Pagano: Colts Plan To Keep Freeney and Mathis UPDATE Audio Posted

by Brad Wells on Feb 23, 2012 4:05 PM EST in Colts News

New Colts head coach Chuck Pagano took to the podium today at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, and while he considers himself the "luckiest man in the world" with his new job, the fact is there are a ton of questions surrendering the Colts roster in 2012. One question focuses on whether or not Robert Mathis or Dwight Freeney will return next year. Mathis is a free agent, and Freeney will be owed a hefty salary.

If Pagano has his way, both stay.

Pagano: Freeney and Mathis are 'game-wreckers'. Plan to have those guys here.
— Matt Grecco (@mgrex03) February 23, 2012

Other highlights after the jump, including audio.

From Pagano:

Called Freeney and Mathis "game-wreckers"
The Colts will transition to a 3-4 defensive scheme
The Colts system of smaller players has worked in the past, but team will get bigger at specific need positions
The transition will be hard, but not impossible
Colts system will work well with players the Colts will bring to camp
Pagano has spoken to Jeff Saturday, who is pondering retirement. Pagano wants him to stay
Pagano had high praise for Andrew Luck
When asked about Peyton Manning, Pagano said Manning will do everything to play again

Stampede Blue's Matt Grecco is at the Combine today. Follow his tweets at @mgrex03

UPDATE: You can hear the entire Pagano interview here.

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Comments

Exciting

They could do some real damage in a 34 scheme. Only problem is the undersized interior linemen. Buh bye Eric Foster

by CheesusKrust on Feb 23, 2012 4:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Don't forget Jerry Hughes!

(sarcasm)

by buymymonkey on Feb 23, 2012 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

Foster may be an ok DE

he is def isnt big enough to be a NT but there is a chance he Nevis and Moala could play at the DE position if freeney and mathis play OLB

by lesismor191925 on Feb 23, 2012 5:45 PM EST up reply actions

I doubt it...

I know size measurables aren’t the end-all be-all…

But I think Foster is only 6’2" 260 LB’s – which makes him a few inches short and about 30-40 LB’s lighter than most 3-4 DE’s.

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by kmbryant09 on Feb 23, 2012 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

Foster said on local radio two years ago he was at 285, Colts list him at 265.
Anderson is listed at 288, but in person he looks much thinner than that.

by Team2 DaBears on Feb 24, 2012 5:22 PM EST up reply actions

Of course, with Foster everything depends on how he comes back from that horrific knee injury. That looked like a career-ender.

by TrueBlue87 on Feb 24, 2012 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

Nice!

by buymymonkey on Feb 23, 2012 4:16 PM EST reply actions

Updated with audio

Pagano looked ready to go. I’m excited.

Creator and developer of the Winning Stats.

by mgrex03 on Feb 23, 2012 4:18 PM EST reply actions

Is there anyway to Rec Pagano?!

by (206)NightRidah on Feb 23, 2012 4:19 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Love it

Glad what we already knew has been officially put out there: the Colts are transitioning to a 3-4 defense, and will get bigger players [thru the draft and free agency] to help.

Pagano is no fool – he knows what it takes to build a nasty 3-4 defense. And I trust that he will. We could be on the verge of finally having a football team that will be able to boast an elite QB running a high-caliber offense as well as a solid defense that can take over a game as well.

I am a veteran of the Internet - I will suffer fools gladly. And then mock them. And then post cat pictures.

by BoilerUp1982 on Feb 23, 2012 4:41 PM EST reply actions

I love Pagano right now.

The guy sounds legit. No double talk B.S. like Caldwell and Dungy. I really got the feeling he was sending a message to Grigson and Irsay that he wants to resign Mathis. It would be such a damn shame to lose Manning, Wayne, AND Mathis.

by pattymac on Feb 23, 2012 4:47 PM EST reply actions

Dungy

Pretty sure Dungy is known for his honesty and integrity. He doesn’t fit your double talk B.S. statement

by udllama on Feb 24, 2012 12:22 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

what is he supposed to say

“i hope freeney and mathis are gone”

by BLOODontheTRACKS on Feb 23, 2012 4:48 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

No, but...

He was EXTREMELY non-committal about Peyton Manning. He said nothing in that interview about how he was going to do everything he could to put Peyton in a position to win for the COLTS. He said Peyton is working hard…and then re-iterated the same sentiment. It sounds to me like Reggie and Peyton are gone. Mathis is this off season’s priority, then maybe they will bring back Pierre if they can get him at the right price.

by pattymac on Feb 23, 2012 5:26 PM EST up reply actions

cause he knows he has zero say

when it comes to the manning situation….that’s all on irsay

by BLOODontheTRACKS on Feb 23, 2012 5:41 PM EST reply actions

I like what I see in pagano, but I don't think so

Yeah, freeney will be here but only for his last year of his contract. After that bye bye
Now, they want Mathis back but only with home discount. That’s not going to happen because Mathis has never had that HUGE contract like freeney did. And trust me, that’s what he wants and deserves…

by Nojan on Feb 23, 2012 6:53 PM EST via mobile reply actions

they’re probably going to extend and restructure Freeney’s deal to allow for Mathis to sign.

Pass rushers age well and are hard to find. They’re difficult to replace. Just look at the Patriots.

by TrueBlue87 on Feb 23, 2012 7:40 PM EST up reply actions

Very true IF we were 4-3

by Nojan on Feb 23, 2012 8:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

very true

if we have a competent front office and coaches

by omahacolt on Feb 23, 2012 8:38 PM EST up reply actions

We are. We’re a 3-4/4-3 hybrid like Baltimore and New England, not a pure 3-4.

by TrueBlue87 on Feb 23, 2012 8:38 PM EST up reply actions

I like what I see in pagano, but I don't think so

by Nojan on Feb 23, 2012 6:54 PM EST via mobile reply actions

i like coach

but i wish he wouldnt be working that 3-4 angle so hard

by omahacolt on Feb 23, 2012 7:40 PM EST reply actions

It’s going to be that 3-4/4-3 hybrid Baltimore runs.

by TrueBlue87 on Feb 23, 2012 7:41 PM EST up reply actions

still dont like it

by omahacolt on Feb 23, 2012 7:46 PM EST up reply actions

I do, and here's why

It’s not going to be perfect in 2012. Hell, it probably won’t even be pretty.

But I LOVE what a 3-4 hybrid defense brings to the table. I honestly can’t remember who said it, but somebody around the NFL mentioned that as the game has evolved into a pass-first league, the defense’s responsibility is to create 2 things: confusion and turnovers. Who cares about yards or first downs or time of possession. I want a defense that confuses the QB, and creates sacks/fumbles/INT’s.

The Tampa-2 was the complete opposite of that philosophy – it was predictable and only created turnovers when played with a big lead that forces offenses to throw 50 times a game.

In summation, we need our defense to transition into a 3-4 hybrid. Put the system in place from Day 1, and let our current players adjust. If they make mistakes (which is inevitable), so what – who cares. I’m willing to bet that it won’t be the difference between a playoff birth and a 5-win season, or a 1-and-done playoff loss and a SuperBowl. Might as well find out who can play/adjust in a 3-4, and who can’t, and proceed accordingly.

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by kmbryant09 on Feb 23, 2012 7:56 PM EST up reply actions

ok

but who says you have to play a 3-4 or a tampa 2. thats not our only choices. we are far away from a 3-4.

by omahacolt on Feb 23, 2012 8:47 PM EST up reply actions

Because 2 reasons...

We have a mixed personnel, and a coaching staff that runs a 3-4. You tell me what to run.

And in a year or 2, we will be exclusively running a 3-4 hybrid defense with players that fit the scheme. Why waste time in any other system? It’s not like we need to win next year? We are in rebuilding mode.

When a team is in rebuilding mode, they put a General Manager in place, a Head Coach in place, his assistants in place, and their scheme in place. Then over the course of 1-3 seasons, you put the players in place to fit given coaches and their schemes. That is the order of things for a team in rebuilding mode. What is so hard to understand about that? There’s no point in deviating from that plan for an extra couple of turnovers, an extra win or 2, or to fit the old scheme’s players for a season – because 2012 isn’t about winning as many games as possible – it’s about setting up the best possible team for future success.

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by kmbryant09 on Feb 23, 2012 8:52 PM EST up reply actions

i get it kmb

i understand what happens in the league. doesnt mean you have to change your d. especially to the new fad. how often does it actually work? we are much better off staying with a 4-3.

by omahacolt on Feb 23, 2012 8:57 PM EST up reply actions

What?

More teams are switching to a 3-4 than ever before.

Our owner brought in an entire staff that runs a 3-4 defense.

And you don’t think the Cotls have to change their D from a 4-3?

That makes zero sense. The Colts are going to run a 3-4 defense. A 3-4 defense is more successful in the NFL now-a-days. What is your problem.

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by kmbryant09 on Feb 23, 2012 9:33 PM EST up reply actions

I actually agree with Omaha, which i explain below

I don’t see that a 3-4 is more successful nowadays, and it’s on the verge of being banal/hackneyed. Didn’t the NYG just win a superbowl with a 4-3. Don’t the GBP run a 4-3? Who was the last successful 3-4 team?

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

by zherebyonki on Feb 23, 2012 9:57 PM EST up reply actions

I believe the GBP run a 3-4 mostly

But not positive…

Anyway, somewhere I wrote that a defense’s job now-a-days is to create 2 things: Confusion and turnovers.

Because of the personnel, a 3-4 creates a ton of confusion compared to a traditional 4-3 defense. Hypothetically, a 3-4 defense has 7 defenders that could rush the passer on any given play, and 7 defenders who could drop into coverage on any given play. A 4-3 defense has probably 5 or 6 defenders that could possibly rush the passer, and possibly 5 or 6 defenders that could drop into coverage on any given play. The combinations are endless.

The New York Giants were successful because they have a freakish Defensive Line. They had 4 (maybe 5) guys who could play on the D-Line who could rush the passer without sacrificing anything in the run game. You think of Jason Pierre-Paul as a pass-rusher…he’s nearly as good as Dwight Freeney, but he’s also a BEAST against the run…and the Giants have 4 or 5 of those guys who can do just that.

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by kmbryant09 on Feb 23, 2012 10:02 PM EST up reply actions

The Packers run the same thing we’re going to run: The 3-4/4-3 hybrid

by TrueBlue87 on Feb 23, 2012 10:38 PM EST up reply actions

no i dont kmb

1) a good coach can coach the players he has to fit their strengths. going to a 3-4 isnt a necessity and very well could blow up in their faces

2) the 3-4 is extremely popular right now. which makes it harder to find players to fit the d.

3) we are a much better 4-3 fit. staying with it would be the smart thing to do

by omahacolt on Feb 24, 2012 8:58 PM EST up reply actions

How worse could it be. The D is horrible...

If they run a 3-4 it will be because they acquire a true NT…if not then it would be a laughable disaster

by (206)NightRidah on Feb 23, 2012 11:44 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

No offense Omaha

But if the new coach, who happens to be a former defensive coordinator, says that we are going to run a 3-4 and that Freeney and Mathis will fit in it just fine, then I think we ought to take his word for it over yours. He’s says they can make it work. I agree with you in the idea that we’re a better 4-3 defense right now as the roster sits. But it’s pretty clear that the Colts are in rebuild mode and that the goal is to be a much better defense in a couple or years and Pagano believes the way to do that is to go to the 3-4 hybrid. With 2 pass rushers like Freeney and Mathis, a MLB like Angerer, a Safety like Bethea, there are definitely some pieces to build that 3-4 hybrid around and get to the same level as other elite defenses.

by modern_day_warrior on Feb 24, 2012 8:09 AM EST up reply actions

ok warrior

but i am not saying that freeney and mathis cant play in the d

i just think that it is getting used way too much and we would benefit more just staying put with a 4-3

by omahacolt on Feb 24, 2012 8:54 PM EST up reply actions

I still don't understand why you hate the 3-4 so much

Even though it’s going to be a hybrid. Pagano said he was going to get bigger in the positions that need it, and his Baltimore pedigree speaks for itself. Are you optimistic at all about the switch?

by TheWeasley on Feb 23, 2012 7:57 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

its simple weasley

i just dont think it should be done right now. i think we are pretty close to having a top 10 d if we stay in a 4-3. at the very least a top 14 d

i really dont like the switch. especially when almost half the league is running it now. its the popular fad and i think the drafting of solid 4-3 players will be much easier if we stick with it. the timing is bad.

by omahacolt on Feb 23, 2012 8:45 PM EST up reply actions

geez, I can't believe i agree with Omaha

I’m afraid we’re a late-adopter of the 3-4 trend, and it’s a defense that requires at least a couple of uniquely sized players at the DT, and there are only so many of those around. Besides, offenses have already begun to adapt. How many years has it been since a 3-4 team won the superbowl? Was it the patriots, four or five years ago? It’s not long before it’s passe. I agree it would have been better to fix the 4-3.

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

by zherebyonki on Feb 23, 2012 9:54 PM EST up reply actions

The Green Bay Packers last year.

Like TrueBlue said, the same 3-4 hybrid defense that we plan to run next year. Actually technically speaking, no one really runs a true 3-4 (the one developed back in the 70s) anymore.

by Radcolt on Feb 23, 2012 11:35 PM EST up reply actions

Question...

Isnt this true because the NT can no longer line up directly over the center? Or is it more

That alone, that one change, slight shift, (imo) changes ALOT.

Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible.
Escher, M.C.

by motrepip on Feb 24, 2012 1:43 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

A fad? Were talking about the 3-4 defense, not trucker hats and Ed Hardy tshirts

The 3-4 isn’t anything new on the NFL. It’s been around for decades. And you know why so many teams are using it? Because it freaking works!!!

by TheWeasley on Feb 24, 2012 7:21 AM EST via Android app up reply actions

Timing is bad?

I don’t think I can agree with you on that at all. We were 2-14 last year. Our franchise QB has major health problems. We have the #1 draft pick and the best QB prospect to come out of the draft since Manning. Bad timing? Now is the time to look ahead 2 years and build that team around the QB. No way I agree that we are close to being a top 10 defense. If we had a top 5 CB to go with Powers, an all-pro DT and a 2 great LB’s to go with Angerer I would agree with you but we don’t. We’ll have to draft or sign those pieces for a 3-4 anyway so why not make the change now when the entire roster is being rebuilt?

by modern_day_warrior on Feb 24, 2012 8:17 AM EST up reply actions

MP3 Audio

Thanks for posting the audio for the press confrence. I want to listen to Pagano every chance I get, this guy excites me more than words can describe. I don’t want to get too ahead or in ahh with him but I like the scheme that he plans on implementing. Complent that with a GM that will get him what he wants, which I hope and think Grigson will do, should make for a better roster we have seen in some time. Thanks again for the MP3 and Go Colts!

by Dalton Pate on Feb 23, 2012 7:43 PM EST reply actions

Freeney will retire a Colt

Football is about players, not schemes. You look at your players and them come up with a scheme—or you fail.

Freeney was successful in the league because of who he was, not because of the scheme he was put into. He was an oddball and impossible to handle. He’s not an OLB where you get to rush untouched out of a trick. He puts his hand down and beats the guy in front of him. Teams learned to deal with his burst, strength and cunning, but he’s still at 100 sacks 10 years into his career. In a new scheme with the other teams no longer sure of how the Colts will use him, I think he’s going to start a new rampage. I’m really looking forward to the Texan vs Colts with Manning running for his life from Freeney and Mathis.

Freeney is an elite player, and there is no way he isn’t in the game plan for the new defense.

by wcwills on Feb 24, 2012 12:13 AM EST reply actions

The 3/4 is not a fad

The 3/4 has been around for over 50 years. I think it started at the University of Oklahoma. I like the hybrid because offenses never know what defense you will run next and it just creates confusion.

by SRBradford on Feb 24, 2012 11:49 AM EST via mobile reply actions

All I know is....

I am certainly happy to hear Freeney and Mathis are being included in the new scheme. Both those guys are athletic enough to adapt as far as they need to in order to be effective. Good coaches will adapt the system to their athletes. This combination should translate into a new and effective defense. Nice to read about players being kept as opposed to being cut. Get Peyton in this group and I will be a happy camper. Yeah, I know……….but I don’t care.

by tim55 on Feb 24, 2012 5:12 PM EST reply actions