Stampede Blue at the Super Bowl: A Conversation with Larry Coyer
by Brad Wells on Feb 4, 2010 6:19 PM EST
in Stampede Blue at Super Bowl
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PrintThe best signing of an assistant coach last off-season was not Mike Nolan to the Broncos. It was Larry Coyer to the Colts. Coyer's "tweaks" to the Colts defensive system has helped create a very formidable defense led by Gary Brackett, Dwight Freeney, and Antoine Bethea. Also consider that the Colts have played virtually the entire season without Bob Sanders. Coyer's work has indeed been impressive, and fans have taken note. Coach Coyer was kind enough to answer some questions from Stampede Blue today during the Colts early morning press event.
I suggest reading the entire interview, especially the part where Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star makes an appearance and asks Coyer about Dwight Freeney possibly getting moved to left end for the Super Bowl. Enjoy.
BBS: In an interview you did after you were let go from Denver in 2007, you said you like being a defensive coordinator as well as a position coach because, you felt, it put you on "even footing" with your staff. Here, with the Indianapolis Colts, you are only the coordinator. Do you feel that you are on "even footing" with your assistant coaches?
Larry Coyer: Yes, because I’ve known John Teerlick, Mike Murphy, Alan [Williams], these guys have all been around and I’ve known them over the years. So, that’s very comfortable because they know what we’re doing before I know what we’re doing, if you know what I’m talking about. They’re very astute. So, that’s a blessing to have a staff like that. I would still have a passion to coach [a position] if I could still stay healthy enough, long enough, maybe I’ll be able to do that. Because that’s the real joy of football for me: Coaching.
BBS: Would you consider yourself a defensive "guru?"
LC: There’s no such thing, in my mind. I’m just a football coach, and I’ve been blessed to be put where I am. I think the circumstances with coaches, you’re a direct result of your players. And if you’ve got good players, you’re good coach. But, if your players aren’t quite so good, you’re not a very good coach. The blessing here is these guys are a really unique group.
BBS: How does this group compare to others? Is it because of their work ethic?
LC: This team is unique in that way. And they are unique in their cohesiveness. They’ve won a lot of games together. And I think that breeds some confidence. They’re a real cohesive group. This was done by Coach Dungy, the running to the ball, the speed of the defense; all that is Coach Dungy. We really can’t take any credit for what he’s done. We were recipients of the program he built here. These [players] are like him and Coach Caldwell; quality guys. Not everybody’s perfect, but they are cohesive, they run, and they play. It’s hard to describe. It’s really hard to describe what kind of group they are. You don’t get many like that.
BBS: How did they respond to your "tweaks" to the Tampa-2 defensive style?
LC: Well, there are not that many tweaks. These guys are pros. We just sat down and had a talk about what maybe might be good for our football team. And from that point we just worked forward. From the day we got together, it’s been amazing. They’re receptive. They’re professional. They play fast. Anything you tweak they jump on. There was no resistance. They jumped on it. We’re trying to have fun. Really, we are. If you don’t do it in this game, it will get you because we started this game in July!
At this point in the discussion, Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star, who was with me at the interview table with Coyer, asked about the possibility of Freeney playing the Super Bowl at left defensive end. He asked Coyer if the Colts coaches were considering swapping Freeney and Mathis. Coyer responded…
LC: Swapping and all that, that would be a decision by Jim Caldwell.
Bob Kravitz: I just spoke with [Raheem Brock] and he said if Freeney cant go, I’m starting at left end, Robert at right end. You wouldn’t be suggesting that maybe there’s some smoke going on?
LC: I don’t have a clue. I would trust Raheem’s information. I just don’t happen to have it at this time. (Everyone at the table laughs)
I give Bob some credit. Good question. And no, I’m not complimenting Bob simply because he is currently sitting about 15 feet away from me. If I had just gotten info like that from a player, that’s a DING! DING! DING! moment because info does seem to suggest maybe something is up. As Bob told me later, the Colts are being unusually transparent in all this. However, Coyer answered it very well by not providing an answer, which then prompted the people around the table to laugh about it. I then broke in…
BBS: Does the gameplan change if Freeney is significantly hobbled?
LC: No. We would not make any changes. We’ve had it before, different situations, different guys. You can’t predicate anything on any one guy.
Special thanks to Coach Coyer for his time and his insight. Maybe we will see Bob write something tomorrow that will flesh out what he was asking Coyer about. Yesterday, I asked a writer here who is in-the-know about switching Freeney to LE for the Super Bowl. He said it would be a mistake. "You don’t want to take him out of his comfort zone," he said. Plus, the risk for injuring something else increases with him playing a different area of the d-line. If you recall, Freeney’s quad injury earlier this year was because he lined up at LE on a play against the Cardinals.
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sigh
no, ‘Coach, do you instruct Tim Jennings to play in a different area code, or is he just advance scouting next weeks opponent’ question?
Never doubt Peyton Manning, he’ll make you look silly
Joseph Addai is a good running back.
Im a douchebag, an asshole, and I'm rarely right.
(Atleast) one-time SBNation Comment of the Day Comment Maker Person!
Hello, Ladies!
good interview, btw
I like Larry, which is probably a function of the fact that he hasn’t been seen or heard from since taking the job.
Never doubt Peyton Manning, he’ll make you look silly
Joseph Addai is a good running back.
Im a douchebag, an asshole, and I'm rarely right.
(Atleast) one-time SBNation Comment of the Day Comment Maker Person!
Hello, Ladies!
Not that many tweaks?
Then why is this defense so much better than last year?
I think he’s being modest. I think he’s done more for this team than anyone gives him credit for.
He came in here and made this group a cohesive unit built to win.
And I love him for it.
"You can't defend the perfect throw, what can I say?" Peyton quoting Marino
"As I grow older, the list of people who can kiss my ass grows longer"-Ancient Hoosier Proverb.
"Then why is this defense so much better than last year?"
Well, it’s not. According to FO, it was better in 05, 07, and 08. At the very very least, its not “so much” better.
I think one of their biggest "improvements" is merely the lack of predictability
It no longer allows opponents to know exactly what to expect. Statistically, it might not have yielded great results compared to previous years, but I think it provides an edge. Uncertainty on the other guys part means extra time spent thinking, or conversely, making rash decisions. Even if it’s just one or two key mistakes a game, it’s a good thing.
I’m thinking Brackett’s key INT to end the first Ravens game would NOT have occurred had we not faked the blitz (i.e. would not have happened in prior years). One mistake, and NOT on a blitz play, but one where we faked it with enough credibility that it paid off. Mentally Flacco got a pre-snap read and assumed the middle would be vacated by the blitzer. He threw it right to #58. Oops.
For a handful of years now we’ve allowed lots of yards between the 20’s but been pretty stingy in scoring—it’s now a trait whether the MSM chooses to see it or not. The last two games of 09 kind of screwed the general stats, of course. (Not at FO, where they used only three quarters out of the final eight).
It’s like anything— it can be successful in and of itself, or it can set up your opponent for other things. Either way is good. Bullrush, Bullrush, then inside spin for Freeney. Run, run, play-fake for Manning, Jab, jab, uppercut for a boxer, etc. If it works, keep it up. If not, feign it and throw in something new. As an old wrestler, this kind of strategy is in my DNA. I love seeing it used all over the place. (even in music composition)
my $0.02
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
To add to that, player morale probably seeds some of this mindset
By the stats, as jaredtaskin1 pointed out, it’s actually not “better”, not quantitatively at least. But, the change allowed players to feel as though they’re participating in new and different ways, and they feel as if they’re being more productive. Hence, the changes feed a mindset of them being a better defense than before.
And really, that’s not all illusion. When a squad has confidence, that helps them reach a high level of performance. So while they’re not necessarily better than certain previous years, you can look at this as being better than they might have otherwise been this year had those changes not been made.
------
"How can a pickup truck contain enough mass to unfold into a towering machine? I say if Ringling Brothers can get 15 clowns into a Volkswagen, anything is possible."
I agree.
Getting Meeks and bringing in Coyer was the first great decision by Caldwell.
Last year we blitzed a total of 43 times, this year we blitzed over 140 times. That’s a tweak.
(I can’t remember where I read that as I have been living on the internet this week, but I will look for it and link it when I find the stat)
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Feb 4, 2010 7:31 PM EST up reply actions
I'm less impressed with blitz stats
and more impressed by the 1st and goal stands we’ve had this year. This team seams to break less than years past.
Excellent point.
That is indeed impressive!
"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007
by peytonsthebest on Feb 5, 2010 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
and we're still in the bottom 3 or 4 in terms of blitzes on the year
"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."
I read today that it was just about league average....
but I’ve been busy with work and not paying terribly close attention, so I may be off (way off, it appears).
Can 140 be right? 43 works out to just under three per game. That sounds about right for past years. But 140 is nearly nine times a game….. That seems a little high to me. My gut says 100-110 is probably ideal. Work in progress.
I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.
I think 140+ is correct
18to88 has a quote from the Footballoutsiders: “The Colts rarely blitz, sending at least five pass-rushers 24 percent of the time (29th) and at least six pass-rushers just 4 percent of the time (31st).” If an average game has 125 plays, you’d have 10-15 blitzes in a game.
fascinating interview
This is some rare insight into Mr. Coyer. I also agree he’s being modest. Also noted how – like many in this organization – are quick to share credit for success. Very interesting how he was so forthcoming about giving Coach Dungy credit! I’m not suggesting that its disingenuous, but it seems to go against the “this is Caldwell’s team now” mantra we’ve been hearing all year. I think he’s just being honest. Finally, some people above me were discussing why (or if) the D is so much better this year. I still feel it has to do mostly with the improved play at the DT position, but also significantly (but to a lesser extent) with Coyer’s new scheme. Again, nice job BBS.
by taipei_coltsfan on Feb 4, 2010 10:42 PM EST reply actions
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