Puttingthe 8 losses into perspective

[Kray007]

8 losses are 8 losses. I get that; nothing I say or write here can take away the sting of losing to a miserable Jacksonville team.

But, I dunno. There is something about playing the Jags that this team has problems with, it’s almost like one of those Russian puzzle boxes that just when you think you got it figured out, you’re back to square one.

So, I figure that getting my shorts in a ball after any game against Jacksonville is an exercise in futility. It feels like no matter how much talent the Colts put on the field, no matter how superior they are, Jacksonville is going to give them problems.

That leaves seven games, seven losses. Two of them came against Houston, two losses by a total of five points, two games whose results could’ve changed if the ball had just bounced a little differently. That having been said, the Texans, according to ESPN’s power ratings are the 13th best team in the league.

The other losses included:

The Broncos at number 10. There’s really not much to say about the loss in Denver that hasn’t been said. In my mind this is a game the Colts should have won. It was just chock full of would’a, should’a could’a moments. If Jonathan Taylor doesn’t fumble, if Mitchell doesn’t throw the interception (I know the rulebook says that it wasn’t an interception, but I know an interception when I see one), the Colts win going away.

The other losses were to:

Buffalo at number 1
Detroit at number 2
Minnesota, number 5
and the Pack at number 6

And this came in a year in which they were breaking in the greenest of Quarterbacks, dealing with injuries that decimated the right side of the Offensive Line, and were hobbled on D by the absence of their best pass rusher and Corner.

In addition, there was a myriad of nicks, cuts, and bruises that plagued the wide receiver room and cost Josh Downs, Michael, Pittman, and Alec Pierce playing time.

In 11 days, the Colts will likely pack up their tents and head home for the off-season with a 9-8 record. A great many people will point out that it makes the second season in a row to end with the same record. Some of the talking heads in the Indy media, what Spiro Agnew called the chattering classes, will try to convince you that the team is stagnating and call for major changes to take place. I can’t imagine a worse idea. The teams future hinges on Anthony Richardson, and I think that he has begun to morph into the kind of player that can lead this team to great things. He needs a healthy off-season to work on the things that separate man from boy at his position. He seems to have made strides with his mechanics, when he throws the ball, it seems to go where he wants it to. Now, he simply needs to get better with anticipation and timing.

If Richardson can do that, if Ballard adds just a few more pieces, the Colts go from pretender to contender, and next year’s Christmas is a lot more merry and bright.

[Colts And Orioles]

Originally Posted by Kray007

And this came in a year in which they were breaking in the greenest of Quarterbacks, dealing with injuries that decimated the right side of the Offensive Line, l and were hobbled on D by the absence of their best pass rusher and Corner.

o


Although I liked your entire posts, this is probably the most glaring point that many frustrated, impatient Colts fans tend to ignore.

o

[Kray007]

Originally Posted by Colts And Orioles

o


Although I liked your entire posts, this is probably the most glaring point that many frustrated, impatient Colts fans tend to ignore.

o

Against Detroit, they were without Raimann, Kelly, and Fries; and Braden Smith was about to exit with a personal issue the nature of which I shudder to contemplate.

[Dewey 5]

Originally Posted by Kray007

8 losses are 8 losses. I get that; nothing I say or write here can take away the sting of losing to a miserable Jacksonville team.

But, I dunno. There is something about playing the Jags that this team has problems with, it’s almost like one of those Russian puzzle boxes that just when you think you got it figured out, you’re back to square one.

So, I figure that getting my shorts in a ball after any game against Jacksonville is an exercise in futility. It feels like no matter how much talent the Colts put on the field, no matter how superior they are, Jacksonville is going to give them problems.

That leaves seven games, seven losses. Two of them came against Houston, two losses by a total of five points, two games whose results could’ve changed if the ball had just bounced a little differently. That having been said, the Texans, according to ESPN’s power ratings are the 13th best team in the league.

The other losses included:

The Broncos at number 10. There’s really not much to say about the loss in Denver that hasn’t been said. In my mind this is a game the Colts should have won. It was just chock full of would’a, should’a could’a moments. If Jonathan Taylor doesn’t fumble, if Josh Downs doesn’t throw the interception (I know the rulebook says that it wasn’t an interception, but I know an interception when I see one), the Colts win going away.

The other losses were to:

Buffalo at number 1
Detroit at number 2
Minnesota, number 5
and the Pack at number 6

And this came in a year in which they were breaking in the greenest of Quarterbacks, dealing with injuries that decimated the right side of the Offensive Line, and were hobbled on D by the absence of their best pass rusher and Corner.

In addition, there was a myriad of nicks, cuts, and bruises that plagued the wide receiver room and cost Josh Downs, Michael, Pittman, and Alec Pierce playing time.

In 11 days, the Colts will likely pack up their tents and head home for the off-season with a 9-8 record. A great many people will point out that it makes the second season in a row to end with the same record. Some of the talking heads in the Indy media, what Spiro Agnew called the chattering classes, will try to convince you that the team is stagnating and call for major changes to take place. I can’t imagine a worse idea. The teams future hinges on Anthony Richardson, and I think that he has begun to morph into the kind of player that can lead this team to great things. He needs a healthy off-season to work on the things that separate man from boy at his position. He seems to have made strides with his mechanics, when he throws the ball, it seems to go where he wants it to. Now, he simply needs to get better with anticipation and timing.

If Richardson can do that, if Ballard adds just a few more pieces, the Colts go from pretender to contender, and next year’s Christmas is a lot more merry and bright.

I don't want Ballard to do anything other than getting the fuck out of town.

[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by Kray007

The teams future hinges on Anthony Richardson, and I think that he has begun to morph into the kind of player that can lead this team to great things. He needs a healthy off-season to work on the things that separate man from boy at his position. He seems to have made strides with his mechanics, when he throws the ball, it seems to go where he wants it to. Now, he simply needs to get better with anticipation and timing.

If Richardson can do that, if Ballard adds just a few more pieces, the Colts go from pretender to contender, and next year’s Christmas is a lot more merry and bright.

This is where I'm torn. I like Richardson, and I have seen a change since the benching. But, as of now, I can't say if that has been a positive change. The results would probably show that it has been positive, and I can see that.

My concern is that AR doesn't look like he's having fun, that the grind is wearing on him, and that he's become more robotic. My hope is that he can find a happy medium and blossom into a guy where everything flows naturally.

The kid is only 22 years old and he the weight of the Colts world and a family world on his shoulders.

I just hope that we don't ruin another potentially great QB like we have in the past.

[Hoopsdoc]

You’re right insofar as 8 losses is 8 losses.

Thats all that matters, though.

The rest of your post reeks of excuse making and equivocation.

This has really been the worst possible result for this season.

No playoffs and still no real idea of what we have in Richardson. He’s gonna need another full season before we really know what he is or, better yet, what he can grow into.

Very depressing season for me.

[HoosierinFL]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

You’re right insofar as 8 losses is 8 losses.

Thats all that matters, though.

The rest of your post reeks of excuse making and equivocation.

This has really been the worst possible result for this season.

No playoffs and still no real idea of what we have in Richardson. He’s gonna need another full season before we really know what he is or, better yet, what he can grow into.

Very depressing season for me.

100%.

Sometimes a few losses can be explained away as some bad luck or bad calls or missing a key player for a week or 2. But this far into the season the old adage applies “you are what your record says you are”. And. 7-8 record says you’re barely middling.

[daedge]

Originally Posted by Kray007

8 losses are 8 losses. I get that; nothing I say or write here can take away the sting of losing to a miserable Jacksonville team.

But, I dunno. There is something about playing the Jags that this team has problems with, it’s almost like one of those Russian puzzle boxes that just when you think you got it figured out, you’re back to square one.

So, I figure that getting my shorts in a ball after any game against Jacksonville is an exercise in futility. It feels like no matter how much talent the Colts put on the field, no matter how superior they are, Jacksonville is going to give them problems.

That leaves seven games, seven losses. Two of them came against Houston, two losses by a total of five points, two games whose results could’ve changed if the ball had just bounced a little differently. That having been said, the Texans, according to ESPN’s power ratings are the 13th best team in the league.

The other losses included:

The Broncos at number 10. There’s really not much to say about the loss in Denver that hasn’t been said. In my mind this is a game the Colts should have won. It was just chock full of would’a, should’a could’a moments. If Jonathan Taylor doesn’t fumble, if Josh Downs doesn’t throw the interception (I know the rulebook says that it wasn’t an interception, but I know an interception when I see one), the Colts win going away.

The other losses were to:

Buffalo at number 1
Detroit at number 2
Minnesota, number 5
and the Pack at number 6

And this came in a year in which they were breaking in the greenest of Quarterbacks, dealing with injuries that decimated the right side of the Offensive Line, and were hobbled on D by the absence of their best pass rusher and Corner.

In addition, there was a myriad of nicks, cuts, and bruises that plagued the wide receiver room and cost Josh Downs, Michael, Pittman, and Alec Pierce playing time.

In 11 days, the Colts will likely pack up their tents and head home for the off-season with a 9-8 record. A great many people will point out that it makes the second season in a row to end with the same record. Some of the talking heads in the Indy media, what Spiro Agnew called the chattering classes, will try to convince you that the team is stagnating and call for major changes to take place. I can’t imagine a worse idea. The teams future hinges on Anthony Richardson, and I think that he has begun to morph into the kind of player that can lead this team to great things. He needs a healthy off-season to work on the things that separate man from boy at his position. He seems to have made strides with his mechanics, when he throws the ball, it seems to go where he wants it to. Now, he simply needs to get better with anticipation and timing.

If Richardson can do that, if Ballard adds just a few more pieces, the Colts go from pretender to contender, and next year’s Christmas is a lot more merry and bright.

It wasn't Downs who threw the interception (technically fumble). It was AD Mitchell.

[rm1369]

I will never understand the constant excuses made for Ballard. This exercise has been done nearly every year under Ballard - “they are just a couple moves away from contention”. And every year Ballard does what Ballard does and the team under performs the talent level. QB play is a factor of course but it’s far from the only one or IMO even the most important one. Ballard has built a losing culture. 8 yrs in and that’s Ballards biggest mark on this team - he’s built and accepted a losing culture. Remember way back when he was cutting vets and selling building almost exclusively through the draft he downplayed the vets impact on culture by saying his coaches would establish the culture. Remember his military psychology specialist that was ensuring he was only drafting high quality winners? Remember his drafting keys (besides RAS) like team captain, multi year starter, senior bowl? This teams culture has been 100% selected and built by Ballard. It’s not a coincidence, it’s not bad luck. It is exactly what his methods build. And its a proven fucking loser. Give him another year. Give him 6 more. The results will always be the same- a team that under performs it’s supposed talent level. A team that lacks accountability and that lacks on field leadership will always underperform.

Cultivating a “next year” mentality in this team is Ballard’s biggest failure and will be his legacy. That half the fan base eats it up is just sad and why it’s allowed to continue. But I’m sure this time it’s right.

[omahacolt]

this season was almost a complete failure.

1) no idea if Richardson is the guy. didn't see much improvement, if at all from him.

2) the defense regressed. I thought our lbers were solid but we need 2 new starters.

3) pass rush still isn't where it needs to be.

4) still doing stupid, embarrassing things.

5) sat on cap space instead of improving the roster to minimize the issues with a young inexperienced qb

6) lost the 1st game of the year again. swept by the texicans and lost to the fucking jags in jacksonville again



good parts

1) bortolini and goncalves seem like decent pieces and possibly future starters

2) downs continued his good play

3) jaylon Jones has played pretty well and cross seems to be a solid safety


overall a terrible season.