Throwdowns > Closed

Somebody of Note said 01/12, 05:57 PM
There are too many reasons to count as to why the Colts should stick with their plan of naming Caldwell head coach.

One of the reasons you cited as to why they should get a new coach is because maybe "someone may have a greater feel for the team." Is it just me, or is it difficult to have a better feel for the Colts from outside the organization as opposed to the assistant coach who's been there since 2002? That's the kind of logic that led Frank to Nicole Bass as the human epitome of Aphrodite.

A very big reason why the Colts should keep Caldwell, however, is jettisoning him would be harmful to the locker room. Generally, coaches don't last very long if their players won't play for them, and the fact that Caldwell has lasted so long means that he is a well-liked figure in the locker room. Yanking the rug from out under him by taking away the job promised to him would have devastating effects for the locker room, and if they hire a new coach he would be have zero sway.

Caldwell isn't a bad coach, either. He's stylistically similar to Dungy, and he is a very promising offensive mind who would likely be a head coach somewhere if he hadn't been named Dungy's successor.

Somebody of Note said 01/12, 08:17 PM
A greater feel for what the team needs? Really?

Right now, what the Colts need is a smooth transition. They already have an incredible team. One of the strengths of their team is that they really worked together with Tony, and will naturally want to work with his hand-picked successor. However, not making the transition as smooth as planned will upset this veteran-laden team. The front office could have a full-on rebellion if Caldwell doesn't get the job.

Picking peoples' brains sounds nice in theory, but you have to work with the personnel you have, and the Colts are a perfect fit for Caldwell's system. Cowher's defensive ideas, and Shanahan's zone-blocking, would have little effect if the Colts head coach (Caldwell) didn't want to use them or wasn't able to... and if they were hired over Caldwell, we agree that pandemonium would break out.

You also have to look at the fact that Caldwell is an excellent coach, one with very similar philosophies to Dungy. He's a great offensive mind, and a Colts lifer. He has the right temperament to lead this Colts team to playoff glory. He'd work much better than a coach from outside the organization who has no idea about the personnel.

Somebody of Note said 01/13, 10:25 AM
If you have no problem with Caldwell as the coach, then why do you want to interview other candidates? When you're interviewed for a position, it comes with the unspoken promise that you have the potential to take the job. What you basically said is that Caldwell is the ideal candidate for the job, so why risk a potential locker room rebellion among players who love and respect Coach Dungy to hire a candidate that won't be the best out there? It would be a worse decision than coating yourself in chocolate sauce and running into an Overeaters Anonymous meeting.

The team may be better people because of the guidance provided by Dungy, but they aren't Dungy. They can't walk into a situation and automatically respond in the best possible way. They're going to be upset, upset that their man didn't get the job that was promised to him. From all accounts, Caldwell is a good man and a great coach, and the players will not take kindly to the fact that he's being royally screwed. The moment dissension is introduced, the locker room crumbles a little bit.

And refer to WHAT reply about the age of the team? I see zilch in the body of the Throwdown referring to it.

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