Colts Make 2nd Consecutive Splash Trade In-Season for Pass Rusher

by RamTheChosenOne | 7 years ago | 0 Comments

For the second straight year, the Colts have given away premium draft capital for a pass rusher in his prime, adding OLB James Rodgers from the Panthers for a 1st Rd pick this draft and a 2nd Rd pick in the next. Ballard is again going all in to help the defense improve immediately, but will it matter? The teams playmaking talent on offense remains a sorespot for an otherwise decent roster, but Ballard is putting all his egss in the pass rushing basket. Why?

Currently, the Colts are bottom 3 in all the important defensive statistical categories. Some will argue that the offenses propensity to turn the ball over and thus create more yardage opportunities for opposing offenses have skewed the stats but Ballard is betting that its something more to the poor showing on defense and isn't waiting around for the problem to fix itslef. He's shown he's willing to punt on the draft for impact players in their prime. With bookends now at the OLB spots, the idea, as he says, is that it will be a race to the QB and the secondary can be helped with a ramped up rush. 

Ballard: "protecting the back end is the key to playing defense in this league. We saw an opportunity to add an impact player at an impact spot and we believe JR will make a huge difference. We think this will impact the offense as well and we like what we have on that side of the ball. If the defense can hold teams down, create turnovers etc, then  Matt [Lefleur - OC] will be able to call games on his terms. if we dont have to score 30 to win every week I think we'll be around come January. We'll see how it goes."

Since Ballard has taken over he's made trades for Navorro Bowman, Aqib Talib, Joey Bosa and now James Rodgers. Not a single offensive player on that list and a ton of draft capital out of the window. He's traded TY Hilton and Donte Moncrief and has mostly failed to give Andrew Luck any weapons to replace them. Fans have clamored for bigger names and more talent on offense, but Ballard won't budge. Ballard: "Offensive football in our estimation is about franchise QBs making his guys better, cohesive line play and a running game that helps teams protect the ball. We can safely check all those boxes, so called 'elite' receivers are the shiny hood ornaments, those top 3 onthe list are the actual engine. When we got here this entire defense had to be rebuilt, its still a process and we're doing what is necessary to build a championship roster."  This seasons outcome will be the judge, but how much more draft capital can be mortgaged on one side of the ball, and 8-8 seasons stomached, before the fans and more importantly ownership call for a new regime?