INDIANAPOLIS – In the NFL world, access to a team's personnel department doesn't typically extend outside of the general manager.
Trying to decipher what exactly a "director of football operations" does isn't as crystal clear as a head-coaching candidate previously serving as an offensive or defensive coordinator.
Those people who have had contact with new Colts GM Chris Ballard come away impressed.
Adam Teicher, who covers the Chiefs on a daily basis for ESPN, uses the phrase "sharp football guy" to describe Ballard.
"I haven't talked to anybody who hasn't raved about him as a talent evaluator," Teicher says of Ballard.
"He came to the Chiefs in 2013 as the player personnel director, but got bumped up to director of football operations after a couple of years because the Chiefs really valued what he did for them"
Here's more from those around the NFL on the Colts hiring of Ballard:
Charley Casserly was a general manager for the Washington Redskins from 1989-1999 and for the Houston Texans from 2000-06. Casserly brings up a great point about maybe not the most obvious trait when first examining at Ballard's resume. That coaching experience Ballard has should make him more relatable when it comes to the necessary collaboration between the coaching and personnel staffs.
With more than 30 years of NFL executive experience, Gil Brandt remains well connected around the scouting world. Brandt gives the cliff notes version of what Ballard needs to do going forward. This isn't your average GM rebuild. You have the quarterback in place. It's time to improve the defense.
Paylor covers the Chiefs for the Kansas City Star. This sort of sentiment was echoed throughout many people close to the Chiefs' organization.
Before Ballard was hired in Kansas City, he spent 12 seasons with the Chicago Bears. That's where Greg Gabriel was the director of college scouting. Gabriel clearly thinks pretty highly of Ballard, one of his former area scouts.
The analysis from those producing content on Colts.com does not necessarily represent the thoughts of the Indianapolis Colts organization. Any conjecture, analysis or opinions formed by Colts.com content creators is not based on inside knowledge gained from team officials, players or staff.
