[YDFL Commish]

Originally Posted by Gimmick

Some observations about Chuck Pagano:

1. We know him as "clappy" and that's really such a true statement. I watched the Colts-Chiefs playoff game the other day, and when Trent Richardson sloppily fumbled the ball without ever being touch, Pagano literally ran onto the field clapping. Patted Trent on his head and said that's ok don't worry about it. Contrast that to Belichick who lit into his only good running back who fumbled in a playoff game a few years ago and benched him. Told some no-name to get in the game and hold onto the ball.

That was the major problem with Pagano's clubs. He didn't hold anyone accountable and as a result, nobody was sharp. The receivers ran sloppy routes. The running backs didn't take care of the ball. People missed tackles or in Laron Landry's case, never tried to actually tackle a person. Andrew Luck was never pushed (really pushed). Too many mental mistake interceptions where he made the wrong read/poor decision and came off the field banging his helmet saying "my bad". Too many people on special teams who didn't know the rules and got called for penalties like running out of bounds on purpose on a punt that even someone not getting paid at home knows you can't do.

Sloppy ****ing teams over and over again.

2. I've said this before but I have a relative who has ADHD and Chuck Pagano reminds me of him in a lot of ways. The neurons in the brain just fire at random and it's pot-luck whatever decision the guy is going to make. That's how I always felt with Pagano in games. Will he challenge a call or not? Who knows, it depends on whatever random impulse pops into his brain in the moment. 4th down call against the Patriots that everyone laughs about? Same thing.

You just can't have a guy like that running a team. Maybe a great assistant coach. Maybe a great person. But someone who isn't sharp as a tack and always in control of the moment cannot run a team.

3. Chuck Pagano wasn't the worst coach either. He took responsibility for his mistakes and tried to do better. In many cases he did. There are a lot of people in football past Colts coaches and players included who fail to do that. It's a character flaw if you can't admit you screwed up and take responsibility for your actions and try to learn from them and do better. Chuck Pagano deserves credit for not being like that.

Colts moved on from him and it was the right decision. Now let's hope they find the right guy this time.

Excellent post!