1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,759 Speaker 1: Very please right now to be joined inside the Indiana 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: Union Construction Industry Radio studio with the general manager of 3 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:10,480 Speaker 1: the Indianapolis Colts. Chris Ballard is with us with JJ Stangovitz. 4 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: I'm Matt Taylor. Chris, first of all, really appreciate your time. 5 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 1: And we're just days away from the twenty twenty three 6 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: NFL Draft, and I know the work is not completely 7 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: done until you make the picks coming up next weekend, 8 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: But are you excited that the draft is almost here 9 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: and you can finally enjoy all those hours and all 10 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: the work that you put into this point It's almost here. 11 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, now, and the work that you know, everybody in 12 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 2: the buildings put in, you know, I mean it all 13 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 2: comes to fruition on draft day. 14 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 3: But yeah, we're excited. 15 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 2: A lot of work put in, a lot of great 16 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 2: work by our scouts and staff, coaching staff, and everybody 17 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 2: in our training and strength and football ops. I mean, 18 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 2: everybody's involved, and it's a fun process, and you know, 19 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 2: Draft days that is kind of the celebration of their work. 20 00:00:57,720 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 3: It's kind of all I looked at it. 21 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:01,319 Speaker 4: So we're through the common buying, through pro days, we're 22 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 4: through thirty visits you said the cement isn't going to 23 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 4: dry until draft day, but you kind of talked about 24 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 4: it a little in your press conference. But the the 25 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 4: pre draft noise of like the colts like this guy. 26 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 4: You know we're hearing the colts like that guy. How 27 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 4: do how do you tune that out? How do you 28 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 4: have other people in the building tune that out? If 29 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 4: you need to kind of set that tone? 30 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 3: Well, I mean, look, there's all. 31 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 2: There's always a new rumor that comes up every day, 32 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 2: and you know, but I've I've like, I have a 33 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 2: great deal of trust of our internally, of our people. 34 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 3: You know, they kind of know. 35 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 2: I mean they're open and we're very open with information 36 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 2: and for a reason, that's how you grow, and I 37 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 2: think that's how everybody can grow. More information. You're able 38 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 2: to see and see how decisions are being made. It's 39 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 2: how you grow. But with that comes great responsibility, and 40 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 2: with that responsibility is nothing gets out. So I feel 41 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 2: pretty I'm pretty confident that you know, our information is 42 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 2: staying in house, especially with some of the stuff I hear, 43 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 2: I know it's staying in house, so you shift through it. 44 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 2: I don't pay attention to a lot. I turn my like, 45 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 2: I don't read a lot this time of year. There's 46 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 2: some things I do because I know where there's credible sources, 47 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 2: But at the end of the day, I try to 48 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 2: tune as much out as I can and make a 49 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 2: clear and unbiased a decision through all the information we've 50 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 2: gathered as we can. 51 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: Chris Ballard is with us and this is your seventh 52 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: draft with the Colts. This will be the highest pick 53 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: that you make if you stay at four. In your 54 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: time following the draft and being in the draft and 55 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: obviously having a huge part of it, what have you 56 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 1: learned about the top end of the draft historically over 57 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:43,119 Speaker 1: time that can help you make the best decision possible 58 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 1: in this instance for the Colts. 59 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 3: You know, every one of them is different. 60 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 2: There's I mean, this year is much different than when 61 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 2: we took Quinton at six. You know in twenty eighteen. 62 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,079 Speaker 2: You know, every year is different. You got a chance 63 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 2: to get a real high end talent. Anytime you're in 64 00:02:58,200 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 2: the top ten, you've got a chance to get a 65 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 2: high end talent that can really impact the organization. You 66 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: want to take the one that can play and be 67 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 2: a good player for you, no matter the. 68 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 4: Position you've been a scout. You know, you've been in 69 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 4: these conversations for decades. You've evaluated all the quarterbacks in 70 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 4: this draft class. Have you learned things over your time 71 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 4: about what matters when it comes to quarterback evaluation and 72 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 4: what maybe doesn't matter when you're taking this mountain of 73 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 4: information and trying to sift through it. 74 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think whoever you take, whoever is your quarterback, 75 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 2: deals a lot with how you're going to use him, 76 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 2: playing to his strengths to make him successful. There's lots 77 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 2: of there's different types of flavors you know, at quarterback, 78 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 2: and everybody's got an opinion on them. But at the 79 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 2: end of the day, it's the guy you think you 80 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 2: can win with and who your coaching staff thinks they 81 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 2: can build an offense around. 82 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: How much time and energy goes into finding out the 83 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: character of these guys, finding out who they are as people, 84 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: their mental makeup, you know, how how good of a 85 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: leader they would be. How much time and energy goes 86 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 1: into that. How much does that matter when you put 87 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: the whole puzzle together on these players? 88 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 2: Well, I think it matters with every player you bring 89 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 2: in the building, Like you're telling your locker room who 90 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 2: you are with every player you draft. We're not being 91 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 2: perfect by any stretch, but our scouts do a tremendous 92 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 2: job digging, using their sources, visiting with these players, using 93 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 2: their experiences to know who we're getting, and always, you know, 94 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 2: you always tell them like, we're not going to get 95 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 2: it in the hole. That's impossible because you haven't lived 96 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 2: with somebody. Until you live with somebody, you don't know. 97 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 2: But let's get it close to the hole, all right, 98 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 2: Let's get to the eighty five ninety percentile range if 99 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:46,280 Speaker 2: we can and know what this who he's going to 100 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 2: be when he walks into building, and that's with any position, 101 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 2: and how he fits not only as a player, but 102 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 2: also how's he fit in the locker room, how's he 103 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 2: going to how's the locker room going to handle, and 104 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: how's he going to fit in, you know, with his teammates. 105 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 3: That's important. 106 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 4: I think a lot of people don't understand the work 107 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 4: that scouts have to put in during the fall to 108 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 4: get all this information and compile it all. I think 109 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 4: with the next pick, part one of it, this year 110 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 4: did a really good job of showing kind of the 111 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,159 Speaker 4: latter part of the process, where you know you're on 112 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:17,160 Speaker 4: the road with Mike Lacon. He's on the road for 113 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 4: two weeks, you know right now, But you having done it, 114 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 4: been in that position before as a scout, how much 115 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 4: of it is is almost like detective work that you 116 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 4: have to do, and how much of it is relationship 117 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 4: building and just how intensive is that process. 118 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 2: It's the they're the unsung heroes of an organization. It's 119 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 2: not as much the great like I've I even felt 120 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 2: this as a scout, not as much about the grade 121 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 2: you put on the player, but being able to identify 122 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 2: the player and get him on everybody's radar. You know 123 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:48,919 Speaker 2: where we're going to end up taking him. You know, 124 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 2: we'll sort that out over time. But just being able 125 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 2: that takes a skill, That takes talent. I mean, it 126 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 2: takes talent to scout talent. I don't. I mean, I 127 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 2: know everybody thinks it's just an easy thing, but it 128 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 2: takes talent to scout talent. 129 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 3: And then it takes even more. 130 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 2: This is what the art comes in with, being able 131 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 2: to all right, really understand who he is by people 132 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 2: you visit with, and you can't visit with enough, Like 133 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 2: you can't go visit with one person and take that 134 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 2: as the gospel. And then you've got to have enough 135 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 2: emotional intelligence to be able to kind of fit in 136 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 2: what everybody's telling you, to form a story of who 137 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:29,679 Speaker 2: the player is and what he stands for. And every 138 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 2: player has a story, like everyone, they all have a story. 139 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,160 Speaker 2: Our scout's job is to tell us the story, tell 140 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 2: us who he is. 141 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 3: Tell we probably. 142 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,359 Speaker 2: Spend as much time talking about the characters we do 143 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 2: who he is as a player, because it's so important 144 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 2: and it's hard, it's very difficult, and they don't have 145 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 2: all the information in the fall. That's what even makes 146 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 2: it harder, you know, because we get more information when 147 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 2: you get the medical, when you get the interviews, you 148 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 2: go through the All Star games, Like I would tell 149 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 2: you seventy percent of the information they have, but there's 150 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 2: another thirty percent they don't have. Sure, the take is 151 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 2: critical and it you know, that's primarily what you're going off, 152 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 2: but there's a lot more that goes into it, that's 153 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 2: deeper that they that they delve into. So they're the 154 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 2: uns always, they're the eyes and ears. Just because you 155 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 2: don't draft a player doesn't mean that player won't eventually 156 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 2: end up on your team. So they've got to scout 157 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 2: each and every player with an unbiased opinion of what 158 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 2: he can be. You know, for the Indianapolis Colts. 159 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: That's general manager Chris Ballard with us for your Indianapolis Colts. 160 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: For you, Chris, what are the deeper parts of this draft? 161 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: What what position groups have a good talent pool about them? 162 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 2: I think it's a really good defensive edge people, really 163 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 2: good defensive end draft. I think it's there's some good 164 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 2: depth on the old line and the same with corner. 165 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 2: And it's probably as good a tight end draft that 166 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 2: I've seen in a long time now. There's some really 167 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 2: good football players at the tight end position. 168 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 4: When you look at the the maybe more immediate needs 169 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 4: on this team versus the pure talent of these guys, 170 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 4: while also consider what the needs of this team might 171 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 4: be in a year, how does that all balance when 172 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 4: you're putting together your draft board. 173 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's all part of the puzzle because you're because 174 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 2: you're projecting out what our current needs are now plus 175 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 2: what it's going to be a year from now. But 176 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 2: the one thing you don't ever want to do is 177 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 2: take a need over a player that you think is 178 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 2: going to be really good for you and it might 179 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 2: not be a necessity at the time you took him, 180 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 2: but he's going to really make a difference on game day. 181 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 2: Like it's hard to find red and blue players that 182 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 2: flip the field on game day, and you never pass 183 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 2: one up when you have a chance to take him 184 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 2: or a guy with red or blue traits, even like 185 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 2: they don't even have to be in the top ten, second, third, 186 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 2: fourth round. There's times when you, you know what, we 187 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 2: don't need this guy, but you know he's so good 188 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 2: we're not going. 189 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 3: To pass on him. I mean, that's that's all part 190 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:50,839 Speaker 3: of it. 191 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: Chris. I know you got to run. You're incredibly busy, 192 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: so we really appreciate the time. Lastly, for you, what's 193 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: it been like being you for the last four months? 194 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,559 Speaker 1: I mean, are you going the grocery store getting stopped 195 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: at the butcher line asking who the cults are drafting? 196 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 1: I mean, from from all these different angles, what's it 197 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:09,560 Speaker 1: been like to be you at the top end of 198 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:11,359 Speaker 1: the draft since since January? 199 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:12,439 Speaker 3: It's good? 200 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 2: Like I still think that, like our fans are great. 201 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 2: I mean I love our fans, and I mean I'm 202 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 2: still show up in public a bunch. I mean, it's 203 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 2: not like I'm hiding. I never have done that, you know, 204 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 2: whether we're good or bad. I mean, I still go 205 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 2: out and our fans are good. They'll definitely ask questions 206 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 2: and I'll answer them. I mean, I get a ton 207 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 2: of email, like I love I love them, I love 208 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 2: the people email. I mean it's great. I mean I'll 209 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 2: call them, talk to them. Right, Look, I think our 210 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 2: fans deserve that. I think our fans deserve And you 211 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 2: don't get back to everybody, and even in public, you know, 212 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 2: but what we do is entertainment. They have a right 213 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 2: to be passionate about and they have a right to 214 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 2: ask questions. 215 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,319 Speaker 4: Who's the stronger opinions? Is it from the draft room 216 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 4: or is it from the Ballard household? 217 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 2: Well, my kids have, I mean, they got strong opinions. 218 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 3: There's no doubt. 219 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 2: They look at me cross out all the time about 220 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:08,559 Speaker 2: who if I tell my. 221 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 3: Like it, I got no Dad, he can't. I'm like, okay, 222 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 3: don't work. 223 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: Okay, He's gonna look good in the video game though. Right, 224 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: that's fantastic. Chris Ballard with us. Chris, thanks so much 225 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: for the time I got to know your swamp. Good 226 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: luck all right, appreciate it.