Will Jim Caldwell's Promotion Signal the End of the Colts' Success?

The loss of a future Hall of Fame head coach like Tony Dungy is certain to have an impact on a team's success, right?

If you ask Redskins fans who witnessed the transition from Joe Gibbs to Richard Petitbon in 1993, you would get a resounding "Yes!"  Petitbon took over after Gibbs retired and led the 'Skins to a dismal 4-12 finish.  He was abruptly fired.

Head coach Jim Caldwell and Petitbon have a number of noteworthy similarities. 

Both spent years developing teams and won Super Bowls under their predecessors.

Both were entering their first head coaching jobs in the NFL.

The similarities end there.  Tony Dungy has left Caldwell with a group of players much better prepared to carry on the team's success than Petitbon's Redksins.

Petitbon led a 1993 Redskins team that included quarterback Mark Rypien, rookie running back Reggie Brooks, and aging wide receiver Art Monk.

Compare those players to the ones available for Mike Tomlin of the Steelers and John Harbaugh of the Ravens, two former assistant coaches who were recently promoted to head coaching roles and continued winning.

Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher left Tomlin quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Willie Parker, and wide receiver Hines Ward, with linebacker James Harrison leading one of the league's toughest defenses. 

Harbaugh drafted quarterback Joe Flacco, as no other quarterback on the Ravens roster had proven successful, and was handed one of the best defenses in the league, led by linebacker Ray Lewis.

Jim Caldwell inherits a future Hall of Fame quarterback in his prime: Peyton Manning. 

The Colts have two first-round talents at running back, Joseph Addai and Donald Brown. 

Two first-rounders lead the Colts receiving corps, including three-time Pro Bowler Reggie Wayne and first-year starter Anthony Gonzalez.  The Colts also have one of the best receiving tight ends in the NFL: Dallas Clark.

Last year the Colts boasted the stingiest pass defense in the league, allowing only six passing touchdowns.  The Colts defense also returns 2007 defensive MVP Bob Sanders, and Pro Bowl pass-rushing bookends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. 

Add all of this to the fact that the Colts have worked hard to improve at defensive tackle, and one can argue that, of the former assistant coaches mentioned above, Jim Caldwell has inherited the most well-rounded core of players.

Caldwell is also the only coach I have mentioned, other than Petitbon, that has had the luxury of coaching for nearly a decade under his predecessor.

Caldwell has coached football for 32 years, including eight years as head coach for Wake Forest, and eight years as a quarterbacks coach under Dungy.  He also served as assistant head coach for the Colts in 2008. 

If history is any indication of what to expect from the Caldwell-led Colts in 2009 and beyond, do not be surprised if the Colts' performance reflects that of the San Francisco 49ers after Bill Walsh retired, or the Dallas Cowboys after Jimmy Johnson retired.  They achieved records of 14-2 and 12-4, respectively.

The Colts will not suffer the same demise as the Washington Redskins in the '90s.

I think Richard Petitbon would have given anything to inherit the talent of a Tony Dungy-led team.  If he did, things would have turned out differently. 

If you don't believe me, just ask Jon Gruden.