Gruden to Return to ESPN

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

I don't think the team itself is anything special. They just have Peyton Manning. Without Manning, the team would be mediocre at best. Peyton makes everyone around him better. Their player acquisition (free agency and the draft) is merely average. Guys who become "stars" in Indy would be fighting for roster spots on many other teams. Offensive players who leave Indy rarely have similar levels of success elsewhere. The team's success is 100% Manning. When he goes, they'll be perennial 6-10 to 10-6 team.

That said, like you, i absolutely love watching Manning play. I'm personnaly rooting for a Colts-Vikings superbowl... although a part of me wants Dallas to make it to the big game... if only because it would be a total fluke and force Jerry to keep that shmuck of a head coach around a while longer. Potential high caliber HC candidates are dwindling, and, the way i see it, its goiing to come down to Dallas and the Skins bidding against eachother for Shanahan. Now, personnally, i'm not that big of a fan of the guy, but he's the best out there that we have a chance to get, and it would allow us to keep some continuity in offensive philosophy. If Jerrys "forced" to keep Phillips, then we're almost assured to land Shanahan.

Wait, if the Colts player acquisition (specifically on defense) is average, how do they spend 20% (if that) of the resources we put into our defense and get a better product? Is the answer Peyton Manning? Because you're leading me in that direction.

The Colts are a premier organization and are loaded with talent. Peyton Manning is the most obvious example of that talent (but he was also the first overall pick, and not some scouting find), but Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez would both be number one receivers in Washington while Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie would be unquestioned No. 2s. Dallas Clark is one of maybe three or four NFL TEs who is better than Cooley.

Peyton does make people around him better, but the Colts aren't just a bunch of guys. This team has been built over 8-10 years. They weren't a great team in the early part of the decade, just a great offense, but since 2005, they've been the NFL's premier team, and on both sides of the ball as well.

[SBXVII]

Sorry clicked "enter" too soon.

I also like the fact that Moore is 70 so a 3-4 yr contract would not be too bad, then let him retire and let Christensen step into the role as HC, he's only 53 I think. When he move up to HC we could hopefully move Manning to OC to help teach the offense and run it. Maybe someday P.Manning could be HC? if he's not bad at coaching.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

Good for him. I really don't want him here anyway.

Ditto...

[GTripp0012]

The Colts only ever offer extensions to the players who are among the top 5, or charitably 10 at their position. They have like 13 or 15 players accounting for 85% of their payroll, and are a very deep team because they have 35 or so players on their rookie contract, but all of those players could start for some team in the NFL.

The Colts are a premier organization because they don't allow being close to the cap to affect the way they do business. They are always close to it, but never extend a player who can't help them win championships in the future.

By comparison, since 2006: Portis, Moss, Randy Thomas, Jansen, Samuels, Griffin, Hall, Randle El, Carter, Betts, Cooley, Daniels, Collins, Sellers, Brunell, and Springs have all gotten lucrative extensions from this organization. Certainly, there's names in there who have been near the top of their position and deserve big bucks, but I'd say less than a third of that list qualify to be extended by the standards the Colts have set.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

Sorry clicked "enter" too soon.

I also like the fact that Moore is 70 so a 3-4 yr contract would not be too bad, then let him retire and let Christensen step into the role as HC, he's only 53 I think. When he move up to HC we could hopefully move Manning to OC to help teach the offense and run it. Maybe someday P.Manning could be HC? if he's not bad at coaching.

You want Tom Moore to be our head coach?

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

You want Tom Moore to be our head coach?

Look I know it sound funny. It just came to me. No I don't relish someone 70yrs old being our HC, but I do like what he has brought to the table as the OC. Basically it's his offense being run there. He's not a rookie coach we would have to worry about getting the job done. He's coached for 40+yrs, been in the NFL for 32, and been an OC for 22yrs, and has been with the Colts for the last 12yrs. Clearly his offense works, clearly he helped turn the Colts around, clearly he helped make the offense one of the most prolific offense in the league. I'm guessing he helped the offense use good clock management. Ok, I think I laid the basis for why I would want him, but I agree he's old, but not old enough he can't help out a franchise for 3-4 yrs standing on the sideline calling the plays into the QB helmit. Unless his health is horrible?

Well I was suggesting Clyde Christensen be the OC learning under Moore but having gone and looked at their coaching roster I see Clyde is Asst. HC/WR coach. Maybe we could simply make Clyde the HC and hopefully he could bring in someone to help teach/coach the offense to the players. Why? cause people are talking about bringing in a young GM possibly Chris Polian, Assuming he understands how to build a team from his father and understands the type of players needed for the Colts scheme, then it would be wise to bring in someone who can help him build a team and someone he can help get the players for the system needed to run the scheme. Basically we raid the Colts team for coach's and "rebuild" this team from the top down. Turn this team into a high prolific offense to go with the top 5 defense we have.

Simply thinking that perhaps bringing in the young GM and some of the coach's from the Colts might bring to the Skins an offense that can move the ball and is proven. Also people were quick to want Chris Polian brought in but keep in mind he brought in players for a specific scheme style. You really don't want him to deviate from what he's used to or we might have players brought in for the wrong style of play ie; Gibbs oversized and aged O-lineman compared to a WCO which employ's a smaller speedier O-lineman.

[SmootSmack]

Isn't Moore like a part-time consultant for the Colts now? Sure he's done great things in Indy, but I'm sure it didn't hurt having Peyton there as well to execute it. I suppose he could like what Dan Henning is doing in Miami, but to ask him to be a head coach (and a head coach in Washington, DC no less) is asking too much I think.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Isn't Moore like a part-time consultant for the Colts now? Sure he's done great things in Indy, but I'm sure it didn't hurt having Peyton there as well to execute it. I suppose he could like what Dan Henning is doing in Miami, but to ask him to be a head coach (and a head coach in Washington, DC no less) is asking too much I think.

I don't know? He's listed as the SR. Offensive Co-ordinator. Maybe I missunderstood and it stands for Senior Citizen OC? LOL. just kidding. I "Assumed" that "Sr. OC" meant he was the OC. Maybe he is just a consultant and shows up twice a week and on Sun. Honestly I don't know but whoever the master mind of the offense is we need him. I doubt it was P.Manning, although he does understand this offense well and orchistrates it well. I feel he could help in teaching/coaching any new QB and help in bringing the offense to DC.

If it's not Moore then forget him. I was simply trying to tie in a young GM who a lot of people have mentioned they would like to see here, and bringing in the scheme and knowledge of clock management and scoring ablility to DC. Maybe I should have said Clyde Christensen since he is the Asst. HC/WR coach right now. Maybe he could fix/coach up our young WR's.