Tony Dungy

[Doomsday]

I know this is off topic but I am curious why this guys job isnt in jeopardy. He was brought in fix the defense and get this team over the hump but its painfully obvious that their defense is actually worse then it was when he got there. Hes a great guy and a good role model but he couldnt finish the job in Tampa and he really hasnt done much in Indy either in my opinion.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

he can't do much for the D, when a quarter of the salary cap is tied up in Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Brandon Stokely

 

[theogt]

he can't do much for the D, when a quarter of the salary cap is tied up in Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Brandon Stokely

I really don't think that's it at all. When they've needed to they've signed defensive players, and it's not like they've had to get rid of big time defensive players because of the cap.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I really don't think that's it at all. When they've needed to they've signed defensive players, and it's not like they've had to get rid of big time defensive players because of the cap.

it's a big part of it, alot of their money is tied up in the offensive side of the ball, that they can't afford to pay money to sign good defensive free agents, heck, they couldn't even re-sign one of their best LBs, David Thorton

the other part isn't a strong effort to draft defensive starters, or not evaluating very well

btw, who of note have they been able to sign in free agency on D?

 

[LeonDixson]

I really don't think that's it at all. When they've needed to they've signed defensive players, and it's not like they've had to get rid of big time defensive players because of the cap.

I agree. It seems like their defense was better last year and even earlier this year, but it hasn't been great. His defense in Tampa was a great one.

 

[Doomsday]

I dont agree the way the have gotten the ball slammed down their throats has more to do with the smallish players and the scheme then the salary CAP. No one expects them to be a top 10 defense but the way teams run the ball on them is disgraceful.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I agree. It seems like their defense was better last year and even earlier this year, but it hasn't been great. His defense in Tampa was a great one.

his D in Tampa was great, because they drafted a rack of defensive players high in the draft, they had alot of 1st day picks on D

and consequently their O sucked because of it, kind of what's happening to Dungy in Indy

 

[UVAwahoos]

Defensive injuries haven't helped them at all...especially the Sanders injury.

Plus, losing Edge was hugeeee! I can't stress this enough. That ruined the whole team probably. Who would've thought?

Anyway, I think Dungy is solid. He built that Tampa Super Bowl team and Manning is a class choker. No coach can deal with a choker unfortunately.

 

[Doomsday]

his D in Tampa was great, because they drafted a rack of defensive players high in the draft, they had alot of 1st day picks on D

and consequently their O sucked because of it, kind of what's happening to Dungy in Indy

He also had Kiffen in Tampa and it took them bringing in Gruden to get the job done. Indy is basically the same or worse off then before he got there, totally dependent on the offense only now they are so pathetic against the run the offense cant get on the field.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

He also had Kiffen in Tampa and it took them bringing in Gruden to get the job done. Indy is basically the same or worse off then before he got there, totally dependent on the offense only now they are so pathetic against the run the offense cant get on the field.

and they're dependent on the O, because most of their resources have gone to building it, and maintaining it

but I agree that the 4-3, and reliance on smaller, quicker players, plays a huge role too, run at their DEs, and you take them out of the game, their DEs are the only things keeping their D in games, and can get big gains doing it, as well as running at the smallish DTs

 

[theogt]

it's a big part of it, alot of their money is tied up in the offensive side of the ball, that they can't afford to pay money to sign good defensive free agents, heck, they couldn't even re-sign one of their best LBs, David Thorton

btw, who of note have they been able to sign in free agency on D?

Anthony McFarland wasn't cheap.

I don't think they lost David Thornton because of salary cap.

the other part isn't a strong effort to draft defensive starters, or not evaluating very well

Yeah, that's a bigger problem than salary cap for them.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Anthony McFarland wasn't cheap

I don't think they lost David Thornton because of salary cap.

why did they lose him then? did he say, "naw, I'll take less money to go to the rebuilding TItans"?

and isn't McFarland on the last 2 years of his deal?

Yeah, that's a bigger problem than salary cap for them.

but the Os impact on the salary cap is still a problem

 

[theogt]

why did they lose him then? did he say, "naw, I'll take less money to go to the rebuilding TItans"?

I don't know. We've "lost" plenty of players that we could afford.

and isn't McFarland on the last 2 years of his deal?

Usually the tail-end of a contract is bloated, so I'm not sure what you're getting at.

but the Os impact on the salary cap is still a problem

Maybe. Maybe not. I haven't seen any evidence that it has.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I don't know. We've "lost" plenty of players that we could afford.

such as? that were big producers

I hope you're not suggesting that Indy let David Thorton walk

Usually the tail-end of a contract is bloated, so I'm not sure what you're getting at.

nothing really, but you can afford to add 1 high-priced free agent a year

Maybe. Maybe not. I haven't seen any evidence that it has.

look at how much money the Colts have under the cap, not much, and most of the cap they have is tied up in the O

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Link

One is the salary cap, which has had the Colts hemorrhaging defenders for years - the latest being Thornton, a linebacker who went to Tennessee as a free agent and Tripplett, a defensive tackle, who signed with Buffalo.

http://www.ianwhetstone.com/football/cap.html

$51.980 of the Colts cap is tied up in the O, 37.885 in the D