Free agency 2023

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by Kray007

With Pierce, Campbell, and Pittman, Ballard has assembled a very nice group of Receivers. The problem was an Offensive Line that couldn’t provide time for routes to develop and a Quarterback whose best years were years ago.

As far as LT is concerned, Ballards initial move, to sign an all pro talent who was coming off a non career threatening injury, was sound. When Fisher didn’t work out, he drafted Raimann and signed Pryor as a stopgap. Judging by the skills Pryor demonstrated as a backup, it wasn’t unreasonable to think he’d be, at least, competent. He wasn’t, Raimann took over, and was playing reasonably well by week 18. In ways, his progress mirrored that of the Giant’s Andrew Thomas.

There is little question that Ballard will EVENTUALLY fill a hole - when he gets around to drafting enough people.

You guys can continue to defend every move he makes. In 6 years Ballard is 45-52-1. His teams have made the playoffs twice, winning a single playoff game. And he has never won a bad AFC South division. But keep telling me how great a GM he is. So good he can’t even be questioned.

When are we hoping for that elusive second playoff win? Year 8? 9 maybe? Maybe a division title by year 10? I’m serious, please someone give me some fucking expectations. Because in year fucking two when I said his methods would lead to mediocrity all of the same people said I was nuts and defended the methods. Here we are drafting 4th after year 6 and you guys are saying the same shit. Please one of you give me some god damn expectations of when Ballard runs out of excuses and is expected to win. After 6 years this is 100% his team. Well, unless you believe Reich was calling all the shots I guess.

[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by rm1369

Well, unless you believe Reich was calling all the shots I guess.

No that is not how I think of Reich. I think of him as passive and letting others call the shots.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by rm1369

There is little question that Ballard will EVENTUALLY fill a hole - when he gets around to drafting enough people.

You guys can continue to defend every move he makes. In 6 years Ballard is 45-52-1. His teams have made the playoffs twice, winning a single playoff game. And he has never won a bad AFC South division. But keep telling me how great a GM he is. So good he can’t even be questioned.

Wtf are you talking about? People criticize him all the time. Every time I turn on the radio the 1070 guys are picking apart every single decision with hindsight. But they just do it bc they think he is snobby or some other personal bullshit they have with him. As if Polian wasn’t a flaming asshole. Grigson was a prick too, which hurts when you suck at your job as well.

A weird fanatical contingent on Twitter wants him fired and does nothing but talk about him even when the subject is something else. So much so I almost suspect they are hired trolls. The guy gets a little too much criticism lately imo bc not everything he does is bad. This is mostly a reversal from a few years ago when what you said above could be true, but not now. The guy gets a lot of flack.

[IndyNorm]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

Wtf are you talking about? People criticize him all the time. Every time I turn on the radio the 1070 guys are picking apart every single decision with hindsight. But they just do it bc they think he is snobby or some other personal bullshit they have with him. As if Polian wasn’t a flaming asshole. Grigson was a prick too, which hurts when you suck at your job as well.

A weird fanatical contingent on Twitter wants him fired and does nothing but talk about him even when the subject is something else. So much so I almost suspect they are hired trolls. The guy gets a little too much criticism lately imo bc not everything he does is bad. This is mostly a reversal from a few years ago when what you said above could be true, but not now. The guy gets a lot of flack.

As he should. He's the one who put together that dumpster fire shit storm of a team we had to watch this year.

[IndyNorm]

All joking and arguing aside: Getting the QB decision right is 1A, but fixing the OL has to be 1B. You're not going to be able to develop a young QB if he's getting the shit beat out of him week in and week out.

At a bare minimum we need a starting RG, an OC who can compete with and probably replace Kelly, and some quality OT depth. Ballard likely won't be able to find all of that in the draft, especially if we trade up, so he's going to need to find some of that in FA.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by IndyNorm

As he should. He's the one who put together that dumpster fire shit storm of a team we had to watch this year.

Yup the oline failed and that’s his baby. They put Pryor out there and it sabotaged the line. Guy fell on his sword at the end of the season. I’m good with it. He turned it into a top unit in the first place, more than I can say Grigson ever did.

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

Yup the oline failed and that’s his baby. They put Pryor out there and it sabotaged the line. Guy fell on his sword at the end of the season. I’m good with it. He turned it into a top unit in the first place, more than I can say Grigson ever did.

Dude will you get off Grigson? I think everyone except Dan Dakich knows Grigson sucked. That doesn’t make Ballard good. He needs to be better than “not Grigson”.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by rm1369

Dude will you get off Grigson? I think everyone except Dan Dakich knows Grigson sucked. That doesn’t make Ballard good. He needs to be better than “not Grigson”.

Grigson is what most GMs are. People tend to forget shitty GMing. And I’ll fucking bring up whatever the fuck I want.

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

Grigson is what most GMs are. People tend to forget shitty GMing. And I’ll fucking bring up whatever the fuck I want.

Not a single fucking person here has forgot Grigson.

I notice you’ve replied to a lot of my comments but not the one asking for some kind of bench mark for Ballard. When would Ballard ever be a failure for you? Year 10 with no playoff win? Year 12? Or as long as he’s “not Grigson” will you defend him and his philosophy?

[IndyNorm]

Originally Posted by rm1369

Dude will you get off Grigson? I think everyone except Dan Dakich knows Grigson sucked. That doesn’t make Ballard good. He needs to be better than “not Grigson”.

Well said. Everyone on this board would probably be a better GM than Grigson, but it doesn't mean any of us would actually be any good at it.