We know what kind of offense new head coach Josh McDaniels will run, but what kind of defensive scheme will the coach bring to Indianapolis?
The Colts will officially hire Patriots offensive coordinator after the Super Bowl. We know he is an offensive mind that has worked with the greatest quarterback in the game. But what kind of defense will he bring to Indy?
It’s unclear if McDaniels will retain the current assistants on staff, but most coaches like to hire their own people. The defensive personnel was changed in 2012 from a 4-3 to a 3-4 scheme because Chuck Pagano was the defensive coordinator in a 3-4 scheme.
In his first tenure as a head coach, McDaniels had Mike Nolan as his defensive coordinator. He ran a 3-4 scheme, and the Broncos have kept it ever since. The Colts have all the personnel for a 3-4 scheme, so it would make sense for McDaniels to keep it that way.
The defensive scheme the Colts run in the next few years will be dictated by Mcdaniels’ defensive coordinator decision. If he decides to retain current coordinator Ted Monachino, they will stay in their current scheme. They could switch schemes if McDaniels decides to hire someone else.
The defense needs someone to help lead them to better play. They were near the bottom in every statistical category, and were unable to hold second half leads. The Colts need an infusion on talent on that side of the ball as well. Colts players should hopefully be more healthy next year as well. The defense was decimated with injuries all season long.
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2It will be interesting in the days following the Super Bowl what McDaniels does. Most people will want to see the offense under his eye, but the defense could be even more important. If the Colts can’t stop anyone, it won’t matter what the defense does.