Posts tagged Larry Coyer
The Colts Mold: Free Agent Cornerback Market Values
Jul 1st
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Any defense that runs a base Cover-2 scheme requires a strong secondary to succeed. The Indianapolis Colts strategy has always been to over-power opponents with a dynamic passing game, while the defense stifles the opponent’s passing game by refusing to give up big plays.
When Tony Dungy and Ron Meeks oversaw Indy’s defense the players needed were — in many ways — interchangeable because cover corners were not necessary. A strict zone discipline was instilled and the scheme itself “did the work.” Under defensive coordinator Larry Coyer that is starting to change, and a greater emphasis on man coverage has developed to support a more aggressive defensive style that includes blitz packages.
With players like Jerraud Powers and Justin Tryon already showing real potential, things could be coming together in Indianapolis. Heading into 2011 there are two primary questions. The first is, should the Colts retain Kelvin Hayden at his $9 million salary cap level? The second is how talented is Indy going to be behind these players? More >
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The Colts Mold: Free Agent Safety Market Values
Jun 28th
Yesterday, we discussed the proposed salary cap increase and how it will affect the Indianapolis Colts as they enter the free agent signing frenzy that will likely begin in early July. Although official salary numbers are hard to determine, we loosely projected that the Colts should be able to retain most of their own priority free agents — even if Peyton Manning plays at the $23 million franchise tag level in 2011.
With so many players set to enter unrestricted free agency though, there is a possibility that teams like the Colts will sign an uncharacteristically high number of outsiders. The best way to determine who Indianapolis is likely to take a close look at is to determine which players fit the team’s greatest areas of need, which players are most likely to fit in the Colts scheme, and which players are within the team’s budget. More >
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Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell’s Stamp on Coaching Staff Complete?
May 11th
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With the news that former Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore has left the team, it occurred to me that a great deal of turnover has taken place since Head Coach Jim Caldwell took over for Tony Dungy in 2009. Many considered the initial changes minor, as Caldwell has consistently stated his opinion that he was taking over a team and staff that was not broken, and a team philosophy that he promised to uphold, but the gradual transition from the Dungy coaching staff to the Caldwell coaching staff has been significant — and could be complete after Caldwell’s third off-season behind the wheel.
Since Caldwell took over the team he has:
Replaced former Special Teams Coordinator Russ Purnell with Ray Rychleski
Replaced former Defensive Coordinator Ron Meeks with Larry Coyer
Replaced former Offensive Line Coach Howard Mudd with Pete Metzelaars
Replaced former Offensive Coordinator Tom Moore with Clyde Christensen
Replaced former Running Backs Coach Gene Huey with David Walker
Added Ron Turner as Quarterbacks Coach
Moved former Quarterbacks Coach Frank Reich to Wide Receivers Coach More >
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Coltzilla’s Ultimate Colts Mock Draft
Apr 28th
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As NFL Draft crazed football fans already know, one of the biggest problems with mock drafts is that they are extremely unlikely to be accurate. Knowing how each team will pick, let alone the teams writers are most familiar with, is a shot in the dark scenario. Accordingly, Coltzilla has put together the “Ultimate Colts Mock Draft” which will list those players who may be available when the Colts make each of their six selections.
The Ultimate Colts Mock Draft will include prospects from nearly all positions in each round, and will attempt to rate the players in order in each round based upon our assessment of the raw best player available standard. Each of the players listed should be in contention for the most valuable player on the draft board specifically for the Colts, so this delineation hopes be useful following the draft to subjectively determine how team needs may affect Indy’s draft room. More >
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Assessing Positional Value for the Colts 2011 NFL Draft: Linebacker
Apr 25th
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Things started to come together for the Colts linebacker position in 2010. While starting weak side linebacker Clint Session missed much of the year with a fractured forearm and dislocated shoulder, a seventh round rookie replacement — Kavell Conner — did an excellent job in his place. When defensive captain Gary Brackett missed some time, second round rookie Pat Angerer filled in — he performed well enough to remain a starter on the strong side in place of Philip Wheeler. Former starter Tyjuan Hagler signed and played an important role in the rotation and on special teams.
Between Session, Brackett, Angerer, Conner, Hagler, and Wheeler the Colts have two players at each position who have shown enough skill to start. At least four of those players are proven difference makers. The only other linebacker on the Colts roster — Cody Glenn — was one of the Colts best special teams players when he was healthy. If he returns to the field, the Colts have seven players at linebacker, and all but one of those players has meaningful starts on their resumes. More >
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Assessing Positional Value for the Colts 2011 NFL Draft: Cornerback
Apr 21st
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Earlier in the off-season, Coltzilla wrote about how well Colts Vice Chairman Bill Polian has handled turnover at the cornerback position. Exiting training camp, the 2010 team had only Kelvin Hayden, Jerraud Powers, and Jacob Lacey with experience in the Colts defense on the roster. The position was widely considered one of the team’s weakest and most susceptible to injuries.
Entering the draft this year, the situation has changed drastically. While it is widely accepted that Hayden is not playing up to his contract and has annual struggles to stay healthy, he is a legitimate NFL cornerback and would likely start for a lot of teams. The question is – will he start for the Colts in 2011? Polian traded a seventh round pick to the Washington Redskins for Justin Tryon before Week 1. Tryon had a considerable impact on defense and improved in the Colts system throughout the year. He may be good enough to push Hayden for his starting spot across from Powers. More >
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Colts Coyer Trying to Make the Meal With the Wrong Ingredients
Jan 31st
The Colts starting defensive line waiting for the Denver offense to get set. (Doug Pensinger | Getty Images)
When Bill Parcells became head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, one of his first moves was to do nothing. What he didn’t do was rush in and change the defense from a base 4-3 to the “Parcells” 3-4 defense that helped him win two Super Bowls with the Giants. When Pat Kirwan asked him why, Parcells explained that he didn’t have the right ingredients for the 3-4. He knew it was going to take about two to three seasons before he could acquire the right personnel to run the 3-4, and be successful. So, he patiently ran the 4-3 until 2005 when he acquired the talent necessary for the switch.
Larry Coyer would be wise to sit down with Parcells, because what he is trying to do defensively in Indy isn’t working. The issues on defense go way beyond injuries — at the root of the problem is the fact that the players and the scheme don’t match up. More >
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Foreshadowing the Colts 2011 Linebacker Corps
Jan 30th
Kavell Conner tackles Steve Smith in an early season meeting with the Giants at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2010. (AJ Mast | AP Photo)
Linebacker has been a position of weakness for the Colts for many years. Other than Gary Brackett, the last time the Colts had a linebacker worthy of NFL recognition was when former 2002 fourth round draft pick David Thornton left the team following the 2005 season — he signed a lucrative five-year deal with the Tennessee Titans.
In many ways, the fact that the linebackers have not been a major strength is expected with the Colts’ history of refusing to pay veterans at the position after their rookie contracts expire — they did the same with Marcus Washington following the 2003 season, who went on to a Pro Bowl in 2004 and two alternate bids in 2005 and 2006. With a speed-focused defensive philosophy, however, it is reasonable to keep costs low because Colts linebackers are typically not high-profile players to other teams — they are generally too short and too light for other defensive schemes.
These facts and this history makes the Colts current depth chart at linebacker an albatross. While only Gary Brackett has a resume deserving of Pro Bowl consideration over the last three years, the young talent, potential, and depth at each of the linebacker positions is unfamiliar. More >
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A Fan Salute to the 2010 Indianapolis Colts
Jan 5th
A true Colts fan salute. (Andy Lyons | Getty Images)
With a win against the Titans, the Colts managed to overcome unprecedented team injuries and their worst five game series since 2002 for a NFL record (tie) ninth consecutive playoff berth, and their seventh AFC South Championship in the last eight years. Peyton Manning was able to get through his toughest stretch of games since his rookie year and somehow Indy has managed to enter January with the three seed in the AFC.
It is extremely important for Colts fans to step back and think about the gravity of this accomplishment. Frankly, this team had no business overcoming all of the adversity it has faced in a sixteen game season. More >
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