Should the Colts Blame Jim Caldwell?

by SodaHead Sports Posted 2011/10/28 16:00:00

Related Topics: Sports, NFL, Football, Jim Caldwell, Peyton Manning, Afc South, Indianapolis Colts, Bill Polian, Quarterback, National Football League, Coach, President, Indianapolis, Bob Sanders

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	Yes	59 votes	38%
	No	95 votes	62%

Injuries have seemingly decimated the Indianapolis Colts, who currently sit at 0-7. The AFC South kings have rapidly gone to the National Football League's laughing stock. Four-time MVP quarterback Peyton Manning is out for the season without even taking a snap. Defensive juggernaut Bob Sanders is also out -- but that's a yearly occurrence the Colts are used to by now.

What the Colts are not used to is losing -- let alone being winless at this stage of the regular season. Colts head coach Jim Caldwell inherited a great team from current NBC NFL analyst Tony Dungy and for the first two seasons, he certainly held his own. Now with the never-ending season getting worse by the day, Caldwell's job might be on the line. After all, it is not like Manning plays on offense and defense.

Don't tell Colts President Bill Polian that, though. Polian expressed faith in his coach on the SiriusXM NFL Radio show: "How you evaluate (Caldwell) is what you do with what he has," Polian said. "You can't hold him responsible for injuries. You can't hold him responsible for an unforeseen surgery (to Manning) that no one anticipated would happen. The things that he can control, I think he's done a terrific job, given where we are from a standpoint of personnel."

The Colts take on the Tennessee Titans this Sunday.

+14

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HendrixFan 2011/10/29 14:36:05

No

+5
Should he shoulder ALL of the blame for the Colts misery? No. Is he guilty of not giving Curtis Painter a chance in practice to take some of the first team snaps at the insistence of Peyton Manning demanding all of the first team snaps? Yes. Manning has been bulletproof for 13 years...but he is getting old and is more prone to injury. Especially with his history of neck issues. They should have had a solid backup/contingency plan in place that had at least SOME live game experience. Kerry Collins would have fit that bill if he hadn't been called out of retirement completely unprepared to play. As good as Manning is, he needs a quality backup that can handle things. I don't think Painter is doing a terrible job as they are pretty thin as it is, but he is learning on the fly and as bad of a season as they are having, it's good that he takes some lumps and gets some experience. Caldwell is guilty of not having his backup prepared to play.
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More polls by SodaHead Sports

JimShou 2011/11/02 14:29:59

Yes

Definatly........... the onlything he had going for him was manning....he made some terrible decisions last year...and desroyed the moral of the team

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Simi Dave 2011/11/01 18:23:40

No

No stinkin’ way!! They need to all look in the mirror. If they were all that good with Peyton, they should be AT LEAST half as good without him. He is a darned great QB. One of the greats. So was Marino. Marino never got the ring ‘cause he usually had second-rate teams. Peyton got the ring ‘cause the Colts are crazy good and complemented his superb talents. So, if they have the talent, they should be scoring the goals and blocking the opposing TDs. It’s on them!

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The Hairwizard 2011/10/31 13:59:54

Yes

most definitely! unprepared with Peyton out is the price they have paid and the misery they have endured.

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harley oldman 2011/10/31 13:24:52

No

NO....but, they`ll NEED a Scape Goat ....!

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..::localeye::.. 2011/10/31 13:22:21

Yes

+1
He is a fraud. He was handed a Super Bowl team with a player coach. Once Manning went out and Caldwell actually had to do some coaching you see that they can't do anything on either side of the ball. I realize Painter is horrible but Caldwell should have benched Painter in Week 5. No one to blame but Caldwell at this point. See you in a different profession.

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gregaj7 2011/10/31 06:12:58

No

While it is true that Manning doesn't "play" defense, his abilities on the field made the defense structure of both teams (Colts and opponents) different when he does play. Defensive strategies are different with leads than being behind. There's also the issue of how long the drives take (Manning vs Painter/Collins/___). Peyton could do ball-control or could do the 2-min offense at any point in the game. Painter has had his problems with that. The coach can only work with those playing, and the Colts need to find an heir to Peyton. The "reign" appears to be over.

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American Nate 2011/10/31 04:50:45 (edited)

No

+1
They should blame on not having Peyton Manning, if he was healthy and playing the Colts would be 8-0 right now.

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Loctia to America... 2011/10/31 05:23:59

+1
That their team is so dependent on a single player is proof of his inability to coach.

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The Hai... to Loctia 2011/10/31 13:53:28

exactly my point.......again the coaching staff! practicing only the starters...what the hell kinda crap is that. They all get paid and all should be ready to start and participate in full drills. not just the starters!

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America... to Loctia 2011/11/01 04:04:50

w/e I wish the Dolphins had that but then they also are in the same boat because they lost their starting quarterback too and they cant get a win. The only difference is Manning is an all-star and Henne is an ok qb

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david shiel 2011/10/31 04:36:26

No

+2
Enough to go around for all.

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The Hai... to david s... 2011/10/31 13:51:54

yes but not prepared falls on the coaching staff......nuff said!

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Devonly 2011/10/31 03:57:13

Yes

+2
This is why you cannot build a team around one person. It is his failure as a coach to make sure that every position is as strong as it can be and that their backup is equally prepared to step in if called up on.

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tff~PWCM~JLA 2011/10/30 21:46:50

Yes

+2
They should at least be more competitive.

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The Hai... to tff~PWC... 2011/10/31 13:51:18

it's totally the coaching.......no doubt.

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Bob DiN 2011/10/30 15:32:33

No

+1
The coach is not responsible for injuries. I would blame the GM for not having any anybody in reserve on the bench and not planning for players getting old.

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The Hai... to Bob DiN 2011/10/31 13:33:57

Well all though injuries plague many teams the bench should be as prepared as the starters. Thus, the blame fall all on the coaching staff! nuff said.

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Bob DiN to The Hai... 2011/10/31 15:30:47

That's the front offices responsibly.

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Smokey 2011/10/30 11:35:00

No

+4
He is not the General Manager or Owner. I blame those two idiots for not having a backup for Peyton Manning.

I'm a Redskin fan and I blame the Owner before the coach!

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Swan'song 2011/10/30 09:50:06

Yes

+1
Ya they should fire Caldwell and hire J. Mora, " PLAAAY OOOFFFS!" As a Texans fan I have to admit I am soooo glad 18 is broken and I hope yall go defeated. bubububye!

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The Hai... to Swan'song 2011/10/31 13:37:46

+1
even though I agree with you on the coaching standpoint. I would never wish anyone to be hurt or unable to play due to injury. I have more Respect for a Elite Player such a Peyton. He as gone way beyond the call of duty in his Reign as a Leader! Get well soon Peyton! The NFL MISSES YA MY BROTHER! I am a total Texans Fan but you shouldn't kick a man when he's down period! Peyton has solidified and kept our Division Respectable.

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Swan'song to The Hai... 2011/11/02 03:17:20
jeffro2010 2011/10/30 05:45:08

No

+2
Hmmm. Why blame the coach that has only been there a few years for building a 1 man team for the past decade? Doesnt make sense does it?

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Deb 2011/10/30 01:46:23

No

+2
Not his fault. He can only work with what he is got, and if his players aren't motivated to be a winning team, that's not his fault. The whole organization is to blame, not the coach.

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JimShou to Deb 2011/11/02 14:34:02

Yes it is after pulling the starters at the end of the season No he's the coach and gets the blame ...... like any business,,,, or politics....

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Deb to JimShou 2011/11/02 23:31:19

+1
do you really think that the coach is 100% responsible for pulling players? If so, think again, the games of football, basketball, baseball, etc., all have other people making decisions that make the coaches look like they are the ones that screwed up. It is just like politics.-

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sgp81 2011/10/30 01:34:04

No

+2
not his fault peyton manning is out with an injury. with manning they havat least 3 maybe 4 wins. when the defense is on the field all day becuase the offense cannot make first downs.

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The Hai... to sgp81 2011/10/31 13:40:13

Agreed but which brings back to my point......Stop building a team around 1 player. It's dumb and not fair the rest of the team that put time and time again. Coaching is to blame here. Nuff said...........GOOOO TEXANS!

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sgp81 to The Hai... 2011/11/07 14:50:48

well truth be told they were not built that way. but manning is a superstar. he makes other players around him better. still that be said the other players have to step up.
and they have not.

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jimmy d 2011/10/30 01:28:59

Yes

Yes they lost Peyton Manning but you can't go from one of the NFL's better teams over the last decade to winless after seven games. I could see 2 and 5 but NOT 0 and 7. Some of those loses need to be attributed to coaching no doubt about it.

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carlton999 2011/10/30 01:23:45

No

+2
its the whole organizations fault. they should have prepared for this years ago. if Painter was not up to the task of replacing Maning they should have addressed it and found someone up to the task. the Colts downfall cant be blamed on one person. last I heard it takes more than one person to make any sports team a success.

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Eddie 2011/10/30 00:23:36

No

+2
He isn't out there playing...a coach can do only so much!

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The Hai... to Eddie 2011/10/31 13:41:31

TRUE, however the coaches have a responsibilty to keep ALL players ready to play at any given time........so what happened? My opinion........bad coaching!

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Torchmanner ~PWCM~JLA 2011/10/29 22:11:51

No

+4
Not totally. I still think Painter will get in the groove. We have a lot of injuries right now, and any one of the injured guys coming back in can facilitate a win. It's going to happen.

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The Hai... to Torchma... 2011/10/31 13:42:53

agreed after being the understudy to a future hall of famer he should primed and really doing much better than he has. Think about it. Once again, the coaching!

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sgp81 to Torchma... 2011/11/07 14:52:02

brave thougts but not this year, however andrew luck can learn from the master.
the future may be bright.

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El Prez 2011/10/29 22:06:04

No

+3
He didn't hurt Manning and he hasn't played in any games. They are tring to come back from a really devastating blow. They need a little time.

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Steve Boston 2011/10/29 21:06:17

No

+4
No. They are a classic example of a one man team that lost their man. Period.

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The Hai... to Steve B... 2011/10/31 13:43:53

that's why i am so down on the coaching staff.......everyone should be Ready to play period! not just the starters!

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Independent Thinker 2011/10/29 20:35:45

No

+2
Take responsibility - do not pass the buck!

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