Brian Baker out as dline coach

[zibby43]

1 hour ago, Jared Cisneros said:

Good. Get him out of here. Hopefully Eberflus goes as well in the next few days. Tired of the conservative garbage on defense every game. Beat the bad teams, lose to the good teams. That doesn't make you a contending team.

With respect to Eberflus, did you ever stop and ask whether the scheme he employs is a product of the lack of pass rush and lack of depth at CB?

 

Kinda feel like people are going to regret talking down on Eberflus just because Rick V. does, after he is gone.

[cdgacoltsfan]

2 hours ago, TaylorTheStudMuffin said:

If we get a new DC and dline coach I can’t wait to see what improvements are made. Rumor is they want Turay back on a cheap one year deal.  I bet he tests FA but I would really like to see him with a nee Dline coach and DC. He is one of those I have a feeling if he goes somewhere else will light it up.

Like Jerry Hughes did. Polian pretty much traded him for nothing. ( Shepherd)

[cdgacoltsfan]

1 hour ago, Jared Cisneros said:

Good. Get him out of here. Hopefully Eberflus goes as well in the next few days. Tired of the conservative garbage on defense every game. Beat the bad teams, lose to the good teams. That doesn't make you a contending team.

So you're calling the 49ers, Bills, Patriots, Cardinals ( all playoff teams) bad teams?.. Hmmm...ok

[Moosejawcolt]

9 minutes ago, Blueblood23 said:

Good lord I hope not. Need some new blood, not a soon to be 73 year old has been when camp starts. 

i want Zimmer. Trust me there is stuff going behind the scenes. Ebeflus was not his hire so now maybe Reich is able to bring in his guy. Probably hoping Flus gets coaching job so he doesnt have to fire him lol

 

[GoColts8818]

9 minutes ago, zibby43 said:

With respect to Eberflus, did you ever stop and ask whether the scheme he employs is a product of the lack of pass rush and lack of depth at CB?

 

Kinda feel like people are going to regret talking down on Eberflus just because Rick V. does, after he is gone.

As I always say about Rick V he won all of three games in his career as a head coach so people should be careful treating him as some kind of NFL genius.  He just tells me that people who are in the NFL business really do know a tone more than fans do even though fans don’t like to hear that.  
 

As for the defense, I’d like to see something a little more aggressive in the 4-3 set.  I do think there is something too not just sitting back and letting the QB have five free yards anytime he wants.  I think Eberflus is smart enough he could deliver that if asked.  With that said I am not all in on his was Ballard’s guy.  Ballard hired him because the visor in New England wanted him.  I could see Ballard parting ways with him and getting someone else if Reich wanted it which I don’t think Reich does.  So that tells me if Eberflus leaves he’s probably going to be replaced with someone who runs a similar defense.  
 

While I might prefer something more aggressive I would 100% agree that this defense doesn’t work without a pass rush and most defenses don’t work without one in todays NFL.  I think Ballard and Irsay understand that too.  While all the attention has gone to Irsay calling out the QB on twitter he also mentioned the defense.  The pass rush has to get better or it won’t matter who is coaching the defense its not going to work.  

[Moosejawcolt]

1 minute ago, cdgacoltsfan said:

So you're calling the 49ers, Bills, Patriots, Cardinals ( all playoff teams) bad teams?.. Hmmm...ok

well if you look at his success since he has been the D coordinator it is not good. He makes average qbs make like hall of famers. He cant get off the field on 3rd down. He can sustain a pass rush. Oh and Ballard is complicit in the lack of success of this defense.

[DougDew]

9 minutes ago, zibby43 said:

With respect to Eberflus, did you ever stop and ask whether the scheme he employs is a product of the lack of pass rush and lack of depth at CB?

 

You mean is it the chicken or the egg?  Its amazing how many can form a one side conclusion about it.

 

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

2 minutes ago, DougDew said:

You mean is it the chicken or the egg?  Its amazing how many can form a one side conclusion about it.

 

It can be a combination of both. Who knows which side is more ar fault. I just think just from a eye test the pass rush schemes have not been very good. We weren’t even great in 2020. The fact the pass rush was so bad and Banagu still doesn’t at least get a chance and is a healthy scratch made no sense. Turay having 5.5 sacks on only 22% of snaps makes me wonder why wasn’t he getting more snaps. The rotation seemed wacky.

[shasta519]

20 minutes ago, Blueblood23 said:

Good lord I hope not. Need some new blood, not a soon to be 73 year old has been when camp starts. 

 

I tend to agree, but I am just going off the past connection between the two. I will say though...LV's DL was definitely better at getting after the QB this season than IND. But as I said before, I think it's more of a talent issue and not a coaching issue.

[coming on strong]

1 hour ago, chad72 said:

Some candidates I have in mind:

 

https://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/coaches-roster/brian-young

 

https://www.49ers.com/team/coaches-roster/darryl-tapp

 

https://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/coaches-roster/anthony-weaver

 

 

 

Robert Mathis !!  He is the only one I want . Jim needs to open the check book 

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

3 minutes ago, coming on strong said:

Robert Mathis !!  He is the only one I want . Jim needs to open the check book 

He has said he doesn’t want to be involved with them in a hiring position because it limits the time he can work with players. Maybe opening the checkbook could lure him in. Just not sure he really wants to do it.

[DougDew]

4 minutes ago, TaylorTheStudMuffin said:

It can be a combination of both. Who knows which side is more ar fault. I just think just from a eye test the pass rush schemes have not been very good. We weren’t even great in 2020. The fact the pass rush was so bad and Banagu still doesn’t at least get a chance and is a healthy scratch made no sense. Turay having 5.5 sacks on only 22% of snaps makes me wonder why wasn’t he getting more snaps. The rotation seemed wacky.

Well, you're talking about player rotation.  I assume Turay is better at some things and not others, so he gets fewer snaps when the situation calls for doing something that Turay is not his best at.

 

How many snaps should a pass rushing specialist have?  I think Paye has supplanted Turay as the 3 down RDE, with either Lewis or Dayo manning the LDE spot.  So Turay is a part time pass rushing specialist at this point. 

 

Maybe Turay's success was based upon him being used properly at the proper time, and not just in there expecting him to perform up to the same level under different conditions.

 

[Jackie Daytona]

1 hour ago, Jared Cisneros said:

Good. Get him out of here. Hopefully Eberflus goes as well in the next few days. Tired of the conservative garbage on defense every game. Beat the bad teams, lose to the good teams. That doesn't make you a contending team.

That D is Ballards D...... Canning Flus won't change them into a blitzing 3-4.... Or anything much different from a zone cover 2-3 

[NewColtsFan]

11 minutes ago, TaylorTheStudMuffin said:

It can be a combination of both. Who knows which side is more ar fault. I just think just from a eye test the pass rush schemes have not been very good. We weren’t even great in 2020. The fact the pass rush was so bad and Banagu still doesn’t at least get a chance and is a healthy scratch made no sense. Turay having 5.5 sacks on only 22% of snaps makes me wonder why wasn’t he getting more snaps. The rotation seemed wacky.

He wasn’t getting more snaps likely because the more snaps he plays the greater the chance of injury.   They managed his snaps in order to try to maximize performance.  

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

5 minutes ago, DougDew said:

Well, you're talking about player rotation.  I assume Turay is better at some things and not others, so he gets fewer snaps when the situation calls for doing something that Turay is not his best at.

 

How many snaps should a pass rushing specialist have?  I think Paye has supplanted Turay as the 3 down RDE, with either Lewis or Dayo manning the LDE spot.  So Turay is a part time pass rushing specialist at this point. 

 

Maybe Turay's success was based upon him being used properly at the proper time, and not just in there expecting him to perform up to the same level under different conditions.

 

Could be. But it’s a passing league. Teams pass on first and second down. His snap count should of been up around 40%.  It didn’t even go up after Lewis got hurt. If your struggling to get a rush let Banagu have a chance. I almost guarantee if Turay goes to another team he is going to light it up with more snaps.

[NewColtsFan]

25 minutes ago, Moosejawcolt said:

well if you look at his success since he has been the D coordinator it is not good. He makes average qbs make like hall of famers. He cant get off the field on 3rd down. He can sustain a pass rush. Oh and Ballard is complicit in the lack of success of this defense.

Not that you would ever watch a press conference….   
 

But at his year end conference, Ballard noted the two categories he values most….   
 

1.   Points Allowed.

2.   Turnovers Created.

 

We’ve been top-10 in points allowed in each of Flus’s four years.   And we even top-10 to top-5 in turnovers.   Thus year we were first. 
 

So it’s not like everything was terrible.   But, I’m sure you’ll disagree in 3….  2….  1….

 

 

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

I agree with this tweet. This is why I would want Turay and Lewis back.

 

 

 

[Moosejawcolt]

38 minutes ago, NewColtsFan said:

Not that you would ever watch a press conference….   
 

But at his year end conference, Ballard noted the two categories he values most….   
 

1.   Points Allowed.

2.   Turnovers Created.

 

We’ve been top-10 in points allowed in each of Flus’s four years.   And we even top-10 to top-5 in turnovers.   Thus year we were first. 
 

So it’s not like everything was terrible.   But, I’m sure you’ll disagree in 3….  2….  1….

 

 

Didnt Polian say stats are for losers?? I stand by bill more than chris lol

38 minutes ago, NewColtsFan said:

Not that you would ever watch a press conference….   
 

But at his year end conference, Ballard noted the two categories he values most….   
 

1.   Points Allowed.

2.   Turnovers Created.

 

We’ve been top-10 in points allowed in each of Flus’s four years.   And we even top-10 to top-5 in turnovers.   Thus year we were first. 
 

So it’s not like everything was terrible.   But, I’m sure you’ll disagree in 3….  2….  1….

 

 

oh and i go by wins losses and play off appearances. tick tock tick tock

[NewColtsFan]

1 minute ago, Moosejawcolt said:

Didnt Polian say stats are for losers?? I stand by bill more than chris lol

oh and i go by wins losses and play off appearances. tick tock tick tock

The most unintentionally funny poster here.   You have plenty if competition, but you’re still in a league of your own!     

[Hawkeyecolt]

I made this prediction a while back.  If Eberflus is so well thought of around the league and he manages to be successful in pts allowed and takeaways then the lack of pass rush is either personnel or position coach or both.  I don’t know how much influence the DL coach has on personnel decisions.  I imagine it’s minimal. Baker seemed like the one coach who could be on the hot seat.

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

11 minutes ago, Hawkeyecolt said:

I made this prediction a while back.  If Eberflus is so well thought of around the league and he manages to be successful in pts allowed and takeaways then the lack of pass rush is either personnel or position coach or both.  I don’t know how much influence the DL coach has on personnel decisions.  I imagine it’s minimal. Baker seemed like the one coach who could be on the hot seat.

Or he has a DC that knows what he is doing. HC takes some different qualities then a DC.

[Solid84]

1 hour ago, zibby43 said:

With respect to Eberflus, did you ever stop and ask whether the scheme he employs is a product of the lack of pass rush and lack of depth at CB?

 

Kinda feel like people are going to regret talking down on Eberflus just because Rick V. does, after he is gone.

Either way it exposes a flaw. New dline coach comes in and nothing changes - CB needs to answer for that. We improve Baker was the problem. 

[Solid84]

1 hour ago, NewColtsFan said:

Not that you would ever watch a press conference….   
 

But at his year end conference, Ballard noted the two categories he values most….   
 

1.   Points Allowed.

2.   Turnovers Created.

 

We’ve been top-10 in points allowed in each of Flus’s four years.   And we even top-10 to top-5 in turnovers.   Thus year we were first. 
 

So it’s not like everything was terrible.   But, I’m sure you’ll disagree in 3….  2….  1….

 

 

And how far has that gotten us?

 

I know a lot of other things have worked against us this year but when our defense ranks as mediocre or below in everything but turnovers our defense is clearly not good or even enough. 

[Moosejawcolt]

2 hours ago, NewColtsFan said:

The most unintentionally funny poster here.   You have plenty if competition, but you’re still in a league of your own!     

my wife says that as well. I am actually quite harmless but easily distracted lol

[stitches]

Here's the reason for the Colts letting Baker go in one graph:

 

 

 

 

[GoColts8818]

2 hours ago, TaylorTheStudMuffin said:

I agree with this tweet. This is why I would want Turay and Lewis back.

 

 

 

I want Lewis back because he’s been improving the past two years before he got hurt.

[RollerColt]

It was rough seeing our defense play well enough to force a 3rd and long, and then give up the conversion. Pass rush is so important, regardless of scheme. 

[DougDew]

2 hours ago, Solid84 said:

Either way it exposes a flaw. New dline coach comes in and nothing changes - CB needs to answer for that. We improve Baker was the problem. 

A lot of people have committed opinions that they took months or even years ago, that no matter what happens, they can look at it any way.

 

Paye will no longer be a rookie.  Dayo and Lewis healthy, and Dayo takes the next step as a non rookie.  Turay is farther removed from injury.  And, there will probably be another pass rusher added.

 

A person can say that next seasons personnel package had improved, with the new DL coach riding its coat tails, without there even being much changes to the personnel.

 

 

[DougDew]

36 minutes ago, stitches said:

Here's the reason for the Colts letting Baker go in one graph:

 

 

 

 

Looks like the Falcons could use some pass rush help.  Golly.  Wonder if its coaching. 

[NewColtsFan]

2 hours ago, Solid84 said:

And how far has that gotten us?

 

I know a lot of other things have worked against us this year but when our defense ranks as mediocre or below in everything but turnovers our defense is clearly not good or even enough. 

Its not just turnovers.   Re-read my post.  We’re always top-10 in turnovers and this year we were FIRST.   
 

It’s gotten us to the playoffs two out of Ballard’s first four years.  
 

The hope is we have much better play at DE next year.  If Paye and Dayo are who we think they are, then our whole pass rush becomes MUCH better in 22, including Buckner,  and the whole defense gets better.  We expect big things from those two.  

[stitches]

11 minutes ago, DougDew said:

Looks like the Falcons could use some pass rush help.  Golly.  Wonder if its coaching. 

To be that bad there probably are multiple reasons, coaching included. But the talent and resources spent on the position matter too. For example, we have 130M spent on interior linemen, and 2 first rounders and 4 second rounders spent on the position group. Does Atlanta have anything close to that invested in the position? Not that investment directly translates to talent, but that's part of coaching too - you get highly drafted players with talent and coach them up. 

[DougDew]

Just now, stitches said:

To be that bad there probably are multiple reasons, coaching included. But the talent and resources spent on the position matter too. For example, we have 130M spent on interior linemen, and 2 first rounders and 5 second rounders spent on the position group. Does Atlanta have anything close to that invested in the position? Not that investment directly translates to talent, but that's part of coaching too - you get highly drafted players with talent and coach them up. 

Specifically, they spent capital on Tak Mckinley and Vic Beasley in the past, so I don't know if they have the resources to spend on the position again for awhile.   Grady Jarrett is an interior player but he's not the same impactful players he once was.   

[NewColtsFan]

52 minutes ago, stitches said:

Here's the reason for the Colts letting Baker go in one graph:

 

 

 

 

Huh?

 

If the Colts are ranked right with KC and Cincy, both of whom are in the AFC Championship, then how is our rank proof of anything? 
 

Please explain. 

[richard pallo]

15 minutes ago, DougDew said:

Specifically, they spent capital on Tak Mckinley and Vic Beasley in the past, so I don't know if they have the resources to spend on the position again for awhile.   Grady Jarrett is an interior player but he's not the same impactful players he once was.   

They are over the cap for the coming year.  Jarrett is one of many of their high priced players who could be on the move.  They have a lot of work to do.

[smittywerb]

3 hours ago, TaylorTheStudMuffin said:

I agree with this tweet. This is why I would want Turay and Lewis back.

 

 

 

 

 

Just was going to make a comment like this.  Not shocked by this firing.  Irsay, Reich, and Ballard have alluded to the fact that they believe we have the talent or potential but the talent is not performing to expectations which means the answer is that coaching is inadequate.  I expect more moves.  The OL coach may be the next to head to roll.  Along with Flus (hired or fired).

 

I'm looking forward to seeing who they bring in and how that person develops our DEs.  I think our DTs are fine with Buck, Grover, Stallworth, and Woods.  I think we have the pieces with our DEs but they need to be developed. 

[NewColtsFan]

7 hours ago, stitches said:

I see your point but I still feel like this line is underachieving. 

The reason is injuries. 
 

Fisher, Nelson and Kelly all missed 90-100 of camp.   And as soon as they got back, Smith went out.   
 

Kelly played hurt the entire year.  Nelson went from a broken bone in his foot to a high ankle sprain, the worst sprain.   And Fisher, normally a solid LT,  simply didn’t return to full strength in time.   Sucks for us.  But that doesn’t mean he won’t be better next year.  But for which team? 
 

I believe Strausser is VERY highly regarded. 

[csmopar]

7 hours ago, DEFENSE said:

yes our d-line picks were reaches

Kwity Paye just made All Pro as a rookie DE....

[coming on strong]

30 minutes ago, csmopar said:

Kwity Paye just made All Pro as a rookie DE....

he made all pro for the rookie team . to be fair it was a weak draft class for DEs that is why the first DE was taken around 18 th  .   DE is a premium position and usually goes much earlier in the draft .   the jury is still out there on paye  5 sacks is solid for a rookie . my only fear is he will be what he was in college a complete DE who plays hard but struggles to put up sack numbers .  he was a 5 sack average guy in college that is why he fell to the colts .   guys like lewis and turray are around 5 to 6 sacks a year guys but just cant stay healthy .   for paye to be worth a first he needs to be a ten sack a year type guy .   hopefully he breaks out like pittman did his second year .   i am mixed on paye i think he has the potential to be elite but i wonder if he can put up big sack numbers when he struggled to do it in college .

[GoColts8818]

1 hour ago, csmopar said:

Kwity Paye just made All Pro as a rookie DE....

He wasn’t all pro.  He was named to the PFWA all rookie team.  Still an accomplishment and he had a very good rookie season.  Also, just to continue the point you are making he wasn’t over drafted in fact many felt he slipped to the Colts.  Dayo had first round grade but was hurt which is why he lasted until the second.  Everyone knew going in anything he gave the Colts this year would be a bonus which is why Ballard talked delayed gratification with him.  Grover was taken in the fourth round and has turned into a run stuffing starter so I don’t think you can call that over drafted, if anything that’s a great value pick.  Buckner was a trade and well worth a first round pick.  Turay and Banogu were slight reaches on where they were mocked.  Lewis is the only major reach and he’s played pretty well the past two years when healthy.  

[EastStreet]

9 hours ago, Superman said:

 

I would. The OL struggled due to injury. They got decent play out of replacement level guys late in the season. Usually well disciplined. Play calling and QBing influenced a lot of the protection issues. I would think Strausser is on pretty solid footing.

 

There's also some evidence to suggest a few regressed under Strausser.... And even in 2019 and 2020, when Strausser had a very healthy OL, his sack total has never been better than Gug's 2018 (which was full of musical chairs the first 5-6 weeks)... 

 

But I would agree Strausser is not on the hot seat, but there's plenty to suggest is simply not as good as Gug... He's Reich's guy, and is nice. 

• Ryan Kelly has steadily regressed little by little since his 2018... Hit a career best with Gug....
  • 2016 - 72.4 (Philbin/Gilbert)
  • 2017 - 60.4 (Philbin/Gilbert)
  • 2018 - 74.5 (DeGuglielmo) - Career high grade
  • 2019 - 73.0 (Strausser)
  • 2020 - 69.0 (Strausser)
  • 2021 - 56.9 (Strausser)
• Glow's performance is punch you in the face best with Gug..... 
  • 2015 - 50.2 (Gilbert/Hunter)
  • 2016 - 61.4 (Philbin/Gilbert)
  • 2017 - 52.8 (Philbin/Gilbert)
  • 2018 - 77.7 and 0 sacks (DeGuglielmo)
  • 2019 - 60.5 (Strausser)
  • 2020 - 67.3 (Strausser)
  • 2021 - 70.1 (Strausser) - took getting challenged by Reed to drive his grade up
• Sacks....
  • 2017 - 56
  • 2018 - 18 (amid all the musical chairs and rooks....) with Gug... And a high Time to Throw QB... 
  • 2019 - 32
  • 2020 - 21 (even with one of the quickest trigger QBs, still was not as good as 2018)
  • 2021 - 32
• I'd also point out that DeGuglielmo
  • Architect'd our current OL. Aside from AC, and maybe Kelly, nothing was in stone (who and where) when Gug was given the task. 
  • In just 5-6 weeks of musical chairs, took the 25th ranked OL from 2017 and turned it into 3rd best ranked, an a sack total that is probably the best in 10+ years... 
  • Took a college guard (Smith) and turned him into a All-Rook RT in his first year... bold move
  • Both Rooks (Q and Smith) had more starts than any other OL on the team that year.... 
  • Q - grew up with Harry Hiestand, a nasty driver like Gug, and was going to be a stud regardless of who was OL coach... What is interesting... Notre Dame got rid of mean old Harry, and hired a nice guy... They have now ditched the nice guy after several years, and hired mean-old-Harry back... 
  • Getting a 77.7 out of Glow after the musical chairs ended, is pretty phenomenal... wasn't near that good before, or after...