GM vs Coach, Round Two

[Mr. Scot]

For those who enjoyed the spectacle of Baalke vs Harbaugh, get ready for Grigson vs Pagano.

 

2015 began as the year of the mutual parting, with a pair of successful coaches who were unable to achieve ultimate success leaving their teams.  That trend could continue in 2016, if the Colts don’t extend the contract of coach Chuck Pagano, and if he moves on after the season ends.

Complicating matters is the identical status of G.M. Ryan Grigson.  Both he and Pagano will be commencing contract years, which means that either Grigson or Pagano may bear the ultimate blame for the failure of the Colts to get beyond (or at least stay within 38 points of) the Patriots.

It also means that Grigson and Pagano could be tempted to blame each other, in the event that the 2015 season at any point unravels.  If, for example, the team’s run defense — its “Achilles heel,” per Pagano — continues to fail to slow down New England, Pagano could be tempted to blame it on the personnel, and Grigson could be tempted to blame it on the coaching.

Bob Kravitz of WTHR.com suspects, as he explained during Friday’s PFT Live on NBC Sports Radio, that a disconnect already exists between Pagano and Grigson.  The leak that Pagano (but not Grigson) won’t be getting a new contract before the season at a minimum raises a question about whether Pagano already is being set up to take the fall.

Regardless of their current relationship, it becomes critical for Pagano and Grigson to band together, setting aside a desire to survive something less than a full-blown purge and accepting the notion that both will stay or both will go.  Three years ago, owner Jim Irsay opted to press the reset button, firing both coach Jim Caldwell and G.M. Bill Polian.  This time around, Irsay may be inclined to fire only one or the other; after the 2001 season, Polian stayed and coach Jim Mora was let go.

 

(link)

 

I'm not necessarily a huge fan of Chuck Pagano, but if I'm forced to dump one of those two, it's probably Grigson.

[CelibatePimp]

An early clue to unravelling who might be let go is to see how the defense fared when Arians took over. If they did better than when Pagano was in charge, the sentiment might be that Pagano is not that good of a coach only benefitting from Luck's abilities coupled with playing in a weak division.

[Batman]

Neither of them are that good, IMO.

[rmoneyg35]

Pagans has a good record. You could say that is because the Colts are in a weak division but I disagree. You could say he is riding on Lucks play but he is a young QB going into his fourth year. It seems to me that the Colts have always been an offensive minded team. Maybe the owner has some say to that but we all know that defense wins championships. Sure offense looks great and is exciting but come playoff time it usually doesn't work.

Also give Pagano some credit for being able to Coach after all his health issues.

[t96]

I don't believe Pagano has been that great of a coach. The Colts have had cake schedules since Luck arrived and their only slightly impressive playoff win was against the Broncos. I don't think the Colts have been as good the past few years as their records suggest.