NFL Playoffs: Apparently, Jim Caldwell Doesn't Learn From His Mistakes
by Brad Wells on Jan 9, 2011 9:03 AM EST
in 2010 Colts Analysis
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PrintPrior to last night's playoff loss to the Jets, I wrote a lengthy article praising Colts coach Jim Caldwell for the job he did during the month of December. The Colts, after going 6-6 in the three previous months, were essentially in 'playoff mode' heading into December. They needed to win all four games to make the post-season, which they did. Caldwell deserves much of the credit for the team winning those four games.
However, as much as he deserves the credit for getting Indy to the post-season, Caldwell's decision-making is very much to blame for their early exit from the playoffs. As was evident last night in the closing minute of the Colts 2010 season, Jim Caldwell apparently did not learn from his mistakes earlier in the season.
After Peyton Manning led the Colts into field goal range, and Adam Vinatieri booted through a 50 yard field goal to give the Colts a 16-14 lead with 53 seconds left in the game, the Jets received the kickoff at the Indy one yard line and returned it 47 yards. After three plays netted 13 yards, the Jets were at the Colts 34 yard line content to attempt a 50-plus yard FG.
However, for reasons that seem absolutely baffling to just about everyone in Lucas Oil Stadium last night, Colts coach Jim Caldwell called timeout with 29 seconds left in the game. According to CBS Sports' Gregg Doyel, the Jets took full advantage of Caldwell's oddly timed timeout:
Given time to get the right play, the Jets talked it out. It was a group effort. New York considered calling another running play anyway, but 6-foot-3 receiver Braylon Edwards objected. Since the Colts had given New York time to talk it out, Edwards noted that he was being single-covered by 5-10 Colts cornerback Jacob Lacey. He wanted the ball.
Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer relented, and suggested a certain pass play. This time, quarterback Mark Sanchez objected. (Told you -- this was a group effort.) Anyway, Schottenheimer relented a second time.
Here, Mark, he told Sanchez. You call the play.
No animosity. All trust. Schottenheimer trusted Sanchez to call a play that would work, and Sanchez called a streak to Edwards down the right sideline. It worked -- easily, with Edwards rising high above Lacey for the catch -- for 18 yards. The clock ran down to three seconds, and the Jets called their final timeout.
On the next play, the kicker made the game-winning FG, and the Colts lost. If this sounds like deja vu Colts fans, that's because it is.
By allowing the Jets time to come up with a play, Mark Sanchez and Braylon Edwards were able to gain an additional 18 yards for Folk. What would have been a 50-plus yard kick (Folk was 2-5 on 50-plus yarders in 2010) was now a chip shot 32-yarder that any professional kicker should make with their eyes closed. Folk nailed the FG, and the Colts (for the seventh time in the Peyton Manning era) were one-and-done in the playoffs.
If this scenario of oddly timed time outs seems familiar, that's because it is. Back in Week Four, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Caldwell did the exact same thing in the exact same situation. The result was a Jags FG to win the game.
Back in Week Four, we wrote about the useless Caldwell timeout and how the Jaguars, like the Jets, capitalized on Caldwell's mistake:
Regarding the timeout, for me it was a poor decision. The Colts defense was awful yesterday. Simple awful. Prior to the timeout, the Jags ran the ball for 8 yards on first down. They faced a second and two, and were content to let the clock run and take their chances in OT. For the Colts to have any hope of winning, they needed to win the coin toss.
No faith in their defense making any kind of stop. None. Because of the Caldwell timeout, the Jags saw an opportunity.
Even players like Dwight Freeney seemed surprised by Caldwell's timeout with 36 seconds left against the Jags. But, like last night against the Jets, the Jags used the extra time to draw up and play, which would eventually be a 22-yard completion by David Garrard which was just enough for kicker Josh Scobee to nail a 59-yarder to win the game.
The parallels between that Week Four timeout mistake and last night's were eery, and I have yet to find one person who can defend Caldwell's reasoning for calling the TO with 29 seconds left against the Jets.
I mean, what? Did he think he was going to get the ball back? Seriously?
I guess we shouldn't be surprised by Caldwell's decision last night. When asked by the press about the timeout after the loss to the Jags, Caldwell said [emphasis mine]:
Asked whether he would handle it differently, Caldwell said, "No sir. Same thing."
As the famous saying goes, the definition of insanity is doing the same task over and over again, but expecting a different result. While I'm not ready to call Jim Caldwell insane, I am ready to say that while he deserves create for getting Indy to the post-season, he is most certainly not the kind of coach that will lead the Colts to a Super Bowl victory.
His terrible decision last night to call timeout was the third such situation this year where he mis-used his timeouts. Factor in his questionable decision-making in Super Bowl 44, and the mood of fans after last night's brutal loss is that Jim Caldwell should be fired.
Obviously, he won't. Jim Irsay thinks he's Coach of the Year, and Bill Polian has a hard enough time admitting he makes errors in player evaluation, let alone coaching hires. It seems clear to me that Colts fans have lost faith in Caldwell, and if the voice of fans means anything to Jim Irsay, he should reconsider his options at the head coaching position heading into 2011.
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The purpose of the timeout, I am sure, was to try and save time for the Colts offense. That is why Caldwell didn’t apologize. He doesn’t see it as a mistake.
Caldwell
Then Caldwell is a moron.
SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue and editor of SB Nation Indiana.
Caldwell’s decision-making is very much to blame for their early exit from the playoffs
Huh, that’s funny, I didn’t see Caldwell on the field failing to contain the final-minute 47 yard kick return that really lost them the game. I didn’t see him on the field in the final two minutes when the offense should have done a better job controlling the ball and the clock before they handed it back to the Jets.
They didn’t need Caldwell to lose that game.
"Keep your government hands off my Medicare!!!" ~ 2009 quote of the year, Yale Book of Quotations
"Without data, all you are is just another person with an opinion."
He didn't help to win, either.
Nick Folk from 45+ is very iffy, about 20% he makes it. Folk from 30, well, the result speaks for itself.
"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West
by insertscreenname on Jan 9, 2011 10:18 AM EST up reply actions
Next year
I understand all of the hate and frustration towards Caldwell, but let’s not totally blame him. If it weren’t for some of the mistakes of our DB’s we wouldn’t have been in that position in the first place.
I think it makes no sense to dwell on this game. We have a bright future ahead. With a healthy offseason and good free agent/draft pick-ups this team will be scary good next year. Look at what we did this year with a team full of replacements. Imagine what we can do next year with all our guys healthy and the acquisition of some solid new players. Im excited and you all should be too.
oh boy.....
this game wasn’t won or lost on a time out………..three straight 3rd and 1 yd in the first qtr and we can’t get a yard? We let them hang around too long…….that is what cost the Colts the game……no offense in the 1st qtr…………I also cheered when Brad Smith came up lame……Then Cromartie kills us with two great returns……..whew……..Did Peyton forget about #87?
The timeout was a strategic maneuver, that only looks bad in hindsight. I agree with the rest of these posts. It was of little consequence in the outcome.
Was Caldwell a moron when he rallied a 6-6 team with a ridiculous number of a catastrophic injuries, and a Legend Quarterback handing out Pick 6s like spam- to a 10-6 record and a home playoff game?
He is a good coach. The Colts play hard.
They lost to the Jets primarily because of a lack of execution on special teams throughout, and defense in the 2nd half. And they lost because of injuries. If 17 players go on IR….injuries are a legitimate reason for wins and losses. Not an excuse.
Hindsight
That’s his third “bad in hindsight” call this year. MAYBE it’s just a bad decision in foresight. While it did not cost them the game, it did open up the ENTIRE middle of the field for a free play.
Not a bad decision in foresight.
If the Colts force a longer field goal, and the Jets make it, the timeout gives the Colts a play or two to try and win. That was the idea.
Kill
We need to be going for the kill long before we get to this point anyway. I’d rather make them take the long field goal than give them time to figure out how to beat us and then use their timeout to stop the clock. Similar to basketball on an in bounds play at the end of the game.
WRONG!!!!!!!!
That was the Colts final timeout & it was 2nd down! The Jets threw to Edwards & then let the clock run to 0:03 before using their final timeout.
If the pass was incomplete, they would have run the ball on 3rd down to gain a few yards & then let the clock run to 0:03 & called timeout!
No chance for Colts to get the ball back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Loss
Oh and they lost because the Colts offense was playing grabass with each other calling the plays from an OC using a crayon so it’d make sense why it was all messed up.
In the Jax game and this Wild Card debacle, I instantly knew that calling the TO was the wrong move.
Literally as soon as he called both I was saying to my friends, “What the Hell is he doing, is he stupid?” So, it’s not hindsight.
How does he do it?
Puh-lease.
This article is written in the spirit of a 10 year old baseball team that lays blame for their loss on the last player to strike out. Or the coach that didn’t pull the player before his at bat.
-- Life is to short to take everything serious. Especially sports blogs.
Ya, Honestly -
Let’s do the “if’s” because strategy is about playing the odds – sometimes long odds, sometimes short odds.
So, IF Lacey doesn’t allow the reception, then the clock stops and the Jets have to run another play, most likely an attempted FG kick from 50 yards. IF he misses the FG, we’re good and win the game. IF he makes it, we have 30 seconds to take the ball 40 yards down the field for an AV winning FG. IF you don’t call timeout, the Jets just let the clock run down.
When your team gets this close to winning and loses, it’s a question of more than just the last thing to happen.
by buymymonkey on Jan 9, 2011 10:18 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
WRONG
If the 2nd down pass was incomplete, the Jets would have called a running play on 3rd down to gain a few yards & run the clock down to 0:03.
You people are as stupid as Caldwell.
The Jets were going to kick on the very last play no matter what. Rex Ryan may be a loudmouth but he’s 100X smarter than Caldwell when it comes to football.
Caldwells fault
Yeah, I dont understad yo peopel apologizing for Caldells dumb move.
obviously Caldwell iist fully responsible for 23 players on IR, the missed tackles, Bill Polians stubborness in continuosly building an undersized D that gets us mauled in the play-offs. But time management is the HC’s responsibilty.
Not only did he make this same blunder against the Jags, he PROMISED he would do it again! And he did, when it counted the most, and the result was the same.
Thsi gy won liek 26 gmes in 8 years as HC of Wake Forest, hes rode himself to this position on Dungys coatails, if it wasnt for Peyton Manning, this guy wouldnt be a head coach anywhere.
by dezznutz1001 on Jan 10, 2011 1:17 PM EST up reply actions
reality check......
As with every playoff loss for the Colts, the defense gets the blame. I’ll admit that the D didn’t have a good 2nd half however, they did hold the Jets to 17 pts. If any one of us Colts fans were asked, “what do you think the Colts chances if the hold the Jets to 17 pts?” We’d all say, we are going to Pittsburgh. Year after year, our playoff misfortunes are simply because our offense doesn’t get the job done. The Colts were the 4th highest scoring offense in the NFL. 27 pts per game…..We managed to settle for 3 fgs….oh, 3rd and 7…we run? Yeah, it worked earlier in the game but this was a crucial point of the game. We needed a TD. The Jets knew that they wouldn’t survive a shootout……..it is really that simple…………
There are many reasons the Colts lost last night,
but coaching should never be one of them. Unfortunately, it was. Usually, it’s covered up by the greatest player the NFL has ever seen. But, sometimes, especially with a depleted roster, even Manning can’t pull out the miracle. Somehow, seeing Jim Caldwell’s blank stare, while occasionally making a poor challenge and calling an inappropriate time-out, doesn’t give me much confidence. And, not trying to get points at the end of the first half last night was the most conservative, cowardly thing I’ve ever seen. It’s very simple, ….a head coach should be an asset to the team, not a detriment. And, it doesn’t surprise me that Irsay thinks he’s coach of the year. I’ve seen his tweets. That pretty much tells you where HIS head’s at.
1. Caldwell likely challenged the play on others recommendations. So blame them. He is actually known for being good at knowing when to challenge.
2. Irsay thinks he’s the coach of the year because the Colts were devastated by injuries, and Caldwell still got them in the playoffs. While I don’t think he is the Coach of the Year, It makes complete sense to me why Irsay thinks that.
3. It was not an inappropriate timeout. See buymymonkey’s post above.
4. What does a “blank stare” have to do with anything? Dungy was 95% as stoic on the sideline as Caldwell.
I do agree that...
After watching Pete Carroll (Seahawks coach), and seeing him laugh and high give guys, it’s kind of cool to see a coach act like that. Now, if the Seahawks lost 33-3, that coolness would not be as important as trying to win the game. But I think what people want is a serious coach, who doesn’t blow his top (like Coughlin), but knows when to show emotion (positive and negative). I have the 2006 Colts SB DVD package, and if you watch some of the highlights, Dungy DID laugh, or pat people on the back, but he did not show anger. Caldwell doesn’t show any emotion beyond a nod of the head, or a partial smile. Works for me if they’re going 14-2, but not after losing a close game. So it’s a perception thing, I guess. I’d much rather have him the way he is, and win games/SB’s.
Caldwell's the coach.
He’s responsible for throwing the flag or not throwing the flag. The Colts have gigantic screens at the stadium. It was completely obvious at the beginning of the game that the Jet player didn’t touch the ball. Why challenge? Stupid. And, as to your point 2, Caldwell was along for the ride. Give credit where credit is due. Manning deserves the credit. His arm is what carried this team through all the injuries. And, you’re wrong, the timeout was totally inappropriate. It was crazy. He should have done whatever he could to keep the field goal distance as long as possible. What good does it do for the Colts to get the ball back with 20 or 30 seconds left, when you don’t even have enough confidence in your team to go for points at the end of the first half…..with 45 seconds left and 2 time-outs. And, what’s the point of your Dungy reference. He’s the same as Caldwell….way too conservative, failed ‘resting’ policies, and riding Peyton’s coattails. We should have way more than 1 championship. But that’s what you get with the three stooges running the team.
Fair enough -
My Dungy reference was really that he was seen as “emotionless”, and he actually did show some emotions. Caldwell shows basically none.
I’m having cognitive dissonance on the timeout. I go back and forth. Is it really the worst call possible, or is there not some compelling reason where you would call a timeout in such a circumstance?
Actually my reply was to what 'moocow' said.
I think we’re all a bit frustrated, but the real story this year are injuries. Manning needs some help at some point. We just didn’t have enough good players filling in to continue to win. And, there’s too much inconsistency. As for the coaching, I stand by my thoughts there. This is a very aggressive, tough sport. And, coaching should be the same. Coaching should help your team, not hurt them. Caldwell comes off as clueless. His on-field decisions reinforce that. Usually, Manning is good enough to over come them, but not all the time. Two of Caldwell’s time-outs have been direct factors in us not winning games this past year. I’m not saying they were the only reasons we lost, but come on? Everyone out there in the football world scratches their heads at the things Caldwell does. Even with that kind of stuff aside, the conservative, take-no-chances , rest players philosophies are a major disappointment. This team, under Caldwell’s leadership, has a ‘react and try not to lose’ mentality, instead of ‘ripping their heads off’ mentality. I hate it! And, I think it’s doing Peyton a great disservice.
1. Irsay obviously thinks that Caldwell, as the head coach, is resonsible for the four game winning streak as well. I happen to agree with him.
2. Throwing the flag was not obvious. The Jets returner came very close to touching the ball. For that matter, I really don’t care. It had no impact on the game-and evaluating a coach on something like that is flat out silly.
3. I understand the reason for the timeout. You don’t. So what?
4. Basically you think the Colts coaches suck, and Peyton Manning is awesome. I disagree. I think the Colts coaches are good, and Peyton Manning is awesome.
5. Did you think the Colts were “way to conservative” when Peyton was handing out picks in the middle of the season? Throwing 11 interceptions in something like 3 games. After those games, the Colts played more conservative. And they started winning.
6. Coaching had nothing to do with the Colts loss to the Jets. Special teams, defense, injuries….and the Jets played well in the 2nd half.
I disagree with everything you said.
See my comment above.
I did see your comment above.
Its really easy to blame everything on coaches when you lose. It’s lazy too.
There's nothing lazy about what I wrote.
And, I still respectfully disagree with you. I’ve never said that all the blame goes to the coaches. A lot of it has to do with injuries. My position is that the coaching is still sub-par, and the coaching philosophy of trying to conservatively preserve leads instead of going for the throat, doesn’t help the team overcome obstacles, when it should. Plus, I think the play-calling is ridiculously bad. That also falls on the coaches.
The coaching is NOT sub-par. And It is obviously not sub-par. A team which has many injuries as it the Colts, makes the playoffs, and plays a highly competitive game (losing on a last second field goal) against a team that probably has more HEALTHY talent…is not poorly coached. IThat’s the big picture. I believe you put Dallas Clark, Austin Collie, Anthony Gonzalez, or Melvin Bullitt on that field yesterday…the Colts win. Nothing to do with coaching.
You apparently think the coach is bad because of a) challenge flags thrown in the first half and b) “blank stares” That is attributing the lion-share of the blame on the coaches, and focusing on peripheral things that don’t impact football games. It is too easy to blame so much on the coaches. John Teerlink is broadly regarded as one of 2 best defensive line coaches in football. The Colts had almost no pass rush in the 2nd half….should they fire him?
You are aware that Peyton Manning ultimately, calls many of the plays himself, aren’t you? Why isn’t it his fault for such “bad play-calling?” I personally don’t think the plays were bad. The receivers just weren’t getting very open, the running backs didn’t have room to run.
I do think just blaming coaches, particularly after tough losses, as good as it makes people feel, is lazy.
And I have no idea what “conservatively preserving leads” has to do with yesterday. Or most of this season for this matter.
You don't know, anymore than I do,
who ‘ultimately’ calls the plays. Do you have direct communication with Peyton Manning to confirm this? And, yes, the coaching IS sub-par, for all the reasons I mentioned above. And, since you don’t know what ‘conservatively preserving leads’ means, I’ll explain. The Colts had the ball with 45 seconds left, two time-outs left, and a 7 point lead in the final minute of the first half. We also had the great Peyton Manning at quarterback and one of the most reliable kickers in NFL history. Yet, we run out the clock. Are you kidding me? That is so beyond stupid. And, it is a prime example of conservatively preserving a lead. What we should have done is to try and add three more points before half and get a 10 point lead. Even the commentators said 45 seconds and two time-outs is an eternity for the Colts. Yet, we pack it in? Stupid. And, by the way, it turns out, we could have used another three points.
Play calling
Actually, go back and look at one of the big debates when the season started. Clyde was quoted as saying (I am paraphrasing) that he will be the playcaller and not Peyton Manning. Now as to when Peyton audibles, I don’t know. But what I can tell you is that the playcalling over the entire year has been COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than the rest of Peyton’s entire career. I can’t imagine such a substantial difference if Peyton is still calling all those plays. Go back 10 years and find me a play where Peyton calls for a run to the left with your 5th string running back on 3rd and 9. I dare ya. :-)
Excellent point.
You’re right, it’s been totally different! And, totally worse!
yes wasting his talent!!!!
we shoudl have scored a lot more that game!!!!!!
by OBGYNOSUPREME on Jan 9, 2011 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
No, you don't understand the timeout, MOOCOW
It was stupid & EVERY local sports guy, every ESPN analyst, any football fan with a brain has called it inexplicable.
As a Coach, you are supposed to put your team in the best position to win. So when the opponent is pretty content to attempt a 50-yard FG with a kicker who made 5 of 11 from 40 & beyond, you accept that! You don’t give them a chance to talk it over & possibly gain a chunk of yards on you.
I have a hard time blaming Lacey for giving up the completed pass because the Jets don’t even attempt that play IF CALDWELL DOES NOTHING.
Same thing happened at Jax. Caldwell puts D in a tough spot & then Polian blames the D (but not Caldwell) for losing the game.
Challenge
The entire stadium wanted the challenge and from watching the play and the first 2 replays they showed in stadium, I honestly thought he touched it until they showed the third replay. Then it wasn’t even close.
Now I don’t know why the straight on squared up shot of the returner was the third replay instead of the first, but given the lack of replays in Lucas Oil, I’ll take what I can get.
Maybe I'm wrong and Caldwell is a good coach, but I just don't see it.
It just seems that he’s along for the ride and nothing more.
QB's
This game is such a great example of why you cannot judge a QB by how many wins or losses he has in the playoffs. And that the best TEAM wins (not the best QB). Does anyone believe for a second that Sanchez is as good a QB as Manning is? Of course not. Likewise, can anyone make an argument that Sanchez played better (In This Game) than Manning did? Of course not! Just take a look at their stats:
[Sanchez: 18-31 (58.1%), Manning: 18-26 69.2%)] – [Sanchez: 6.1 yard avg, Manning: 8.7 yard avg] – [Sanchez: 62.4 QB Rating, Manning: 108.7 QB Rating] – [Sanchez: 0 TD 1 INT, Manning: 1 TD 0 INT]
It is blatantly obvious that Manning significantly out played Sanchez in every facet of the game, yet his team still lost. The bottom line is this: Come January everything gets magnified to such a high degree, that if you do not play well as a team, you are not going to win the game. It is just that simple. And like Dan Marino before him, more times than not Peyton Manning has not had the better team!
Caldwell's Questionable Coaching
Don’t throw the red protest flag on the Colt’s first punt (the ball clearly hit no one), the time-out lost would have come in handy on the Colts final drive of the half, though it appeared that Caldwell felt his team had no chance of getting 3 there, as the Colts chose to run the ball with 45 seconds to go ! Really ? …with Peyton Manning as your QB.
Do not run the football on 3rd & 7 from the Jets 15 !!! What’s Caldwell thinking here – “Yeah… we’ll just set up a can’t-miss Viniateri field-goal from 30 yards out” ?? Indy really coulda used seven there – go for a f_cking touchdown !!! …or at least try passing for the 1st down. Rhodes had gained a total of 5 yards on the prior two carries – why think he could get 7 on one ? Again, Peyton Manning is your QB !!
Do not ask Manning to roll-out right for a key 1st down when’s it’s 3rd & 6 from the Jet’s 32 – Manning’s strength is not throwing while on the run, pass the ball, just don’t have PM throw it on the run. Get that 1st down, run the clock, kick the field-goal and the game is over.
Squib-kick the final kickoff – do not kick a line-drive directly to Cromartie !! Squib it, squib it, squib it !
Do not, I repeat do not, call time-out with the Jets clearly in some disarray at the Indy 34 ! Whatever was the coach thinking ?? I had first thought that New York called the TO and would then try to run a side-line pass to gain another ten yards & stop the clock one final time and attempt the kick. Hell, the Jets may have even let the clock run and sent out Folk to try a 51 yard field-goal ! No need to panic though, coach Caldwell offered up a reprieve for the Jets – I hope Rex thanked him.
BTW… Vinatieri was terrific – game ball goes to Adam.
I’m pissed that the Colts will not be coming to Gillette for the AFCCG – Pats vs Colts is the best football on the planet !
Brady + Belichick = Multible Super Bowl Victories
by profootballfanatic on Jan 9, 2011 12:14 PM EST reply actions
Everything you said is what I've been saying.
It’s a very disturbing pattern. And, these things contribute to losing. None of us will ever know if each one of these things, individually, affected the outcome. But, collectively, I believe they do. Coaching decisions should help the team, not hurt them. We’re handicapped enough by the injuries. We don’t need the coaches handicapping us more. Sometimes I really feel that the Colts would be better off if someone gagged Caldwell before the game and tied his hands behind his back.
I'll just repeat what I've said in other articles
Caldwell has made some really dumb decisions this year for sure, but overall, I don’t think his performance was remotely close to “fireable” for those in this comment section looking to see the guy canned. He won’t be. I guarantee it.
And that’s good, because Coyer and Rycheleski deserve the boot before he does.
Writer for Stampede Blue.
by Collin McCollough on Jan 9, 2011 12:59 PM EST reply actions
Coaching
I think Caldwell has 2 years before he’s even up for review to be honest. Coyer I wouldn’t mind seeing leave, but I’m not dying for him to. Overall, the defense did hold people down a lot points-wise over the season. At least enough that we should have been 13-3. Not to mention they won us several games including Mathis at the end of the Titans game. Stunting on third and X has got to go, though.
Clyde is the one I want gone, he’s just wrecked this offense, and the injuries didn’t help, but even the routes and plays are weird. I’ve never seen so many screens in a season or so many runs on third and long. While I understand the fallback with a lot of injuries is simple plays like screens and runs, this can’t be your crutch if you want to play in the NFL post-season and win.
I’m okay with Caldwell even though I disagree with several decisions he’s made in game, Coyer I’d like to leave but not fireable to me, Clyde has got to go or this offense will be gone within 2 years.
Caldwell hired Clyde.
Therefore, he in effect, puts his stamp of approval on what’s going on with the play-calling. It’s a direct reflection of him. Not only is Caldwell in way over his head, but to endorse Christensen, who failed miserably at Tampa Bay, is insane. At what point, does Irsay, say ‘enough is enough’? Wait a minute, I don’t want the answer to that question.
Override
This is the point where one of the three has to say “You know what Clyde, I’m sorry, but it’s just not working out”. I do not believe in EVER changing coaches mid-season. It does no one any good.
Correction
Except Billy’s boy in Denver. Cheaters should be booted. Especially when you cheat and are STILL only like 3-9. At least cheat properly…
tough crowd......
I guess losing the game is ALL Coach Caldwell’s fault? C’mon….I think that HE and the coaching staff did a pretty good job getting this injury depleted team to the playoffs but as for this game……………the defense was consistent as always…..not good against the run…….but they held the Jets to 14 pts for all but 3 seconds. The offense did nothing…..I know some of you all think that Manning walks on water but he is as much to blame for the offense’s terrible game plan and conservative play calling as Clyde C. Don’t forget that Manning is extremely involved in the game plan. (why did we game plan Wayne out of the game plan?) We needed to score points, period. Challenges, timeouts, etc, had nothing to do with the Colts offense not generating pts. The offense played awful in the 1st half. No imagination, no sense of urgency and only one TD. The D played well in the 1st half but how long did we honestly think that they would hold up? Manning and the 4th ranked scoring offense in the NFL laid an egg and only scored 16 pts………THAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE!!!!! I’m still foerever a COLTS FAN!!! GO COLTS……..
Agreed
Peyton is somewhat to blame for the playcalling but I also remember Clyde’s quote to start the season and the playcalling all season has been substantially different from the past 10 years. But either way, Peyton has other ways to save himself even if he calls bad plays. That is literally (in a game standpoint) the only thing Clyde has to redeem or bury himself.
The rest I agree with. The offense as a whole lost the game if you want to assign it to anyone. Defense did more than I expected and Special Teams was bad but nothing that cost us the game (run back for TD, etc.).
The run-back for good field position (which special teams allowed)
at the end of the game was definitely instrumental in them getting the go-ahead field goal. So, special teams did cost us the game, among many other things.
So?
If the offense didn’t suck all night, they would have needed a lot more than 1 field goal is what I’m saying.
True,
that’s why I’ve been saying there are multiple reasons why the team lost yesterday. Special teams was only one of them. But, special teams just didn’t have a ‘uncharacteristically once-in-a-blue-moon bad day yesterday. They’re always bad. This eventually catches up to a team, if changes aren’t made.
33rd... your comments are right on the mark.
But, it is the head coach’s job to help his football team in any way… every way he can and Caldwell certainly failed at this, yesterday vs. the Jets.
Brady + Belichick = Multible Super Bowl Victories
by profootballfanatic on Jan 9, 2011 1:54 PM EST up reply actions
Peyton's face said it all.
What the fuck are you doing ? You call your last timeout with 29 seconds ? The jets still had one so they can still run the clock down anyways. And if you were so confident that Folk would make a 51 yard field goal (cuz his resume rivals Vinatieri in playoff pressure scenarios), did you really think the colts return game would put Peyton in position to drive the field with no timeouts with what 20 seconds remaining? Give me a fuckin break.
This is a clear case of risk far outweighing the reward and it doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure that out. How the hell did Caldwell even get this job again ? I could put the team in a better position to win than him. Yo Bill Polian, you don’t even have to pay me and I gaurantee i won’t shoot the team in the fuckin foot after Peyton works his magic
by MelvinFasterThanaSpeedingBullitt on Jan 9, 2011 2:22 PM EST reply actions
agreed
need T Moore back as O coordinator and need a Bill C or John G as head coach
It's too bad the Niners already scooped Harbaugh, and the Vikes Frazier.
How does he do it?
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