1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:02,560 Speaker 1: Your work week is over. 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 2: The plan said, if you don't come in tomorrow, don't 3 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 2: bother coming. 4 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 3: In Monday for day weekend. This is the last Word. 5 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: The off season Home of the Colts with Jeffrey Gorman 6 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: and Matt. 7 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 4: Taylor gets me fired up every time. It's Friday, Happy weekend. Everybody, 8 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 4: life is good. Welcome inside the last Word here on 9 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 4: ninety three five and one oh seven five The Fan, 10 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 4: the off season home of the Indianapolis Colts. Radio Wise, 11 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 4: I'm Matt Taylor, No, Jeffrey Gorman. Tonight, Casey Valier is 12 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 4: back here on this program, this evening showcase. 13 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 3: What's happening? Man? 14 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 5: Not a whole lot happy to be with you, Matt. 15 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 5: You don't realize the next time you do this show, 16 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 5: the first rout of the NFL Draft work, we'll be over. 17 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:46,559 Speaker 5: So we can at least know that there have been 18 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 5: thirty one people. 19 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 3: Where's the church. 20 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 4: Schore in the background right the Alielujah said, you're you 21 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 4: ain't kidding? 22 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 3: Right there? 23 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 4: The last word is brought to you by Fan Duel, 24 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 4: making every moment more. We are jam packed, a lot 25 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 4: to cram in on this half an hour here on 26 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 4: this version of a last Word, previewing the upcoming draft. 27 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 4: We'll hear tonight from general manager Chris Ballard, the guy himself. 28 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 4: He's gonna join us today. He spoke to the media 29 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 4: at his pre draft press conference earlier today, but he 30 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,919 Speaker 4: carves some time out for us tonight on radio as well. 31 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 4: We'll also talk about a few Colts looking to rebound 32 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 4: after last season. Shaq Leonard and Ryan Kelly spoke to 33 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 4: the media earlier this week. We'll recap what they had 34 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 4: to say, either coming off injuries or putting last season 35 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 4: to bed, kind of making sure twenty twenty two obviously 36 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 4: at this point in the rear view mirror, but as 37 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:40,119 Speaker 4: you said, the countdown is on. We're just days away, 38 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 4: less than a week away from the draft where the 39 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 4: Colts currently holding that fourth overall pick, Casey, We're in 40 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 4: the lying season. The pre draft season is almost over 41 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 4: in my opinion, it's like two weeks too long. Oh, 42 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 4: although if the draft were two weeks earlier, we'd just 43 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 4: be where we are now. 44 00:01:58,160 --> 00:01:59,919 Speaker 5: Then, yeah, you go quicker than yeah. 45 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 4: Right, he knows who's telling the truth, who knows what's real, 46 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 4: who knows what's going on, But we do know Chris Ballard, 47 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 4: for the most part for all of the part. 48 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 3: He doesn't play games. 49 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 4: He's a straight shooter. 50 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 3: I love that line. 51 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 4: Today he said, I'm not going to give you the 52 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 4: answers because that would be foolish, you know, ahead of 53 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:17,800 Speaker 4: the draft. So today I'm a damna dancer. I'm a dancer, 54 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 4: but I'm not a liar. I'm always going to tell 55 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 4: you what's going on. So what were your big takeaways 56 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 4: from what Chris had to say? 57 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 5: You know, I really liked the notion that, you know, 58 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 5: he kind of called out the people that think the 59 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 5: Colts have been targeting this guy, that's the one player 60 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 5: they've been focused on. The draft comes through and that's 61 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 5: the guy they want. I like that. He really did 62 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 5: pull back the curtain a little bit and say, hey, look, 63 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:39,679 Speaker 5: we're at four. We aren't entirely sure. We might have 64 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 5: a good idea of what's going to happen, but he 65 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 5: even said, he goes, I don't think anybody knows what 66 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 5: all is going to happen. So you have to do 67 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 5: your work. You have to have your board set up 68 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 5: so that you are prepared for that pike at number four, 69 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 5: and you don't just go in going this is the 70 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:55,799 Speaker 5: one guy we're looking at, and if that doesn't happen, 71 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 5: who knows what's going to happen. So I really like 72 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:00,640 Speaker 5: that he kind of addressed that where you've heard some 73 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 5: people in their mock drafts say that this is the Colts, 74 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 5: the guys, this is the guy that drafts are forever. 75 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 5: Ultimately that is not the case. I think you know, 76 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 5: they've done their due diligence. They know an idea of 77 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 5: who's gonna be there, the guys that are gonna be 78 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 5: in that spot, But they are not saying this is 79 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 5: the one guy that has to be there, that's the 80 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 5: one player we can only take. 81 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, no doubt about it. Speaking of the draft, join 82 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 4: us at participating Indiana Buffalo Wild Wings locations next Thursday, 83 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 4: April twenty seventh and catch all the football Draft action 84 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 4: giveaway swag and it's boneless Thursday by one, get one 85 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 4: free Boneless Wings. So check us out at participating Buffalo 86 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 4: Wild Wings across Central Indiana will be in Indie, Greenwood, Plainfield, Westfield. 87 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 4: The parties are free, open to fans of all ages. 88 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 4: For all the details, head to Colts dot com. Slash 89 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 4: Draft The Last Word brought to you by fan Duel, 90 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 4: Making Every Moment More with Fan Duel, Proud Sportsbook partner 91 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 4: of the Indianapolis Colts. We're gonna leave plenty of time 92 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 4: on this program to visit with General Manager Ballard. He's 93 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 4: coming up right after this. We talked to him earlier today. 94 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 4: We'll talk about quarterbacks, the depth of the draft, and 95 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 4: some other topics that weren't covered in depth today at 96 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 4: its press conference. Chris Ballard, the GM of the Colts, 97 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 4: coming up next right after this on the Last Word, 98 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 4: The Home of the Colts ninety three to five and 99 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:18,280 Speaker 4: one oh seven to five the Fan. 100 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: If you can't get enough Colts talk, this is your show. 101 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 3: This is the Last Word. 102 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 1: The offseason Home of the Colts from the Indiana Union 103 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:32,919 Speaker 1: Construction Industry Radio Studio. 104 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 4: Welcome back to the Last Word, the off season radio 105 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 4: home for the Colts. I'm Matt Taylor, Casey Valier. He's 106 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 4: in tonight for Jeffrey Gorman. This is the Last Word, 107 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 4: brought to you by FanDuel Making Every Moment More. Also 108 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:47,719 Speaker 4: check out with the next pick. 109 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 3: It's Back. 110 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 4: It's presented by Verizon, the behind the Scenes Draft preview 111 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 4: video series for the Colts. It's Back, Part one, of 112 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 4: the two part series dropped last night, giving fans unique 113 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 4: access inside the Colts meeting rooms at the Combine, behind 114 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,039 Speaker 4: the curtain, look at the pro days of the top 115 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 4: quarterbacks and this year's draft class. The full episode is 116 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 4: available now on Colts dot com and check out Colts 117 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 4: social media platforms for links. Chris Ballard a big time 118 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 4: feature in that episode last night, obviously, as he's front 119 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 4: and center in this draft. He was also nice enough 120 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 4: to join us in studio after his pre draft press 121 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 4: conference earlier today to talk about his thoughts and feelings 122 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 4: on the upcoming draft. Here's Chris with myself and JJ 123 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 4: Stengeb it's earlier today regarding next week's NFL draft. Take 124 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 4: a listen. Chris, first of all, really appreciate your time. 125 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 4: And we're just days away from the twenty twenty three 126 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,359 Speaker 4: NFL Draft, and I know the work is not completely 127 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,239 Speaker 4: done until you make the picks coming up next weekend, 128 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 4: But are you excited that the draft is almost here 129 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 4: and you can finally enjoy all those hours and all 130 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 4: the work that you put into this point It's almost here. 131 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 6: Yeah now, and the work that you know, everybody in 132 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 6: the buildings put in. You know, I mean it all 133 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 6: comes to fruition on draft day. But yeah, we're excited. 134 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 6: A lot of work put in, a lot of great 135 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 6: work by our scouts and staff, coaching staff and everybody 136 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 6: in our training and strength and football ops. I mean, 137 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 6: everybody's involved and it's a fun process, and you know, 138 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 6: draft days that is kind of the celebration of their work. 139 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 6: It's kind of always looked at it. 140 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 2: So we're through the combine, we're through pro days, we're 141 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,280 Speaker 2: through thirty visits. You said the cement isn't going to 142 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 2: dry until draft day, but you kind of talked about 143 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 2: it a little in your press conference. But the the 144 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 2: pre draft noise of like the Colts like this guy. 145 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 2: You know, we're hearing the Colts like that guy. How 146 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:39,840 Speaker 2: do you tune that out? How do you have other 147 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 2: people in the building tune that out if you need 148 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 2: to kind of set that tone? 149 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 6: Well, I mean, look, there's all there's always a new 150 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 6: rumor that comes up every day, and you know, but 151 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 6: I've I've like, I have a great deal of trust 152 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:57,720 Speaker 6: of our internally, of our people. You know, they kind 153 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 6: of know. I mean they're open and we're very open 154 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:02,839 Speaker 6: with it information and for a reason That's how you grow, 155 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:05,600 Speaker 6: and I think that's how everybody can grow. More information, 156 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 6: you're able to see and see how decisions are being made. 157 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 6: It's how you grow. But with that comes great responsibility, 158 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 6: and with that responsibility is nothing gets out. So I 159 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 6: feel pretty I'm pretty confident that you know our information 160 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 6: is staying in house, especially with some of the stuff 161 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 6: I hear, I know it's staying in house, So you 162 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 6: shift through it. Like I don't pay attention to a lot. 163 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,120 Speaker 6: I turn my like I don't read a lot this 164 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 6: time of year. There's some things I do because I 165 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 6: know where there's credible sources. But at the end of 166 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 6: the day, I try to tune as much out as 167 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 6: I can and make as clear and unbiased the decision 168 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 6: through all the information we've gathered as we can. 169 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 4: Chris Ballard is with us, and this is your seventh 170 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 4: draft with the Colts. This will be the highest pick 171 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 4: that you make if you stay at four. In your 172 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 4: time following the draft and being in the draft and 173 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 4: obviously having a huge part of it, what have you 174 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 4: learned about the top end of the draft historically over 175 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 4: time that can help you make the best decision possible 176 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 4: in this instance, for the Colts. 177 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 6: You know, every one of them is different. There's I mean, 178 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 6: this year is much different than when we took Quinton 179 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 6: at six, you know, in twenty eighteen. You know, every 180 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 6: year is different. You've got a chance to get a 181 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 6: real high end talent. Anytime you're in the top ten, 182 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 6: you've got a chance to get a high end talent 183 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 6: that can really impact the organization. You want to take 184 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 6: the one that can play and be a good player 185 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:33,199 Speaker 6: for you, no matter the position. 186 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 2: You've been a a scout. You know you've been in 187 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 2: these conversations for decades. You've evaluated all the quarterbacks in 188 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 2: this draft class. Have you learned things over your time 189 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 2: about what matters when it comes to quarterback evaluation and 190 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 2: what maybe doesn't matter when you're taking this mountain of 191 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 2: information and trying to sift through it. 192 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think whoever you take, whoever is your quarterback, 193 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 6: deals a lot with how you're going to use him, 194 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 6: playing to his strengths to make him successful. There's lots 195 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 6: of there's different types with flavors, you know at quarterback, 196 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 6: and everybody's got an opinion on them. But at the 197 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 6: end of the day, it's the guy you think you 198 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 6: can win with, and who your coaching staff thinks they 199 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 6: can build an offense around. 200 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 4: How much time and energy goes into finding out the 201 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,680 Speaker 4: character of these guys, finding out who they are as people, 202 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 4: their mental makeup, you know, how good of a leader 203 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 4: they would be. How much time and energy goes into that. 204 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 4: How much does that matter when you put the whole 205 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 4: puzzle together on these players? 206 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 6: Well, I think it matters with every player you bring 207 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 6: in the building, Like you're telling your locker room who 208 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:42,439 Speaker 6: you are with every player you draft. We're not being 209 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 6: perfect by any stretch, but our scouts do a tremendous 210 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 6: job digging, using their sources, visiting with these players, using 211 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 6: their experiences to know who we're getting. And you always 212 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 6: tell them like, we're not going to get it in 213 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 6: the hole possible because you having lived with somebody, until 214 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 6: you live with somebody, you don't know. But let's get 215 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 6: it close to the whole, all right. Let's get to 216 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 6: the eighty five ninety percentile range if we can and 217 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,839 Speaker 6: know what this who's gonna be when he walks into building, 218 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 6: and that's for any position, and how he fits not 219 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 6: only as a player, but also how's he fit in 220 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 6: the locker room, how's he gonna how's the locker room 221 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 6: gonna handle, and how's he going to fit in, you know, 222 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 6: with his teammates. That's important. 223 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 2: I think a lot of people don't understand the work 224 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 2: that scouts have to put in during the fall to 225 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 2: get all this information and compile it all. I think 226 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,839 Speaker 2: with the next pick, part one of it this year 227 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:37,319 Speaker 2: did a really good job of showing kind of the 228 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 2: latter part of the process, where you know, you're on 229 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 2: the road with Mike Lacon. He's on the road for 230 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 2: two weeks, you know right now, but you having done it, 231 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 2: been in that position before as a scout, how much 232 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 2: of it is is almost like detective work that you 233 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 2: have to do, and how much of it is relationship 234 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 2: building and just how intensive is that process. 235 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 6: It's the they're the unsung heroes of an organization. It's 236 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 6: not as much it's the great like I even felt 237 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 6: this as a scout, not as much about the grades 238 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 6: you put on the player, but being able to identify 239 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 6: the player and get him on everybody's radar. You know 240 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 6: where we're going to end up taking him. You know, 241 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:15,839 Speaker 6: we'll sort that out over time, but just being able 242 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 6: that takes a skill that takes talent. I mean, it 243 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 6: takes talent to scout talent. 244 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 3: I don't. 245 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 6: I mean, I know everybody thinks it's just an easy thing, 246 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 6: but it takes talent to scout talent. And then it 247 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 6: takes even more. This is what the art comes in 248 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 6: with being able to all right, really understand who he 249 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 6: is by people you visit with, and you can't visit 250 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 6: with enough, like you can't go visit with one person 251 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 6: and take that as the gospel. And then you've got 252 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 6: to have enough emotional intelligence to be able to kind 253 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 6: of fit in what everybody's telling you, to form a 254 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 6: story of who the player is and what he stands for. 255 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 6: And every player has a story, like everyone, they all 256 00:11:57,040 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 6: have a story. Our scout's job is to tell us 257 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 6: the tell us who he is. Tell we probably spend 258 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 6: as much time talking about the characters we do who 259 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 6: he is as a player, because it's so important and 260 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 6: it's hard. It's very difficult, and they don't have all 261 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 6: the information in the fall. That's what even makes it harder, 262 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 6: you know, because we get more information when you get 263 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 6: the medical, when you get the interviews, you go through 264 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 6: the all star games like I would tell you seventy 265 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 6: percent of the information they have, but there's another thirty 266 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 6: percent they don't have. Sure, the tape is critical and 267 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,319 Speaker 6: it you know, that's primarily what you're going off, but 268 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 6: there's a lot more that goes into it that's deeper 269 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,559 Speaker 6: that they that they delve into. So they're the uns always. 270 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 4: They're the eyes and ears. 271 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 6: Just because you don't draft a player doesn't mean that 272 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 6: player won't eventually end up on your team. So they've 273 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 6: got a scout each and every player with an unbiased 274 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 6: opinion of what he can be. You know, for the 275 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 6: Indianapolis Colts. 276 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:53,280 Speaker 4: That's general manager Chris Ballard with us for your Indianapolis Colts. 277 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 4: For you, Chris, what are the deeper parts of this draft? 278 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:59,439 Speaker 4: What position groups have a good talent pool about them. 279 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 6: I think it's a really good defensive edge people, really 280 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:06,079 Speaker 6: good defensive end draft. I think there's some good depth 281 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 6: on the old line and the same with corner And 282 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:11,959 Speaker 6: it's probably as good a tight end draft that I've 283 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 6: seen in a long time now. There's some really good 284 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 6: football players at the tight end position. 285 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 2: When you look at the maybe more immediate needs on 286 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 2: this team versus the pure talent of these guys while 287 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 2: also considering what the needs of this team might be 288 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 2: in a year. How does that all balance when you're 289 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 2: putting together your draft board. 290 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 6: Yeah, it's all part of the puzzle because you're projecting 291 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 6: out what our current needs are now plus what it's 292 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 6: going to be a year from now. But the one 293 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:43,200 Speaker 6: thing you don't ever want to do is take a 294 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,599 Speaker 6: need over a player that you think is going to 295 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 6: be really good for you and it might not be 296 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 6: a necessity at the time you took him, but he's 297 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 6: going to really make a difference on game day. Like 298 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 6: it's hard to find red and blue players that flip 299 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 6: the field on game day, and you never pass one 300 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 6: up when you have a chance to take him or 301 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,680 Speaker 6: a guy with red or blue traits, even like they 302 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 6: don't even have to be in the top ten, second, third, 303 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 6: fourth round. There's times when you know, what, we don't 304 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:12,199 Speaker 6: need this guy, but you know he's so good we're 305 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 6: not going to pass on him. I mean, that's that's 306 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:15,319 Speaker 6: all part of it. 307 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 4: Chris. I know you got to run. You're incredibly busy, 308 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 4: so we really appreciate the time. Lastly, for you, what's 309 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 4: it been like being you for the last four months. 310 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 4: I mean, are are you going to the grocery store 311 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 4: getting stopped at the butcher line asking who the cults 312 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 4: are drafting? I mean, from from all these different angles, 313 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 4: what's it been like to be you at the top 314 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 4: end of the draft since since January? 315 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 6: It's good, Like I still think that, Like, our fans 316 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 6: are great. I mean I love our fans, and I 317 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 6: mean I'm still show up in public a bunch. I 318 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 6: mean it's not like I'm hiding. I never have done that, 319 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 6: you know, whether we're good or bad. I mean I 320 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 6: still go out and our fans are good. 321 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 3: Yep. 322 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 6: They'll definitely ask questions and I'll answer them. I mean 323 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 6: I get a ton of email, like I love, I 324 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 6: love them. I love on people email. I mean it's great. 325 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 6: I mean I'll call him, talk to him. 326 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 3: Right. 327 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 6: Look, I think our fans deserve that. I think our 328 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 6: fans deserve And you don't get back to everybody, and 329 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 6: even in public, you know, but what we do is entertainment. 330 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 6: They have a right to be passionate about and they 331 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 6: have a right to ask questions. 332 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 2: Who's the stronger opinions? Is it from the draft room 333 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 2: or is it from the Ballard household. 334 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 6: Oh well, my kids have I mean, they got strong opinions. 335 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 6: There's no doubt they look at me cross out all 336 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 6: the time about who if I tell him a like it, 337 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 6: I got no Dad, he can't. 338 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 4: I'm like, okay, work, okay, He's gonna look good in 339 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 4: the video game though. 340 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 3: Right. 341 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 4: That's fantastic Chris Ballard with us. Chris, thanks so much 342 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 4: for the time I got to know your swamp. Good 343 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 4: luck all right, appreciate it. That's Chris Ballard, the GM 344 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 4: of the Colts, from earlier today following his pre draft 345 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 4: press conference. If you missed any of that conversation or 346 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 4: the press conference, both available now on Colts dot Com 347 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 4: and the Colts Audio Network in full. Really appreciate Chris's 348 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 4: time with us, considering his busy schedule trying to watch 349 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 4: the tape, set the draft board, and make big time 350 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 4: decisions for the Colts in the upcoming days. Last words 351 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 4: brought to you by Meyer, the official Supercenter of the 352 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 4: Indianapolis Colts and proud sponsor of hundreds of local sports 353 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 4: teams across the Midwest. When we come back, we'll give 354 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 4: you the form Credit Union question of the week regarding 355 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 4: the Colts and their draft history with quarterbacks, and we'll 356 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 4: also discuss Week two for the Colts. The off season 357 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 4: workout program continued this week. We're back in just a 358 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 4: moment here in the Last Words. Stay with us on 359 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 4: ninety three to five and one oh seven five the Fan. 360 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 4: We now returned to. 361 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 1: The off season radio home of the Indianapolis Colts, The 362 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 1: Last Word from the Indiana Union Construction Industry Radio studio. 363 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 4: Welcome back, final time on the Last Word. 364 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 3: Foo Fighters on a Friday. 365 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 4: Night, Casey Valia sent here. I'm Matt Taylor, No, Jeffrey Gorman. 366 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 4: Tonight back for the final time here on the Last Word, 367 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 4: the off season radio home of the Colts, every Friday 368 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 4: night after six pm. The Last Word brought to you 369 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:06,040 Speaker 4: by Fan Duel, making every moment more proud. Sportsbook partner 370 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 4: of the Indianapolis Colts were also brought to you by Anthem. 371 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 4: The Colts have teamed up with Anthem Blue Cross, Blue 372 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:16,399 Speaker 4: Shield to recognize school teachers, administrators, nurses, staff members who 373 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 4: go above and beyond for their student schools and their communities. 374 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:23,640 Speaker 4: Nominate your classroom quarterback today. Do so at colts dot 375 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 4: com slash Classroom Quarterbacks also, case have you heard about 376 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:31,119 Speaker 4: the million dollars schedule challenge from Jim Irsay? 377 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:33,880 Speaker 5: Yes, I have pretty awesome one Colts. 378 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 4: Fan and it's not going to be Casey Valley, no offense, 379 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 4: You have no shots, not a chance you could win 380 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 4: a million bucks by correctly predicting the team's eighteen game 381 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 4: schedule for the upcoming regular season. Jim Mersay announced this 382 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 4: week the million dollars Schedule Challenge that began earlier this week, 383 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:54,679 Speaker 4: runs through April thirtieth and basically ends at midnight. Fans 384 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 4: can enter at Colts dot com slash win and the 385 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 4: Colts schedule should be coming out right around that second 386 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 4: week in May. That's kind of the point of the 387 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 4: calendar where we're starting to see that that's coming up 388 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:07,920 Speaker 4: after the draft. Speaking of the draft, it's next week. 389 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:09,880 Speaker 4: As we all know, the Colts could be in line 390 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 4: to draft their first quarterback, Casey higher than the fourth round. 391 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 4: Since twenty twelve, that's the setup for the Forum Credit 392 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 4: Union Question of the Week. In that time, the Colts 393 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 4: have drafted only four quarterbacks. Since twenty twelve, the Colts 394 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 4: have drafted only four quarterbacks, case He, none higher than 395 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 4: the fourth round. 396 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:33,360 Speaker 5: Who are they so Andrew Luck is there in twelve? 397 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:33,880 Speaker 4: Correct? 398 00:18:34,359 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 5: You've got Jacob Eason. Yes, Sam Ellinger, Yes, think think 399 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 5: twenty twelve draft class along with Andrew Luck. Surprisingly so 400 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 5: think seventh round, seventh round. Did he have a long tenure? 401 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 4: He did not, but he played well in the preseason. Okay, 402 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 4: he had some moments in exhibition play. 403 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 5: PJ Walker. 404 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 4: PJ Walker was not a draft pick. That's a good guess. Though. 405 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 4: It was Chandler Harnish, mister irrelevant Varnish, the pride of 406 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:05,640 Speaker 4: Bluff in Indiana. 407 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 5: Didn't he throw the football that hit Pam Oliver? I 408 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 5: think that Warnish and Warbucks that hit Pam Oliver. Pleely 409 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:13,239 Speaker 5: forgot about that. 410 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 4: There you go, good poll. I think that was a 411 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 4: preseason againess it was? Yes, Yeah, that was at MetLife Stadium. 412 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 4: I was like four feet away from that, actually, good poll. 413 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 3: Yes. 414 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:27,440 Speaker 4: Chandler Harnish from Indiana went to Northern Illinois last in 415 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,440 Speaker 4: the league in twenty fifteen with the Cardinals. He was 416 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 4: a MAC MVP back in the day in twenty eleven, 417 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 4: played great for the Colts in the preseason for a 418 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 4: few years. Visit the forum credit Union fanforum section of 419 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 4: Colts dot com to interact with other fans online. You 420 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 4: can post a topic and participate in various discussions on 421 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 4: the Colts Forum. Credit Union helping members live their financial dreams. 422 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 4: All right, let's talk about the offseason workout program for 423 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 4: the Colts that continued on this week. It was the 424 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:57,640 Speaker 4: second week of phase one. We heard from offensive coordinator 425 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 4: Jim Bob Cooter. We're abbreviating that now now we're sav 426 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:04,920 Speaker 4: jabc All right, I'm down with that, so JBC talk. 427 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 4: Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley talked check out those press conferences 428 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 4: now on Colts dot com. But we also heard from 429 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 4: Ryan Kelly, Jonathan Taylor, Shack Leonard. They all met with 430 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:16,719 Speaker 4: the media this week for the first time in the 431 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:20,239 Speaker 4: spring portion of the schedule. Shack Leonard told reporters that 432 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:22,479 Speaker 4: he feels better, a little bit more power in his 433 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 4: calf after having another surgery last November to address his 434 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,399 Speaker 4: ongoing back and nerve issues that he's dealt with the 435 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:32,919 Speaker 4: last couple of years, moving around but not able to 436 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:37,720 Speaker 4: run and do full football activities just yet. When he 437 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 4: was talking with the media, case he was upbeat. He 438 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:45,120 Speaker 4: was his bubbly, smiling self. Great personality, but he's still 439 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:48,639 Speaker 4: frustrated because that rehab still has some milestones to meet 440 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 4: with over four months to go before the season starts. 441 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 4: What did you take from Leonard's remarks this week in 442 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 4: terms of where he's at with the rehab. 443 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:57,360 Speaker 5: It was good to hear from him. I think that's 444 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 5: the biggest thing we've been speculating for a long time, 445 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 5: so you kind of got to hear from him. Definitely 446 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 5: a guy who is still a little down. I mean, 447 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:06,960 Speaker 5: you can totally tell that this has really taken a 448 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 5: lot out of him because he's a football player. This 449 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:11,359 Speaker 5: is a guy who likes being out there. And he 450 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:14,200 Speaker 5: mentioned that he hates not being out there right now 451 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 5: because it may not be the battle that you're playing 452 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 5: weeks one through seventeen, but ultimately this is what gears 453 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 5: you up. It was an impressive comment he made. I 454 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 5: think Mike Chapple asked the question, well, you've got time. 455 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 5: He's like, yeah, I've got time. But this is like, 456 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:28,520 Speaker 5: you know, if you're you're in the army, this is 457 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 5: basic training. We're trying to get ready for the war. 458 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 5: And if I'm not out there. 459 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 4: What am I to mis basic training? 460 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:33,959 Speaker 3: Last year? 461 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:34,199 Speaker 1: Right? 462 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,919 Speaker 5: So? It's something that it's really affecting him. But I 463 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:39,520 Speaker 5: mean when he said he can't he couldn't do a 464 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 5: CAF raise for a year, I'm doing one right now. 465 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:45,679 Speaker 5: I couldn't imagine. I couldn't imagine not doing that for 466 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:47,879 Speaker 5: a year and then being expected to go out and 467 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:51,439 Speaker 5: play at his, you know, his level. So I understand 468 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 5: he's one of those guys that he's always played with 469 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:55,920 Speaker 5: the chip on his shoulder, and this is another chip 470 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:57,919 Speaker 5: people are doubting him. I'm sure he is ready and 471 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,159 Speaker 5: eager to get back out there, and it sounds like 472 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:04,160 Speaker 5: from a clearance standpoint, from a doctor's perspective, he's kind 473 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 5: of been clear to do whatever his body can handle. 474 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:08,920 Speaker 5: So it's one of those things that once he mentally 475 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 5: and physically feels like he can go, he can go. 476 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:11,639 Speaker 3: Yeah, you're right. 477 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 4: I mean outside of seventy four snaps last year, he 478 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 4: just hasn't played a lot of football, no matter the 479 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:18,399 Speaker 4: time of the year. I mean, he hasn't played a 480 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:22,159 Speaker 4: lot of football since January of twenty twenty two and 481 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 4: hasn't had a lot of time on task under Gus 482 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:27,880 Speaker 4: Bradley exactly. So this is year number two in this system, 483 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:30,880 Speaker 4: and the maniac just hasn't played a lot of snaps 484 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:34,919 Speaker 4: in this scheme under this regime, all right. Ryan Kelly 485 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 4: honest with the media this week as well, saying he 486 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:40,080 Speaker 4: heard the trade rumors from the outside this past offseason. 487 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 4: Nothing serious though, ever, came about that from his agent. 488 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:45,640 Speaker 4: We all know he's going to be thirty, still has 489 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:48,880 Speaker 4: two more years left on his contract, longest tenured Colt 490 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:51,200 Speaker 4: all of that, but he said this week that communication 491 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:55,159 Speaker 4: Casey was the biggest offensive line issue last season that 492 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 4: played a part in the Colts struggling in protection, giving 493 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:02,040 Speaker 4: up sixty sacks in twenty twenty two. Same question, What 494 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:04,879 Speaker 4: did you see from Kelly's demeanor and his tone this 495 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 4: week with the media. 496 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:07,280 Speaker 5: He looked good. I thought it was one of those 497 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 5: things that clearly he took the time away from football 498 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 5: once the season ended to kind of decompress and really 499 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 5: dive into a lot. And I thought he said a 500 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:17,399 Speaker 5: lot of things about how you watch the tape and 501 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:19,199 Speaker 5: there's a lot of bad, but there is still a 502 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:20,879 Speaker 5: lot of good, and you can't look at it and 503 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 5: say everything was bad that we did last year. We 504 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:25,439 Speaker 5: have to change it all up. So I think his 505 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 5: mentality of knowing that you still got a pretty good core, 506 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 5: a group of guys that are going to be returning. 507 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:33,120 Speaker 5: You know, you got Quentin Nelson, Braden Smith, and Bernard 508 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 5: Ryman with Ryan Kelly, so there's four of your five. 509 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:37,440 Speaker 5: You know for sure Set and Stone are going to 510 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:39,919 Speaker 5: be back. So I think ultimately having a new voice 511 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:43,200 Speaker 5: with Tony's Berano in there and just everybody diving into 512 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 5: what they did well last year and kind of going 513 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:48,120 Speaker 5: off that is going to be key. But I thought 514 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 5: demeanor wise, Ryan Kelly was kind of back to being, 515 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:53,960 Speaker 5: you know, the very honest, but also you know, throws 516 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 5: a couple jokes in there, and that's what we love 517 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 5: about Ryan Kelly. He's a guy that you're gonna ask 518 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:00,399 Speaker 5: a question, how to tell you how it is, But 519 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,239 Speaker 5: I like seeing a little bit of humor coming from 520 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 5: Ryan Kelly. 521 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 3: Yeah. 522 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 4: I think those guys, the offensive line, that core that 523 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:08,880 Speaker 4: you mentioned, I think they are incredibly determined to make 524 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 4: sure last season is the outlier when you talk about 525 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,520 Speaker 4: those core guys coming back and Kelly said he still 526 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 4: loves playing football in Indianapolis. You know, when Shane Steiken 527 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 4: was hired that day or maybe the next day, Shane 528 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 4: got on the phone, he called Ryan Kelly personally, had 529 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:25,399 Speaker 4: a really good conversation for about twenty minutes. That kind 530 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:28,119 Speaker 4: of fired him back up again. Ryan Kelly is one 531 00:24:28,160 --> 00:24:30,920 Speaker 4: of my favorite colts of all time. Since I've been 532 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 4: doing this job, he is one of my favorite guys 533 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 4: because of the honesty, the thoughtful answer reals very intelligent. 534 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 4: So I love Ryan Kelly. So happy that he's still here. 535 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 4: Like I told you during the break, Ryan Kelly working 536 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 4: with his tenth different If it's Gardner Minshew or a 537 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 4: rookie quarterback, we don't know, but if either of those 538 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:55,159 Speaker 4: instances play out, it'll be the tenth different quarterback that 539 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:58,959 Speaker 4: Ryan Kelly has snapped to starting quarterback since twenty sixteen. 540 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:01,359 Speaker 5: You can't overlook that that is something that definitely plays 541 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,640 Speaker 5: into all of this. You want that stability, and that's 542 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 5: something I'm sure Ryan would would really like to have 543 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:06,400 Speaker 5: behind him. 544 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 3: You got it. 545 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 4: Speaking of stability, we got none here on the last word. 546 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:14,399 Speaker 4: Jeffrey Gorman's out, but Casey Valier filled in very admirably. Casey, 547 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:16,720 Speaker 4: we got a jet Man. Great show tonight, best of 548 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 4: luck and the dugout in this weekend with the Teamakers. 549 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 5: Yeah, there you go. Hopefully, hopefully the weather warms up 550 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 5: just so little. 551 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:24,680 Speaker 4: Remember the hit and run is a good thing. I 552 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 4: don't know if you're allowed to do that in this tea. 553 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:26,920 Speaker 3: I don't think so. 554 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 4: In T ball, can we get a double steal? Come on, 555 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:32,399 Speaker 4: teach him early. That's Casey Valley. I'm Matt Taylor. The 556 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 4: NFL Draft coming up next Thursday. Have a great week 557 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 4: in everybody, and we'll talk to you next week. Getting 558 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:39,320 Speaker 4: in the last word here in the Home of the 559 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 4: Colts ninety three five, one oh seven five, The ESPN 560 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:44,040 Speaker 4: radio's coming up next. 561 00:25:44,040 --> 00:26:00,960 Speaker 3: So long, unled by 562 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:05,320 Speaker 5: The light, wrapped up like a deuce of the runner 563 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:06,120 Speaker 5: in the night.