Mocking the Colts: Franchise Reshaping Continues
New Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson continues making moves to start a new era for the Indianapolis Colts. (Michael Conroy | AP Photo)Colts Owner Jim Irsay and new General Manager Ryan Grigson have been very busy over the last few days. Following the news that Head Coach Jim Caldwell had been released, additional coaching staff turnover was expected but it has become clear that no one is safe in this effort to clean house.
Despite the fact that the Colts offensive line improved noticeably on the ground, Pete Metzelaars was let go yesterday. Wide receivers coach and former quarterbacks coach Frank Reich was let go as well.
Today, defensive line coaches John Teerlinck and his son Bill Teerlinck were released along with secondary coaches Alan Williams -- who is joining former Colts defensive coach Leslie Frazier in Minnesota -- and Rod Perry. If defensive coordinator Mike Murphy retires, the Colts will be looking at an across the board new defensive coaching staff.
Who was the first player to join the team under an assumed new coaching staff? CFL standout linebacker Jerrell Freeman, who is Grigson's first player acquisition in Indianapolis. Freeman tallied 105 tackles, six sacks, and three interceptions as the CFL West Division's defensive player of the year nominee this season.
The purge and reconstruction is just getting started. Check back for more updates as they occur.
The only way that all of this could have a fairy tale ending is if Andrew Luck's name was instead Eli Manning.
@gizzardfanny
I believe Clyde the Glyde is still employed, or at least I haven't read that he has been fired yer.
What about some of the guys the Colts have already signed to future/reserve contracts like Ollie Ogbu and Darren Evans?
Well I guess that's a ray of sunshine in this gloomy Colts off season.
I realize these are just highlights but... the first hit on the QB I said out loud "holy heck". Seems pretty good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZOUfDNut2Y
@buymymonkey It's kind of hard to get an idea about him looking at a CFL game. To me it looks like 7 on 7 type of game. He's got speed and he seems to anticipate or at least react very fast to where the play goes. I didn't see him shed any blocks in that film though, he always comes free.
Can he play safety?
@codrutc@buymymonkey the third play he got a sack and he shed the center who looked like he held a bit. its possible the center saw him coming late though.
And Jon Torine. We´re about to see what happens with injuries with a new strength and conditioning staff in place (but since the mold of players we go after is also probably going to change, no surefire conclusions could be drawn).
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@thejoshbaker Glad you asked, thanks. I was on a scouting trip last season, and let me tell you, in a game that feature 100 people in neon colours, Jerrell Freeman was the one guy that stood out the most.
I had to keep asking myself during the game, "How did Lawrence Taylor invent time travel, and why did he use it to play in the CFL?"
He'll be a starter by the first day of training camp.
@GregC @thejoshbaker @GregC @thejoshbaker
No offense Greg, but I'm more than a little sceptical that a D3 college player who couldn't even make an NFL practice squad is going to be a starter on our D. I'm hoping he can help on our pathetic ST's. Besides Wake, can anyone think of a CFL player starting on any NFL D?
@thejoshbaker @GregC Ahh! With that in mind, his comment is hilarious. Good to know he's not delusional.
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@smonroe @GregC @thejoshbaker
What I wonder is why the new GM continues to claim that he just hasn't had time to pick up the phone and talk to the face of the franchise, yet he had time to place a call to an unknown LB in the CFL?
Is Freeman a WILL? If so, I would like to see how he compares with Conner,who can easily be upraded IMO...
I feel like I should know this but I don't. When does free agency start and when will the Colts start making player personel decisions? I know the Manning decision is in March. Is that the start of it for everyone or just Manning? I'm thinking March 8 for Manning then free agency a week later. Is that right?
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@Peyton for President from what I understand from a previous article I think the bulk of the release will come after June 1st où order to split the cap hit over 2012 and 2013
