I have to admit that I have started and stopped writing this two or three times. I don’t think that I have anything new to add in this stomach churning segment of the season. Much has been discussed about our desire to see both the offensive and defensive leaders of the team relieved of their duties. Not for the purpose of seeing a drastic improvement and unlikely playoff run, but simply a “We have seen enough” feeling.
We’ve ran the cycle of every player that we’d like to trade or keep, and how much
we’d expect to get in return. I’d throw my hat in the ring, but the honest truth is that it would be a guess. I really struggle understanding firing CB, then putting Dodds in charge of the who stays and who goes decisions. Maybe CB refused to make decisions for the next regime and that was his last act. I know that someone has to do it and maybe Carlie is keeping plausible deniability, by allowing the current admin to make these calls.
I will say that I would bench Jones, but intend to keep him next year. He can’t do what he needs to do with his physical limitations. He will be past those limitations by the start of next season. A new GM could find Jones a better option than others who might be available and not as expensive as many suggest. At minimum, that GM gets a year to form his own opinion. If a rookie is brought in, I can’t see it being one that you are ready to throw to the wolves immediately, especially with the AR wounds still pretty fresh.
As far as team building, I do not know who has Carlie’s ear right now? She has a very important decision regarding who is tasked with getting the Colts off the mat and back in the fight. She has had to have made some contacts with a person or persons that she feels that she can trust, but I do not know who that might be? I also do not quite understand her desire to continue to be on the sidelines and tuned in. What can she pick up by listening to Shane and Lou? If she did decide to meddle, she could get away with it pretty easily this season.
I don’t think her presence is necessarily inspiring the players to give their best effort. The information that she needs to be gathering right now, is who will be the next eyes, ears, and voice of the franchise. I think she has picked up enough to have her expectations as to what she wants to hear from a GM, during the interview process. I think a view from the suite, might give her a different perspective. She can listen if she wants, it is her business to run.
This is the time of the season when the “lay down” banter begins. I’ve never been a proponent and even less this year, when it doesn’t affect the first round pick. It appears that Shane and Lou will be allowed to keep doing things that don’t work, so the best you can do is protect players from getting hurt during a season that essentially means nothing. There are lots of lame ducks that are not going to get off of the ground. Honestly, I do not think we need to avoid winning, as it is going to occur naturally.
It is time to see who has some pride in their craft. Do not reward lack of effort with playing time. You can live with some mistakes, if they are mistakes of aggression and excitement. I’m not proposing cutting players, but there are lots of incentives that players can’t reach, if they are not on the field. Maybe someone on the bench, or a practice squader emerges as a player? It is hard for bench players to show anything after camp is over. The NFL barely lets you have contact in practice, so how can you show what you have learned in the film room? Give them their shot.
So, while we are not considering what has to be done to make the playoffs, there are still many considerations, far more than I have mentioned, which will shape the path forward. I’m normally not one to punt, but if you realize that punting can be a strategic play, maybe it is more palatable this season. We as fans might be a little more patient during this time. Many recently blasted the organization for the return they got for Q. As we find out that he had an injury, prior to the trade, maybe we should consider that we don’t know the whole story on nearly anything.
