Colts Hire Greg Manusky As Defensive Coordinator
by Brad Wells on Feb 2, 2012 12:50 PM EST
in Colts News
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PrintEarlier this week, the Colts tried to hire Steelers linebackers coach Kevin Butler as their new defensive coordinator. For my money, Butler used this interest to leverage the Steelers into a new contract, which he got. This left Indianapolis sort of looking stood-up.
Today, we got word, via Alex Marvez of FOX Sports, that the Colts have hired Greg Manusky as their new DC.
To give you an idea of just how bad of a hire this is, Manusky coordinated the Chargers defense last season. He replaced Ron Rivera, who left San Diego to become the head coach in Carolina. The Chargers finished 2012 ranked 22nd in points allowed (23 per game). The year prior, under Rivera's coaching, they were ranked 10th. The year before that, 11th. Manusky was fired after just one season on the job in San Diego.
Interesting note: Mansuky's replacement as DC in San Diego is Colts head coach Chuck Pagano's brother, John.
Before the San Diego gig, Manusky was the defensive coordinator in San Francisco. From 2007-2010, his defenses ranked 20th, 23rd, 4th, and 16th. That 4th ranking was in 2009 was for an 8-8 season. Manusky was fired after the 2010 season, and the man who replaced him, Vic Fangio, took the same group of players to a 4th overall ranking in 2011 along with a trip to the NFC Championship Game. The 49ers never made the playoffs while Manusky coached their defense.
In short, the Colts hired an underachieving coordinator who has been fired twice before, and the reason they hired him is because they guy they wanted didn't want them. In fact, I'd argue that the guy San Diego replaced Manusky with (John Pagano) is also someone else Chuck Pagano would have preferred over Manusky.
Basically, Manusky the the date Pagano is forced to go to the prom with because all the other hot ones were taken.
I was happy with the Bruce Arians hiring as the new OC, but Manusky strikes me as a dud hire. I hope he turns things around in Indianapolis, but his track record doesn't look good.
Also worth noting, Manusky is a 3-4 guy, through and through. The Tampa-2 is now officially DEAD in Indianapolis.
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Maybe Pagano and Manusky will colaborate
Or Pagano will just straight up call the defense. I don’t know, but I’m struggling to find something good about the guy.
Lets give him a chance
before we all decide what a poor hire it is. For all we know hes been hamstrung by Norv Turner and Mike Singletary.
i doubt the defense in 49ers was the issue
when you rank 20+ in defense for the season one needs to look at the offense. Because as good as your defense can be, put them on the feild for 80% of the time because your team could not get out of the 3 and out groove and your going to look average in the end.
Also it pays to look at the opponents on schedule. One year you have all the top gun team followed by all the strugglers then next season.
I agree, give the guy a chance...
I thought the Chargers had a lot of injuries on defense this year. I know Bob Sanders went out early. I don’t think you can compare apples to oranges when he did not have a healthy defense.
BTW, Vic Fangio sucked as the Colts D Coordinator, but smells like roses with SF.
I wonder what Pagano sees in him
Also-who else was there for use to take?
Was he the only 3-4 guy realistically available?
it seems that was what Pagano was looking for
Guess who my favorite team is...
by Indcolt18 on Feb 2, 2012 2:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
well so long as Pagano is the HC
i think you will find that Manusky might be the second set of eyes from the press box. Pagano will make the call on plays.
This is gonna be ugly
Believe in Blue.
Marshall Manning, Colts QB, 2032-
by stonewall12345678 on Feb 2, 2012 1:00 PM EST reply actions
Its gonna be ugly because our secondary is absolute garbage personnel wise
and we are going to try to convert to a 3-4 or at least a 3-4 hybrid. Its gonna be ugly for the next few years in a rebuild mode.
Maybe in this case, it is more fortunate than unfortunate. Being used to seeing a sewer for defense should help inoculate me against the development of bleeding ulcers.
On the bright side, even a fair-to-middling defense would be a pleasant surprise.
I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. ~Walt Whitman
by Chopaholic on Feb 2, 2012 1:57 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
3-4 is a cheaper Defense
so we will be able to make some moves im sure
Go Blue!
Revenue - Expenses = Profit
Can't ignore this...
The sad reality is that despite all of the bashing that will happen from this hire… It’s an upgrade to the position!
What a sad, sad statement. True, but sad.
I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. ~Walt Whitman
by Chopaholic on Feb 2, 2012 1:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
nah. Mike Murphy did fine as DC.
Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game and dumb enough to think it's important. -- Eugene J. McCarthy
not really.
Don’t forget Pagano is the one that is going to make the calls. Manusky may just by an extension/proxy
Not encouraged by the hiring...
But I think the #’s are overblown…
The Chargers’ defense ranked #1 overall the year before Manusky showed up in part because of how bad their special teams were. They surrendered a lot of points under Manusky partly because of Philip Rivers’ turnovers (27 total).
Also, he was decent in San Fran, but they had a young defense. There’s no doubt that their defense is now a beast, but I don’t think they flourished because Manusky left:
Dashon Goldson had a career year.
Justin Smith had a career year.
They acquired Donte Whitner from Buffalo, who had a great year.
Carlos Rodgers had a career year.
Navarro Bowm (23 years old) developed into a stud.
Again, give some credit to the new D.C. – but its not like Manusky sucked in San Francisco.
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Agree completely
The bottom line is that Grigson will have to bring in the players for our new defense. I think this guy was a scapegoat because of all the Chargers injuries. He coached the Chargers linebackers from 2001-2006 and had some decent defenses with the 49ers. I personally think there could have been worse hires.
by Radcolt on Feb 2, 2012 1:20 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Not a sexy hire at all, but we'll see what he can do with our guys
Sometimes a new voice barking out plays is just what the doctor ordered. And a switch to a 3-4 defense worked wonders for Houston, who previously had one of the worst Ds in the league.
I think this all points to the Colts being very active in free agency though, because we don’t have the size on the roster at present to field a good 3-4 defense.
I am a veteran of the Internet - I will suffer fools gladly. And then mock them. And then post cat pictures.
Get this DELOCATED ad the fuck off my screen
by SmallMarketBigPlays on Feb 2, 2012 1:03 PM EST reply actions 4 recs
download adblock
I am a veteran of the Internet - I will suffer fools gladly. And then mock them. And then post cat pictures.
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I am a veteran of the Internet - I will suffer fools gladly. And then mock them. And then post cat pictures.
Makes me wonder what took me so long to get it - and it works all. the. time.
I am a veteran of the Internet - I will suffer fools gladly. And then mock them. And then post cat pictures.
Am i the only person surfering the net without Mozilla FireFox
This Delocated Ad did get me to finally download it
Go Blue!
Revenue - Expenses = Profit
I don't think we're gonna be seeing any tweets from Mathis
about wanting to be a part of this now.
the right players
I’m giving him a chance not only because its a change but its also up to.the (right) players to execute the 3-4……if we even go 100% 3-4.
by C Low on Feb 2, 2012 1:04 PM EST via Android app reply actions
It shouldnt be 100%
as Baltimore Runs a Hybrid 3-4/4-3 under.
Im assuming thats what Pagano will bring here
Go Blue!
Revenue - Expenses = Profit
I really thought much of the negative articles around here would end once Polian was fired
But apparently this site is never going to give a positive review.
Whoever lives past today and comes home safely will rouse himself each year on this day, show his neighbors his scars, and tell embellished stories of all their great feats of battle.
with all due respect, we can’t be so negative with out knowing what kind of a COMPLETE team we have. too much unresolved to make judgement yet
by C Low on Feb 2, 2012 1:15 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
That’s ridiculous. We can formulate a very educated analysis of Greg Manusky based on his years of suck. Why would we need to wait until the entire coaching staff is assembled to make a judgment on Manusky? That doesn’t make any sense. What you’re saying is not based on logic and evidence, it’s based on hope and prayer. It’s no different than hoping the hiring of Cam Cameron as HC is a good move even though everyone knows his history as a HC has been shit. You’re just being overly optimistic because he hasn’t sucked with the Colts yet.
The fact is Manusky is a retread, and a bad one at that. Thus far Irsay has made some good moves with his firing and hiring, but this one is a horrible move.
Your choice for dc? That would have taken it?
Yeah, I'm Shure.
by Music Man on Feb 2, 2012 1:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I think what he meant was that we need to wait and see what players the front office gives them to work with, not what coaches are hired.
by MinerFootball on Feb 2, 2012 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
I said TEAM not coaching staff
yet are you saying that because of his history (which I’m not arguing with), he’s just won’t work at all. my point is that “suck” coaches make changes too and I want to see if he is the same coach as b4 or is he just a no show. truth is the Colts saw enough to hire him and I’m going to reserve my judgment until the required players are brought in. I don’t negate your opinion, I just think is a little strong for not knowing entirely what defensive direction we are set on going.
by C Low on Feb 2, 2012 2:03 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
this defense will suck no matter who the DC is!
but now you people have a scapegoat (Manusky) to blame everything on
I thought it didnt matter who the DC was since we hired Pagano and he would basically run the D?? Cmon people, lets not get all worked up over the coaching staff, the ROSTER has some serious holes that coaching cant fix!
Holding to pass judgment..
I think Pagano will have complete control over the defense. Manusky will be his puppet.
Or maybe I’m just being optimistic….we’ll see..
"I guess no one told him justice was a team sport"
So the 49ers Defense is good because of Vic Fangio?
Sorry, I’d rather have Manusky
if the colts had hired fangio before this season
everybody would have been up in arms. i don’t know if this was a good hire, but many things are situational in the nfl
by BLOODontheTRACKS on Feb 2, 2012 4:03 PM EST up reply actions
Bleh.
Manusky stinks, but Pagano is the guy pulling the strings. I’m not too worried. This is certainly a WEAK hire though.
Writer for StampedeBlue.com.
Agreed fwiw.
Pagano will be in control of his defense. Manusky is there as a sounding board (?), and perhaps as a pretty face to sit in the OC seat upstairs on game day.
I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. ~Walt Whitman
by Chopaholic on Feb 2, 2012 2:09 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Kevin Butler?
I think you meant Keith Butler. Jus sayin =P
This is not true.
Vic Fangio, took the same group of players to a 4th overall ranking in 2011 along with a trip to the NFC Championship Game
It’s not the same group of players, really. Carlos Rogers was one of the top CBs in the league this season (top three or four), and he was a FA addition. Aldon Smith is a rookie and was fantastic. Sopoaga changed positions. Ray McDonald had only ever played a couple snaps a game. Donte Whitner was a FA addition and was great, while the 49ers had NOTHING to work with in that regard with Manusky at the helm.
Effectively, the 49ers returned Dashon Goldson, Patrick Willis, Parys Haralson and the nickel corner, Tarell Brown as starters. Other players stepped up or changed positions, and again, Rogers was probably the biggest addition. Bowman didn’t start as a rookie.
And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it. ... Always a ninja
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Not a great hire. But the Colts are not a hot job right now.
Pagano will call the D as his job and livelihood as a HC will depend on both Luck’s development and the defense…
Manusky will be a patsy…
Also having healthy talent is why SFs D is so good not the DC. If Grigson does his job in the war room and finds talent they will be fine
by (206)NightRidah on Feb 2, 2012 2:21 PM EST via mobile reply actions
maybe he's bringing back bob!
i don't give autographs
by muncie_in_this on Feb 2, 2012 2:26 PM EST via Android app reply actions
they should sign him for the minimum
and give him a bonus for every game he plays if he even makes it to the start low risk,, high reward
by OBGYNOSUPREME on Feb 2, 2012 2:28 PM EST up reply actions
Zero reward....
Bob is finished, it would be a waste of a vet minimum…
by (206)NightRidah on Feb 2, 2012 2:40 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
not impressed
a lot more qualified guys out there one bad season and Colts not a hot job ??? of all the teams that needed head coaches all the radio guys said Indy was the top job out there THEY COULD HAVE done much better,, but obviously Pagano knows something we don’t know!!!!
Less 3-4 coaches the pool is smaller
Look at the Colts roster on D. It’s going to be a fruitful but difficult transition. With the tea leaves reading that Manning is done in Indy you are looking at a rookie QB, and defense that needs a rebuilt from a personnel perspective. They also may lose several key players from a team that only won 2 games. Also they have a rookie GM
I’m not doom and gloom because I actually think the Colts will be solid next year. But I understand why a hot coaching prospect wound not want to go to a team in rebuild because if Luck isn’t that good and the D doesn’t transition well everyone will be fired in 3 years
by (206)NightRidah on Feb 2, 2012 2:48 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Let's just wait and see.
Not going to make a snap judgement on past statistics. I believe in the saying, “there are three kind of lies, lies, darn lies and statistics”! San Diego was not a sucess defensively, agreed, however, I have not seen many top ten defenses from the Colts lately either. So let’s see what this guy does, before we start trashing him.
Screw Keith Butler
I want Buthead too. That SOB played ball with no face mask…basically.
I liked it better when you were bbs
by ColtsfaniSverige on Feb 2, 2012 3:16 PM EST reply actions
In Chuck I trust…
Pagano is one of the best defensive minds in the league, ans basically will run the defense. Maybe Manusky fits the profile he wanted… Manusky will be more an assistant to pagano than a coach. I think Pagano just wanted a 3-4 guy that could do that…
Just from looking at the photos...
You can tell Manusky is a better coach than anyone we had in the last 10 years.
At least he’s not like 90 years old!
Hold on....Waitaminute!!
Ty46 and 1959Colts were right on the money. How is it that Manusky is getting all this grief now? Let’s give him a shot before we throw him over th’ cliff. After all, its not like we haven’t become accustomed to having subpar defenses with predecessors Ron Meeks and Larry Coyer at the controls. Understand this: Pagano won’t STAND for a defense that gets pushed around. He simply wants someone to implement his vision. Manusky was tabbed to fit that bill. He should be able to do that. You guys already have him mixed up with “Coach” Jim (“ANOTHER onside kick?”) Caldwell.
I think we'll run Paganos defense
so we should be fine.
Looks like the obvious scapegoat, if it doesn’t work in the first season – which it probably won’t, since such a transition will take time.
Lets see what happens....
…before jumping to conclusions. SD were not exactly overflowing with defensive talent (injuries).
If all the other hot dates were taken...
then it’s not as if anyone can do anything about the situtation. In that case, you take a known quantity (your brother’s old boss) and you take him under your wing and have him do the day to day administration of the defense that is mostly your own vision and doing anyway.
This would be a shit hire if we had an offensive-minded head coach. But we don’t. Noone gives a shit about Mike Pettine either, but the Jets D is still solid.
And like Ty said, he’s also a perfect scapegoat. It’s going to take two or three years to retool the personnel anyway. If the natives get restless or a better candidate becomes available in the meantime, it’s no big deal to dump Manusky.
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