Carroll for Dungy? Now is the Time

No sooner had the clock struck zero in the AFC Divisional Playoff than speculation began about the future status of Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy. Many have speculated that Dungy would step down following this season, potentially leaving a dream situation for a new coach to take over.

Pete Carroll, come on down! If Dungy does decide to step away, this would be the perfect situation fort both the Colts and for Carroll for several reasons.

1. If Pete Carroll is going to leave USC, it isn’t going to be for a complete mess of a franchise like Atlanta. Indianapolis has a roster ready to compete for a Super Bowl, a stable front office, and a super star at quarterback - the perfect situation for an incoming coach. Especially one who wants to reestablish his reputation as an underachiever at the professional level.  
2. The Colts would likely try to make as smooth a transition as possible. Promoting a coordinator is unlikely, mainly because offensive coordinator Tom Moore is 70 years old, and defensive coordinator Ron Meeks is 54. (A little past the prime of the average NFL head coach.)
3. One of Pete Carroll’s best friends just happens to be Monte Kiffin, (Tony Dungy’s DC in Tampa from 1996-2001) who knows the Colts’ Cover 2 defense inside and out, and who happens to have completed the final year of his contract in Tampa.
4. Carroll would also be able to bring with him a young, innovated offensive coordinator, Steve Sarkisian, from USC. Sark has NFL experience, has spent several years with Carroll, and although young, has enough experience to collaborate on game plans with Peyton Manning, not unlike Josh McDaniels in New England.

If there was ever a more perfect time for Dungy to step aside, and for Carroll to return to the NFL, this is it.

Cougar2000All-American

695 days ago

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Given the fact that Carroll has already made it clear that he wants to stay at Southern Cal and play for another national championship, it wouldn't make sense to drop Dungy. He's won a Super Bowl with Indy and almost won one with Tampa Bay. Granted, you argue a good point re the age of the offensive and defensive coordinators.

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Bobbyjim45Draft Pick

695 days ago

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I still don't really understand why Dungy would want to leave this situation. If I were him I'd ride out Peyton's prime and get some of the credit. Plus, Carroll wasn't anything special when he was with New England in the late 90s. It seemed like he wasn't tough enough to be able to handle NFL players.

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DRE-LOAAA-er

694 days ago

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Dungy has gone through a lot personally {son's suicide} and this is playing into his decision to leave.

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LASportsblogAAA-er

695 days ago

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I don't want to see Pete leave LA, but if he does, it better be for that Wade Phillips in Dallas kinda situation, not for the Phins or Dirty Birds.

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JuTMSY4Legend

695 days ago

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"No sooner had the clock struck zero in the AFC Championship game" - Ok, i'm no expert here, but...umm...the what game?

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JuTMSY4Legend

695 days ago

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"defensive coordinator Ron Meeks is 54. (A little past the prime of the average NFL head coach." - Over 1/3 of NFL head coaches (excluding vacancies are older than that...including Bill Belichick)

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LASportsblogAAA-er

695 days ago

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You didn't know? The NFC isn't playing in the Super Bowl this year. That's right, Goodell said Fack It! The pats are so good that the winner of the SD/Indy game will go to the Super Bowl to play the Pats...

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LASportsblogAAA-er

695 days ago

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You mentioned Monte Kiffin, how about someone give HIM a head coaching job. For christ sake his son is a head coach without any NFL experience and this guy still has to call plays under Jon 'Chucky' Gruden? There is an injustice for you, forget the required minority canidate interview, every team should be required to interview Monte Kiffin.

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Ccampbell34All-American

695 days ago

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Monte Kiffin's contract is up after this season and many league sources believe he will join his son in Oakland due to the opening at defensive coordinator.

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LASportsblogAAA-er

695 days ago

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That would be interesting to see, Monte take orders from his son...

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MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick

695 days ago

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We'll see. The Raiders say they are keeping Ryan.

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GeodanVarsity

695 days ago

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Today on a pre-game show I heard the fellas say that Dungy said earlier in his career that he would coach twenty-five years. This was his twenty-seventh. The Colts are a championship organization. If Dungy leaves, wouldn't they look for a championship calibre replacement? I'm sure they can get someone to opt out of a contract for this job.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

695 days ago

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As a hater of both Pete Carroll and the Colts, I think this marriage is perfect! Carroll can once again be exposed as a horrible coach once he rejoins the NFL. No more cakewalk recruiting at USC. He's going to have to deal with the salary cap, free agency, and players that have more leverage than him. So instead of ESPN's college experts drooling over Carroll's success at USC, his loser status will be reaffirmed.

Moreover, Indianapolis will crumble when Dungy leaves and Carroll arrives. Tony Dungy is the perfect coach for that team. Pete Carroll is one of the worst coaches for any NFL team.

So Indy, please, please, please hire Pete Carroll. It would be hilarious.

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JuTMSY4Legend

695 days ago

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carroll is a terrible pro coach... why doesn't anyone understand this?

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Ccampbell34All-American

695 days ago

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Despite Carroll's two trips to the postseason with the Patriots, he is a perfect example of a coach who cashed in on efforts from past coaching. Jon Gruden inherited a Super Bowl caliber squad from Tony Dungy, Mike Tice arguably did the same with a competitive Vikings team following Dennis Green, and following in Bill Parcells footsteps usually ensures an easier job, just ask Wade Phillips.

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Ccampbell34All-American

695 days ago

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I feel the Colts would hand the organization over to Assistant Head Coach Jim Caldwell who is being pursued by multiple teams for an actual head coaching job. He knows the team, offensive system and would carry on what Dungy started.

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Boatchef2JV Squad

695 days ago

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Not a chance Carrol is a walking God in So. Cal.

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The PipDiv-I Stud

695 days ago

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Yes, but

A) He's dumb.

B) He's a coward that's going to run away from the dirty deeds he's done to become a God in So Cal.

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The PipDiv-I Stud

695 days ago

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Ok, this was an article not about "What's best for the Colts", but rather "What's best for Carroll". In that view yes you are 100% correct, but the Colts are smart enough not to touch that smallpox infected blanket with a 10 foot pole.

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