Offseason Needs: Indianapolis Colts Must Add Talent to Keep Pace In AFC

Coaching Staff

The Indianapolis Colts hired Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to the same position as the replacement for the departing Eberflus. Bradley made a name for himself in Seattle as he was in charge of the unit affectionately known as the “Legion of Boom”. Following a four-year stint as one of the best coordinators in the league, a team finally came calling with an offer for a head coaching opportunity. This team was one that Colts fans are quite familiar with, the divisional rival Jacksonville Jaguars.

Unfortunately for Bradley, he left the Seahawks one year too early. While Seattle went on to win Super Bowl XLVIII, the Jaguars limped to a total of four wins in his first season. From 2013-2016 Bradley posted an underwhelming 14-48 record, never winning more than five games in any of his four seasons.

Immediately upon his dismissal as head coach, he landed on his feet as the new defensive coordinator for the Chargers. It did not take long for Gus to rebuild his pristine image across the league. In his first two seasons for the Chargers, he spearheaded a top-ten defense. He followed that up with mixed results in 2019 and a down season in 2020. After four seasons, Bradley and the franchise mutually parted ways following the firing of head coach Anthony Lynn.

The Raiders quickly scooped up the well-respected Bradley and he brought a stability to the defensive unit that the organization desperately needed. The numbers don’t reflect the impact that Bradley made. To be frank, the Raiders defense lacks much talent outside of Maxx Crosby. They have good depth pieces all around but compared to some of the players the Colts have under contract, it is going to be an entirely different ball game for Gus.

Bradley and Eberflus share a lot of the same core philosophies. Like Eberflus, Bradley will not blitz often. Instead, he builds his defense on the ability to apply pressure in pass coverage. Whether it be jamming receivers off the line or using linebackers/safeties to manipulate pass catchers downfield. It is a very physical brand of football.

Cover 3 is where Bradley butters his bread, but there are many wrinkles that he throws in against pass heavy teams. He follows the “bend-don’t-break” mindset, but is not as willing to bend as Eberflus.

As coordinators usually do when they accept a head coaching position, Eberflus took a lot of his guys with him to the Windy City. Secondary coaches Alan Williams, James Rowe, and David Overstreet are all under contract with the Bears now, as well as linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi. Defensive line coach — and a standout star on Hard Knocks — Brian Baker was not offered a contract extension from Indianapolis, adding another hole for Gus to fill.

On the offensive front, nothing is changing in terms of play-calling. Frank Reich will retain those duties. Offensive coordinator Marcus Brady was chosen as a head coach for the West team in the Shrine Bowl and garnered some interest around the league for vacant head coaching and coordinator positions.

Unless something changes, it looks like he will return and continue learning under the guidance of Reich. So much of what the Indianapolis Colts can do on offense will come down to who is throwing the football. This is unfortunately a familiar position for Reich and the franchise to be in. He made the playoffs and even won a road playoff game in his first season with Andrew Luck at quarterback.

However, following Luck’s surprise retirement, the Colts have trotted out three different starters in each of the past three seasons. From Jacoby Brissett, to Phillip Rivers, to Carson Wentz… Indy has made a concerted effort to solve their problem at the position. If they do indeed move on from Wentz, Reich will enter his fifth season as head coach with a fifth different week one starter.