Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - LOCKED ON COLTS -4/6- George's Corner: Colts Draft Strategy, Targets and Expectations W/@gmbremer

Episode Date: April 6, 2017

George Bremer joins Matt as they head over to George's Corner, to discuss #Colts positional needs, possible draft strategy, targets and general Chris Ballard talk. Call in number is 574-516-2881 to ge...t your questions read and answered on the air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 That's for my crazy day. My packed commute. All those unread emails in my inbox. But I'm getting stronger, faster, and pushing myself further every day. I don't care if I'm not like everyone else. This punching bag is the best way to end my day. Fearless is knowing yoga isn't your style. That's the power of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program.
Starting point is 00:00:25 Learn more about our healthy benefits at fepblue.org slash getmore. No, I'm not for sale. You are lockeded On Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome back to Locked On Colts, ladies and gentlemen. I am your host, Matt Dainley, and thank you guys for joining me here on this Thursday, April 6th. And again, tonight, we got our main man, George Bremmer, back with us, and we are going to take a trip to George's Corner and see what he's up to. George, thank you for joining me, man. What's going on? My pleasure. For once, I think I actually have a little bit of time, so be a little more casual for once.
Starting point is 00:01:26 I'm not trying to juggle 10 things at once. Yes, busy dude for sure. Certainly it makes me appreciate the time that we do get with you for sure just because I know how busy you are. Like you said, juggling a lot of things, a lot of people, a lot of sports, a lot of everything, and definitely appreciate you jumping on with us every time that you do. No problem. My pleasure. A little bit of interesting news that we've got for Locked On Colts.
Starting point is 00:01:53 We've now got our own call-in phone number for people to be part of a mailbag show, and we can do that now, so that's interesting. So if you guys want to be part of it, I'm going to put your messages on the show. That phone number is 574-516-2881. Do that. Call me. Get your messages on there or leave your message. And I'll play it on the show and I'll answer your questions.
Starting point is 00:02:18 So a little addition to the show, a little excitement, a little bit of fun to get the fans actually involved. They can hear their voices on the show, so kind of fun. Yeah, a lot of fun. I think to get the fans excited right now, everybody, I think, is kind of optimistic and looking forward to what's going to happen with this new regime, and it's a good time to hear from the fans. Yeah, absolutely. And we've gotten a few calls. We've gotten a good handful of
Starting point is 00:02:45 them or so, but I'm trying to get as many as possible. I can maybe spread them out to a couple different shows, maybe two days a week, do that or something. I mean, I think that's fun, especially at this time of year when there's so much debate going on about draft and, you know, even still to a much lesser degree, obviously free agency to see if anybody's going to be jumping on the team or anything like that. But other than that, I mean, there's a lot of free time and a lot of free thinking going on. So it's the best time of the year, like you said, to get people on and try to see if I
Starting point is 00:03:14 can answer anything that they've got or just whatever. So what's your thoughts? You think that the Colts are done in free agency? You think they may add a couple tertiary guys before we head into the draft or what? I think they're probably done until the draft now. I think they're at that point where you wait and see what happens in the draft and what you're able to pick up
Starting point is 00:03:33 with some of the free agents after the draft and then kind of make an assessment of what's left and maybe get a value pick here or there. But I feel like for the most part, that hay's in the barn and now you're pretty much into the the hardcore draft preparations which i'll tell you to me this is one of the most interesting drafts in years i just feel like it's so deep everybody understands you know how much talent is in this draft but go through the mock drafts and you know one guy's maybe picked third by this this draft
Starting point is 00:04:06 and he's not in the first round in the next one you read and there's just so much variance i guess right now out there and it makes it a lot of fun especially with the colts picking right in the middle of the first round some of the guys that could potentially fall there you know the different rumors you hear about guys that are dropping and even if nobody does you know even if it somehow goes as close to chalk as possible because right now i'm not really sure what chalk is in this draft uh there's going to be a good player there at 15 and i think that's what everybody's excited about and really trying to figure out who that guy's going to be oh yeah for sure, for sure. I mean, in the constant talk, you know, I had Brian Kroski on the show the other night,
Starting point is 00:04:48 and we kind of were talking. Both of us were pretty much on team trade down, you know. But I think that, you know, and in fact, I had a conversation today or, you know, whatever you want to call it, a DM conversation today with a fan, and we were kind of talking just the trade down situation. What are your thoughts about that? I mean, do you think that they're going to trade, uh just the trade down situation what what are your thoughts about that i mean do you think that they're going to trade that they would trade down in the first
Starting point is 00:05:09 i think that they would if the pot was sweetened enough but i mean if you were to predict today uh do the colts pick at 15 or do they trade down that first round uh selection i feel like they want to trade down i think they they're always looking to gain picks. I think that's something that they've been very, very vocal about. I think if they get the right deal, they would love to do it. And I think, again, the depth of the draft really allows you to do that. My only question right now is, you know, the other part of that equation. What will someone be coming up for?
Starting point is 00:05:40 Because there is so much craziness right now in terms of who's going where you know maybe maybe if there's a run on quarterbacks it's unexpected maybe somebody wants to come up and make sure that they don't get left out of that maybe you know you never know whenever one position starts flying off the board and you see that run two three four of them a row or you know five of them in a seven pick span or something like. Maybe somebody gets desperate at that point or gets a little nervous and wants to trade up and get their guy, and that could help the Colts. But I just wonder in this draft, because of the depth, all the reasons that make the Colts want to trade down,
Starting point is 00:06:17 I wonder who will be willing to come up, and I think that's going to be the challenging part of that equation. Yeah, I guess, like I said, I think that's going to be the challenging part of that equation. Yeah, I guess, like I said, I think that they would trade it down if the pot was sweetened enough, but I just have a, I mean, I don't know what you want to call it, a hunch or whatever. I just feel like the second round pick, like they would find somebody so mesmerizing in that first round that they would go ahead and make that pick. But I feel like maybe the second round would be where they'd start, you know, okay, now we're
Starting point is 00:06:50 basically open for trade central here. So anybody, you know, we get a trade, we're going to take it as long as we're getting something in return, you know, of equal value, you know. And I think that would, I mean, I think that that's, if I was to be the one approaching it, I think that that's how I would go because you just, it's, if they don't have a first round pick, they can't miss on a first round pick. But I think that there's so many people that are worthy of a first round pick, especially at 15 this year. It makes me just wonder, you know, man, do you really pass on an absolute game changer at that point just so you can get another guy who could be a piece in a couple years? You know what I'm saying?
Starting point is 00:07:36 Right. That's the one thing that gets me. It's like, man, you know what? I think maybe just take that first round pick and then open up, like I said, open the lines for Trade Central and just allow the rest of the draft to come to you from there on. I mean, I just really think there's going to be so much talent at 15 left on the board. It's just going to be mind boggling. And I think that would be hard to pass up. But I mean, you know, if you're getting, you know, another, you know, you're getting their second round pick and maybe, you know, just whatever, maybe another pick down the board, not too far, maybe a third or fourth round pick. Maybe I can, I can get behind that, but man, I did, like I said, that talent in that first half of the draft of the first round is just going to be so rich there that that, I think that would be
Starting point is 00:08:20 hard to trade down from, I mean, unless it was just a few spots, I think. And I'm, and I think that I'm referring to more along the lines of trading completely out of the first round. Yeah, I don't see that. I don't see that happening. Like, I could see them going, again, if the right thing comes along. And I think sort of along the lines of what you were saying, you know, that deal is going to have to be a special deal. It's going to have to be one of these blockbuster type of deals for them to go down but i could see them going maybe to 18 1920 somewhere in that neighborhood yeah uh but not part of that too is ideally if you're doing the right things and and your
Starting point is 00:08:58 programs going in the right direction they're not going to be able to pick this high again for you know a couple of years that's that's the goal exactly so i think you've got to you got to take advantage of that now and i think that's the feeling uh you know obviously we've been away from the building for a while we're going to get a chance to go back in here around april 17th so uh another thing that we're looking forward to as the media goes um but you know i think everything from the time that we have had around jim ursae and chris ballard during this offseason and chuck pagano everything seems to be pointed in the direction that they're excited about this draft too and i think by now i imagine that guy that they want at 15 or those two or three guys have been targeted and yeah i think it's sort of like you were
Starting point is 00:09:46 talking about the idea that they're going to fall in love with somebody i would imagine that process is pretty close to over at this point that there's somebody in their mind they've got their apple their eye i would think it's going to take something pretty strong to get them to give that up but the thing of that is i really feel like one of Chris Ballard's strengths, and he's already shown it. He's already doing it. I don't think he's the type of guy to decide that there's a magic bullet, if you will. There's one guy that fixes everything.
Starting point is 00:10:18 And so I think that philosophy, he's always going to be willing to trade down because I really feel that he's a guy when he talks about competition it's not worse you know you hear that from a lot of people everybody in the league talks about wanting people to compete on the roster wanting wanting people to earn things every day but you can see by the way he approached free agency I don't feel like he's the kind of guy who's going to say well we did this in free agency or we've done this in the draft, and so this position's set. I think he's always looking to get better.
Starting point is 00:10:50 He's always looking to add as much talent as he can. Anyway, I honestly feel if he saw a situation where he thought he could improve the quarterback situation, as unlikely as that is, if something came across his table where for whatever reason he could upgrade from Andrew Luck he wouldn't hesitate to do that I don't know that that's the case for every general manager in the league you kind of think it would be I don't know that it is now obviously that's not happening they're not looking to do that but I think that's how far that mentality goes in his
Starting point is 00:11:20 mind he wants to improve everywhere and because that, I don't think you can ever out completely, you know, give up the idea that he would trade down just because I just don't think he's ever going to fall in love with one guy or one position to that point. He knows you're always looking, you're always trying to add. And I think that's going to be the philosophy that he has in everything he does with this team. Yeah, and that makes sense for sure. You know, I got to thinking, and this is, I feel stupid even saying this,
Starting point is 00:11:53 but I'm, you know, this is me on the show. I'm going to say what's been popping in my head, you know, for a couple days here. And thinking about the way that he's approached free agency i'm i guess i'm trying to think of a situation that would be adverse to the goal here would be treating the draft like he's treated free agency okay and the way that i mean that is trying to like he brought in a bunch of foundational guys i mean that's that's what he does. And then you would think the most logical step is to attempt to find those game changers in the draft, especially a
Starting point is 00:12:31 draft such as this, where you've got a lot of long corners, a lot of good speed. We've got a couple inside linebackers, a good, good handful of edge guys. I guess my thing thing is is i just don't want to be disappointed with him going in there going if i can get um you know um four good foundational guys out of this draft we'll be happy i'm not looking to make that huge jump in one year i want to do that but because this is the draft that it is that's where i'm just like man i just want him to focus on trying to find a couple game changers and trying to hit on the majority of his picks as opposed to let's just try to smooth out the entire roster and then really try to build over a three or some year span we want action now you know and i think that's where it goes back to what you're talking about before i really think in the first round and maybe even in the second
Starting point is 00:13:30 round that's going to be the philosophy you know go out get those blue chip guys get those premium players that are going to come in have an impact make a real difference right away uh on this roster and then you go and you feel out the rest of the way. And I really think we've heard before from Jim Irsay that the real heart of the draft for Chris Ballard is that third, fourth, and fifth round. He wants as many picks as he can get there. And I think it's because that is where you add the other guys. For sure.
Starting point is 00:14:01 You know, that is where you pile up. You take some risks, you know, at that point you you take some chances on some guys in those rounds you can you can do a lot of things to help the roster the middle of the roster the bottom of the roster but i think i really believe their main goal is going to be to get that difference maker in the first round because again you know you're picking 15th and that may not seem like it's the highest pick out there but it's the highest pick this team's had in quite some time and if things go well it's the highest pick they're going to have for quite some time so you really have to take advantage of that and especially you know i hate to get into a lot of the mock drafting right now
Starting point is 00:14:38 because we do not know we're still three weeks away and we still have no real good idea who is or isn't going to be on the board but if you see a guy like a ruben foster for instance who some people have falling you know into that middle part of the second round or of the first round you absolutely have to pull the trigger on that and i i think that's the ideal scenario for the colts is to have one of these guys who may be slipping for whatever reason right now. And in all honesty, the more talk about the quarterbacks that goes on, the more likely that becomes.
Starting point is 00:15:13 You can get some guys driven up into the earlier parts of the round that maybe weren't projected there and push some guys down. That's the best scenario. But I think the main thing, and I know I'm rambling a little bit, but, you know, it's something that you touched on earlier. Even if that doesn't happen, even if there aren't a lot of crazy runs somewhere or a lot of guys getting pushed up for whatever reason,
Starting point is 00:15:35 this draft is so deep, and there's so many guys in positions that the Colts absolutely need. I think that 15th pick just holds way too much value right now i just feel that way uh you know the things have changed every draft unfolds a little bit differently on draft day than it does during the build-up and it's definitely possible that something happens you know on that thursday night that is unexpected and they do decide to trade down because the guys that they really wanted weren't there but it's hard to imagine a scenario honestly where there's not somebody who can help this team tremendously uh available especially on the defensive side of the ball
Starting point is 00:16:17 and i think it makes it a really important pick because this is it's not just the first pick of the chris ballard era this is a chance to get a real difference maker for a defense that needs to take that step forward and that's why i still feel never rule out the offensive line we know how chris ballard feels about the trenches if there's a player who's rated highly enough there you know i have no doubt that he'll pull the trigger and bring in another lineman, but I really feel like it's going to be a defensive player and most likely either an edge rusher, maybe an inside linebacker, maybe a cornerback. Yeah, it's so interesting, too, in looking at all these players.
Starting point is 00:17:00 And we've talked about this multiple times. Every single team has a different board. As much as we see so many similarities in the mock drafts and just, you know, probably, well, even probably for me, just what I say and what I talk about as far as the guys that I like, a lot of other people like the similar guys. And I don't think that it's that different among NFL teams, but there's definitely different orders to every board throughout the league. And when you get into, like you said, Reuben Foster, who people have said is falling,
Starting point is 00:17:37 but there's, you know, there's another guy in that inside linebacker core that I am falling in love with and has all of the, what do you want to call it? The intangibles that should be just, you know, a guy for Pagano to fall in love with at that position that I think could be a difference maker at inside linebacker. I have, I'm not super hyped about an inside linebacker going in the first round, but I, man, I really liked Jared Davis out of Florida. I mean, he's rising too. Oh my God. He is so impressive. Uh, I was listening to, uh, Joe Marino and, uh, Kyle crabs, their podcast, the draft dudes. Um, and he was, there was a lot of stuff in the past that I had read up on him a little bit, and they talked about his work ethic and all this other stuff.
Starting point is 00:18:30 But you just listen to the dude talk, and the man is absolutely 110% about football, wants nothing else to do really with anything. I mean, he is, I want to be in the film room. I want to be on the field. I want to take it all in. And he is a quality inside linebacker, really starting to like this guy a lot. And I had just been doing some of his tape over the past couple of weeks. And then I heard his interview with those guys. And I'm just
Starting point is 00:18:57 like, man, I think that kind of seals it for me. I'm not too worried, but I think Reuben Foster is a heck of an athlete, heck of a player. But when you get both sides of it, when you get the brain and the field with a certain guy, and they're just really that close. I mean, he's somewhere, I think he's getting mocked in the mid, like the early 20s, late teens, as it is. But, I mean, I just don't think that there's that much space between he and a guy like Ruben Foster or even a guy who's, if we're talking about a guy going to inside linebacker, like Hassan Redick, who's pretty much unproven at that position aside from the senior bowl and some other activities and stuff that he's done. He's a heck of an athlete, heck of a player too, but this guy,
Starting point is 00:19:42 I mean, like I said, he's got it upstairs and he's got it on the field and he's got the drive. And that is a Pagano loving trait. I mean, I just feel like as long as he and Ballard are on the same wavelength with who they're looking at, that they're looking at guys like that. They want the total package in that building right now. And like we've talked about in the past, especially with the leadership being kind of, you know, taken away from the team, albeit not the greatest players, but really some of the quality locker room guys that the Colts have had, you know, Dequelles had trouble off the field, but in the locker room,
Starting point is 00:20:18 people respected him and loved him and went to him for advice and all that other stuff. So tremendously. Yeah. Yeah, and I just see with needing that quarterback on the field, needing that leader, you want a guy that can do that. Now, you've got the – not the athleticism, but you've got kind of the thumper mentality from Morrison. You've got Jackson, who I would probably expect is going to end up being back on special teams depending who that they bring in at linebacker as well. Or he could be the other guy.
Starting point is 00:20:49 Or maybe it'll be Spence and whoever they take in this draft if they go inside linebacker high in the draft. But if they were to bring in a guy like Davis, I just feel like he and Spence would be the starting two linebackers. They would give Morrison a little more time to develop mentally, I guess, because he is the thumper. He's not a coverage guy, but Davis can do it all. Spence is a guy who's a veteran in the league. He's got a lot of experience, even after his injuries and all that stuff. I just think that he would be the perfect
Starting point is 00:21:22 pick. It scares me going that way at 15. And this is just stupid. I hate saying this. I do it all the time, and I hate saying it. It's stupid at 15, but it makes sense at 20. I mean, that's five picks. Come on. That's just ridiculous.
Starting point is 00:21:37 He would be a good pick anywhere right in that area. And I think that's going to be such a big thing with this draft. Because, like we were talking about before, not just the teams with their variants, but just the opinions of guys out there. There's so many players that are so close together that I think there's so many guys who could go 10th but could go 40th. And people wouldn't be surprised at either spot. And I just feel like it's going to create so much uncertainty on draft day, some surprises,
Starting point is 00:22:10 some really unexpected things will happen because that's what usually happens. You know, there's some team out there that we don't know about who has fallen in love with a player nobody's talking about right now who's going to go in that first round on Thursday. Yep. Absolutely. You know, and I just think because of that, if you love the guy, if whoever Ballard's heart is set on is there,
Starting point is 00:22:32 I think the worst thing they can do is worry about where he should be going at this point. In this draft, if you've got a guy and you know he fits your system and you know he fits your locker room and he's got the talent to give you enough value i don't think they can worry about you know where he should go quote unquote because i i feel like charles harris is a guy who's in that same boat you know he's a guy i've heard that the colts like a lot but you see him in the lower 20s you see him in the second round you know if they feel like
Starting point is 00:23:03 he's the guy, pull the trigger. To me, that's going to be the biggest thing. If you can get the trade down, great. If you can trade down and pick up Jared Davis, you can trade down and pick up Charles Harris, you can trade down and pick up Tack McKinley, whoever it is that your heart's set on, great. But if not, I feel like the worst thing you can do right now
Starting point is 00:23:21 is take that chance and give up on up on that guy hoping he'll be there later i think if it's your guy get your guy i guess is my feeling right now yeah and then i agree with you because i mean as many as much of the guys that i or any other uh person who is a big fan of the colts like right now, not only do we not have any choice, but it's okay to have just unbridled trust in Chris Ballard because everybody is so impressed with him. And it's basically, look, this guy is trying to make his mark. He's not coming in here, you know, wearing flip-flops and just going to be like, we're just going to have a good old time on the draft. You know, he wants to make his mark and he's going to do it. Uh, and if
Starting point is 00:24:10 there's ever a draft for him to do it, this is the draft. This is going to, I mean, every single year people are glued to the TV during the draft. They don't get up, but to drink, you know, I mean, my wife's going to be the one that's going to be like seriously bringing me dinner. Cause I don't get up but to drink. I mean, my wife's going to be the one that's going to be seriously bringing me dinner because I don't even want to get up to go pee or anything like that. And especially this year, it's going to be that way. And it's just this year, it feels different. It feels like there is no way I'm not moving from that TV. It's just not going to happen because it just seems like there are so many things that could happen. We could legit see five or six trades in this first round, I think.
Starting point is 00:24:50 I think that's fair. Absolutely. And the best thing that could happen, not just what you said is correct, that it could be great for somebody to trade up for quarterbacks, but just in general it would be fantastic for the Colts as far as the level of talent they can get at 15 with other people just taking quarterbacks and freaking out because they need a quarterback so bad. That's the best possible scenario because if none of those quarterbacks go before 15, there's three or four guys that are off the board who could have possibly been Colts and probably some impact players at that. Absolutely.
Starting point is 00:25:30 I think that's what's going to be interesting. There's so many different ways that this draft can play out, so many variables to it. A lot of times you have a pretty good idea going in, okay, the top five is going to look basically like this. I really feel like right now that Miles Garrett's going number one, and then after that, who knows? Yeah. You know, there's a lot of guys who slot in there somewhere,
Starting point is 00:25:53 but will they be second? Will they be tenth? You know, I think we're going to find out on draft day. I will say this about this draft, and I think it's, you know, we go back to Ron Gregson a lot, and we give him a whole lot of grief, and a lot of it is truly and richly deserved because of what's happened. But the one thing that I think he got credit for and he should have gotten credit for
Starting point is 00:26:15 and was probably the biggest thing about his tenure was that 2012 draft. And not so much about what happened after 2012, but that draft changed that season, changed the expectations that they had. When you talk to people before the draft, it was patient. I know they weren't using the rebuilding word, but there was a lot of talk about patience, how long this process was going to be.
Starting point is 00:26:44 After the rookie minicamp, all of a sudden it was hey we can make some moves we can be competitive the whole tenor of the locker room of the building over there changed after that draft because of the guys they brought in and they had impact players in their rookie years again not talking about necessarily what happened afterwards but guys like duanene Allen guys like Vic Ballard had really impactful rookie seasons and I think that's the kind of impact they're looking for this year that's why to me this is such an important draft Chris Ballard can find a way to replicate that this year or get close to it it's going to change the expectations again for this season. Yeah, and not only does he know that he needs speed at some of those positions on defense,
Starting point is 00:27:30 but just for example here, let's say the Colts take a guy, Jared Davis, at 15 to 20, somewhere in that range, whether they stay or trade back a few picks or whatever they do. A guy in the second round or possibly if he's there, which I don't think he will be maybe in the third, a guy like Tyus Bowser, that is a ton of athleticism in two picks in that linebacking core immediately, uh, with Tyus Bowser being an edge guy, man, that guy can, he, he covered so much or They had him dropping in coverage so often in college, and it was just like, man, he is super athletic and he can cover.
Starting point is 00:28:12 That's two things that the Colts have not had at the edge position in several years. I mean, immediately. He doesn't even have to get 10 sacks, which he probably wouldn't anyways. But I don't think he'd be an annual 10-sack guy, but he would get 10 sacks which he probably wouldn't anyways but I don't think he'd be an annual 10 sack guy but he would get 10 sacks eventually and that would be just a ton of athleticism right there in two spots where it's needed and would give the Colts incredible as far as I'm concerned incredible depth immediately just having those two guys pending they stayed healthy throughout their
Starting point is 00:28:42 rookie seasons and then the rest of the draft I I mean, you could just, you know, obviously there's so many corners that could go, and the Colts have to grab one of those while they're still hot because when that thing goes on a run, I mean, I was actually listening to a podcast earlier today, and they said that they were guessing at least like 18 corners in the first two rounds. And mean i just thought man that is insane to think about that many corners and then they said something about uh man i don't know how
Starting point is 00:29:13 many they 28 or something like that uh defensive backs in the first three rounds total is what they had and i just thought man that's insane though that that is a position, secondary-wise, between corner and safety positions. Those are going to go hot, and they're going to go fast when they go. And the Colts either get on board with that or they find a guy that, you know, look, we're going to be patient because we've got a guy in the fourth round we think is every bit as good as anybody they're going to pick in the second round. And maybe that's his approach at that point. I don't know, but, man, maybe that's his approach at that point. I don't know. But man,
Starting point is 00:29:45 there's so much talent in this draft. I just I want the Colts to come away with solid talent because I'm I think we've talked about this to my expectations are tempered this year. I don't expect them to go above eight or nine wins. I just want them to compete and, you know, show growth, you know, more or less than anything, and then get that second year draft under Ballard. And then, then, you know, hopefully they have enough talent in that draft as well to bring in and actually pull together a team like, okay, maybe now we're working with something, you know, let's get it on, let's get going and see what happens. But there's just so much interest in this draft right now.
Starting point is 00:30:25 It's crazy. I mean, I don't have any reservations at all about saying that this is going to be the most watched NFL draft in history. No, it's going to be incredible. I think it's going to explode. Every pick, even within teams, every pick is going to change what we're thinking going forward. I mean, depending on what they do in the first round, it's is going to change what we're thinking going forward. Depending on what they do in the first round,
Starting point is 00:30:48 it's going to greatly change what they're looking to do in the second and third round. I know that's true to a certain point every year, but I feel like this year, because of the depth, it's remarkably true. There's going to be massive shifts in philosophy each day of the draft because of what happened, who's still there going into day two you know you're talking about people talking across the board about fourth round picks that are going to be legitimate first day starters in this league when you have a draft like that there's just going to be so much activity and so much interest in terms of
Starting point is 00:31:25 not just who's going where, but, but how it's getting done, you know, in terms of the trades, in terms of how it's affecting current rosters, there's going to be somebody somewhere in the, in the first couple of days of this draft who gets picked and everyone's scratching their head and saying, but they have this guy there. And all of a sudden somebody nobody thought would be available is going to be available this summer. That's the power of a draft like this.
Starting point is 00:31:50 Yeah. And it's just so fun too, because you know, that, that first day, that first round, I mean, it takes so long because everything's 15 minutes and it's so drawn out. It's almost a full day event, you know, it seems like. And the first round ends and everybody's so drawn out it's almost a full day event you know it seems like and the first round ends and everybody's you know uh talking about their first round pick or what their team did in the first round and then you've got that time from the time the draft ends until the next day when the second and third round jump underway where you hear nothing but oh so-and-so's talking
Starting point is 00:32:24 about possibly trading this or that. I'm hearing this from other teams talking about trading that. And it's like, oh, my God, I can't handle this anymore. You know, it's like just your body starts tingling and you just want more of it. It's like, nope, forget it. Just start second round. Let's go.
Starting point is 00:32:38 But with this much talent, that's going to be bigger than ever, I think, this year. Yeah. That kind of talk between days is going to be – because a lot of times there's maybe two or three guys that people are jostling for at the top of the second round. This year it's going to be the whole second round and into the third and into the fourth. So, yeah, I think it's going to be nonstop intense coverage of this draft.
Starting point is 00:33:02 Yeah, and I hope for the draft's sake and for the game's sake, because it's always interesting when there's better players in the game, for sure. I just hope that the majority of these picks, I really hope they hit in the first few rounds, because if they don't, this draft is going to be known as a colossal bust if this isn't like 60 players, you know,
Starting point is 00:33:23 turning out to be really quality NFL caliber guys. So let's change gears. You go back to 2013 and look at the first round now. You can't have that. You can't have that. No, no, not at all. Not anywhere near that. Let's change gears for a minute because I'm starting to get wound up
Starting point is 00:33:41 about thinking about this draft. What are your thoughts on the Colts? Ursae came out and said that the Colts are not going to be hard knocks participators this year. What are your thoughts on that? I'm just curious. Selfishly, I love it. Just because everybody that I've talked to who's been around the team when that's going on, it makes it very difficult, I think, for the beat guys. So I think we were always kind of in favor of it not happening.
Starting point is 00:34:10 But I understand from a fan standpoint where it's not, you know, it would have been really exciting to see that happen. And the other part of that that Jim Mercer said was that, you know, it will happen down the road. I really think a big part of the reason why the Colts don't want to be involved right now is a lot of what we were talking about. This is going to be a really big foundational year for this team. I think they need and want to have their coaches and their staff have as much time with these guys and as much focus. Not just that the coaches are able to focus on them,
Starting point is 00:34:43 but you bring those cameras in, you don't know how much the players are drawn away from what they need to be doing necessarily. And I just think that this is a year where they don't want to risk that at all just because of the fact that this offseason is going to end up being very important. You're laying a foundation for what the Chris Ballard Colts are going to look like. And obviously that's a really, truly important business. And I think they want to make sure that gets taken care of to the best of its ability.
Starting point is 00:35:11 Yeah, and that makes sense. I just, I totally wanted them to have it. I just, I mean, it's not even, it's not really the fan in me. It's the interest level that I think that this season brings on the flip side of that. For all the reasons you said, it's a great idea for them not to have it. I think it's a good idea for them to be the participant. They have, I mean, Chris Ballard coming in, brand new GM, you know, taking a completely different tone than anything the Colts have seen since 2012 with Ryan Grigson. The Colts have some significant change in roster just already.
Starting point is 00:35:48 A lot of interesting faces coming in. Andrew Luck coming back from surgery. This draft class is going to be just phenomenally interesting, regardless of who is on the team when it's all said and done. And they've got basically a whole new mindset. Like you can recall last year at camp, Chuck Pagano seemed a little more agitated during his press briefings, you know, and press conferences than in past years.
Starting point is 00:36:15 And that was something that I think that at least to me, and I understand that to you, it jumped out to you right away. It's like, well, he's got a little edge to him this year as far as, you know, he wants to answer and he wants to get the heck out of the, you know out to you right away. It's like, well, he's got a little edge to him this year as far as he wants to answer and he wants to get the heck out of the tent, and he's done talking. And I'm curious to see with a whole new mood and a whole new change in structure from the top if that would change him in one way or the other as well, as far as how he just goes about his daily press conferences and how it affects him coaching the team, not to feel like he's got somebody
Starting point is 00:36:53 standing over his shoulder the whole time breathing down his neck necessarily. But this is also a weird year for him because, I mean, many fans and many probably analysts as well feel Pagano's probably not going to be the coach next year. And the other side of that is this is the year for him to prove that he's actually a good coach if he thinks that he is. You know what I'm saying? Because Ballard's going to be redoing all of this stuff. He's going to be evaluating everything that happens, positions, coaches, head coach, everything on the way down. And there's a presumptive quality to this to where Ballard's just taking him for a ride for a year, and then he's going to go get his guy. But this, I mean, look, if the Colts impress or the Colts show that they are responding to Coach
Starting point is 00:37:43 Pagano, this presents, I mean, it just makes everything so interesting to me. And this would be interesting to see on tape because even us sitting there, whether it's in the media trailer or on the field watching practices and stuff like that, you don't get the sense for all that. And this is going to be stuff that people could be 30 yards closer to the action and you actually get to hear and see what's going on and to see if there's actually a difference in the season there's no doubt it would be great
Starting point is 00:38:10 television i mean from that standpoint there's no question uh but like i said i think from the team standpoint right now they just want to get it's all business right now you know i think they understand and so the part of that is you know such jobs on the line i don't think they understand. And part of that is, you know, Chuck's job's on the line. I don't think they've really made much secret about that. I don't think they've been very quiet about the idea that, you know, he's being evaluated, the staff's being evaluated. So I don't think they want, I guess, for lack of a better term, outside interference of any kind to affect that, you know, in any way. But there's no doubt it would be terrific television.
Starting point is 00:38:45 As far as the coaching situation goes, I really feel like Ballard is approaching that no different than anything else on the roster. He wants competition. He wants the best possible person in each position. I think that includes head coach. But I don't think he's of a mindset to be swayed one way or another he's just going to evaluate the same way he will brian kelly at center the same way will vante davis at quarterback
Starting point is 00:39:12 the same way will anybody on that roster i think the same thing for chuck pagano he comes out and he executes the program that chris ballard wants to see and things are going in the way that that ballard wants them to go, and that may not be win-loss record. I mean, that's a lot of what you were just talking about. You know, that may not be the actual on-field results. It may be what's happening in practices, what growth is happening with players,
Starting point is 00:39:37 what you can see on the inside of the team versus outside, you know, on Sundays. So, but I feel like, I guess, for long story short here, that Chuck Pagano's going to get a fair shot. I really feel like Chris Ballard has an open mind. I don't think he's made a decision yet about the coach for next season. I think he's going to go in and give it his best shot and see what Chuck Pagano can do and then make a decision when the time is right.
Starting point is 00:40:05 Yeah, I actually totally agree. As much as anybody had, like you said, preconceived notions of, nope, Ballard's coming in, he's either A, going to get his guy, or like I said, he's going to take Pagano for a ride and bring his guy in no matter what happens. But until Ballard opened his mouth for the first time as Colts GM, and it's like, well, maybe not. Maybe he's, you know, you just see that he is a stand-up guy
Starting point is 00:40:28 and that there is no use for anybody just cutting loose anyone just because they weren't of his picking. I mean, a good idea is a good idea regardless of whose idea it was. And if you're somebody that thinks that a bad idea or a good idea is a bad idea because it wasn't your idea, then you're not meant to be a GM in the NFL. I mean, and that's just the way it goes. But that is the way a lot of people present it, though.
Starting point is 00:40:56 And I think it's such an easy trap to fall into. Not even, I mean, the first part that you were talking about, it's 100% it happens all the time, way too much than it should, to where this is my guy, quote unquote, this is not my guy, and you're going to choose your guy. But I think it's such an easy trap, too, to make plans and to have it in your head, this is what I'm going to do, and not let new information and new results affect that plan. And I feel like Chris Ballard's going to be a guy who doesn't know where the end point is until it's time, if you know what I mean. I'm not saying he's not planning, and he doesn't have –
Starting point is 00:41:33 I think he has a very specific plan. He has a very clear plan. But I think he's the kind of guy who that plan's going to change based on new information that comes in. And I think that's critical at a time like this where they're trying to build they're trying to make the right choices that are going to affect this franchise let's face it for five to ten years things that happen in the next two seasons long-term decisions for this franchise i think it's i think they got the right guy in the terms of
Starting point is 00:42:00 being open-minded and understanding that, hey, what was plan A might need to change because plan B might actually be better. And let's face it, Ursae does not enjoy firing people. He did not really want to fire Grigson, but he knew it was for the betterment of the team. He did not hire Chris Ballard for a three-year stint with the club. He wants Chris Ballard to be Bill Pullian as far as how long he is with the team, his success rate. He does not want Coach Pagano fired necessarily. He wants him to succeed. I mean, that would be the best overall situation, correct?
Starting point is 00:42:45 I mean, he wants everybody who's currently there to succeed because that's the negative part being taken out of the job for both Ballard and Irsay. He doesn't have to do that. He doesn't have to accept that that's going to happen and that they can move on. And turnover is not something that Irsay likes as opposed to the fact that he does make decisions like that when it's necessary and like I mean he just fired Grigson and he's got what two three years to pay to pay left on him so I mean obviously money is not the issue he didn't want to fire him but it was for the betterment of the organization and and that's what happens. But he would certainly – he does not like to do that. He is not a turnover hound.
Starting point is 00:43:27 He does not want it. He doesn't fire coaches every two years because they don't go to the Super Bowl like some teams in the NFL or just whatever. He wants to give everything time to play out. And if it does and it works, great. If it does and it doesn't work, then you're starting to get to that line where you cross it and you lose your job. So I think that the best possible scenario, obviously, I don't think there's any preconceived notions in the building with anybody in there currently. And I think that
Starting point is 00:43:58 is a recipe for success in all aspects of the situation. I think Pagano feels like he has a chance to keep his job and get an extension or maintain the current contract that he's under. And I feel like Ursae trusts Ballard to make the decisions from top to bottom other than, you know, stuff that is directly in Ursae's hands. Now, the big thing about that is 0-2 start, 0-3 start, that could all change. We know that. It can all change in a hurry, but I 100% agree with you. I think right now the feeling over there is that it's a fresh start for everybody, and they're going to go through the season and see how it all works,
Starting point is 00:44:36 and there'll be an honest evaluation made at the end of the year. Now, obviously, given the situation, pressure's going to increase if this team struggles early. That's just the nature of the year. And now, obviously, given the situation, pressure's going to increase if this team struggles early. That's just the nature of the NFL. Nobody will be surprised by that. And it's definitely going to come down on Chuck Pagano's head if this team struggles early. You look at those first two weeks, what is it,
Starting point is 00:44:59 three straight years at 0-2, I believe? And the best they've ever been is 1-1 during that stretch. So, you know, obviously if it gets off to a start like that again, and it very well could. We don't even have the schedule right now, so it's really tough to kind of predict. But, you know, I think they could get tested in September. We could see some of the bonds get strained.
Starting point is 00:45:24 It'll be interesting to see how they react at that time, but honestly, that's part of the reason why I am, as somebody who's going to be around this team for a lot over the next year, year and a half here, this particular group of guys, I'm really excited to see how it plays out because there are so many storylines. You touched on some of the off-season ones that already exist. Those things are going to extend into training camp and beyond. The season itself has so many possible outcomes and so many things to watch, you know, from Andrew Luck's health to Chuck Gano's status to just guys like Mark Edius Mingo, you know, does that lottery ticket pay off? There's so many things.
Starting point is 00:46:04 I just think there's so many reasons for Colts fans right now to be excited and wanting to watch this year. Yeah, I agree. And what do we play this year, the NFC West and AFC West? I'm trying to remember. Yeah, NFC West and AFC West. And then I believe the Ravens are the out-of-conference, out-of-division conference opponent.
Starting point is 00:46:29 I think it's Baltimore and Denver, I want to say. Okay. You know, that's going to be a tough schedule no matter what they do. Actually, I think it's the AFC North and the NFC West. AFC North and NFC West. Yeah, I think that's right. I think you're right. They play Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Cleveland. Then they've got the rest of the schedule.
Starting point is 00:46:54 I tell you what, I get confused all the time because it happens so much. They just played the West in the AFC. They just came off the West swing there. They're going to go out to LA. They're going to play the Rams out there this year, they're going to go out to L.A. They're going to play the Rams out there this year. They're going to go to Seattle, which will be Andrew Luck's first game up there. You know, there's a lot of really interesting moments coming. And I think, like I said, I think it's somebody whose job it is to tell those stories. I'm very excited.
Starting point is 00:47:23 I have no qualms about saying that because i think there's a lot of stories to be told this year and uh that yeah i couldn't ask for anything more as a beat guy yeah it's gonna be crazy so what else is going on in george's head what are you thinking about right now i still you know my focus it's funny you're talking about jared davis because my focus has been so much on inside linebacker right now. I know Sean Spence got added, and people were really extremely high on him when he was a rookie and got injured with Pittsburgh. So I think he's going to be an interesting guy.
Starting point is 00:47:57 One of those millions of stories, Sean Spence is one of those guys. But I just feel like that and cornerback are the two positions that they really haven't dug into all that deeply yet, but you kind of know they will, you know? Right. So it's very interesting to me to be looking at those guys from a draft prospect perspective. That's hard to say.
Starting point is 00:48:22 That was a mouthful. But, you know, the corners and the inside linebackers i think they're especially the corner group is so deep but the inside linebacker group is an interesting group i mean you mentioned a couple of those guys zach cunningham who is out of vanderbilt i think he's another guy that people are looking at who's who's an intriguing person. Raekwon McMillan at Ohio State. There's a lot of guys that have something about them that intrigues you at that
Starting point is 00:48:51 group. But then also the existing roster. When you talk about Edwin Jackson, where he fits in, there's whispers, and we should find out more about this over the next couple weeks and certainly months here. There's talk that maybe John Simon, depending on how things shake out, maybe he moves inside.
Starting point is 00:49:07 Maybe that's where he's a more natural guy at this level. So there's so many things that can play out at that inside backer position. Right now, I think that's where my focus is. And then the other one, I think everybody talks about it, and we haven't really touched on it much today yet, running back. Getting that young running back. It's a deep running back draft too so yeah i just feel like that's another spot that that's going to bear watching and you wonder if dick ballard's knee doesn't get blown out you know where where things might be in that running back room right now right uh but it
Starting point is 00:49:46 happened and it changed the course of this franchise with the trent richardson trade and everything's happened there after you know frank gore coming in and robert turbin being a part of this group now they need to go find a young running back and i don't think that's going to happen early by any means i don't think it happens before the third round. Most likely one of the three fourth-round picks. But that's another spot where I'm trying to kind of read up on these draft picks and figure out, you know, who fits there, who might be slotted into that spot. I think if it was third round, I think a guy like Jamal Williams.
Starting point is 00:50:23 Everybody who listens to this podcast throughout the week knows, like, oh, my God, get off of Jamal Williams, I know I'm not, you know, everybody who listens to this podcast, uh, throughout the week knows like, oh my God, get off of Jamal Williams. I can't, he's just one of the guys that I've just fallen in love with this game because he has, um, he, he can, he's big enough and strong enough and fast enough to run the power game when it's there and he also adds some zone ability and he he really is more of a zone runner to begin with but he's got the physical tools to do whatever you want him to he can catch out of the backfield and everything a lot of people like kareem hunt i don't know where he goes necessarily uh in this draft maybe second third round as well something that. But there's a lot of guys between the third and fourth and probably into the fifth round that are going to be quality running backs in the league. I mean, the one thing I don't want them to do is to add another guy like Ferguson. I just – I wasn't impressed with him when they brought him.
Starting point is 00:51:18 I mean, and they didn't draft him. You know, he brought him in undrafted. But, I mean, it was just was just you know people were hyping him so much and i'm like man i just do not see it but i don't understand what you get why are you so hot i mean you can't run between the tackles he can catch but you know he just i didn't i just didn't see it with him and i just don't want them targeting a guy like that just for the build and for the scat back nature of it go get a guy who's multi-talented, who can do it all, because there's plenty of guys in this draft who can.
Starting point is 00:51:50 I think it's going to be really interesting to see. That's another one of those positions where we were talking earlier. If there's 28 defensive backs going in the first three rounds, what happens to those running backs? Is that a position maybe that gets pushed down a little bit because of the strength of some of these others? Because there's going to be a run here, there's going to be a run there. Maybe some of those running backs after the Leonard Fournettes and the Dalvin Cooks and the Christian McCaffreys, maybe some of those guys end up being value picks.
Starting point is 00:52:16 And I think it's going to be a really interesting thing to watch as the draft unfolds. Yeah, I agree. There's nothing that's not interesting about this draft. That's for sure. And it almost makes you wonder, depending on for the Colts to add at least a late fifth, sixth round, or seventh round pick with a trade somewhere in there. And so I think that'll, you know, I don't think they'll come away out of this draft without an additional pick after the fifth round.
Starting point is 00:52:56 I'd be surprised if there's not at least one trade made, and maybe more than that, by the Colts in this draft. Yeah, me too. Any parting thoughts before we get out of here, Big George? You know, trying to enjoy the last couple weeks, week and a half here before things really get rolling again. But, you know, you talk about being fired up, and I'm excited. You know, I really am.
Starting point is 00:53:20 I think we're going to – April 17th, the offseason program begins, and from that point on, some of these stories will start to unfold. And, you know, I think people are really going to have fun following that throughout this, this season and in trying to see how this Chris Ballard era starts to shape itself. Yeah, I totally agree. It, it's going to be exciting all the way through. And, you know,
Starting point is 00:53:43 I don't think that it will be any less than interesting during the season, regardless of how the, like you said, how the actual record pans itself out. There's going to be a good schedule for the Colts to play. We're going to see them play a lot of talented teams. And the Colts are virtually going to be, you know, have a facelift, that roster anyways, this year and next year. And it's not going to be you know uh have a facelift uh that roster anyways this year and and next year and it's not going to resemble anything we've seen over the past four years other than uh the offensive playmakers for the most part in my opinion so uh i'll tell you what would be a fun exercise right now when you talk about the facelift and how much things have changed go back if you have your madden
Starting point is 00:54:21 video games go back to like madden 16 and look at that roster. Right. And look at the offensive line. Yep. Already, so much change. And it's only going to be – it's only just begun. I think that's where all the excitement comes from. This is just the first steps of this journey. Yep. I think that Colts fans would be excited if
Starting point is 00:54:45 Colts won a Super Bowl in the next year or two and they just did it all over again. Brand new facelift. Just do it all over again because it adds the excitement to the offseason in the next couple years, even if you have a down year or two. Then get yourself back up and kind of be the Florida Marlins of the NFL.
Starting point is 00:55:02 Break it down, build it up, win a championship, break it back down. I was going to tell you, too, because we talked about this a couple weeks ago. You were right on Eric Walden. I thought, you know, hey, we'll see what happens. I thought somebody would bite early with that production. But here we are deep into free agency, and he's still on the market. Yeah, I'm kind of surprised about that, though.
Starting point is 00:55:23 I mean, I wouldn't even be surprised if the Colts, you know, like, hey, we'll offer you this or that and just bring you back, you know. I mean, not like a charity deal or nothing like that. I just mean that they would, you know, hey, you're not getting much bite. You know, let's bring you back. You're a familiar guy with the team and stuff like that. But, you know, let's, uh, let's bring you back. You're a familiar guy with the team and stuff like that, but you know, maybe not. I mean, there's a lot, a lot, a lot of guys right now that are going to get deals that don't have deals
Starting point is 00:55:53 right now. But yeah, I, I'm, I'm, I'm not surprised that nobody overspent for Walden. Um, but I am surprised that he hasn't been signed. I think so. That keeps going. Yeah. Yeah. You got't been signed. I think so. That he keeps going. Yeah, yeah. He got new representation today. I saw that. That's one of the big stories out there.
Starting point is 00:56:10 He went out and he got new agents, so he must be surprised too, I think, by what's happening. And rightfully so. But, you know, that's one of those guys. When we talk about to go back to the beginning of the show, you know, you talk about are they finished and yes and no. You start to wonder, guys like that, do they start to come back on the radar? Again, depending on what happens in the draft.
Starting point is 00:56:30 If he's still available after the draft and they don't feel like they've plugged every possible hole in that outside linebacker group, who knows? Yeah. And that's a heck of a pickup for, what, $3 million on a one-year deal. Mm-hmm. I mean, it is. Especially, like you said, if some of the water cooler talk is that John Simon could possibly move inside. I mean, man, that's crazy to me to think that, because he was so good. I don't know how likely that is right now. It's much like the Clayton Gathers talk.
Starting point is 00:57:05 It's one of those things that you go, okay, let's see what actually happens. But it's out there. It's in the ether. I was just going to say that. It's in the ether. And you never know what is real and what is just people talking at dinner or something like that, thinking about stuff, brainstorming new ideas to get things to get shaken up a little bit too.
Starting point is 00:57:26 Well, especially this time of year too, where you're trying as much as you can to confuse opponents. You know, anything you can do to, well, they're not that desperate for an inside linebacker. Look, they could do this, you know. It's that time of year. Yeah. It's all true though.
Starting point is 00:57:44 I mean, they could. They very well could. And it could, you know, we'll just draft double or double up on the outside linebacker. Maybe it's more of we have options type of talk. You know, we can do this if we have to. That's the way I take it. Yeah. We can do this if we have to.
Starting point is 00:57:59 There's versatility there. Right. For sure. And they talked about that when he was signed, that he has the versatility to move inside and are in sub packages and stuff like that. But he's a good run stopping guy. I mean, if they need a tackler basically on early downs or something like that, they don't need to utilize his pass rushing skills on that down necessarily. Just depending, it gives offenses a completely different look too so i mean it's not stupid talk it's just crazy to think about well i think one
Starting point is 00:58:31 thing about the foundation piece is that the balance brought in since the moment that chuck pagano took this job he's been talking about wanting to change up the looks that the that the defense has that they can give to other teams, being multiple, you know. I think there's a lot of guys, guys like Simon. Jabal Sheard can play a little bit around. You know, they can move him. He can have his hand in the dirt. He can stand up.
Starting point is 00:58:54 I think if you're in a nickel package, you might even be able to put him inside on a defensive line, you know, on a four-man front from time to time. Not in a running situation, obviously, but in a situation where you know they're going to throw the ball. It could be the most versatile group. Obviously, it's unfinished, but it has the potential right now. Of course, potential just means they haven't done anything.
Starting point is 00:59:18 But they have the potential right now to be the most versatile group I think Chuck Pagano's had. It'll be interesting to see how those pieces are used and how creative they want to get. Because I think this is a group that you can move a lot of guys around. Darius Butler, probably going to play a lot of safety, but can obviously play in the slot. Clayton Gathers has some flexibility where you can move him around. Almost every level of that defense right now, there's guys like that. And I think it's going to be interesting to see how they want to do that,
Starting point is 00:59:46 ways they can get three safeties on the field, ways they can get three pass rushers, you know, three guys who you would think of as edge rushers out there. There's a lot of things they can do, just as it is, even before they add more pieces to it. So just one of the other many, many, many storylines to watch. Yeah, and just like you said, with Sheard, you know, you can move him into a five-tech or something like that
Starting point is 01:00:08 and bring out one of your, you know, rookie, super-athletic outside linebackers who can cover like Tyus Bowser, you know, or something like that. Absolutely. And that adds an inside presence and speed to that defensive line. You know, with a guy like T.Y. McGill, who's more power, Sheard would be the speed in that situation. You've got a guy like Henry Anderson, who's a little bit of both. There could be some massive, fantastic looks on this defense next year if the draft all falls right to the Colts, of course. And it could really, like you said,
Starting point is 01:00:45 it could be one of the more versatile groups that we've seen in Indianapolis. And that in itself would be interesting because that would make them competitive as well. Because I think it's safe to say that we expect this offense to be a top-ten offense without any issue. Yeah, if Andrew Luck stays healthy and they can fix the last little bits here that offensive line can come together,
Starting point is 01:01:08 I think that's all you're looking at on the offense. I mean, you've got guys, we didn't even talk about Kamar Aiken, you know, today and his potential to push guys on this roster and make them better and make the passing game better. The offense is in pretty good shape. I think everybody
Starting point is 01:01:23 is in agreement with that. And there's some work to be done, like you said, with Kamar Aiken, Chester Rogers, Philip Dorsett, figuring out that part of the depth chart and everything like that. That's not necessarily an issue, but it'll be some added interest to camp. It'll be fun to see how it all shakes out for sure. And get Thoreau-Quambray in there too a little bit, just because he's had his moments, especially especially as a return man and he looked good
Starting point is 01:01:49 in camp and he looked good in the season when they brought him in as that uh uh well at the time he was the fourth receiver but he originally was the fifth receiver and uh you know like you said in the return game he did really well he's a big body good speed quality hands i mean the the colts have a really quality uh wide receiver core as far as i'm concerned with with a great deal of depth in my opinion so uh and dante moncrief in a contract year yeah exactly that would be nice to see him both stay healthy and play like he's in a contract year. Yep. Absolutely. There are literally endless storylines right now with this franchise. Sometimes we sit around in recent years and grumble as a group that nothing's going on, especially this time of year.
Starting point is 01:02:34 You know, this is set and that's set. There's nothing to write about this year. You're just not looking if that's the problem for you. There's a lot. Indie guys, anybody who writes for the Colts is finding plenty to write about, that's for sure. So it's kept me busy most definitely, both for Stampede Blue and FanRag Sports, of course. And there's just draft guys looking at depth charts, who's going to be a rising star. And most of it, it seems like a lot of it's been about the defense, just because we know that's the target area.
Starting point is 01:03:11 And there's just so much. I mean, everybody's thinking about their new set of Legos that they got. They all want to see how they could fit the pieces in to this defense and make it work. And that's ultimately what everybody is doing right now. And it's exciting. It's fun to read other people's work in this because a lot of the things that myself or somebody else would think about as far as adding a piece here or there somebody else is thinking of something different and that's just as interesting and that's what makes this a blast
Starting point is 01:03:39 this is a great time of year I love it it's just fantastic I saw somebody earlier today I don't remember it was but there was an argument about what the biggest need is. And I thought, does it matter? They're in a position where if there's anything good about the spot they're in, there's so many needs. There's so many places they can fill somebody in. Does it matter which one the biggest
Starting point is 01:03:57 is? I don't think so. I think it makes it more exciting because you can't say, oh, I can't see them taking that. You can throw out just about any quality name in this draft on either side of the ball at 15, and, yeah, I can make a case for that. Yeah, oh, absolutely, absolutely. And that's kind of the thing where there's a couple positions where I'd be like, eh, so-and-so's on the board, you probably should have gone that route.
Starting point is 01:04:21 But at the same time, you can't be so mad at the pick because they're going to be a top 20 pick. More likely, at least we hope, that they should be and are a top 20 pick at 15. And so, you know, you can't be too mad. It's just everybody has that little piece or that flavor that they wanted. And, you know, if it doesn't turn out the way that it, you know, that they wanted it to, then, of course,
Starting point is 01:04:44 it's going to rub some people the wrong way. But that's what the draft is. I mean, people are going to be – no matter who the pick is, there's going to be just as many people upset about the pick because there's going to be people excited about the pick. Oh, absolutely. Because they all had their boards, and somebody that they liked more was on the board still.
Starting point is 01:04:59 But that's, again, just the common tone about this show. That's what's fun about this time of year. The only thing that would really surprise me is an offensive skill position guy. I don't feel like that's where they're going to go. But literally anything else, I can see it. Yeah. I mean, and like you said, offensive skill position, running back, would you be totally mind-blown if McCaffrey was on the Colts at 15?
Starting point is 01:05:26 No. Any of those top three guys, you know, I saw something earlier today, some mock draft that had Fournette fall in there, and I thought they won't take 10 seconds to turn that card in. No. You know, if that happened, that would be immediate. But, yeah, I think any of those top three running back, if they found a way into there, Cook maybe the least.
Starting point is 01:05:49 But, you know, Christian McCaffrey does a lot of things that this offense needs. So it would not surprise me. He's another guy. You talk about versatility. You line him up as a wide receiver. You know, you can put him in a lot of spots and do a lot of things with him. So offensive line, obviously, no know Ballard's commitment to the trenches. It would not shock me if it's Forrest Lamp, if it's Ryan Ramsey,
Starting point is 01:06:11 somebody like that would not be a shocking move. And then anyone on defense, I mean, pick a defensive spot and they can use it. Yep, exactly. Exactly. It'll be fun to watch. Yep, it will be. I think. And we're going to get a little more.
Starting point is 01:06:28 You know, things get a little more clear as we get closer. You know, you're going to start to hear more about, okay, everybody knows Cleveland's taking miles. Garrett, what's happening at number two will probably start to come into some more focus here as the next couple weeks go on. And then you'll start to see some dominoes start to fall. But even last year, I think everybody felt like, hey, top 3, 4, 5 is kind of
Starting point is 01:06:48 set and then you had the situation with O'Danian-Thompson, not O'Danian-Thompson. The offensive lineman ended up in Baltimore. I had the right or Miami. I had the right initials. I knew I was only attractive.
Starting point is 01:07:04 You had that whole thing break, which I've never seen anything like that before on draft day with the video coming out. That was crazy. And then you had San Diego kind of shock everybody with their Joey Bosa pick. So you never know. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:07:18 It's going to be interesting. I'm excited. Everybody's excited, and we should be because it's going to be a lot of fun. But, George, thank you, man, for jumping on with us again we we've been on here for a full hour lots of good stuff to talk about and and that's uh that's the beauty of this time of year and uh really appreciate you coming on man it was good uh good to have you on again yeah absolutely anytime thank you guys for listening. Make sure you guys are following George at GM Bremer on Twitter.
Starting point is 01:07:46 You can follow myself at LockedOnColts on Twitter and my personal account at mdanley underscore NFL. Make sure you guys are getting your calls in for that mailbag, 574-516-2881. Leave a message. We'll play it on the air and I'll answer your questions. Should be a great time. It'll be an interesting new show for us here on certain days of the week. And also, if you got anybody is out there listening, you've got a local business in Indianapolis and you want to sponsor the show, hit me up. Email me at lockedoncoltspot at gmail.com. We'll get that all set up and you guys will have a great listenership to, uh, to get yourself, uh, your business,
Starting point is 01:08:26 some action. So, uh, thank you guys all for listening. Go to iTunes and, uh, give me a rating and review and follow George on Twitter at GM Bremer. Thank you guys.
Starting point is 01:08:35 And we'll talk to you all tomorrow, right here on locked on cold. You are locked on cold. Your daily podcast on the Indianapolis Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.