Colts: It’s time to give Frank Reich his contract extension
By Jerry Trotta
Colts head coach Frank Reich has proven that he’s worthy of a contract extension.
Indianapolis Colts fans were terrified leading up to the team’s unforgiving November schedule, and rightfully so, given their list of opponents. With just one game remaining, however, they are already guaranteed to come out the other side with a winning record.
The Colts began the month steamrolling Detroit in a clear trap game and followed that up with a hard-fought loss to Baltimore that could’ve ended differently if not for a costly defensive touchdown in the second quarter that swung momentum.
Rather than spiral into a back-breaking losing streak, head coach Frank Reich’s side responded by rattling off their two best performances of the season in wins over Tennessee and Green Bay, the latter of which included a 14-point comeback in the second half.
We’re no fans of moral victories, but going 3-1 over that daunting stretch is a tremendous accomplishment and further proved that Reich is deserving of a fresh contract extension.
Frank Reich says this is the 1st time in his coaching career he's experimented with the 2-QB system. Early on, he wanted to allow Rivers to establish himself.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) November 23, 2020
"It feels like it's just the right thing to do," Reich says of keeping a package in the game plan for Jacoby Brissett.
Seriously, what more do we need to see? Last year, Reich helped the Colts jump out to a 5-2 start following the abrupt retirement of franchise quarterback Andrew Luck during the preseason before they ultimately succumbed to injuries and suspect play under center.
Think about how impressive that is for a second. Luck was one of the best gunslingers in the league for an eight-year stretch and the team didn’t even skip a beat for the first half of the campaign despite having less than a month to prepare and get over the emotional stumbling block.
Haters might say that Indianapolis failed to make the playoffs in either of Reich’s first two seasons at the helm, but that was never the sole goal and he was also working with objectively pedestrian rosters. With GM Chris Ballard helping improve that situation with excellent draft picks, the 58-year-old head coach’s potential has been unleashed and fans have every reason to be excited about what the future holds.
Jim Irsay: "Frank (Reich) is outstanding...he is just a great coach. We are lucky to have him." @WISH_TV
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) November 23, 2020
While the defense is nearly a finished product, the fact that the Colts are 7-3 with an average (at best) wide receiving corps, a trio of inconsistent running backs and one of the most erratic quarterbacks in the entire NFL is a testament to Reich’s genius. Imagine what he could do once all of those blemishes are sorted out? We’d be looking at a real championship contender.
Based on owner Jim Irsay’s comments, it sounds like Indianapolis’ front office is sold on Reich being the head coach of the future, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Though he has the luxury of being around some of the best assistants in the league, he has proven over the last two-plus seasons that he is so much more than an offensive guru.
