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Let's keep up the poking. He'll crack and show emotion eventually!
(New) Granted, maybe a bit undeserving if he was only using meaningless coaching Jargon, but I am nonetheless going to rake Jim Caldwell over the coals all week for tell Michele Tafoya that the down 34-7 at halftime the Colts needed to focus on the "little things and the details." I cannot believe Coach Caldwell in his right mind could really believe that a 27 point deficit was due to minor tweaks in fundamentals.
Like I have already stated several times in previous articles, saying a 34-7 deficit can be attributed to not 'doing the little things well' is deflecting criticism on the players for not performing well. It's offensive to the likes of Wayne, Clark, Addai, Freeney, Mathis and Bethea who have made a career of tirelessly 'doing the little things right.' We are 0-7 because Peyton Manning is out and the play calling and schemes are stale, unimaginative and well.. downright abysmal (particularly defensively).
Add to it that Michele said Caldwell was only 'not happy' as opposed to furious, livid, indignant, pissed etc.. is another reason, why we must continue the poke Caldwell.
* In addition to the 'poke Caldwell campaign' the Fire Larry Coyer campaign is also off-and-running. Simply put giving up 62 points and being the worst defense in football while being far from the worse talent wise, is simply unacceptable. So much for the 'new wrinkles.' The Coyer experiment in Indy hasn't worked.
Supporters call him stoic. Some say he's emotionless (borderline permanently grumpy) while others wonder if there's blood flowing through his veins. Whether you like Caldwell as coach or think he's over-his-head, it's indisputable that his blank, dead-pan stare is kind of creepy and a bit unnerving.
I mean come on, Coach! Show some emotion. When we score, celebrate. You don't have to chest-bump or run around like an idiot - both this guy and this guy come to mind - but give us something. A smile, an approving nod, a clinched fist. Anything to let us fans know you've still got a pulse.
We like that you are professional. That's great. We aren't asking you to go wild or be obnoxious nor do we want you to take on a shady nefarious persona either (please don't ever wear a hood).
All we want is to see a little joy, frustration, excitement. We want to see you've got passion.
Now, many - especially on the blog - feel that Coach Caldwell might not have this needed passion. In years past with Peyton running the show that was fine. With a top-tier team, major overhauls and changes weren't needed. Impassioned speeches, bludgeoned cliches and outlandish and gimmicky motivational tools had no place in the Colts organization. Stability and consistency were key. Both which Caldwell was very capable of providing.
But, unfortunately with the ship and season sinking fast and no Manning at the helm, there now might be a cause for substantial modifications and bold decisions need to be made. More importantly, a fire needs to be lit and a new uplifting energy be brought into the locker room, which is why I am launching the 'poke Caldwell' campaign.
Everyone, including Coach Caldwell, has a breaking point and it is our mission to find it. Whether it's on Facebook (unfortunately you can't poke on fan pages and I don't know his real account), at the grocery store or at a press conference, give Caldwell a friendly (but firm) poke to the ribs and see what happens. Let's see that stoicism put to the test and unleash his inner beast.
He might not react on the first poke or even the 10,000th but at some point, somewhere down the road he will break and when he does, that fan will have released a wild and frenzied beast so intense and animated that he might just show us a fist pump.
If not, at least he will know he's officially on the hot seat. Hopefully though it doesn't push him too far.
Sorry Coach Caldwell. I hope I don't cause you too much discomfort...then again, maybe I do.