Why Keith Butler Hire Would Be Huge Get for Colts, Giant Loss for Steelers

In the shadows of all the Peyton Manning drama, the Indianapolis Colts are piecing together quite the coaching staff for the 2012 season. 

First, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano was hired as head coach after the firing of Jim Caldwell. 

Then, they pried Bruce Arians—a key component to Ben Roethlisberger's growth as a quarterback—away from the Pittsburgh Steelers to become their new offensive coordinator. 

In their most recent signing, again, Jim Irsay and new general manager Ryan Grigson focused their attention on the Steelers and reportedly will agree to terms with linebackers coach Keith Butler to become their defensive coordinator. 

The Butler hire finishes off the Colts' impressive coaching search and will arguably be just as important as Arians' job working with probable No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck. 

The Colts defense was absolutely atrocious in 2011; there's no way around that. 

Opposing quarterbacks averaged an embarrassing 103.9 QB rating against Indianapolis during the regular season, allowing 26.9 points per game. 

They were equally as bad against the run, too.  Teams averaged 143.9 yards on the ground at a 4.3 yard per carry clip this season. 

The new, hard-nosed defensive style will bode well for a rebuilding Colts organization. 

Just as Arians was with Big Ben, Butler was instrumental in the maturation process of Joey Porter, James Harrison, Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley—arguably the three best, most all-around players on the Steelers' vaunted defense. 

He also got the best out of the elder James Farrior and Larry Foote, as well.

The acquisition of Butler completes a fresh, AFC North-type, in-your-face culture in Indianapolis.  

While the Colts don't have linebackers of the same caliber, it's worth noting how vital those guys were to Pittsburgh's AFC dominance during Butler's time in the Steel City. 

You won't see a major drop in production from Woodley and company with Butler gone, but it certainly won't be easy to replace Dick LeBeau's protege. 

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