According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Indianapolis Colts have made a significant shake-up in their scouting department following this weekend’s NFL Draft.
Specifically, new Colts general manager Chris Ballard has relieved director of college scouting T.J. McCreight of his duties, as well as other members of the team’s scouting department:
Bills not alone. Colts releasing director of college scouting T.J. McCreight and others from scouting department, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 30, 2017
It’s not necessarily surprising, as the scouting department was already in-place upon Ballard’s arrival in late January, and teams rarely make major moves before the NFL Draft–having already had much of the ‘heavy-lifting’ done (not to mention, run the risk of scouts taking their reports and information elsewhere).
Like anything else, Ballard will want to bring in ‘his own guys’.
After all, if your job is going to be on the line based on purely performance, it only seems fitting that you get to choose your own scouting team to go to ‘war’ with. He’s taken the last few months to see who’s worked, who hasn’t, and has made what he’s now deemed as appropriate changes.
Per the Indianapolis Star’s Stephen Holder, one name to watch is the Seattle Seahawks Ed Dobbs, who is their senior personnel executive, to potentially fill a prominent role in the Colts revamped scouting department:
Ed Dodds, from the Seahawks' front office has been a name I've heard from several sources. There will be others, too.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) April 30, 2017
A report that was made previously by CBS Sports Jason La Canfora as well:
As reported weeks ago, Colts will make a run to add esteemed Seahawks scout/exec Ed Dodds to their front office under new GM Chris Ballard
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 30, 2017
Regarding McCreight, he just finished his 5th season as the Colts director of college scouting–having been brought in by former general manager Ryan Grigson in 2012. Prior to joining the Colts, McCreight served as the Arizona Cardinals director of pro personnel (2009-11).
Obviously, it’s hard to see someone lose their job(s).
However, Ballard is clearly putting his stamp on the Colts front office and bringing in scouting personnel that he knows, trusts, and believes are the best for the organization’s success going forward.