Next Defensive Coordinator

[IndyColtsFan411]

For those more plugged into the league than I, who would you like to see to replace Bradley when he gets fired?  (All coaches get fired at some point - not saying this year)  Personally, I'd like a younger up and coming defensive mind, what say you?

[Pat Curtis]

Age has nothing to do with it.

 

I've always liked a more aggressive 4-3/4-2-5 Cover 2 on the back end with Man coverages underneath mixed in to keep Offenses guessing.  With our current personnel being pure zone defenders...it would take draft or two and Free Agency to make a major switch to anything that plays Man.

[AwesomeAustin]

I don’t know enough of the position coaches on other teams to say who is worthy of promotion. Best to keep an eye out on head coaches on the hot seat and their staffs. 

[chad72]

Packers fans can tell me about Joe Barry that was their DC from 2021-23. They were always in the Top 12-15 range in terms of points per game as opposed to the Colts.

 

But the year 2021, the Colts were on par because we ran the ball well and possessed it well. Not so much in 2022, and 2023 was a bit of defensive regression for decent possession of the ball from Bradley’s unit.

 

Brandon Staley is another name but I’d prefer Jon Barry for his units to generate pressure. Otherwise we’d have to look at college like Packers getting the Boston College HC.
 

I’m a fan of Jim Leonhard that was a heck of a defensive coach / DC at Wisconsin, and is now a DB coach with Broncos. Dave Merritt, the Chiefs DB coach has done an outstanding job there and was interviewed for DC by 49ers.

 

My pick would be Jim Leonhard or Dave Merritt.

 

 

[richard pallo]

I’ll think about it if and when the time comes.

[IinD]

If I'm guessing I think the zone thing we usually gravitate towards is because of boss man Jim. He always talks about those 70's Steelers teams with the cover 2.

 

Yes we had a short stint with the 3-4 in the Pags days but we seem to always gravitate towards the 4-3 zone that doesn't move around much.

[indyagent17]

If it happens during the season, it would be a major upheaval. It may have a one or two game bump, but whoever is brought in want to bring his own coaches down the line. I agree they should be BRADLEY‘s last season but I get a feeling no matter how bad it gets. They’re not gonna fire them until the season is over then you can work on getting the guy in here.

[crazycolt1]

If the Colts decided to move on from Bradley, I highly doubt it would be during the season.  

[ruf]

What about Rex

 

 

[richard pallo]

48 minutes ago, ruf said:

What about Rex

 

 

No thank you.  We ain’t going back.

[CoachLite]

We need a creative defensive coordinator with a deeper understanding of the NFL pro game. I'm against using boiler-plate defensive strategies because a pro offense will know how to take advantage of those structural weaknesses. In short, you have to instill indecisiveness in the offense, and execute the defense more effectively. Currently, that's not the Colts.

[Restinpeacesweetchloe]

I think I would trust Shane to hire a really good DC. I am still surprised Shane didn’t let Bradley go after last season. I understand keeping him when he was hired. But not after last season.  What is concerning is Shane would have a say. If Shane wanted a new DC it would have happened after the season. So I am not sure why he is still here. You can’t line up 5 yards past the first down marker when a team only needs 3 yards. Colts third down stops are non existent. I think Gus is a good coach. But his scheme does not work anymore. 
 

One reason it doesn’t work is QB are not statues anymore. You can’t just rely on a four man rush anymore.

[TonyBungee]

You know who.😎

[OLD FAN MAN]

dont know who but an aggressive attacking the ball and qb coach instead of a soft giving up yards preventing big gains coach

[ImissPeyton18]

Brandon Staley.

[OLD FAN MAN]

the new unnecessary roughness rule has hurt all defenses and the tom brady hit the qb rules have really hurt defenses. it is an offense sided game now. very hard to have an attacking defense with these rules. maybe the gus play back and let it happen is the new football

[crazycolt1]

7 hours ago, OLD FAN MAN said:

the new unnecessary roughness rule has hurt all defenses and the tom brady hit the qb rules have really hurt defenses. it is an offense sided game now. very hard to have an attacking defense with these rules. maybe the gus play back and let it happen is the new football

You are correct.  The game itself has morphed into a game thats very tough to defend against. The Colts are experiencing the same problems as most teams are. 

It's easy for some fans to say get rid of a DC, but the reality is its not that simple. 

[ADnum1]

15 hours ago, ImissPeyton18 said:

Brandon Staley.

He was a disaster as a HC but could be good as a DC

[1959Colts]

Maybe find a young coach?

[ChuggaBeer]

Chuck Pagano 

[Pelt]

Right now, a dirty dish towel will do

[azcolt]

Could AR be the co-DC? As long as we are paying him to sit and watch, he might be able to help.🤣

[BProland85]

Anybody at this point would be better than this garbage Bradley is giving us. 

[Hammer]

Doesn't really matter as long as it's somebody...anybody.

[boogmanningluck]

Here's a wild idea, bring in Bela a cheat as an advisor until such time that he possibly gets a head coaching job. 

[rockywoj]

Whomever the Colts get next for DC, I pray for an aggressive, pressure defensive scheme.  Enough of this bend and all too often break defence. I feel like this is the third decade of such, dating back to even the Manning years.

[Defjamz26]

I think you probably need to get a GM and DC. Our GM keeps selecting the the same types of DC’s as he’s openly stated how obsessed he is with this 4-3 Cover-2 defense that is super out dated. 

[Smonroe]

6 minutes ago, Defjamz26 said:

I think you probably need to get a GM and DC. Our GM keeps selecting the the same types of DC’s as he’s openly stated how obsessed he is with this 4-3 Cover-2 defense that is super out dated. 

Because he doesn’t want to pay for experienced DBs.  Your D scheme is limited by the talent of your players.  

[IndyEV]

Take a college coach that is innovative!

[Moosejawcolt]

On 9/28/2024 at 8:16 AM, chad72 said:

Packers fans can tell me about Joe Barry that was their DC from 2021-23. They were always in the Top 12-15 range in terms of points per game as opposed to the Colts.

 

But the year 2021, the Colts were on par because we ran the ball well and possessed it well. Not so much in 2022, and 2023 was a bit of defensive regression for decent possession of the ball from Bradley’s unit.

 

Brandon Staley is another name but I’d prefer Jon Barry for his units to generate pressure. Otherwise we’d have to look at college like Packers getting the Boston College HC.
 

I’m a fan of Jim Leonhard that was a heck of a defensive coach / DC at Wisconsin, and is now a DB coach with Broncos. Dave Merritt, the Chiefs DB coach has done an outstanding job there and was interviewed for DC by 49ers.

 

My pick would be Jim Leonhard or Dave Merritt.

 

 

Not Staley!!! He runs the same brand of defense. He was only good because he had studs on defense when he was a D coordinator. He became a head coach and apparently called the D and he was a disaster.  I want a guy like Martendale.

[Pat Curtis]

1 hour ago, Defjamz26 said:

I think you probably need to get a GM and DC. Our GM keeps selecting the the same types of DC’s as he’s openly stated how obsessed he is with this 4-3 Cover-2 defense that is super out dated. 

 

We run a Cover-2?  News to everyone.

[Smonroe]

1 minute ago, Pat Curtis said:

 

We run a Cover-2?  News to everyone.

No, we run a cover (no) 1.  

[Pat Curtis]

3 minutes ago, Smonroe said:

No, we run a cover (no) 1.  

 

This is fact.  

 

Remember a few weeks ago when Gus said in an interview that they were going to simplify things to reduce mental errors?  Yet we still have miscommunications and busted coverages with the most basic defense in the league.  Even with our "stars" on defense healthy it's still trash in the bag.

 

Zero change.  Zero adaptation.  Zero accountability.

[Smonroe]

6 minutes ago, Pat Curtis said:

 

This is fact.  

 

Remember a few weeks ago when Gus said in an interview that they were going to simplify things to reduce mental errors?  Yet we still have miscommunications and busted coverages with the most basic defense in the league.  Even with our "stars" on defense healthy it's still trash in the bag.

 

Zero change.  Zero adaptation.  Zero accountability.

Our CBs were a 7th round draft pick and a couple guys they found wandering around the parking lot.   
 

But we don’t need to bring any experienced players in, I like our guys.