With the age and experience on both sides of the ball, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bill begins to build the defense for the eventual retirement of Peyton. They’ll probably draft a QB in the 3rd round next year or the year after and begin the learning process. However, our defense has the overall younger players and talent to turn into a very strong defensive team. The offense is not as overwhelming as it used to be, but still easily a top 5 offense in the league. Besides, even when we were the best offensive team in the league we were still losing in the playoffs.

And you can pretty much throw whatever you base your ideas about how they’re going to draft out the window, it’s not the same team or mentality when it comes to the draft. Caldwell is not Dungy, Coyer is not Meeks, and Rychleski is not Purnell. Most of the time when a coordinator comes in he says what he wants to do and comes when he feels like he can mold their respective responsibility as a coach to be successful.

Coyer wasn’t fired in Tampa Bay, and technically took a downgrade in title to become our DC. Rychleski worked with Caldwell in WF, and considering the 10 minute hiring process, not only does Caldwell feel comfortable with him, but most likely values his opinion and input.

I’ve found two transcripts (actually I’m making these up) of the Coyer/Polian interview for the DC job. You tell me which ones sound realistic.

BP – “Nice to meet you Larry, have a seat.”
LC – “Nice facility you have here.”
BP – “Thank you, thank you. Yes, we enjoy it. Let’s get right down to business shall we. What would YOU add to the Colts to improve our team and offer us that we haven’t had in the past and would impress us enough to get rid of the person who’s been our DC for 7 years and the HC who has had his hands in the defense since he came over from TB?”
LC – “Well Bill, I don’t think it’s breaking down the fundamental principles of physics here. It’s pretty well known that your defense hasn’t been up to par with your offense since Peyton Manning was drafted. I think my track record speaks for itself regarding what my expertise and mentality is when it comes to building a defense. I’ve run the T2 system, and been part of the scheme in various forms since its inception. I implemented the system successfully in Denver and was part of a Monte Kiffin defense in Tampa Bay for the past two seasons.”
BP – “Well that’s nice, but what would YOU offer us that we didn’t have with Meeks and Dungy?”
LC – “I’m not taking anything away from Meeks, but we all know it was Dungy who was running the defense. Dungy is a great coach and a hall of famer in his own right, however, I believe he saw the T2 from the standpoint of a defensive back. Which isn’t really a stretch considering the position he played in Pittsburgh, but it’s pretty well understood that Dungy utilized a Monte Kiffin designed defense in Tampa. He used it well, and it was his idea, but he picked someone to design it and perfect it because he was the HC and had other responsibilities. And as you can tell from my resume, I emphasize the front 7. I built a linebacking core in Denver during my tenure there and was brought into Tampa as a defensive line coach. I think my strengths are suited to directly focus on the deficiencies the Colts have had for years.”
BP – “You’re right Larry, it’s not really a secret where we’ve been lacking. But how would you fix it? Do you believe it’s a personnel problem or a coaching problem?”
LC – “Well, in my opinion it would definitely be a problem with personnel. Tony Dungy is one of the best teachers in NFL history. That’s the reason he’s been so successful as a coach. I’ve paid attention, you haven’t had depth at linebacker and have been pretty snakebitten at DT for years. But every year your defense gets better towards the end of the year because obviously Tony’s teachings were reaching the players. To do that year after year is only a product of what a great coach you’ve had.”
BP – “Well Larry, as you know we’ve never really been a team to jump in and make huge splashes in free agency. The last time we tried that was with Corey Simon and we got burned. So either the people on our team will have to do or we have to get them through the draft. Could you please tell me where, in your opinion, what you would consider our needs and deficiencies? Along with who you think we need to retain and who we should allow to go into free agency.”
LC – “Well, I believe you have a very good secondary in Indy. You’ve had one for years, but that’s not how teams have been beating you. However, if I install and utilize my version of the T2, we can’t let the secondary fall apart. So I feel that we should retain Hayden at all costs. Your depth at safety is phenomenal. Bullitt has shown that he can be a starter and could be a starter in his own right. Your defensive ends are arguably the best duos in the league. Brackett is a very solid MIKE. Session has shown great potential as a SAM. So that really leaves your DT and WILL linebacker because Keiaho doesn’t really fit what I like to see in my system.”
BP – “Wait, let me stop you there for a second. You don’t think we should at least offer Keiaho a tender and recoup a pick for him? Would you suggest we keep Hagler instead?”
LC – “No, because I don’t think anyone is going to give up a 3rd round pick and over a million dollars for him. Hagler is also expendable.”
BP – “Well, our depth at LB isn’t stellar. If we’re going to allow our second best LB to walk, are you saying we need to invest in one during the draft? At the moment, we have some guys we weren’t sold on and a few second year players.”
LC – “To be perfectly honest, your LBs have been a weakness for years. Even while completely healthy, you guys have not been fielding a very good unit. If you want me to be your DC, I want a LB I can count on. You can see the type of LBs I like when I drafted D.J. Williams in Denver. And Derrick Brooks is the best T2 WILL linebacker in history in regards to the T2 scheme. You’ve also been able to turn some players who could be considered average at best into some decent DTs. Imagine what could’ve happened if your luck had been a bit better and you had an elite NT for your system. I believe that you have very good depth at the DT position, but I think you could easily find a starter in the first couple rounds at either NT or UT. Considering the importance of a NT in a T2 system, I believe that in tandem with a WILL linebacker that can attack the line, you could have a very dominant defense.”
BP – “So from what you’re saying is that you’d like to draft starters who could see playing time next year? If we let Keiaho go, I’m not sure anyone can step in right away and not see a significant dropoff in production. Brackett’s coming off a foot injury very similar to what Dwight had. It took Dwight a little bit of time to fully recover. What do you think the impact of letting Keiaho and Hagler walk would have if we didn’t invest an early pick in the draft that addressed the situation?”
LC – “Well, quite frankly, it’d be worse. And I don’t want my name on a poor defense. If you want me as your DC, I’d want my voice to be heard when it came to the draft.”
BP – “Ok, let’s just lay it out. If you come to Indy as the DC you want a LB or DT high in the draft?”
LC – “To be perfectly honest, it’d probably be the only way I’d come. You have problems, I have a good gig going, but I know what you have and know where you need help. Yes, I’d want to take a LB within the first couple of rounds and possibly a DT. I may be able to work with them for awhile at DT, but let’s not kid ourselves, you traded a second round pick for McFarland in 2006, drafted Pitcock in the 3rd round in the ensuing draft, and you attempted to trade a 3rd round pick for McCargo this year. I’m known as being a linebacker and a defensive line coach. We both know that the reason your run defense became better at the end of last year was more due to utilizing a difference defensive scheme and not solely the performance of the players you had on the field. The reason you’re talking to me in the first place is because you obviously feel that the defense has problems. And my forte directly addresses what’s been well documented as your deficiency. My name will be on this defense and I want the players I need to have success. I’m not asking for a promise because I know how the draft works, but I am asking for my voice to be heard. If you think your defensive play has been holding you back and you want your run defense to step up to contribute to the final years of Peyton’s career in a positive way, I’m your guy. If you think everything’s been fine, feel your defense is just fine and continuing down this path will lead to postseason success, I suggest you retain Meeks. Because there ARE some things I would want you to provide me to succeed. If you can promise me that, I can promise you I will do everything in my power to improve this team before the window closes.”
BP (picking up his phone) – “Someone get Ron Meeks on the line and put together a "Thank you for your service” gift."

And this is the conversation that apparently went down considering all the mocks.

BP – “Wassup Larry. Go ahead and sit down, I’m on the phone trying to setup a trade for Boldin. If that falls through, I’m thinking about letting Hayden go and getting Housh and four or five other WRs. Just be a minute.”
LC – “Um…ok.”
BP (2 hours later) – “Alright, well I guess if he wants to go to Seattle that’s FINE! (slams phone down). Ah, Larry, still here? Well what’s up?”
LC – “Hey man, I really need a job. Crap’s hitting the fan down in Tampa. Jon’s out, little shaky. I’ve got rent due at the end of the month. Could you hook me up?”
BP – “You’d better be trying a little harder than that bub. Nothing’s wrong with our defense, it’s our OFFENSE man! Don’t people realize that even though it’s a huge letdown, we’re SWEET in the regular season?! Why would I get rid of Meeks for you?”
LC – “Pretty please?”
BP – “Alright, whatever. Too bad that Tony Dungy quack couldn’t run a Tampa 2 with all these amazingly awesome players we’ve had for years. Just to give you some inside info, we’re letting Harrison go and we’re taking a WR in the first, second, third, and sixth rounds. I know he pretty much hasn’t been playing for 2 years and that we drafted Gonzalez to be his replacement, but now we need a replacement for Harrison.”
LC – “Wait, what? You drafted Anthony Gonzalez to replace Marvin Harrison and used him in the slot to get playing time? Why would you draft a replacement for Harrison when you uh…drafted a replacement for Harrison already?”
BP – “WHO TOLD YOU YOU COULD THINK?! SHUT UP! Go get me some coffee or something. Make yourself useful. Oh, and we’re letting all your LBs go too, deal with it. Just make sure to go around and tell everyone that YOU, LARRY COYER, will be the DC next year. I’m giving you absolutely no input, I’m getting rid of your LBs, and if you screw up, it’ll only prove that I’m a super awesome GM and all my defensive coordinators suck. (picking up the phone again) Someone get Al Davis on the line. I want to trade him our 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th round picks so we can get Crabtree. And put Freeney on the trading block, maybe we can get Crabtree’s replacement. (looking up at Coyer) Why are you still here? GET OUT!”