Two Colts’ Coordinators Make NFL.com’s ‘Young Coaches to Watch’ List

Photo by MSA/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

According to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, two Indianapolis Colts coordinators have made his ‘young coaches to watch’ list: offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni and special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone:

Colts OC Nick Sirianni: Sirianni, 39, has good presence, knows offense and holds players accountable. He’s not even the hottest name on the Indianapolis staff at the moment — that’s defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus — but Sirianni has an excellent reputation across the league. He turned down an interview with the Browns two years ago, feeling he needed to focus solely on the Colts’ Divisional Round game, but is ready to interview going forward.

Colts STC Bubba Ventrone, 38

Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who’s helped coach one of the league’s most improved and best defensive units, would’ve assuredly been on any list—had it not been limited to young coaches—as he’s 50 years old.

Sirianni, who was once a wide receivers coach under Frank Reich (OC) at San Diego, eventually joined his coaching mentor’s new staff with the Colts in 2018.

While the Colts have ranked around a league average offense this season, Sirianni has still been highly regarded in league circles as one of the league’s better young offensive minds. (And to be fair, the Colts are probably still feeling the aftershock offensively of former franchise quarterback Andrew Luck’s abrupt retirement and probably will for a few more seasons).

Meanwhile, Ventrone has quietly transformed the Colts into one of the league’s best special teams units—who also joined the Indianapolis organization in 2018, having previously served as the assistant special teams coach for the New England Patriots.

Per Pro Football Focus (subscription), the Colts currently have the league’s highest graded special teams unit with a +91.6 grade overall, while Football Outsiders ranks them as the NFL’s 6th best overall unit respectively.

Both Sirianni and Ventrone are definitely young names to watch going forward for prospective NFL head coaching jobs elsewhere.

from Stampede Blue - All Posts https://ift.tt/36oFktC