Jeff is a good story, but is he really being considered to be our next coach?
I think as fans we like the move, because we all like Jeff. He is the epitome of our glory days as fans and I think all of us hope that we can find that success that the Saturday playing years afforded the Colts team.
But when we actually need a Coach that we hope will be long term, I don't think Saturday should be the guy. Not because I don't think he might make a good coach one day- he has great intangibles for it- but I don't think he has built up a solid philosophy about what kind of coach he wants to be. This includes what kind of Offensive and Defensive system he wants to run, what coaches he wants to have in place in each spot (and what coaches will ultimately come here), and the players to fill his philosophy to a lesser degree (Since that isn't the Coaches primary job)
Personally, I wouldn't bring in a guy to evaluate the team for good and bad and make the recommendations to the owner if my plan was to have that man become my head coach long term. Saturday might make some unpopular decisions in the locker room and face to face with some of these men. He is here to be a positive disrupter.
Having said that, Saturday
a) knows football x's and o's better than all of us. No doubt, he could handle this aspect of the game (poor clock management last Monday aside)
b) he is good in front of the camera and with the media. He is honest, no bullshit for the most part, and I think the media would give him a pass which is half the battle for Coaches it seems.
c) he is a motivator, which is the antithesis of what we had in Reich.
d) he knows the Colts inside and out. He knows Indianapolis and the fans inside and out. He would likely fuse the identity of team to the heart of the city, which is a great story....but I still need someone with a structured plan in place.
The problem is, with Irsay meddling to the extent that he has...I don't know if any top coaching candidate is touching the Colts unless they are a first timer. Maybe that is the path to success though? Bring in one of Kyle Shannahans playbook guys like McDaniels. I am for it!
Case in point...Jeff might very well be the best of what we can find out there. Maybe his interim position will be super duper interim.
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