Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard took the podium Wednesday at the NFL combine, meeting with the media for the first time since introducing Shane Steichen as the new head coach.
As expected, the quarterback position and evaluation process dominated the conversation. Also as expected, Ballard didn’t give much insight in terms of the team’s plans. We know he’s going to keep things close to the vest.
We also took a look at the takeaways from Steichen’s press conference.
Here’s a quick look at eight takeaways from Ballard’s presser at the combine
1
What Ballard looks for in a QB
Chris Ballard: “The ability to process, to handle – I mean what we put on the quarterback just, not only from a play standpoint, but off the field. Automatically, he gets deemed the face of the franchise. Right or wrong, that’s what happens and they have to be able to handle that. Then when they have success, it’s not just the moment of when they’re drafted, it’s once they even have success, they still have to be able to handle it. They can’t become above the team. So, there’s a lot of factors that go to play in with that and I mean, look, it’s the hardest position to find. Everybody’s grabbing to find one and when you find one, you do whatever it takes to keep that guy. It’s a difficult position to evaluate, difficult position to find.”
2
Fitting the offense to the QB
Chris Ballard: “We’ve had guys that are under six-foot be successful. I know there’s times I’ve griped that some guys can be too tall. All right and now we’re going to say they’re too short. I think beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Who do you believe in? Who do you believe you can build an offense around? I do know this, you fit the offense to what the quarterback can do well. I think that’s what Shane (Steichen) and the staff will do.”
3
Ballard on Bryce Young
Chris Ballard: “Well I mean, the guy’s dynamic. He won a lot of games on a big stage. It was never too big for him. I think all of those are qualities he has proven in his college career that have made him successful.”
4
Doesn't believe a trade up is absolutely necessary
Chris Ballard: “Everybody has just automatically stamped that you’ve got to move up to one to get it right. I don’t know if I agree with that, I don’t. That’s going to be the narrative. That’s OK. Y’all have to write something, have to keep the news flowing. But I don’t necessarily know if that’s the right course of business. When we meet as a staff and we say, okay, this is what we need to do, this is the guy for the next 10-15 years and we think he’s the right guy? Sure, we’ll do it, but who’s to say we won’t get one at four.”
5
What it would take to move up to No. 1
Chris Ballard: “That we were just convicted that this is no freaking doubt the guy.”
6
Being patient with a young QB
Chris Ballard: “I think allowing the kid to grow at his own pace. I think we’ve seen cases through the league. You can just look at some of the quarterbacks – like I almost laugh sometimes. If you look back in history, there are guys I don’t know would’ve had careers in today’s world because we cut them off after two years. Like in two years if they’re not making the Pro Bowl and becoming superstars, they’re done. That’s reality, at least from an outside perspective. But I do think you have to be patient. You have to have a plan for them to be successful.”
7
Evolution of the QB position
Chris Ballard: “I asked somebody the other day, ‘Do you think we will ever see a true pocket-(passer)?’ I do think you have to play from the pocket. There’s going to come a point – because defenses are smart. They are going to do everything in their power – especially if you’re a good athlete – to keep you in the well and not let you out. But the day of a guy who is just a dropback quarterback man, you just don’t see many of them out there and that’s kind of the evolvement of the position that we were talking about earlier. That is one of the things that has really evolved in this league, but eventually they have to be able to play some because defenses are going to keep you in.”
8
Building a team with a rookie QB contract
Chris Ballard: “Well, you’ve got to protect him. I mean, unless you want to watch him get hit. But you’ve got to protect the guy. But from a contract standpoint, I think it’s been proven that you’re able to do more with the team when you’re not carrying that hefty contract. Look, Kansas City has proven it – they have one on a hefty contract and have built a heck of a football team around him. (There’s) many ways to skin a cat.”
