It was announced on Monday evening that the Indianapolis Colts have parted ways with their defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. He was with the team for three seasons and never coached the defense into being a top-rated unit. This past season was his worst season yet, and it did not shock anyone that he is no longer employed. However, with the Colts needing a defensive coordinator, they should consider former New York Jets head coach, Robert Saleh.
Saleh is most known for his stint with the San Fransisco 49ers from 2017-2020. It was in those seasons that the 49ers defense was consistently ranked in the top 10. His defense led the team to a Super Bowl appearance against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020. This was a game that they would lose. However, their path to get there included only giving up 30 total points in two playoff games. Robert Saleh has the resume to be a successful defensive coordinator again. Pairing his mind with the talents of the Colts would be a match set up for success.
Why the Colts Should Hire Robert Saleh
His Career Thus Far
As a defensive coordinator in San Fransisco, Saleh’s defense started slow from 2017-2018. However, in 2019, the team took a turn for the better and ranked second in points allowed per game, second in total yards, and third in third-round conversions. After the Super Bowl run in 2019 and the subsequent 2020 season riddled with injuries, Saleh was hired by the Jets to be their head coach. His hiring came in the same season that the Jets drafted Zach Wilson with the second overall pick. Wilson ended up being a first-round bust and Saleh was never able to provide stability within his team due to the instability at quarterback. After Wilson, then came the aging Aaron Rogers. Thus, the Jets just struggled to compete. The one saving grace, though, was their defense.
Here lies why Robert Saleh is still a brilliant defensive mind and must be acquired by the Colts. In 2022, his defense in New York ranked fourth in points per game and fourth in yards per game. 2023 was a bit of a different story as they struggled with injuries and gave up an average of 20 points per game, which ranked 12th. However, they managed to finish third in the league in yards per game. Robert Saleh is going to be a hot item for teams to try and bring in and thus, the Colts must make their move quickly.
What He Can Bring to Indianapolis
As history suggests, just because a coach had great success with one team does not necessarily mean that he can duplicate that success elsewhere. However, Robert Saleh’s resume certainly fits the mold that the Colts want to find themselves in. Like Gus Bradley, Saleh runs a zone-heavy scheme which has its flaws but has its advantages as well. The main thing, though, is that the Colts defense is already familiar with a heavy zone scheme. This with a coach in his prime will result in elevated play. One thing to note is the way that Saleh typically likes to utilize his defensive line. With his philosophy, it would propel success for the edge rushers to get to the quarterback more consistently. Typically, Saleh has his guys rotating to keep his rushers fresh which produces quickness and agility against tired offensive linemen.
If the Colts were to bring Robert Saleh in as the new defensive coordinator, Laiatu Latu should be considered in the running for a breakout season. DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart would be able to continue their dominance in stopping the run. Also, the linebackers would benefit from the up-front pressure to make plays in the open field.
The bottom line, however, is that one coach is not going to solve all of the problems that the Colts have on their defense. Nor is one coach going to be a perfect fit. However, for a team that has hit its all-time low in morale and confidence, having a guy like Saleh who is on the heels of defensive success with the Jets and 49ers would be a big step in the right direction.
Main Photo: Shaun Brooks – USA Today Sports
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