Let me start by saying that although I have supported Ballard longer than most, I’m not shocked or disappointed by the announcement of his firing. It wouldn’t have surprised me two years ago, I endorsed it last year, and completely agreed with the mandate accompanying his retention this year. My main complaint is different than most, in that I think his inability to find the right coach(s) has been the worst aspect of his tenure. I think it outweighs the QB carousel and DE draft misses, but all three contributed to his demise.
Now, how am I supposed to feel better about the team than I did before the dismissal? This is where I struggle. I don’t think that removing Ballard lifts some Pig Pen cloud above the Colts headquarters. So, if my goal is to feel better about the Colts chances this year, where do I find that spark? The roster will make changes that likely only lessens the talent level for this years team, at least if you believe reports of a fire sale, with anyone in a contract year being available.
We also appear willing to let Lou and Shane continue to call the shots, which doesn’t do much for my search of that spark. I’m not willing to say that we should just suck for a couple of years, then start winning championships. My memory of the first 15 years here in Indy are more about the fun I had before and after the game, than much of the product on the field. We were the Dolts and along with some of the mediocre seasons that we seem to hate, came more god awful results than, well, nearly everyone else in the league.
Cheering at the game was usually reserved for the first quarter. I often was able to move from upper level seats to pretty much wherever I wanted to sit. I’m painting a bleak picture, but that is how it was. So how do I manage to stay my optimistic self, with the fact that this season looks to resemble one of the first 15? Losing is suppose to be the springboard to better things. As bad as some of those seasons were, I don’t think I ever had the “pack it in” feeling by week 6, as I do this year.
Here are things that we can expect to see the rest of this year. With two lame-duck coaches, what can we expect from the players? Will they “ball out” for Ed Dodds, thinking that he will have any say on who stays or goes this year and beyond? There will always be a level of professionalism from many players, but being a little dinged up will turn into being out, maybe even to the IR. Those on IR, are not likely to return, as why risk it? Have you checked out the practice reports for this week?
Muscle memory will take care of me watching the game. I will still avoid the media as to keep the results of our game a mystery, until it is available for my streaming after the game. I will still have a couple of cold ones and don a jersey of either blue or white, whichever color we are in that game day. I’ll still watch and think we have a chance, I just don’t know how far into the game that will last? I hope that fast forward does not become too much of a part of my game watching experience.
The good news about being an optimist, is that it wont take much for me to start seeing our glass as half full. Maybe the D starts to gel as young players find their stride? Maybe the O-line steps up from okayish, to pretty good, allowing the offense to do as some of us envisioned? What if Burks can be player to be counted on? I think all three can happen, so there has to be at some optimism left in here somewhere. I really do not want to wait until next year for it to re-emerge, but I think this season is going to test it.