Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard met with the media Wednesday in what will likely be his last news conference until the end of the season. As Indianapolis seeks its first playoff berth since 2020 and first AFC South title since 2014, here’s what Ballard had to say about the state of his team.
Feeling the heat?
Indianapolis is currently experiencing a heat wave, with the temperature creeping up to the low 90s in recent days, but inside the Colts’ facility, Ballard isn’t feeling the same warmth. The 55-year-old GM has gone 54-60-1 with two playoff berths, one playoff win and zero AFC South titles during his first seven seasons with the franchise. Asked directly if he thinks he’s on the hot seat because of his largely fruitless tenure, Ballard quickly dismissed the idea.
“I think every year you (feel pressure). That’s kind of how I’m wired, but no,” Ballard said. “No different than any year.”
Barring a collapse in 2024, Ballard very likely will remain the Colts GM as long as owner Jim Irsay wants him to be. Irsay said during a TV broadcast of the Colts’ second preseason game that he views Ballard as a “blue-chip general manager,” which only strengthens Ballard’s job security.
Ballard, who is under contract through the 2026 season, is well aware of the Colts’ shortcomings under his watch and the scrutiny he’s under because of them. However, he emphasized that he feels supported by his peers and has unwavering conviction in his team-building philosophy.
“It’s easy to vacillate and go with what the world wants you to do, but you need to believe in something or you don’t,” Ballard said. “It’s what we believe. If it gets me fired, so be it.”
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Young secondary,
Aside from slot cornerback Kenny Moore II and safety Julian Blackmon, the Colts’ defensive secondary remains young and inexperienced. The unit is also a bit thin after Indianapolis waived rookie cornerbacks Jaylin Simpson and Micah Abraham, who were drafted in the fifth and sixth rounds, respectively.
The Colts claimed another slot cornerback, Samuel Womack III, off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday and waived Darrell Baker Jr. in a subsequent move. But Womack’s upside doesn’t erase his inexperience, either.
Ballard said the team tried to acquire other outside talent this offseason but that it takes two sides to reach an agreement. Now, he is essentially banking on second-year cornerbacks JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones, and third-year safety Nick Cross, to step up as starters.
“They don’t become players without playing,” Ballard said. “I think sometimes we forget that. They gotta play.”
Jones and Brents started 10 and eight games, respectively, last year, while Cross started just two as an injury replacement. Cross, a third-round pick, has started only four games combined through the first two years of his career. Ballard, like Steichen, wouldn’t call Cross a starter publicly Wednesday, but all signs throughout the preseason point to Cross starting alongside Blackmon in Week 1. If that is the case, it would serve as a full-circle moment for Cross, who started the first two games of his rookie season before being benched and relegated to a special teams role.
“It wasn’t Nick’s fault we drafted him at 20 (years old). That’s on me,” Ballard said. “Then you get up here and you talk glowingly about him and you almost blow the expectations to where we all expect something and you forget how young he was. But I think you’ve seen a guy that just consistently gets better each and every week. I thought this preseason, he played really well.”
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Anthony Richardson was limited to four games last year, scoring seven total touchdowns, but endured an up-and-down preseason. The second-year QB shined in two joint practices against the Arizona Cardinals before struggling in a joint practice with the Cincinnati Bengals. Richardson ended his preseason with a mixed bag against Cincinnati in Indy’s last preseason game, commanding a surgical opening touchdown drive before throwing a pick-six and fumbling.
Ballard expects Richardson to experience more peaks and valleys as he resumes his promising, yet unpolished, career.
“There’s gonna be some roller-coaster moments,” Ballard said. “I won’t say all, but most quarterbacks, when they’re young, go through those moments. There’s gonna be (struggles), but learn from them, grow and keep moving forward.”
Ballard added that he has a lot of confidence in head coach Shane Steichen and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter to build an offense that best suits Richardson’s dual-threat skill set.
D-Line outlook
Ballard sounded proud of the defensive line group he’s assembled, saying it was one of the positions he feels really good about (along with the offensive line, too) entering the year. He also explained his reasoning for placing defensive end Samson Ebukam, who tore his Achilles on July 28, on injured reserve with the designation for a possible return. Ebukam totaled a team-high 9.5 sacks last year.
“It’s a long shot,” Ballard said. “There’s no doubt. But if I’m going to bet on somebody, you bet on Samson.”
Rookie defensive end Laiatu Latu may be the player who sees his role increase the most in Ebukam’s absence. The No. 15 pick wreaked havoc throughout the preseason and looks poised to make an immediate impact in the NFL. He joins a defensive line room that spearheaded an Indianapolis-era 51 sacks for the Colts last year.
.@Colts @laiatu_latu first play last night he hit the left tackle with his “cross chop” for a sack. But he is far advanced than just one move. Je is going to be a force!! #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/psZpKDev6i
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) August 23, 2024
Ballard was a bit coy when asked if Latu would play on more than just obvious passing downs, only saying Latu would “play a lot,” but the path to becoming a full-time starter is clearly there.
“He’s got pretty freaky instincts,” Ballard said. “Watch his eyes. His eyes never come off the quarterback — ever. It’s pretty impressive to watch.”
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The Colts’ most notable position battle this preseason has been between third-year pro Alec Pierce and rookie Adonai Mitchell, who are competing to be the team’s third starting receiver behind Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. Mitchell caught a touchdown pass from Richardson in the Colts’ preseason finale, but Ballard made sure not to overlook Pierce.
“I think Alec has just had his best camp, arguably as good as anybody out there,” Ballard said.
Ballard noted that Pierce, known as being mostly an outside deep threat through the first two years of career, has expanded his repertoire to become a viable option on the inside as well. That growth was evidenced by Pierce’s noticeable increase in slot reps and catches on crossers during the preseason.
Regardless of who starts, Ballard said Pierce and Mitchell will each play key roles in Indy’s offense. The Colts GM called Mitchell “a very talented young player,” who’s still learning what it takes to make an impact in the NFL. The second-round pick could see a bigger role earlier than expected as Downs continues recovering from a high ankle sprain. Ballard didn’t have a definitive update on Downs but remains hopeful he’ll available for Week 1.
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(Photo of Chris Ballard: Justin Casterline / Getty Images)
