2023 Colts Season Prediction Thread

[Brylok]

Originally Posted by JAFF

Most of Ballards time with the Colts he dealt with the on again off again drama of Andrew Luck.

I give him more time to build the O line and find anyone (including anyone one this site) who can catch a pass and run faster than me (anyone who is upright).

It's getting close to 50/50 now. Luck was 17, 18, and he quit in 19. Ballard has had 20, 21, 22, and now 23. So I agree and I sympathize, but at some point you have to have success. We also had the covid season(s) sprinkled in there so, yeah, bad timing of things for Ballard.

[JAFF]

Originally Posted by Brylok

It's getting close to 50/50 now. Luck was 17, 18, and he quit in 19. Ballard has had 20, 21, 22, and now 23. So I agree and I sympathize, but at some point you have to have success. We also had the covid season(s) sprinkled in there so, yeah, bad timing of things for Ballard.

He should have a chance with AR. Next year they get work on the O line and RB

[Racehorse]

Originally Posted by Brylok

It's getting close to 50/50 now. Luck was 17, 18, and he quit in 19. Ballard has had 20, 21, 22, and now 23. So I agree and I sympathize, but at some point you have to have success. We also had the covid season(s) sprinkled in there so, yeah, bad timing of things for Ballard.

His tenure has been odd. Luck retired just as the team looked ready to compete for a SB, so the idea was to get a veteran QB to fill in and make a run. None of those guys worked out, except Rivers, and then he retired. After the next two QBs were a disaster, the window was nearly closed, so they went rookie and will try to build the rest around him, hoping he develops quickly, and the core doesn’t age too quickly.

[Oldcolt]

If Ballard hit on AR the window is like 10-12 years

[IndyNorm]

I'm sure if AR doesn't work out or if Ballard's unable to field a decent team around him then Ballard will be gone.

Hopefully AR hits and that motivates Ballard to start filling needs in the offseason via FA and not rely solely on the draft.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by IndyNorm

I'm sure if AR doesn't work out or if Ballard's unable to field a decent team around him then Ballard will be gone.

Hopefully AR hits and that motivates Ballard to start filling needs in the offseason via FA and not rely solely on the draft.

Gotta remember this is a new offense with a new coach who probably values different skill sets in his skill positions than Reich did. These guys might not all fit what he would like in a system. Would Reich have wanted a Josh Downs? So I think the offense will be transforming in the next couple of years.

[IndyNorm]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

Gotta remember this is a new offense with a new coach who probably values different skill sets in his skill positions than Reich did. These guys might not all fit what he would like in a system. Would Reich have wanted a Josh Downs? So I think the offense will be transforming in the next couple of years.

Not saying you let Ballard go if things don't work out this year. I think anyone who isn't wearing blue colored glasses knows that we won't be good this year.

But if we get to 2-3 seasons down the road and either AR is a bust or Ballard is unable to build a good team around him then Ballard needs to go. I really have my doubts Ballard will be able to put a good team around AR considering he's been in charge since '17 and as ChoppedWood and Omaha pointed out on another thread we have a serious lack of talent pretty much across the board.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by IndyNorm

Not saying you let Ballard go if things don't work out this year. I think anyone who isn't wearing blue colored glasses knows that we won't be good this year.

But if we get to 2-3 seasons down the road and either AR is a bust or Ballard is unable to build a good team around him then Ballard needs to go. I really have my doubts Ballard will be able to put a good team around AR considering he's been in charge since '17 and as ChoppedWood and Omaha pointed out on another thread we have a serious lack of talent pretty much across the board.

Ballard is here for a couple years. He’s tied to AR and Steichen unless the team just complete collapses and we go winless or something.

We don’t lack talent. Just a lot of it is either not on the field or has been mitigated due to poor QB play. Healthy Leonard, Buckner, JT, Nelson are all pros. The defense was very good last year, until they couldn’t prop up the offense anymore. But they are a solid unit and have become much better since Ballard got here. That unit was awful when he got here. I think the oline will return to form with solid tackle play. I’ve said for four years, the LT is the lynchpin of the line, the oline goes as LT goes. I expect the oline to bounce back this year. They have been in the top ten most of the time Ballard has been here, you don’t achieve that with no talent.

I think Pittman is seriously underrated. Yeah yeah the number one bs, he’s a 1000 yard receiver and been in the top 20 WRs in stats with bottom tier QB play. Hes been consistently in the top ten of releasing against pressman coverage (the toughest for WRs to deal with), averages better separation than Stephon Diggs, Terry Maclaurin and DJ Moore. Is he top ten in the NFL? No. But he is certainly top 30. Absolutely. And I think he would do even better with consistent play at QB.

So yeah, I disagree on the talent notion. But whatever. I’m tired of pointing shit out. Some people hate Ballard. I see it on social media every day. MF’ers don’t even know him talking about his personality like they’re his neighbors. And the 1070 radio guys have it out for him, listened to them two summers in a row talk out of their ass and be total hypocrites. I don’t care. I do think if Luck hadn’t retired this would have been an AFC championship team easily. Luck with JTs year that was wasted on Wentz?!? That team would have been crazy good. Most GMs don’t survive losing a franchise QB.

But yeah, if this team doesn’t win in a couple years, he’s gone. That’s how it goes. AR probably too. Then it’s time to start over again.