To put the running game in context

[Pez]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

We have been trying to find a fix for this offensive line for what, 10 12 years. Even when we had a running game it was never like this. When Edge was at his peak he would make moves and plays that left me wondering how he possibly could do that. Now I wonder how we could possibly open up such huge holes. Considering all of the money and draft capital we have invested without anything to show for it fixing it, and fixing it like this, with (in addition to incredible coaching) a number 6 and number 37 draft pick is a steal for this particular club.

I know it's more complicated than this, but Ballard fixing the OL in two drafts really suggests to me that we were talking about fixing the OL for the last decade more than we were actually fixing it. Luck got his ass kicked for a 5 year span that nearly ended his career. Ballard fixes that in two years.

I guess Kelly was really a Grigson pick, but Grigs was pretty much toast at that point. And I have heard it argued that the Hooker / Mack / Walker draft was more of a Grigson team draft even thought Ballard was GM.

Then 2018 with three picks Ballard completely changed the landscape of this team .... Nelson, Leonard, Smith.