A Fan's Letter to Jim Caldwell and the Indianapolis Colts

Hey Jim,


It’s been a long time since we talked. I know we don’t actually talk, but sometimes I yell at you through my TV. I apologize for using such foul language, but sometimes I can’t control myself.

You sure took a lot of heat from the media and fans like me this week. It seems odd since the Colts are 14-1 and in first place. It must seem strange since this is your first loss as an NFL head coach. I’m not sure anyone has had a first season this successful in a long time, and now all they can talk about is losing to the Jets.

Talking about that Jets game, I think you screwed it up. It’s not that the overall idea was wrong, but you forgot about a few things. Since you’re a rookie coach, I thought I’d remind you so this doesn’t happen again.

For starters, the teams that win the Superbowl are often the hottest teams going into the playoffs. Your Colts team was HOT, but now you’ve lost it. That loss took the wind out of the teams sails. Momentum matters in football, write that one down.

Going hand in hand with momentum is confidence. Heading into that Jets game, your team looked unbeatable. Not invincible, but unbeatable. They had flaws and a few of your games were ridiculously close, but no one had solved the mystery yet. That aura is now gone, and you can’t get it back.

Finally, please don’t feed us the line that going undefeated doesn’t matter. If it didn’t matter, then the 1972 Dolphins wouldn’t put champagne on ice. If it didn’t matter, then why were all the fans so angry? If it didn’t manner, then why did Peyton Manning look like he’d just watched a sex tape starring his sister? I thought he was going to puke on the sidelines.

If you’ve learned anything this season, it should be to keep Peyton Manning happy and motivated. He’s a first-class leader and competitor and you know he’ll take care of himself. Unfortunately, you and Bill Polian treated his desire to play like you would have treated Michael Irvin asking for hookers and blow. I just don’t get it.

But now that our beloved team is 14-1, let’s move on. We’re still in first place, we still have a bye, we still have home-field advantage, and yes…we still have one regular season game left.

Jim, I don’t want you to make the same mistakes against Buffalo. We can’t afford to be sluggish and without our edge in the playoffs. That said, we also can’t afford to have Manning, Reggie Wayne or Dwight Freeney on injured reserve. I’ve got some ideas for you and I want you to listen carefully.

First, make a list of players who are banged up, but would play the game if it meant something. Freeney and Mathis are great examples here. Put these guys on a rotation with their backups. They need to play enough to stay sharp, but less playing time will help them avoid further injuries. That way, their backups also get playing time before the playoffs.

Second, make a list of the players that you can’t afford injuries to, like Manning, Wayne, etc. This time, we’re not going to pull the starters, Jim. We’re going to rotate them from the very beginning. The can play one or two series and then sit for one or two. Why put Curtis Painter into the game for his first NFL snaps with everything on the line? I’d put him in for the 3rd and 4th series of the game and then put Peyton back in while I give Painter advice on the sidelines.

The most important idea, however, is when to pull your starters for good and when to put them back in the game. You tell your players before the game that if you’re leading in the 4th quarter, the backups will be playing. But if you fall behind in the 4th quarter, the starters will go back in. This way, the starters could still get some practice in clutch situations and there isn’t too much pressure heaped on all your backups. Also, you don’t have your starters playing meaningless minutes, just the ones that count.

I probably should have told you this before the Jets game, but I figured you had it under control. My bad.

One last final note, Jim. Could you please show a little emotion on the sidelines every once in a while? I’ve been worried about you. You look like you might be choking or something. Just throw your headset to the ground, or kick a water bottle, or even give a subtle fist-pump when Peyton throws a dart to Pierre Garcon. We just need a sign that you’re alive.

You’ve been doing a hell of a job all year, and we like you, so let’s get the ship back on course and whoop the Bills this weekend.

Signed,

Ryan Popilchak
Colts Fan and Future Coach’s Consigliere