Staff Changes Could Lead to Different Look for Colts

The Indianapolis Colts saw a torrent of offseason changes following the 2008 season. Head coach Tony Dungy, offensive coordinator Tom Moore, and offensive line coach Howard Mudd all retired.

Dungy also acted as the de facto defensive coordinator and built the Colts' defense from the ground up, but Ron Meeks carried the defensive coordinator title. Meeks resigned on January 20 after more than six years on the job.

Offensive Differences

Jim Caldwell will be the new head coach, and his background coaching quarterbacks and wide receivers at both the college and pro levels will lead to him having some input on the offense.

But the offensive scheme should change very little under the new regime. Peyton Manning is the team's true offensive coordinator and there is no reason to believe things will change with Caldwell in charge.

The only area where the Colts' offense might look a little different in 2009 is the way they use their receivers. With only two proven wideouts on the roster in Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis will likely split tight end Dallas Clark out into the slot more than they have in the past.

Clark's size and receiving ability will allow rookie Austin Collie to come along slowly as the team's No. 3/slot receiver.

Defensive Differences

On the other side of the ball, the Colts brought in Larry Coyer as the new defensive coordinator. Coyer, formerly the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, should breathe life into a defense that has struggled at times to stop the run.

Coyer is known for his ability to get the most from his linebackers, so young players like Clint Sessions and Philip Wheeler will likely get every chance to prove they belong on the field.

There are rumors that Coyer might experiment with a 4-2-5 base defense, with three safeties instead of three cornerbacks. It's tough to see that being the full-time scheme, since the 4-2-5 is extremely difficult to run.

Dungy used the 4-2-5 in 2006 and 2007 but the Colts possessed excellent interior linemen in those years in Booger McFarland and Ed Johnson. Currently they have inexperienced tackles.

Schematically it's more likely Coyer will not change much from what Dungy liked to do. I do expect him to blitz his linebackers up the middle early and often. That will take pressure off the aforementioned inexperienced tackles, while opening things up for ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.

The Colts have been one of the NFL's most successful franchises over the past seven years. Indianapolis has new coaches, but those men would do well to recognize what got the franchise to where it is now and try to duplicate what worked.