April 10, 2025 • 23 mins
What will the Colts' quarterback competition between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones look like? What does having a competition say about the Colts' faith in Anthony Richardson? And how are the 2025 Colts shaping up outside of quarterback? JJ Stankevitz sits down for an exclusive interview with Colts general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen on the debut episode of The Colts Show.
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Hey, Colts fans.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'm JJ Stankbitz Stadium Pa Announce here and team writer
for the Indianapolis Colts. And this is The Colt Show.
I'm here at the Breakers in West Palm Beach, Florida.
We shot this last week for our debut episode. I
sat down with Chris Ballard and Shane Stich and they're
gonna be coming up in a minute here on the
debut episode of The Colt Show. But this is a
brand new show where I'm gonna sit down with players, coaches,
(00:31):
decision makers, media members. We're gonna talk all about, as
you might guess, the Indianapolis Colts. What's new with them,
what the biggest storylines are, the juiciest topics. We are
gonna get into all of that here on this podcast.
You can watch us on YouTube if you're watching on
right now.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Hello.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
If you're listening to us, you get us on Apple Podcasts,
Spotify wherever you get your podcasts. Also on the Colts
app and Colts dot Com. This is gonna be a
fun show. I'm really looking forward to talking with fans,
specifically through our conversations with guys like Shane Styken and
Chris Ballard that we're leading off with here, and before
we get into that interview, just a couple observations I
(01:09):
had down here in Florida from the owners meetings. You know,
Shane Stiken said they're gonna split reps fifty to fifty
between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson in the Colts quarterback competition.
Not really a surprise in how it's gonna be structured.
It's sort of similar, I guess, to how the Colts
did it with Gardner Minshew and Anthony Richardson a couple
of years ago. There's no timetable on when the Colts
(01:30):
will decide who their starting quarterback is going to be.
And another interesting thing is there's no there's no favorite
in this competition right now, both Chris Ballard and Shanesdyke,
and we're pretty firm on that that the guy who's
gonna win this competition is gonna be the guy who
wins this team the most games. And that might seem,
you know, obvious to say, but when you do have
the stakes of Anthony Richardson is the fourth overall pick
(01:52):
in twenty twenty three, you know, I think that that
messaging from both those guys is really important to hear
and really important to drive home that this is going
to be an open competition and they really mean it.
It's not like, you know, an open competition in air quotes,
where yeah it's open, but we really want one guy
to win it. That's not what this really feels like.
That's not how it is being presented by Chris Ballard
(02:14):
and by Shane Steichen. You'll see in our interview we
got into Anthony Richardson quite a bit. We got into
Daniel Jones quite a bit. Chris Ballard even joked with
us when we hit a session with the local media
that after we were done asking about the quarterbacks, he
was like, oh, yeah, there's you know, a whole other team,
all their side of the ball. We started talking about
defense over there, so we'll have plenty of time to
(02:34):
get into the defense. This is probably going to be
more focused on the quarterback situation because look, that's the
biggest storyline surrounding this football team right now. More of
The Colt Show right after this. A couple things if
you missed the debut episode, A High Volume with Jeffrey Gorman.
That is the other new podcast we're debuting here on
(02:56):
Indianapolis Colts podcast that came out on Tuesday with the
great Bruce Arians Jeffrey a chance to sit down with
Bruce and a really good chat. Really recommend you download
that watch that on YouTube as well. Got a couple
other messages want to get out before we get to
Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen the first.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Hey, the Cults are heading to Brulin.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Come join us in Germany this upcoming season by securing
your priority access to the official Cults Germany ticket and
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(03:36):
can make the most out of your trip to see
the Colts abroad in Berlin. For more information, go to
Colts dot com slash International and also is your high
school signed up to have a girls flag football team?
Come join the movement with the Rsay family and the
Indianapolis Colts, who are committed to growing the game of
flag football, with the goal of having one hundred Indiana
high schools to launch a girl's flag team by the
(03:57):
fall of twenty twenty five one hundred schools to commit,
we'll receive a support package from the Colts valued at
ten thousand dollars, and we're already over fifty schools committed
to the movement. Go to Colts dot com slash girls
flag for more information and to fill out an interest
your platform. Joining me here on the debut episode of
(04:22):
The Colts Show is general manager Chris Ballard and head
coach Shane Steiken. Guys, we're down here at the NFL
Owners meetings in Florida. Let let's talk a little bit
about what's coming for the Colts this season. Start with
the quarterback competition before we get into how Daniel Jones
and Anthony Richardson are gonna compete, what it's gonna look like,
(04:42):
how it's gonna be determined. How important is it that
you two are aligned in the vision for how this
is going to go.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Shame to start with you here.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah, I think it's gonna be really important.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Obviously, the competition is gonna be great between those two guys.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Obviously, add and Daniel Jones.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Of that room will be critical, you know, to the
competition of our football team. And obviously as the reps go,
you know, they'll split the one reps you know, through
OTA's and going into training camp, and it'll be a
great competition for both of them.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
In terms of the alignment, Chris, how what have you
learned about Shane maybe over the last couple of years
that strengthened that alignment for this competition.
Speaker 5 (05:13):
Now, look, I think anytime you're in the GM head
coach relationship, and let's include the owner in that equation,
all of us, like I would tell you it, we
don't always agree in the initial moments.
Speaker 6 (05:29):
But as we work.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
Through whatever issues we have, whatever things we think we
need to improve on, and come to a final decision,
then we're all on board and we're all moving forward
in the same direction.
Speaker 6 (05:43):
I mean, I think if we're.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
All agreeing at every moment in the process before we
come to that final decision, then we're not thinking.
Speaker 6 (05:53):
You know, nobody's really challenging each other.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
And so you know, it was Look, I enjoyed problems.
I mean, lord knows, we've had a few of them.
But solving the problem is what is the fun part
of what we get to do. And so working through
the quarterback situation with a young player that has real
talent and Anthony that you know, we still like, and
(06:18):
then being able to acquire Daniel Jones, who the coaching
staff identified pretty early as a good fit for what
we want to do offensively. We thought he was going
to create great competition not only for Anthony but also
for Daniel and to bring out the best in both
of them. So the alignment question is an interesting one
(06:38):
and one that I mean, look, it's hard to succeed
when you have people pulling in opposite directions, which we
don't have.
Speaker 6 (06:46):
We are all pulling in the same direction.
Speaker 5 (06:48):
We all have an agreement on where we're going and
how we're going to get there.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Part of that, do you start this competition with an
ideal outcome in mind?
Speaker 4 (06:57):
I mean, you'd like to have one guy won the jobs,
you know, But again, it's gonna be a process that
we're gonna go through this offseason and into training camp.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
In terms of that, you know, you've got Anthony, You've
got Daniel. How do how do you kind of structure it?
So you know, Shane, you mentioned they're gonna split it
fifty to fifty, how do you structure it? So it's
it's maybe I don't want to say fair to the
offense the other ten guys. But so those guys can
still get good quality work in kind of on their own.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Yeah, I think they'll get quality working you know what
I mean, I really do whoever's out there playing quarterback,
you know, through the OTAs and through training camp. You know,
if we're gonna run the routes, we're gonna run the
scheme that we're gonna run this season. So I think
it'll be good work for everybody.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Chris, how do you contextualize Anthony's inexperience at this point?
Speaker 5 (07:40):
That's a I mean, that's a really it's a fair
question and a good question because it's we knew and
we took Anthony that there's gonna be some ups and
downs just because of the inexperience. And you never know
when the light bulb is gonna come on for really
any player in their developmental cycle, and so you've got
(08:01):
to keep that in mind. But you've also got to
keep the team in mind, and that's kind of what
we're doing here. By no stretch have we given up
on Anthony. We still think Anthony has a very very
bright future. Now there's a timeline of when he will
hit that you don't know, you just got to keep
(08:21):
working through it and watching him get better.
Speaker 6 (08:23):
I think eventually he.
Speaker 5 (08:24):
Will get there, you know when you know, we'll see
but without question, the you know, his limited snaps he
got in college and the injuries have played into.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
A little bit of the development.
Speaker 5 (08:38):
But look, he's still a twenty two year old player
that has tremendous upside and you know, eventually we will
see that.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
Come to light.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Shane, you kind of talked a little bit about like
taking the profit earlier today when we with the coaches, Bradfast, Like.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
What do you mean by that? Maybe in relation to Anthony.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Yeah, I just think getting completions, you know, don't go broke.
You know, you can't go bro take a profit, you
know what I mean? Just getting those easy compleations, getting
the completion percent of job, because I think, you know,
when you're going through it, you know, if if you've
got you can take check down and get yourself eight
yards and make it second and two instead of second
and ten. I think getting those completions are huge for
a football team.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
For both of you guys.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
What do you hope to see from Anthony when he
gets back in the building later this month.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
Just consistency, which I think we will get. He's been
goodness offseason. You know, we've kept in touch with you know,
his trainer and what he's been doing, and you know,
just consistency and growth you know as a as a player,
and I.
Speaker 6 (09:34):
Think we will see that. I think you see that
with a lot of young players, and you know, the
quarterback is it.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
You know, that position is scrutinized to the Hunter's degree
because of its importance. But I think with any player
you see growth from year to year in terms of
you know, how they prepare, their everyday demeanor of what
they're doing, their confidence in their preparation. I think all
that comes to fruition, you know, as they mature in
(10:03):
this league. And you know, I think we'll see that
with Anthony surely.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
Yeah, I think he hit it.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
I mean it really is as a consistency at the position.
You know, you look around the league. The teams that
are going to the playoffs are having that consistent quarterback
play year and in year out.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
So we're looking for that growth from him.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Within that consistency. You do see the flashes, like I'm
sure you know everyone can think about the touchdown to
Alec Pierce or the comeback against New England the eight
team played drive. When you think about that consistency, if
he's able to hit that with the high highs, is
that why, Chris you mentioned we haven't given up on him.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
You know, we still see a lot of potential there.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
Look, I think I think it's Look it is, it's
we have zero patients in this league and understood why.
Speaker 6 (10:45):
I mean, you know, everywhere under a lot of pressure
to win.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
But the quarterback carousel going on right now that you
see and you see the examples of players hitting their fourth, fifth,
sixth seasons and becoming good players not for their original club,
but for the sometimes there's second, third, and even fourth club.
The light bulb comes on and there's a very fine
(11:10):
line of being able to you know, stick with a
guy and work through that process and also doing the
right thing for the.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Team along those lines.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Shane with Daniel Jones where he's now on his second team,
guy who's a sixth overall pick, had some success in
New York then it, you know, maybe didn't end the
way he wanted to there. What about Daniel Jones do
you like coming into this competition and what do you
like about him just as a player in general high football.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
IQ obviously had some production, high completion percentage, won a
playoff game. So I think the competition that he's going
to bring to that room is going to be great,
not only for him and Anthony, but the whole football team.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
On Daniel Jones, what do you think they're Chris.
Speaker 5 (11:49):
I mean, look, we like him coming out of Duke,
and we had a lot of information on him from
Coach Cutcliffe and what our scouts had done. So we
thought he did and there was some similar not similarities
in terms of youth, but you know, he had played.
Speaker 6 (12:04):
On a on a on a.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Team at Duke that wasn't didn't always have the best
talent around him, but they found ways to be successful.
But then his pro career just there's a couple of
things that have stood out for me. I mean, one,
you know what he did in twenty two. You know,
we played against him that year and he played really
well in the game we played against him. And then
(12:28):
number two, his ability to stay confident even though things
have not always gone his way. I think there's a
he's been hardened in some ways that I think are
are good and that will benefit him going forward, those
were all and then physically, I mean, you know, Daniel's
got a lot of physical traits that Anthony does.
Speaker 6 (12:50):
He's very talented.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
This is a bit of a tangent, but you mentioned
you did your homework on him in twenty nineteen, when
it gets reported out there that oh, this team's meeting
with this quarterback or this team at this quarterbacks pro day,
and it's like, well, why are they there. You're doing
it so maybe down the road, even if you don't
need a quarterback now down the road, hey you got
all this information that helps you get a guy five
(13:11):
six years later.
Speaker 6 (13:12):
I think that's one of the things that.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
It's it's almost a little comical, and especially what I
just talked about the quarterback carousel.
Speaker 6 (13:22):
You never know when this is gonna come.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
This information is going to come back around to be beneficial,
and that's why we scout interest with every player. You've got,
you know, guys that get cut, Guys that in their
inter free agency, guys you have a chance to trade for, Like,
you've got to have the background information so you can
help you make a good decision when that time comes.
I mean there's times that players have failed, Like I
(13:45):
was talking to somebody the other day about Mark Golwinski
when Golinski got cut in Seattle. Now we had Ed
Dodds who had him in Seattle, but we so we
had some background information and scouting that I had done
in Kansas City and Ed was with him and marking
d up being.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
You know, go ended up being a really really good
player for us.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
So those instances are are they're applicable at every position
for the two guys.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
The two other guys in free agency, Tarvarius and Cam
Binam who got brought in. I think you had mentioned
Chris On behind the Colts and you'd done some research
on Cam You liked him coming out in twenty twenty one.
What about his game did you like? And you know what,
how do you see him kind of fitting in this defense?
Speaker 6 (14:26):
Yeah, he was a corner at Cow. We really liked him.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
I talked a long time to their head coach, Justin
whom I've got a relation, really good relationship with, and
it just didn't work out in that draft.
Speaker 6 (14:37):
He ended up Minnesota. It was smart enough to take.
Speaker 5 (14:39):
Him, and so we had background in terms of the
work we had done on him, and then you know,
just watching him play in his consistency and getting better
each and every season. We track we do every pro
player every year and track their development and to watch
him get better each and every year has has is
(15:02):
exactly what you want to see. Plus his age in
free agency, which is funny to me. You know, you're
still getting a player that we still think is going
to continue to ascend.
Speaker 6 (15:13):
And so all that was attractive to us when.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
We when we scouted Cam and kind of targeted him
in free agency.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Shane adding Cam and Charvarius to that locker room, not
necessarily on the field, but just the dynamic in there.
What do you think they bring to that room?
Speaker 4 (15:26):
I think they bring you know, leadership, great leadership, and
they're both winners. You know, obviously had a lot of
Camp's had a lot of success in Minnesota and then
Ward obviously in San Francisco, has been to a super Bowl,
played at a high level. You know, a lockdown corner
who I think is going to bring a great deal
to the back end.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
You know with Low's.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Defense, Chris, there's this perception out there that you kind
of change your philosophy this year in adding yeah, yeah, uh,
how do you respond to that beyond you know, kind
of the chuckle because you have gone aggressive getting to
Forrest Buckner, you know, trading for Carson Wentz. That there
have been these aggressive moves, but maybe not with outside
veteran free agents.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
Yeah, I mean, you know, and I guess every level
of what perception versus reality is sometimes gets clouded. And
we've we've always had a philosophy that we want to
take care of our own first. I mean, we think
we do a pretty good job drafting, and we want
to be able to take care of our own players
(16:24):
in house that we know first and foremost. And we
have done that for the most part. And even if
you look back, you know, even in twenty when we
acquired you know, the Forest, you know, we signed Philip
Rivers that year. We've we've always signed some veteran free
agents that maybe not have been right out of the
gate free agents, but they ended up being good players
(16:47):
for more.
Speaker 6 (16:47):
Yeah. I mean, so there.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
There's been some some good players that we have acquired.
But you know, this, this is a little bit of
a unique here where we thought in the secondary we
really needed to be aggressive and as some veteran players
that could really make an impact on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Shane on offense.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
I'm curious how you view Michael Pittman Junior and the
season he had last year, where like, we know what
pitt can do, you also know what he was dealing
with last year with the back. How do you kind
of view what he can be in twenty twenty five
maybe through the lens of like that that maybe wasn't
all a week all of pion.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Yeah, I think obviously, you know, deal with the back
injury that he had, the toughness, the grittiness that he
showed up for his teammates every single week and still
was productive and had over eight hundred yards receiving was impressive.
You know, you look at the year before the catches
that he had, the production that he had, so to
get a healthy Pittman this year is gonna be awesome.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
I'm curious has kind of follow up to that As
a coach, how do you handle, Hey, this guy's banged up,
he's fighting through it, he's out there.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Do you have to treat it? Though?
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Like, if he's out there, he's he's who he is, Like,
how do you have to handle that?
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Yeah? A little bit.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Obviously me and pitt had, you know, conversations throughout the season,
you know how to use them. We talked through some things,
had some conversations, but again, you know, he showed up
for teammates, did what needed to be done last year, all.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Right, last one for both of you guys. Cultial show
up for Otia for the start of the off season
program in a couple of weeks when this team gets here.
We already kind of talked about, Anthony, what you want,
what do you hope to see out of this team
as a whole over the course of you know, April
May June, Chris start with you on this one.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
Well, look a focus and intensity of what needs to
be done to win football games.
Speaker 6 (18:30):
And look, you can't pass a step. You can't. You can't,
can't skip one.
Speaker 5 (18:34):
You know, every step is important from the first day
you know they step into building, all the way up
to training camp ended the season.
Speaker 6 (18:43):
You can't. Everyone's every day is important.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
Every day that you have in our in the building
is important, not only from a preparing for football, but
also from a connection standpoint, connecting as a team. I mean,
I think that's the one thing you can never lose
sight of is that it's never.
Speaker 6 (19:02):
About one guy.
Speaker 5 (19:03):
It is about the team. Connecting as a team, learning
how to fight through and win as a team. Those
are all critical things that grow over time. And the
more time you're together, I think the better it is.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Shane, You're really not in your head of the connection part.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Yeah, there's no doubt about it.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
I think the offseason, obviously, fundamentals and details are gonna
be big.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
Obviously, learning a new scheme.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
On defense, had got some new faces in the building,
and really that connection and that chemistry because when you're
in the fire with these guys during the season, right,
you're gonna hit some adversity, right, and it's all about
the team at the end of the day. And so
you got to build those connections in the off season
leading in the training camp.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
All right, Shane Styke and Chris Ballard, thanks for joining
me here on the debut episode of The Colt Show.
Thanks again to Chris Ballard and Shane Stike and for
joining me here on The Colt Show. Before we get
out here, just a couple other things that I think
and a couple of things that I learned here down
in West Palm Beach. Right, Guard's gonna be interesting. I
(20:01):
am really interested where the Colts go there. I know,
we just transition from like talking quarterbacks with Pellard and
Stichen to now we're talking right card. But like, let's
get in the weeds on this one. The Colts do
have an opening there with Will Fryes going to Minnesota,
and I'm interested how it plays out. It sounds like
the Colts could have Mackenzalveez play at right guard. Maybe
the draft is an option, Maybe veteran free agency is
(20:22):
still an option there. Keep an eye on that one,
because you know, Chris Ballad when we talked to him,
he was like, look, you know that I go to
sleep thinking about the offensive line and making sure that
unit is as good as possible. So keep an eye there.
I really like Mackenzalbez wherever he plays on the offensive line.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
That dude's just mean.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
He's got like that physical, nasty streak that I think
works really well for an offensive lineman.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
So we got that.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Everything I keep hearing about Tarvarius Ward after meeting him,
that sit down with him that you can see on
YouTube on the Official Colts podcast, when we still did that,
like this dude's just a cornerback. I mean like he
just he gets it. He wants to follow your Nicocollins,
is your Brian Thomas Junior. Is these great receivers in
this division. He wants to follow them around the field
(21:07):
and shut them down in a way that it's like
a different level of confidence for a cornerback. Like certain
guys have this and Charvarius has it. It's tough to explain.
I think you'll probably see it out of him this year.
Hearing from Chris Ballard, from Shane Steichen, like they both
are like, this dude is just the perfect fit for
exactly what we need in this defense. Kind of that again,
(21:28):
we're talking about that a little bit of an edge,
a little bit of a you know, a different sort
of competitive edge that you're gonna get out of him.
And then the other thing, just a little thing to
keep an eye on here linebacker at that other spot
opposite Zire Franklin.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
A bit of an opening there. You got Jalen.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Carlis, Colts draft pick from last year. He's in the
fifth round, a guy who the Colts said they like.
But could there be a potential for another draft pick
coming in there? Maybe another veteran E. J. Speed goes
on to Houston, will see him twice a year Grant
Stewart goes to Detroit. Got a lot of questions about
Grant Stewart to Chane Steichen's media Breakfast on Monday last week,
(22:03):
where several lines writers came up and we're asking about
Grant Stewart. You know, a bit of an opening there.
It's gonna be interesting to see how that one plays out.
We'll have plenty of time to talk about all of
that when we get into OTAs the offseason program begins
in less than two weeks. Players will be back in
the building on fifty sixth Street. That is also the
week of the NFL Draft. We have plenty coming to
(22:25):
you here on The Colt Show, talking about the draft,
talking about new guys on the team, talking about guys
who are currently on the team, and we'll be talking
about them with fellow players, coaches, staff members, media members,
everyone about the Colts. Who is a decision maker, a player,
whatever it might be, You're going to see him on
this show and I hope you'll join us for the
(22:46):
next episode of The Colt Show, which comes out next week.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Again, subscribe to us here on.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
The Indianapolis Colts Podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you
get those podcasts, and remember to hit that like button
on YouTube watch us there as well. All right, that's
going to do it for this debut episode of The
Cult Show, with me JJ's thank of its, thanks for watching,
thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
We'll talk to you next Thursday. So long,
Hey, Colts fans.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
I'm JJ Stankbitz Stadium Pa Announce here and team writer
for the Indianapolis Colts. And this is The Colt Show.
I'm here at the Breakers in West Palm Beach, Florida.
We shot this last week for our debut episode. I
sat down with Chris Ballard and Shane Stich and they're
gonna be coming up in a minute here on the
debut episode of The Colt Show. But this is a
brand new show where I'm gonna sit down with players, coaches,
(00:31):
decision makers, media members. We're gonna talk all about, as
you might guess, the Indianapolis Colts. What's new with them,
what the biggest storylines are, the juiciest topics. We are
gonna get into all of that here on this podcast.
You can watch us on YouTube if you're watching on
right now.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Hello.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
If you're listening to us, you get us on Apple Podcasts,
Spotify wherever you get your podcasts. Also on the Colts
app and Colts dot Com. This is gonna be a
fun show. I'm really looking forward to talking with fans,
specifically through our conversations with guys like Shane Styken and
Chris Ballard that we're leading off with here, and before
we get into that interview, just a couple observations I
(01:09):
had down here in Florida from the owners meetings. You know,
Shane Stiken said they're gonna split reps fifty to fifty
between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson in the Colts quarterback competition.
Not really a surprise in how it's gonna be structured.
It's sort of similar, I guess, to how the Colts
did it with Gardner Minshew and Anthony Richardson a couple
of years ago. There's no timetable on when the Colts
(01:30):
will decide who their starting quarterback is going to be.
And another interesting thing is there's no there's no favorite
in this competition right now, both Chris Ballard and Shanesdyke,
and we're pretty firm on that that the guy who's
gonna win this competition is gonna be the guy who
wins this team the most games. And that might seem,
you know, obvious to say, but when you do have
the stakes of Anthony Richardson is the fourth overall pick
(01:52):
in twenty twenty three, you know, I think that that
messaging from both those guys is really important to hear
and really important to drive home that this is going
to be an open competition and they really mean it.
It's not like, you know, an open competition in air quotes,
where yeah it's open, but we really want one guy
to win it. That's not what this really feels like.
That's not how it is being presented by Chris Ballard
(02:14):
and by Shane Steichen. You'll see in our interview we
got into Anthony Richardson quite a bit. We got into
Daniel Jones quite a bit. Chris Ballard even joked with
us when we hit a session with the local media
that after we were done asking about the quarterbacks, he
was like, oh, yeah, there's you know, a whole other team,
all their side of the ball. We started talking about
defense over there, so we'll have plenty of time to
(02:34):
get into the defense. This is probably going to be
more focused on the quarterback situation because look, that's the
biggest storyline surrounding this football team right now. More of
The Colt Show right after this. A couple things if
you missed the debut episode, A High Volume with Jeffrey Gorman.
That is the other new podcast we're debuting here on
(02:56):
Indianapolis Colts podcast that came out on Tuesday with the
great Bruce Arians Jeffrey a chance to sit down with
Bruce and a really good chat. Really recommend you download
that watch that on YouTube as well. Got a couple
other messages want to get out before we get to
Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen the first.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Hey, the Cults are heading to Brulin.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Come join us in Germany this upcoming season by securing
your priority access to the official Cults Germany ticket and
travel packages, which are available now through on location at
Colts dot com slash International on locations. Ticket packages include
end to end planning with round trip airfare, guided tours,
premium seating options, and world class hospitality service so you
(03:36):
can make the most out of your trip to see
the Colts abroad in Berlin. For more information, go to
Colts dot com slash International and also is your high
school signed up to have a girls flag football team?
Come join the movement with the Rsay family and the
Indianapolis Colts, who are committed to growing the game of
flag football, with the goal of having one hundred Indiana
high schools to launch a girl's flag team by the
(03:57):
fall of twenty twenty five one hundred schools to commit,
we'll receive a support package from the Colts valued at
ten thousand dollars, and we're already over fifty schools committed
to the movement. Go to Colts dot com slash girls
flag for more information and to fill out an interest
your platform. Joining me here on the debut episode of
(04:22):
The Colts Show is general manager Chris Ballard and head
coach Shane Steiken. Guys, we're down here at the NFL
Owners meetings in Florida. Let let's talk a little bit
about what's coming for the Colts this season. Start with
the quarterback competition before we get into how Daniel Jones
and Anthony Richardson are gonna compete, what it's gonna look like,
(04:42):
how it's gonna be determined. How important is it that
you two are aligned in the vision for how this
is going to go.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Shame to start with you here.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah, I think it's gonna be really important.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Obviously, the competition is gonna be great between those two guys.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Obviously, add and Daniel Jones.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
Of that room will be critical, you know, to the
competition of our football team. And obviously as the reps go,
you know, they'll split the one reps you know, through
OTA's and going into training camp, and it'll be a
great competition for both of them.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
In terms of the alignment, Chris, how what have you
learned about Shane maybe over the last couple of years
that strengthened that alignment for this competition.
Speaker 5 (05:13):
Now, look, I think anytime you're in the GM head
coach relationship, and let's include the owner in that equation,
all of us, like I would tell you it, we
don't always agree in the initial moments.
Speaker 6 (05:29):
But as we work.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
Through whatever issues we have, whatever things we think we
need to improve on, and come to a final decision,
then we're all on board and we're all moving forward
in the same direction.
Speaker 6 (05:43):
I mean, I think if we're.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
All agreeing at every moment in the process before we
come to that final decision, then we're not thinking.
Speaker 6 (05:53):
You know, nobody's really challenging each other.
Speaker 5 (05:57):
And so you know, it was Look, I enjoyed problems.
I mean, lord knows, we've had a few of them.
But solving the problem is what is the fun part
of what we get to do. And so working through
the quarterback situation with a young player that has real
talent and Anthony that you know, we still like, and
(06:18):
then being able to acquire Daniel Jones, who the coaching
staff identified pretty early as a good fit for what
we want to do offensively. We thought he was going
to create great competition not only for Anthony but also
for Daniel and to bring out the best in both
of them. So the alignment question is an interesting one
(06:38):
and one that I mean, look, it's hard to succeed
when you have people pulling in opposite directions, which we
don't have.
Speaker 6 (06:46):
We are all pulling in the same direction.
Speaker 5 (06:48):
We all have an agreement on where we're going and
how we're going to get there.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Part of that, do you start this competition with an
ideal outcome in mind?
Speaker 4 (06:57):
I mean, you'd like to have one guy won the jobs,
you know, But again, it's gonna be a process that
we're gonna go through this offseason and into training camp.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
In terms of that, you know, you've got Anthony, You've
got Daniel. How do how do you kind of structure it?
So you know, Shane, you mentioned they're gonna split it
fifty to fifty, how do you structure it? So it's
it's maybe I don't want to say fair to the
offense the other ten guys. But so those guys can
still get good quality work in kind of on their own.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Yeah, I think they'll get quality working you know what
I mean, I really do whoever's out there playing quarterback,
you know, through the OTAs and through training camp. You know,
if we're gonna run the routes, we're gonna run the
scheme that we're gonna run this season. So I think
it'll be good work for everybody.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Chris, how do you contextualize Anthony's inexperience at this point?
Speaker 5 (07:40):
That's a I mean, that's a really it's a fair
question and a good question because it's we knew and
we took Anthony that there's gonna be some ups and
downs just because of the inexperience. And you never know
when the light bulb is gonna come on for really
any player in their developmental cycle, and so you've got
(08:01):
to keep that in mind. But you've also got to
keep the team in mind, and that's kind of what
we're doing here. By no stretch have we given up
on Anthony. We still think Anthony has a very very
bright future. Now there's a timeline of when he will
hit that you don't know, you just got to keep
(08:21):
working through it and watching him get better.
Speaker 6 (08:23):
I think eventually he.
Speaker 5 (08:24):
Will get there, you know when you know, we'll see
but without question, the you know, his limited snaps he
got in college and the injuries have played into.
Speaker 6 (08:36):
A little bit of the development.
Speaker 5 (08:38):
But look, he's still a twenty two year old player
that has tremendous upside and you know, eventually we will
see that.
Speaker 6 (08:47):
Come to light.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Shane, you kind of talked a little bit about like
taking the profit earlier today when we with the coaches, Bradfast, Like.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
What do you mean by that? Maybe in relation to Anthony.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Yeah, I just think getting completions, you know, don't go broke.
You know, you can't go bro take a profit, you
know what I mean? Just getting those easy compleations, getting
the completion percent of job, because I think, you know,
when you're going through it, you know, if if you've
got you can take check down and get yourself eight
yards and make it second and two instead of second
and ten. I think getting those completions are huge for
a football team.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
For both of you guys.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
What do you hope to see from Anthony when he
gets back in the building later this month.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
Just consistency, which I think we will get. He's been
goodness offseason. You know, we've kept in touch with you know,
his trainer and what he's been doing, and you know,
just consistency and growth you know as a as a player,
and I.
Speaker 6 (09:34):
Think we will see that. I think you see that
with a lot of young players, and you know, the
quarterback is it.
Speaker 5 (09:41):
You know, that position is scrutinized to the Hunter's degree
because of its importance. But I think with any player
you see growth from year to year in terms of
you know, how they prepare, their everyday demeanor of what
they're doing, their confidence in their preparation. I think all
that comes to fruition, you know, as they mature in
(10:03):
this league. And you know, I think we'll see that
with Anthony surely.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
Yeah, I think he hit it.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
I mean it really is as a consistency at the position.
You know, you look around the league. The teams that
are going to the playoffs are having that consistent quarterback
play year and in year out.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
So we're looking for that growth from him.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Within that consistency. You do see the flashes, like I'm
sure you know everyone can think about the touchdown to
Alec Pierce or the comeback against New England the eight
team played drive. When you think about that consistency, if
he's able to hit that with the high highs, is
that why, Chris you mentioned we haven't given up on him.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
You know, we still see a lot of potential there.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
Look, I think I think it's Look it is, it's
we have zero patients in this league and understood why.
Speaker 6 (10:45):
I mean, you know, everywhere under a lot of pressure
to win.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
But the quarterback carousel going on right now that you
see and you see the examples of players hitting their fourth, fifth,
sixth seasons and becoming good players not for their original club,
but for the sometimes there's second, third, and even fourth club.
The light bulb comes on and there's a very fine
(11:10):
line of being able to you know, stick with a
guy and work through that process and also doing the
right thing for the.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Team along those lines.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Shane with Daniel Jones where he's now on his second team,
guy who's a sixth overall pick, had some success in
New York then it, you know, maybe didn't end the
way he wanted to there. What about Daniel Jones do
you like coming into this competition and what do you
like about him just as a player in general high football.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
IQ obviously had some production, high completion percentage, won a
playoff game. So I think the competition that he's going
to bring to that room is going to be great,
not only for him and Anthony, but the whole football team.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
On Daniel Jones, what do you think they're Chris.
Speaker 5 (11:49):
I mean, look, we like him coming out of Duke,
and we had a lot of information on him from
Coach Cutcliffe and what our scouts had done. So we
thought he did and there was some similar not similarities
in terms of youth, but you know, he had played.
Speaker 6 (12:04):
On a on a on a.
Speaker 5 (12:06):
Team at Duke that wasn't didn't always have the best
talent around him, but they found ways to be successful.
But then his pro career just there's a couple of
things that have stood out for me. I mean, one,
you know what he did in twenty two. You know,
we played against him that year and he played really
well in the game we played against him. And then
(12:28):
number two, his ability to stay confident even though things
have not always gone his way. I think there's a
he's been hardened in some ways that I think are
are good and that will benefit him going forward, those
were all and then physically, I mean, you know, Daniel's
got a lot of physical traits that Anthony does.
Speaker 6 (12:50):
He's very talented.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
This is a bit of a tangent, but you mentioned
you did your homework on him in twenty nineteen, when
it gets reported out there that oh, this team's meeting
with this quarterback or this team at this quarterbacks pro day,
and it's like, well, why are they there. You're doing
it so maybe down the road, even if you don't
need a quarterback now down the road, hey you got
all this information that helps you get a guy five
(13:11):
six years later.
Speaker 6 (13:12):
I think that's one of the things that.
Speaker 5 (13:15):
It's it's almost a little comical, and especially what I
just talked about the quarterback carousel.
Speaker 6 (13:22):
You never know when this is gonna come.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
This information is going to come back around to be beneficial,
and that's why we scout interest with every player. You've got,
you know, guys that get cut, Guys that in their
inter free agency, guys you have a chance to trade for, Like,
you've got to have the background information so you can
help you make a good decision when that time comes.
I mean there's times that players have failed, Like I
(13:45):
was talking to somebody the other day about Mark Golwinski
when Golinski got cut in Seattle. Now we had Ed
Dodds who had him in Seattle, but we so we
had some background information and scouting that I had done
in Kansas City and Ed was with him and marking
d up being.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
You know, go ended up being a really really good
player for us.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
So those instances are are they're applicable at every position
for the two guys.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
The two other guys in free agency, Tarvarius and Cam
Binam who got brought in. I think you had mentioned
Chris On behind the Colts and you'd done some research
on Cam You liked him coming out in twenty twenty one.
What about his game did you like? And you know what,
how do you see him kind of fitting in this defense?
Speaker 6 (14:26):
Yeah, he was a corner at Cow. We really liked him.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
I talked a long time to their head coach, Justin
whom I've got a relation, really good relationship with, and
it just didn't work out in that draft.
Speaker 6 (14:37):
He ended up Minnesota. It was smart enough to take.
Speaker 5 (14:39):
Him, and so we had background in terms of the
work we had done on him, and then you know,
just watching him play in his consistency and getting better
each and every season. We track we do every pro
player every year and track their development and to watch
him get better each and every year has has is
(15:02):
exactly what you want to see. Plus his age in
free agency, which is funny to me. You know, you're
still getting a player that we still think is going
to continue to ascend.
Speaker 6 (15:13):
And so all that was attractive to us when.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
We when we scouted Cam and kind of targeted him
in free agency.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Shane adding Cam and Charvarius to that locker room, not
necessarily on the field, but just the dynamic in there.
What do you think they bring to that room?
Speaker 4 (15:26):
I think they bring you know, leadership, great leadership, and
they're both winners. You know, obviously had a lot of
Camp's had a lot of success in Minnesota and then
Ward obviously in San Francisco, has been to a super Bowl,
played at a high level. You know, a lockdown corner
who I think is going to bring a great deal
to the back end.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
You know with Low's.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Defense, Chris, there's this perception out there that you kind
of change your philosophy this year in adding yeah, yeah, uh,
how do you respond to that beyond you know, kind
of the chuckle because you have gone aggressive getting to
Forrest Buckner, you know, trading for Carson Wentz. That there
have been these aggressive moves, but maybe not with outside
veteran free agents.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
Yeah, I mean, you know, and I guess every level
of what perception versus reality is sometimes gets clouded. And
we've we've always had a philosophy that we want to
take care of our own first. I mean, we think
we do a pretty good job drafting, and we want
to be able to take care of our own players
(16:24):
in house that we know first and foremost. And we
have done that for the most part. And even if
you look back, you know, even in twenty when we
acquired you know, the Forest, you know, we signed Philip
Rivers that year. We've we've always signed some veteran free
agents that maybe not have been right out of the
gate free agents, but they ended up being good players
(16:47):
for more.
Speaker 6 (16:47):
Yeah. I mean, so there.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
There's been some some good players that we have acquired.
But you know, this, this is a little bit of
a unique here where we thought in the secondary we
really needed to be aggressive and as some veteran players
that could really make an impact on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Shane on offense.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
I'm curious how you view Michael Pittman Junior and the
season he had last year, where like, we know what
pitt can do, you also know what he was dealing
with last year with the back. How do you kind
of view what he can be in twenty twenty five
maybe through the lens of like that that maybe wasn't
all a week all of pion.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Yeah, I think obviously, you know, deal with the back
injury that he had, the toughness, the grittiness that he
showed up for his teammates every single week and still
was productive and had over eight hundred yards receiving was impressive.
You know, you look at the year before the catches
that he had, the production that he had, so to
get a healthy Pittman this year is gonna be awesome.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
I'm curious has kind of follow up to that As
a coach, how do you handle, Hey, this guy's banged up,
he's fighting through it, he's out there.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Do you have to treat it? Though?
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Like, if he's out there, he's he's who he is, Like,
how do you have to handle that?
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Yeah? A little bit.
Speaker 4 (17:51):
Obviously me and pitt had, you know, conversations throughout the season,
you know how to use them. We talked through some things,
had some conversations, but again, you know, he showed up
for teammates, did what needed to be done last year, all.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Right, last one for both of you guys. Cultial show
up for Otia for the start of the off season
program in a couple of weeks when this team gets here.
We already kind of talked about, Anthony, what you want,
what do you hope to see out of this team
as a whole over the course of you know, April
May June, Chris start with you on this one.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
Well, look a focus and intensity of what needs to
be done to win football games.
Speaker 6 (18:30):
And look, you can't pass a step. You can't. You can't,
can't skip one.
Speaker 5 (18:34):
You know, every step is important from the first day
you know they step into building, all the way up
to training camp ended the season.
Speaker 6 (18:43):
You can't. Everyone's every day is important.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
Every day that you have in our in the building
is important, not only from a preparing for football, but
also from a connection standpoint, connecting as a team. I mean,
I think that's the one thing you can never lose
sight of is that it's never.
Speaker 6 (19:02):
About one guy.
Speaker 5 (19:03):
It is about the team. Connecting as a team, learning
how to fight through and win as a team. Those
are all critical things that grow over time. And the
more time you're together, I think the better it is.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Shane, You're really not in your head of the connection part.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Yeah, there's no doubt about it.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
I think the offseason, obviously, fundamentals and details are gonna
be big.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
Obviously, learning a new scheme.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
On defense, had got some new faces in the building,
and really that connection and that chemistry because when you're
in the fire with these guys during the season, right,
you're gonna hit some adversity, right, and it's all about
the team at the end of the day. And so
you got to build those connections in the off season
leading in the training camp.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
All right, Shane Styke and Chris Ballard, thanks for joining
me here on the debut episode of The Colt Show.
Thanks again to Chris Ballard and Shane Stike and for
joining me here on The Colt Show. Before we get
out here, just a couple other things that I think
and a couple of things that I learned here down
in West Palm Beach. Right, Guard's gonna be interesting. I
(20:01):
am really interested where the Colts go there. I know,
we just transition from like talking quarterbacks with Pellard and
Stichen to now we're talking right card. But like, let's
get in the weeds on this one. The Colts do
have an opening there with Will Fryes going to Minnesota,
and I'm interested how it plays out. It sounds like
the Colts could have Mackenzalveez play at right guard. Maybe
the draft is an option, Maybe veteran free agency is
(20:22):
still an option there. Keep an eye on that one,
because you know, Chris Ballad when we talked to him,
he was like, look, you know that I go to
sleep thinking about the offensive line and making sure that
unit is as good as possible. So keep an eye there.
I really like Mackenzalbez wherever he plays on the offensive line.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
That dude's just mean.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
He's got like that physical, nasty streak that I think
works really well for an offensive lineman.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
So we got that.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Everything I keep hearing about Tarvarius Ward after meeting him,
that sit down with him that you can see on
YouTube on the Official Colts podcast, when we still did that,
like this dude's just a cornerback. I mean like he
just he gets it. He wants to follow your Nicocollins,
is your Brian Thomas Junior. Is these great receivers in
this division. He wants to follow them around the field
(21:07):
and shut them down in a way that it's like
a different level of confidence for a cornerback. Like certain
guys have this and Charvarius has it. It's tough to explain.
I think you'll probably see it out of him this year.
Hearing from Chris Ballard, from Shane Steichen, like they both
are like, this dude is just the perfect fit for
exactly what we need in this defense. Kind of that again,
(21:28):
we're talking about that a little bit of an edge,
a little bit of a you know, a different sort
of competitive edge that you're gonna get out of him.
And then the other thing, just a little thing to
keep an eye on here linebacker at that other spot
opposite Zire Franklin.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
A bit of an opening there. You got Jalen.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
Carlis, Colts draft pick from last year. He's in the
fifth round, a guy who the Colts said they like.
But could there be a potential for another draft pick
coming in there? Maybe another veteran E. J. Speed goes
on to Houston, will see him twice a year Grant
Stewart goes to Detroit. Got a lot of questions about
Grant Stewart to Chane Steichen's media Breakfast on Monday last week,
(22:03):
where several lines writers came up and we're asking about
Grant Stewart. You know, a bit of an opening there.
It's gonna be interesting to see how that one plays out.
We'll have plenty of time to talk about all of
that when we get into OTAs the offseason program begins
in less than two weeks. Players will be back in
the building on fifty sixth Street. That is also the
week of the NFL Draft. We have plenty coming to
(22:25):
you here on The Colt Show, talking about the draft,
talking about new guys on the team, talking about guys
who are currently on the team, and we'll be talking
about them with fellow players, coaches, staff members, media members,
everyone about the Colts. Who is a decision maker, a player,
whatever it might be, You're going to see him on
this show and I hope you'll join us for the
(22:46):
next episode of The Colt Show, which comes out next week.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Again, subscribe to us here on.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
The Indianapolis Colts Podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you
get those podcasts, and remember to hit that like button
on YouTube watch us there as well. All right, that's
going to do it for this debut episode of The
Cult Show, with me JJ's thank of its, thanks for watching,
thank you for listening.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
We'll talk to you next Thursday. So long,
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