44Champs

The Colts starting QB retired in the offseason and just beat the hottest team in the AFC with an unknown backup QB. There's still a lot of season left to go but Reich has that team playing smashmouth football and it's pretty impressive.

XLIV CHAMPS

CHA_CHING

They won a playoff game last year.

People act like that team was trash last year and only good cause of Luck. They were better than people are currently giving them credit for. As I said in a previous post, Chris Ballard at GM has really put them on the right track as far as drafting goes. They were able to quickly assemble a good offensive line and work on their defensive line. They also made some key free agent signings, like Justin Houston (whom the Chiefs let go of and then had to deal with last night).

And the Chiefs are overrated as they are every year. If Adam V makes his kicks in that playoff game, it's a 7 point game going into the 4th. That game had all the makes of a classic blown lead, but it helped that the Colts kicker couldn't do much and the offense waited until the second half to show up.

I like Frank Reich, but he's not COTY material just cause Luck retired. Jacoby Brisset is not Curtis Painter, whom they were stuck with in 2011 when they tanked.

vpheughan

Frank Reich also isn't "Coach Cliche" Chuck Pagano. Two of the local sports talk guys started the "Chuck Pagano Cliche Bell" and rang it after he'd spout a "coaching cliche" during interviews. Frank Reich was nice enough to agree to play along after his hire. That bell was just about worn out under Pagano.

SaintSproles

1. Payton
2. McDermott
3. Shanahan
4. Reich
5. Patricia

jeanpierre

Second that Rugs...

But to be perfectly honest, what Colts Coach Frank Reich is doing, with far less talent, is more impressive...

...and he just went into Kansas City and beat one of the heavy SuperBowl favorites missing:

• his best linebacker, Darius Leonard,
  
  
• his best safety, Malik Hooker,
  
  
• and second best safety, Clayton Geathers,
  
  
• his slot receiver Parris Campbell,
  
  
• along with eight other injured starters including a banged-up No. 1 WR T.Y. Hilton, and No. 1 RB Milton Mack...
  
  
• ...and Reich lost his projected starting QB Andrew Luck to start the season...

If the Colts finish 10-6, or make the playoffs at 9-7 and win a wildcard, the award is Reich's unless some does more with less...

, say Jon Gruden and the Raiders win the AFC West (yeah, I know, but that's what would be more impressive than Reich's work)...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...