Report: Ravens' DC Chuck Pagano to Interview for Colts' HC Position
Chuck Pagano Listens to Terrell Suggs. (Patrick Semansky | AP Photo)Adam Schefter just tweeted that Chuck Pagano, the Ravens' Defensive Coordinator is set to interview for the Colts' head coaching position on Tuesday. This information has yet to be confirmed, but Schefter is a pretty darn reliable source (perhaps except when it comes to where the Colts had interest in their GM candidates).
The Ravens' site has a nice bio on Pagano, including some remarkable defensive statistics of which he can claim coaching credit.
I don't know about you, but I would be quite happy to see a defensive-minded coach take the reins in Indianapolis. What are your thoughts on Pagano?
Let's be honest. Nobody cares about the Colts. Only the Miami Dolphins are of interest to any rational human being. The Aqua and Orange, the greatest organization in sports history, shall reign again!
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I'd be fine with this as long as someone can confirm that he has absolutely no professional relationship with Mike Martz. I mean none.
Let's hope it sticks. Until we've signed a new OC, I can't get that possibility out of my head.
@Goéland Absolutely. Hmm..
That makes me think that an industrious Colts fan could probably put together a nice summary of the Nine Hells of the 2011 season, with level one being the start of the lockout and nine being losing your favorite player ever. Like, say, a reader blog post. (Hint, hint.)
@pierrezombie Yeah, I suspect you´re right. Maybe what we´re doing is descending the circles? The bottom of the pit, of course, would be losing Manning.
@Goéland I'm starting to think we're in football hell now, and have been since the start of the lockout. When they announce Tressel as the new HC, I suspect you'll come to that same conclusion... Right?
@pierrezombie I thought we were in limbo now? And since it was abrogated a few years ago, the end of it for the Colts is also near.
@Goéland My Biblical references are a couple decades too rusty, but isn't Purgatory where we are now? Waiting around, neither here nor there, not yet saved or damned, but both plausible options?
I'm afraid the real question is whether we're prepared for the hot place.
@pierrezombie With how depressing this is all shaping up to be, I´m glad I could be of use in even the smallest way. Are you prepared for "From absolute Heaven to inexplicable Purgatory"?
@pierrezombie I can´t see Irsay going for the Mad Hatter. Somebody who might top him in eccentricity in any way?
It will be interesting to see how having a defensive minded head coach changes our drafting habits.
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I think it is very wise that Grigson (and I assume Irsay) are interviewing so many different candidates. Especially for a young GM, interviewing coaching candidates is not only about finding the right man for the job, but picking the brains of bright football minds to expand your own knowledge.
Getting diverse ideas on how to successfully build and manage a football team can only help. For the past decade, stabilty has been the cornerstone of the Colts success. However, now that everything is changing, the Colts are smart to gain as much insight into how other teams operate as possible.
So this guy or the Saints OC? I love the Saints' offensive playcalling--it was the polar opposite of the absolutely idiotic defensive playcalling (I feel so bad for St. Louis, but I'm very happy for Drew Brees to get that albatross off his neck).
Gregggggg's blitzing hurt more than it helped, but you can't deny that it was his extra pressure that aborted Peyton's reads in the Super Bowl. One less rusher and maybe Peyton waits a bit and hits Clark for a big gainer instead of throwing that route to Reggie.
(Then again, one less rusher and maybe Clark isn't actually open...)
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I think he would be a good guy for this team to get from a success standpoint, as far as the Ravens were already good standpoint, yes that is true, but there are a couple things to think about, they only declined slightly over time and that is due more to age than anything I would think. Also he was Reeds coach at Miami, and that should say a lot as well. His success on the defensive side of the ball where ever he has gone has been very visible and if he does not get the job with the Colts, I am sure he will get a head coaching job pretty soon.
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I'm certainly in favor of the idea of picking someone who runs an elite unit.
There are two units in the NFL, however, that may be elite no matter who runs it, and those are Colts O (w/Peyton) and Ravens D. Anybody could probably coach the Ravens D with leaders like Lewis and Reed. That doesn't mean the coach is crap, as Rex Ryan proves, but it's not a sure thing either.
I don't get much of a read on Pagano from the Raven's bio on him. He's been with the Ravens for 4 years. Their D and seconadary were great before Pagano got there and they continued with him there. Ed Reed was an All Pro before Pagano got there and continued with him there. He's been the DC for one year. I guess Ravens' fans would have to chime in on how good he really is.
What if the Ravens had won? Would he still have considered Pagano? He said earlier that he would give his answer this week, so apparently, this is someone we might not have had a chance to get.
@MichaelTodd If the Ravens had won Pagano would be preparing for the Super Bowl and the Colts would need special permission to interview him. Not likely the Ravens would have wanted Irsay distracting their DC right before the big game. Irsay wants a new HC hired by about Wednesday so that would have taken Pagano out of the mix anyway.
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Strongest candidate thus far, I'd have to say.
Does make you wonder though, assuming we draft Luck, wouldn't we want an offensive minded HC for him to grow with? Perhaps that's solved with the OC hire... or is this a sign that we're trading the pick? Double rainbow man!!! What does it mean? What does it all mean?!?!?!?
@18to88 what's your take on Pagano? I think having a good D would be great after the last few years.
@PBoueM at least it's comforting to hear some decent names in the mix, i'll take anyone over Chilly. Greetings from Mexico, big Colts fan
@PBoueM I don't think he's what made the Ravens D great. Hiring Spags didn't make the Rams a good D. Sounds fine though.
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I'm rooting for Tressel. Tressel best fits the "Irsay is destroying the Colts" narrative that I've grown quite accustomed to. Hiring Pagano would weaken my argument and I'm not sure I could take that.......Wait a second. I can just do what the rest of the media does and completely ignore all evidence that contradicts my argument. Genius. Is ESPN First Take taking apps? Skip Bayless has to retire at some point, right?
I would honestly love this! But I think that would also mean a possible move to 3-4.... which would be very interesting. Honestly, I could see Frathis being good stand up rushers.
Quite honestly, I think I could see Mathis as a better 3-4 OLB than Freeney. But that's just my opinion.
Of course, more likely that if the D moves to a 3-4, then Mathis might not be coming back.
And I think even more of a sign that 18 might not be back
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If the D signals a shift, over one year or two, to a 3-4, then it's a virtual certainty that Freeney will be gone and Mathis will be back.
@mshah9008 That would be exciting in a sense, but we would literally need a new front 7. Switching to a 3-4 means sucking for years while you try to draft personnel in order to often gain no advantage. The Texans had personnel for it and only had to add, what, two guys? And they did a great job of drafting with those guys too--had they missed, it's a different story. None of our LBs can play in a 3-4. Has Grigson shown he can draft good 3-4 personnel? If so, that would make it more interesting.
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Per the bio you linked, his grandchildren are twins. I think that increases his chances! Oh, and the fact that he has had great success with secondary and special teams.
