Why a Chuck Pagano-Andrew Luck Pairing Could Be Lethal for Years to Come

This week, the Indianapolis Colts announced that Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano will be their new head coach. The so-called "Ray Lewis coaching tree" added another branch, with Pagano the sixth former Ravens defensive coordinator to go on to a head coaching position.

Pagano is just what the Colts need. The team had a woeful defense in 2011, ranking 28th in points allowed and 25th in yards allowed, and it was a far cry from the unit they fielded in 2007, which was one of the most fierce in the league.

A combination of injuries, retirements and mismanagement saw the Colts defense decline in the intervening years. It became clearer than ever in 2011 what an Achilles' heel the unit was with quarterback Peyton Manning and all the yards and points he represents stuck on the sideline, recovering from offseason neck surgery.

So it makes sense that they'd try to lure a coach from the defensive side of the ball to take the position left empty by the dismissal of Jim Caldwell.

The Ravens had one of the very best defenses in the league this season. Though the Ravens seem unstoppable on defense no matter the coordinator, the fact that Pagano kept them playing at a high level in his sole year with the team bodes well for his chances to turn things around on the Colts defense.

If he can manage the draft and free agency well and properly evaluate the players currently on the Colts' defensive roster, he should be able to implement some of the techniques he utilized in Baltimore to a successful end in Indianapolis.

The Colts offense needs improving as well, though a lot of that will turn itself around simply with the addition of Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who Indianapolis is almost certain to draft with their No. 1 overall pick this year.

Luck is the top quarterback prospect in the draft, has a pro-ready arm and all the necessary skills to be a successful passer in his first year in the NFL. If Luck is as good as he seems, then the Colts will simply pick up where they left off with Manning, as one of the top passing offenses in the league.

If Pagano is successful in building a defense that can rival the Ravens' and at the same time Luck looks like the second coming of Manning, then it won't take long for the Colts to regain control of the AFC South and return to being Super Bowl contenders for seasons to come.