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The Colts Could be Selling Themselves Short

By Ryan Stano

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 07: Peyton Manning (L) listens as Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay speaks at a press conference announcing Manning's release from the Colts at Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on March 7, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joey Foley/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 07: Peyton Manning (L) listens as Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay speaks at a press conference announcing Manning's release from the Colts at Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on March 7, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joey Foley/Getty Images) /
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The next head coach for the Indianapolis Colts will shape the organizations short-term and long-term future. If the organization limits its options in their coaching search, they’re selling themselves short.

Chuck Pagano may not have been the best option to take over as head coach back in 2012. He also may not have been the worst option. But either way, he is gone now as head man of the Colts, and the organization has to find the right man for the job.

The Colts need to find someone who can coach this team to playoff victories so they don’t waste Andrew Luck’s prime. It seems they think the best way to do that is to hire an offensive minded coach. An offensive coach might very well be the best choice, but shouldn’t the Colts look around the league just to make sure?

The only coach to win a Super Bowl in Indy is Tony Dungy, who was a former defensive coach. Other organizations have found good candidates by having a wide search as well. For instance, the Steelers hired a relatively unknown (and young) Mike Tomlin after he was the defensive backs coach in Tampa. Now he’s won a Super Bowl and played in another.

The Colts may end up hiring the best candidate. That candidate may very well be an offensive coach. But after reports have surfaced that the Colts are focusing in on just offensive minds, it begs the question; why? Why limit yourself at all? Why not make sure you have all of your bases covered?

Chris Ballard will be judged for years on this hire. This will be his defining moment in his young Colts tenure. If he hits a home run, then the Colts can be an organization to be reckoned with for years to come. But if he hires a dud, the team will be set back another 5 years.

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