Thoughts on Caldwell?

by Carolina Colt on Jan 10, 2009 10:09 AM EST Comment 19 comments

When Tony leaves we all know Jim Caldwell will be the new head coach of our Colts.

I have heard mixed opinions on Caldwell. I know his record was not great at Wake Forest, but I personally believe he will be able to maintain the success we have experienced over the last 6 years. He is not the same coach he was while at Wake, he has been in Indy watching and learning everything Tony does. Jim will be just fine as head coach of our Colts.

So how do you think Caldwell does when he takes over the Colts, either this year or in the future?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

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Found a Nice Article on Caldwell here

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ordine/blog/2008/01/who_is_jim_caldwell.html

I think the consensus is that Caldwell has a similar style to Dungy and that can’t be a bad thing.

by Playoff Pride on Jan 10, 2009 12:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the link.

This says it all for me:

It’s reported that Dungy and Manning support Caldwell’s candidacy for a head coaching job.

If both Dungy and Manning (and no doubt Polian) support him, how can I argue? That’s all I need to know. I will have to practice saying “Coach Caldwell” though, doesn’t sound right..yet.

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Jan 12, 2009 4:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I honestly

Don’t think he’s HC material. I maybe wrong, but usually guys who come out of six years of shadowing a guy like Dungy, usually struggle to find their footing when adversity rears it’s head. I’m not saying this due to his demeanor, which is overrated as most coaches with a winning record know how to act usually, but due to the fact that he’s virtually an unknown commodity, riding on the successes of guys like Dungy and Moore.

"Winning is not everything;the desire to win is" - Vince Lombardi

by rangerover76 on Jan 10, 2009 1:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

but he isn't unknown to everyone

He’s been around more than long enough for the front office to see how he interacts with players, how he deals with smaller bits of adversity, and most importantly, whether he commands respect. I mean I have my hesitations too but it’s because all I know of him is as a HC in his time at Wake. And as has been proven before, Polian makes better decisions that I would have. I’m definitely a bit nervous but you just have to think that by the time he gets in, the players won’t have much of an adjustment at all because all the vets know him well.

by psvirsky on Jan 10, 2009 5:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Caldwell

Didn’t a lot of the coaches that played under Dungy at Tampa go and become Head Coaches? I don’t know if you would say that Mike Tomlin struggles in Pittsburgh.

by sharpie1600 on Jan 10, 2009 5:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

and the college game

and the NFL are totally different. I don’t think success OR failure at one level means anything at the other. I would tend to ignore college performance as it just doesn’t seem to translate. I’ll reserve judgment until he actually is a head coach and has to sink or swim on his own. that being said I doubt Dungy would leave until he thought someone was ready to step in for him.

An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...

by bluegirl on Jan 10, 2009 6:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

See Pete Carroll, Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier, John McKay, etc.

by Colts Homer on Jan 10, 2009 8:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good Examples

by KMR24 on Jan 10, 2009 9:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

only success

was jimmy johnson. I don’t count swizter (sp?) since he took over a great team.

oh and how about Saban and petrino even more recently…

An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...

by bluegirl on Jan 11, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

I think that he would be a better option than getting a coach that has no ties to the organization. He is respected by the players, and that means that there won’t be much of a recoil from a coaching change

by Taskmaster on Jan 10, 2009 7:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

"If loving Peyton Manning is wrong, I don't wanna be right"

by ClarkFan44 on Jan 12, 2009 12:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but I'm a bit concerned

about the his head coach coaching record at the college level.

by Ayrshire on Jan 10, 2009 8:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

see: bluegirl's posts above ... i think she says it perfectly

"If loving Peyton Manning is wrong, I don't wanna be right"

by ClarkFan44 on Jan 12, 2009 12:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

okay, so lets leave out his college resume. How many Head Coaches with no coordinator experience at all have been successful? His only time leading an entire group of men was as a head coach of wake. If we’re dismissing that, he has no coordinator experience or anything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmGdAPjcgaM&eurl=http://www.only17points.com/&feature=player_embedded

by Nideak on Jan 12, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

why does someone need coordinator experience

a head coach is a overseer, talent evaluator and decider, if he has good coordinators why does he need to know how to be one. Caldwell has been a head coach in training for 4 years. I think he’s got the experience.

Shonn Greene for Heisman
Doak Walker award winner
144 yards per game
6.2 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA

by shake n bake on Jan 12, 2009 3:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cite the examples, then. If this course of action works so well, why has it never been done before?

I’m not tryin to say that you can’t think outside of the box, but your answer is too simplistic. Coordinators are sort of overseers of the unit. They have DL, LB, DB, WR, OL, TE, QB, and RB coaches to be hands on.

I disagree that he’s got the experience. I watched my parents drive for 16 years before I was able to get behind the wheel of the car. Watching doesn’t prepare you for doing. I think the same could be said by millions of teenage boys and certain acts.

Whatever qualities you liked about Dungy were probably there in large part because he’s Tony Dungy. You can’t just rub that off on someone else.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmGdAPjcgaM&eurl=http://www.only17points.com/&feature=player_embedded

by Nideak on Jan 12, 2009 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Jim Zorn had never been a coordinator or college HC, just to get out in front of that one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmGdAPjcgaM&eurl=http://www.only17points.com/&feature=player_embedded

by Nideak on Jan 12, 2009 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not saying a non-coordinator is better

but I think it can work.

Coordinators get those jobs for a reason, they are gifted minds on their side of the ball, but management is a huge part of being a head coach. Caldwell has gotten the best NFL team management training possible for 4 years. I hope Meeks stays so the D doesn’t lose it’s 2 overseers, but that would be a concern for any new HC coming from outside the organization as well.

Shonn Greene for Heisman
Doak Walker award winner
144 yards per game
6.2 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA

by shake n bake on Jan 12, 2009 4:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My most concern

When Caldwell takes over, I will not at all be concerned regarding the offense. However, the defense will be a concern for me. Dungy was all about making adjustments on D, will Caldwell have that much success in that area? Who will take over on the D coaching wise I guess…just curious overall on how the D will handle the situation. Overall though, the team will still be successful.

by ColtsFanNChiTown on Jan 11, 2009 12:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs