Quote:The Colts defensive coaching staff is also an underrated group. Year in & year out, they're getting great "situational" performances out of nothing. 

 

They're still pretty young now as a team, with the pieces they lost & gained through FA/draft. Come Thanksgiving, they'll be contributing to Colts wins, just like they did last year & the year before. They most likely won't have a top defense stat wise, but when they need to make a play, they'll make a play. When they need a stop, they'll get a stop. 

 

Very underrated coaching staff, imo. 

 

 

  The Colts Secondary was depleted by injury yesterday.   As much as I've seen an NFL Secondary depleted in a long time.    Former Jags S Winston Guy took over for 2nd Round pick backup S T.J. Green after the latter went down during the game.   Patrick Robinson,  the Colts only available CB who was with the team before the start of training camp,  also went down in the game.   One thing for sure,  the Colts Defensive Coaches weren't the reason they lost the game.   This is coming from the perspective of a Lions fan.

 

  On the other hand,   both Jim Caldwell and Chuck Pagano made highly questionable time management decisions late in the game.   In Pagano's case,  I'm surprised but thrilled he didn't elect to force a kickoff return after Devin Taylor's illegal pile on penalty on the Colts go ahead PAT.   That saved the Lions several seconds of time and gave the Lions the ball at the 25 yard line.   Pagano is in a tough spot because of Jim Irsay's interference and the many mistakes of Ryan Grigson with Colts personnel moves.   Though he has hired good Assistant Coaches,  he opened up the door yesterday for criticism with the way he managed the game in crunch time. 

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