A Quick Rundown of Colts Coaching Changes
By Editorial Staff
The news broke a long time ago, and it’s pretty much faded from the headlines during the lockout, but the Colts actually made some coaching changes this off-season. As we prepare for training camp, I thought that a quick refresher on those moves might be in order:
- Frank Reich is the new receivers coach. Reich was the quarterbacks coach for the last two seasons, but interestingly …
- Ron Turner is the new quarterbacks coach. Last year, he was the Colts’ wide receivers coach.
- David Walker is the new running backs coach. He left the same position at Pitt after the 2010 season and signed with Maryland before the Colts came calling. He replaces Gene Huey, who retired after 19 seasons with the Colts.
- Devin Fitzsimmons is a new coaching assistant. He was a tight ends coach at Richmond in 2010.
I have yet to run across a real explanation for the Reich-Turner switch, but BigBlue Shoe at Stampede Blue offered up a couple of theories centered around Jim Caldwell feeling pressure to win and Peyton Manning having some sort of beef with Reich. I tend to think that Manning must have had a hand in the change, at least giving his approval, because the offense is obviously his baby. The underlying reason for the move, though, is anyone’s guess.
At any rate, tinkering with the coaches before a lockout season seems risky, and now Manning is recovering from another neck surgery, too. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the offense sputter early on, particularly with Houston and their Manning-eater, Mario Williams, up first.