guys give. Rebuilds shouldn’t take 8 seasons in the NFL.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by rm1369

I completely 100% disagree that Philly has a build theory similar to the Colts. If you mean the idea of building up the lines (in theory) then yes, but that’s where the similarities end. Philly went out and actively improved their roster for this year. They made a conscious push to win this year. Never once has Ballard done that. Not once. And that is my single biggest complaint. You claim they are finally in a position to draft a QB, they could have been earlier if not for going the vet QB route. But the maddening thing is they half assed it. If you sign Rivers you should be in win now mode, Ballard wasn’t. If you trade for Wentz you should be in win now mode. Ballard wasn’t. If you trade for Ryan you should be in win now mode, Ballard wasn’t.

Yes there are teams that have been worse. Does that somehow make Ballard’s team building a success? I’ve never claimed he’s the worst GM in the league. I’m not positive I even want him fired. I’d like to see him wise up and change his antiquated philosophy. It’s just infuriating listen to guys pretend he’s a fucking genius. He’s a good talent evaluator and a mediocre GM. The record proves it no matter how many excuses you guys give. Rebuilds shouldn’t take 8 seasons in the NFL.

Because they know they have the pieces in place. Good rookie QB on a rookie contract. We don’t have that. Why sell the farm when we don’t have the QB position settled?

Irsay wanted them to compete. Reich didn’t want to go a young QB, otherwise they might have gone after Fields. He built the oline up, then Luck retired. He’s built the defense into a good unit. But until we get QB settled, he’s not going to go all out for a SB and not should he. Cart before the horse notion.

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

Because they know they have the pieces in place. Good rookie QB on a rookie contract. We don’t have that. Why sell the farm when we don’t have the QB position settled?

Irsay wanted them to compete. Reich didn’t want to go a young QB, otherwise they might have gone after Fields. He built the oline up, then Luck retired. He’s built the defense into a good unit. But until we get QB settled, he’s not going to go all out for a SB and not should he. Cart before the horse notion.

Then don’t go the vet QB route. If you didn’t think you could compete with Rivers, Wentz, or Ryan then they had no business acquiring them. If they thought they could win with them then they had no business treating the rest of the roster like it was a developmental year.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by rm1369

Then don’t go the vet QB route. If you didn’t think you could compete with Rivers, Wentz, or Ryan then they had no business acquiring them. If they thought they could win with them then they had no business treating the rest of the roster like it was a developmental year.

Then wtf are they supposed to do then. Tank the season? Tell the players “hey I know you want to win, but nah.” They made logical decisions, it mostly didn’t work out. They made the playoffs with Rivers. They almost did with a limping Wentz. It’s not like they sold their future for Russel Wilson. They said what they were trying to do. Find an Alex Smith to compete with till they could draft a QB they liked.

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

Then wtf are they supposed to do then. Tank the season? Tell the players “hey I know you want to win, but nah.” They made logical decisions, it mostly didn’t work out. They made the playoffs with Rivers. They almost did with a limping Wentz. It’s not like they sold their future for Russel Wilson. They said what they were trying to do. Find an Alex Smith to compete with till they could draft a QB they liked.

Isn’t tanking the season what they did to get in position to get a QB? Why is it acceptable in year 6 but not year 4 or 5? I’m constantly told they’ve had no shot at a QB because they weren’t bad enough. Yet they weren’t good enough for their GM to make a push. Seems like a terrible place to be for 3 seasons.

Yes they made the playoffs with Rivers and almost did with Wentz. Imagine if Ballard had done more with the rest of the roster. Ballard may have more than one playoff win in 6 years.