The final list of defensive coordinator candidates for the Indianapolis Colts

The Colts finally ended the tenure of defensive coordinator Gus Bradley shortly after the season ended. It was not unexpected and, in fact, cheered by the fan base. You never like to see anyone lose their job, but we can all agree it was necessary. This franchise needed a new voice, and they now could do just that. The list has been revealed, and now it’s time to discuss it. This list is smaller than I expected, but the candidates so far are strong. Let’s discuss the current list of candidates coming to Indianapolis for an interview, and how I see it playing out.

Lou Anarumo

Seeing his name on this list of candidates was a bit surprising. That’s because I never thought we would see him in this position. Before Ben Johnson was the hottest name on the market, it was Lou Anarumo who had that designation. His defense in Cincinnati always played well in big moments and the staff led the team to Super Bowl LVI after a masterful performance in the preceding AFC Championship game.

A football lifer who coached both college and professional football is a far different candidate than Bradley. Anarumo and his scheme is a more polished take on defense. While he was let go this past season in Cincinnati, the consensus is that it was more of a personnel issue and not coaching. I could not agree more. You see this with all the teams that must eventually pay their star quarterback. Joe Burrow commanded the contract, and with his two receivers ready for payday as well, something had to give.

Dennis Allen

Arguably the best defensive candidate on the board this offseason. Allen has proven he may not be a head coach but his abilities as a coordinator might be just what this team needs. Allen has two head coaching stops on his resume in Las Vegas and, most recently, New Orleans. He finished with a 26-53 record, and only one winning season.

The scheme that Allen runs is a 4-3, which was the same as last season. The Colts would already have the base personnel to keep that going. Allen would incorporate more blitzing and involvement from the secondary. Even with his poor head coaching record, you cannot argue how much it would benefit to have a former head coach on staff to help guide Steichen and staff with game planning.

Ephraim Banda

Banda is the rawest of all the candidates that are on the interview list. He is only 43 years old, and does not have any NFL coordinator experience on his resume. Banda has plenty of college experience, though, as he spent time as a defensive coordinator at both Miami (FL) and Utah State. This season was his first in the NFL, as he was the safeties coach in Cleveland under Jim Schwartz.

Is Banda ready to be a coordinator in this league yet? With this potentially being a “lame duck” staff, would this be a great spot for him to showcase his potential abilities? We do not have the answers to these questions yet. The first inclination would tell us no, because of the inexperience, but he does come from the Jim Schwartz coaching tree. Schwartz is widely regarded as a top defensive mind. While he might be a great coach down the road, it’s too risky to take a chance on him with so much at stake next season.

Steve Wilks

In typical Chris Ballard fashion, they bring in a coach with ties to both Steichen and Ballard. Wilks worked with Steichen during his time with the Chargers, and worked with Ballard in Chicago when he was a scout. Wilks spent this season as a volunteer assistant at the University of Charlotte after being relieved of his duties in San Francisco.

What Wilks does have in his favor is that the San Francisco defense regressed this past season, and his successor was fired as well. Wilks was nearly the head coach in Carolina after they fired Matt Rhule midseason, as he finished 6-6 to finish the season. This screams like a name that Ballard wants because of scheme and familiarity. Not saying he’s a bad candidate; in fact, I think he would be a good candidate, but this hire should be heavily influenced by Shane Steichen.

Don “Wink” Martindale

This is not the first time the current University of Michigan defensive coordinator has talked about joining the staff. In fact, he was a top candidate when the Colts eventually hired current head coach Shane Steichen. He was one of the several candidates that got a second interview during that cycle. He will return to the interviewing stage this week and meet with the team.

His defense this season at Michigan took some time to gel, but after ANOTHER defeat of Ohio State and Alabama, you could see the pieces starting to fall into place. He took the defensive line to another level towards the end. Both potential NFL early round picks (Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant) had career seasons, and it was Martindale’s coaching that allowed them to blossom this season.

Martindale’s reputation as a coach took a hit after his stint with the Giants was over. It appeared that the coaching staff could not get along, and Martindale was the fall guy for it, a lifelong defensive assistant that has never been hired to be a head coach. He is known for his relentless scheme and his intense nature. He would be the exact opposite of Gus Bradley in both scheme and personality. Martindale is a coach that could completely change not only the culture, but also the accountability, of the defensive staff and its players.

Final Prediction

I do see one of these five candidates getting the position, and I would be surprised to see them interview anymore at this point. I think in the end, they will offer it to either Anarumo or Allen. I give the slight edge to Allen, with the head coaching experience being valued in that locker room for next season.