A coach with loyalty?

In this day and age of coaching weasels, the tendency is to move on to bigger and better things at the first opportunity. Regardless of the contract, any commitments given to recruits, or any promises made, these individuals scatter as soon as more money and a bigger name comes calling. Loyalty is as foreign a concept in this world as the automobile would be to someone in feudal Europe.

As such, it is refreshing when a coach actually keeps his commitments and displays loyalty to a school and a program that he helped build. Thus, when someone such as Boise State coach Chris Petersen rejected the overtures of Stanford to remain at the mid-major school he has helped to build. "I'm really happy to be in the position I've been the last five years," said Petersen. "I think [Stanford] is a very special place. I just thought it was worth having a conversation about, but that's about as far as it went."

No one is completely certain as to whether or not Petersen actually spoke to Stanford about their position, but that is irrelevant. In an industry where coaches routinely sign multi-year extensions only to leave weeks later or bounce from job to job at the drop of a hat, it is refreshing to find someone that might just be the anti Nick Saban.

Hopefully this signifies a change in the mindset within the coaching ranks. However, in all likelihood, this is simply an aberration. Weasel coaches will continue to make up the majority of the coaching ranks, and will continue to get the major positions at the big name schools. Loyalty exists in the mind of one coach, and it will be to his detriment.

What is the true problem with the Colts?

With today's loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Indianapolis Colts have dropped to 6-6 on the season. Over the past three games, all losses, Peyton manning has been uncharacteristically sloppy with the football, throwing for eleven interceptions. To put this streak into context, the last time Manning threw three interceptions in back to back games was during the first two games of his rookie season. Presently, he is in uncharted territory for him, and things do not appear to be getting any better any time soon.

So, what is the cause of this sudden and shocking inability to protect the football and win games? Is it a defense that cannot stop anyone from running the ball? Would all the injuries to key personnel on offense have anything to do with this? The embarrassing lack of anything resembling a running game, so the play action passes are completely ineffective? Perhaps, but Manning has dealt with terrible defenses, no running game, and injuries on offense before. He has always found a way to win football games, regardless of who he has on the field.

As such, the focus must fall upon the coaching staff, in particular Jim Caldwell. He is roughly as animated as a cardboard cutout on the sidelines. He doesn't speak during the games, doesn't make adjustments at halftime, and seems entirely clueless about what it takes to be the head coach of a football team. Yes, I realize that this was Tony Dungy's hand-picked successor, but that doesn't mean that Caldwell has the same lack of reaction as would be expected from someone trying out for the lead for Weekend At Bernie's 4 - Coaching In The NFL.

Prior to Caldwell taking the reins, the Colts had won twelve or more games for six consecutive years. Last season, they managed a 14-2 record, in spite of a coach that may as well be listening to Barry Manilow through his headset. This season, Caldwell has reached a level of incompetence matched only by Edward Smith, who was the captain of the Titanic. Why make adjustments when we can stay the course? What's the worst that can happen?

This season, the Colts ship has struck the iceberg and is sinking fast. This team is too talented, even while missing a number of key players on both side of the ball, to miss the playoffs and lose the AFC South to Jacksonville. Manning is too good of a quarterback, and is capable of willing this team to victory, as he has a number of times before during the regular season.

After the San Diego game, members of the defense said that they were able to call out the plays as Manning was barking signals at the line. There is no movement on offense. Sets do not change, and the plays run out of them remain the same. Adjustments must be made to the offense, and this falls upon the coaching staff. Based on what has been seen thus far this season, don't expect that to happen. Sometimes talented teams are let down by egos, by injuries, or by an inability to get on the same page. In this case, the Colts are being let down by their coaching staff.